An Italian Adventure with

Creative Castle & Maggie Meister

May 14 – 27, 2009

Rome • Naples • Amalfi Coast Ravenna • Murano • Venice

Join Maggie Meister and Carole Tripp from Creative Castle for an Italian Beadventure going to Rome, Naples, and Venice—what could be better?!?

We will begin this very special Beadventure in Rome where we will visit the ancient forum and world-renowned museums with the best guides. Our hotel is located in a lovely residential neighborhood not far from the Palatine Hills.

After Rome, we head for Naples where our home is in a beautiful restored villa surrounded by luscious gardens and overlooking the Mediterranean. Our guide, Aldo, will show us Pompeii, downtown Naples to visit the cameo carvers, inlaid marble master among others. One of the highlights is the tour of the Amalfi Coast with lunch at a lovely family-run resort. You won’t believe the view or the fabulous food!!

We head north to Ravenna—world renowned for its Byzantine mosaics and modern mosaic schools and studios. The shopping isn’t bad either!!! We end our trip on the island of Murano where we will visit the studios of glass masters and have a “bead buy” at the studio of Luigi Cattelan. Our home is on Murano but we will visit the beautiful sites of Venice – a short vaporetto ride away.

Our project is a seed bead necklace inspired by the gardens of Villa Giulia, our home in Naples.

What more can we ask for—Italian scenery, food, wine, shopping, and beads with friends!!!

Itinerary

Day 1. Thursday, May 14 – Arrive in Rome
Arrive in Rome to be met by Maggie Meister at the hotel or airport depending on arrival time. Our hotel is located in the Aventine area of Rome – a lovely residential area not far from the Palatine Hills. After settling into our rooms, we will have a tour of ancient Rome to see the Forum and Coliseum with our licensed guide. Early night as everyone will be tired.

Day 2. Friday, May 15 – Vatican Tour
Refreshed and ready to go, we are off to the Vatican for a guided tour of the museum and then the Vatican itself. Welcome dinner at local restaurant.

Day 3. Saturday, May 16 – Tour Rome & Travel to Napoli
This morning is free to visit a museum or shopping. Maggie will have many suggestions for you. The Etruscan Museum has one of the best jewelry collections in Italy or perhaps a visit to the Pantheon area where many local artisans and boutiques are located. We leave in the late afternoon for Napoli (Naples) where we will arrive at Villa Giulia’s for wine and dinner. Villa Giulia’s is a restored farmhouse from the 16th century surrounded by magnificent gardens and located near the ancient ruins of Cuma—one of the first Greek settlements in Italy.

Day 4. Sunday, May 17 – Tour Napoli
Not wanting to waste a minute, we head to downtown Napoli to meet our guide Aldo Sparice who will give us a tour of the ancient section of the city. We will visit the Duomo (the city cathedral with its solid silver altar) and undergrounds and then have lunch at a pizzeria. Afterwards, we will begin our workshop.

Day 5. Monday, May 18 – Museum Visits & Workshop
This morning we head to the National Museum which contains many of the artifacts (mosaics, frescoes, and jewelry) found in the ruins from the Vesuvius eruptions of 79AD. Workshop in the afternoon.

Day 6. Tuesday, May 19 - Pompeii
After our visit to the Museum, we will of course want to visit Pompeii!! Aldo will guide us through the most famous ruins in the world to see the villas and more with emphasis on the daily life of the times. We will also visit the cameo factory to see the master artisans at work carving masterpieces out of shells. The detailed work involved in this craft will amaze you. It is becoming a lost art.

Day 7. Wednesday, May 20 – Amalfi Coast
We are off to the world-renowned Amalfi Coast known for its breathtaking views. We will visit a studio of an inlaid woodworker and stop along the way to see a local market. Lunch is at a family-run restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean.

Day 8. Thursday, May 21 - Workshop
Workshop day.

Day 9. Friday, May 22 – Travel to Ravenna
We leave Napoli in the early morning to head north via bus. We stop in the town of Deruta for a little shopping and lunch (included). Deruta is famous for its majolica pottery with medieval designs and colors. You can watch the artists work in their studios. In the late afternoon, we head to the town of Ravenna. It is world-renowned for its Byzantine Mosaics. We will check into our hotel which is a restored palace in the historic center and have a light supper (on your own).

Day 10. Saturday, May 23 – Ravenna Tour
This morning we have a tour of the mosaics in Ravenna with our licensed guide, Manuela Farnetti. We will visit the San Vitale, San Apollinare, and many other magnificent sites. Ravenna is part of UNESCO. The afternoon is free to shop – Ravenna has wonderful little shops – particularly for books and shoes!!!!

Day 11. Sunday, May 24 – Murano & Venice
We leave in the early morning to head to Murano. After settling in to our apartments, Maggie will give you a tour and an overview of the island at lunch (provided by Beadventure). In the afternoon, we will head to Venice for a guided tour of this famous city. You may want to stay in Venice for dinner.

Day 12. Monday, May 25 – Enjoy Murano
This morning we have a tour of the glass blowers on Murano with Nicole Anderson and then a “bead buy” at the studio of Luigi Cattelan. Murano. The afternoon is free to return to Venice or shop on Murano.

Day 13. Tuesday, May 26 – Murano Glass & Burano Lace
In the morning, we visit the seed bead factory on the island of Murano and then visit another workshop of a glass artisan. Then it is off to Burano to visit this colorful island known for its lace making. There is a lovely small museum which contains many samples of antique lace. Farewell dinner on Burano.

Day 14. Wednesday, May 27 – Depart from Venice
Depart from Venice Airport for your onward journey home.

Please note: The itinerary can be subject to change depending on hours of studio artists and museums and other circumstances.

Project Designed by Maggie Especially for Beadventure/Creative Castle
Borsetta da Sera
Evening Bag Series – Il Profumo

From Maggie about this special project:
“This evening bag is the first in a series of evening bags inspired by perfume bottles and amphora found in antiquity. An ancient perfume bottle discovered in Pompeii was the inspiration for this bag.

The original was made of glass and had the most magnificent gold piece to hold the bottle (another project for another Beadventure trip!) Ancient perfume bottles were made of alabaster, gold and glass. Small bone or metal spatulas were used to apply oils and creams.

The more I study antiquity, the more I realize that men and women have not changed. We all love beautiful things and to pamper ourselves. The Campania region was lush with vegetation and flowers that were used to make perfumes. Olive oil was processed and used as a base for the perfume as olive trees were abundant throughout the Vesuvius region. Many types of flowers and herbs were used, such as roses, jasmine, myrrh, fennel, lilies, and basil. Remains of perfume factories were found in the region and the perfumes made there were popular among the Roman culture (and perfume also was used frequently as people did not bathe often).

The purse is made using various sizes of beads (size 10 Delicas, cylinder beads, and size 15 seed beads) and a combination of various styles of peyote and brick stitches. It is a lovely evening bag reminiscent of days gone by—perfect for that special occasion to hold lipstick, money for that glass of pinot noir at intermission, and a few other personal items.” -- Maggie Meister

About Maggie . . .

In addition to teaching around the United States, Maggie leads three or four Beadventures to Italy each year.

Trip Cost