Tracy Does Tuscany!
Join Tracy Stanley on this very special Beadventure
April 19 – 29, 2010
Rome • Orvieto • Montefiridolfi • Florence • Siena
April 29 - May 7, 2010 (Optional Extension Trip)
Naples, Venice, Murano
Join top metal and wire artist Tracy Stanley of Wired Arts and tour leader/bead artist Maggie Meister for the first Beadventure to Tuscany Italy!
Maggie recently returned from Italy where she visited Tuscany to make arrangements for this Beadventure--and she found the perfect place--a villa located on top of a mountain overlooking the Tuscan valley. According to Maggie, its beauty is beyond words.
Itinerary
Day One. Monday, April 19 - Arrive in Rome
You will arrive in Rome and make your way to our hotel in the Aventino area where they will be met by Maggie Meister and Tracy Stanley. After everyone has settled into their rooms, there will be a brief meeting and overview of our Beadventure. For those that are able to arrive early, there will be a tour of the ancient section of Rome. As everyone will be tired from their travels, we will have an early dinner so everyone can retire early and be ready for our first full day in Rome.
Day Two. Tuesday, April 20 - Tour Rome
After breakfast we are off to visit the Villa Giulia Etruscan Museum to see how the Etruscans lived and the museum’s incredible jewelry collection from antiquity and the Castellani collection. Our group’s personal guide will explain the Etruscan culture with an emphasis on style and jewelry. We will share a welcome dinner at a local Roman restaurant.
Day Three. Wednesday, April 21 - Travel to Tuscany
This morning we will leave early for our home in Tuscany. It is about a 3-hour bus ride and we will make a stop in the town of Orvieto to visit the lovely sites in this beautiful town. The Duomo is not to be missed! We will arrive at our Tuscan home in the late afternoon. Our villa is located on a hilltop near the village of Montefiridolfi overlooking the Tuscan valley between Florence and 
Siena. The views from the grounds are spectacular! After settling into our rooms, we will meet for a typical Tuscan meal at the villa.
Day Four. Thursday, April 22 - Workshop
After breakfast we will take a short stroll by the olive groves to our workshop space. The studio also overlooks the valley and mountains – and if the weather permits, we will be able to work on the terrace! After a morning of working on the project, we will be ready for lunch and will return to our studio until dinner.
Day Five. Friday, April 23 - Visit to Siena
After breakfast will travel by bus to visit the city of Siena. Siena is a beautiful city, world-renowned for its history and art. We will have a guided tour in the morning with the afternoon free to explore all of 
the treasures Siena has to offer. We will return to the villa after a dinner at a lovely restaurant located near the villa.
Day Six. Saturday, April 24 - Travel the Tuscan Countryside
Today we will visit the Tuscan countryside with a stop in Volterra or San Gimignano. Maggie is working to arrange visits with local artisans and a wine tasting.
Day Seven. Sunday, April 25 - Workshop
Sunday is a quiet day in Italy – a family day with a large mid-day meal. This will be a workshop day in which we also enjoy a typical Italian Sunday meal. After the workshop, the evening is fee—and you can consider walking off at least one of the courses you indulged in today by an evening stroll to the Etruscan tomb located on the property and
Day Eight. Monday, April 26 - Florence
You cannot visit Tuscany without a trip to the city of Florence. Beadventures will give you a taste of this city of the Renaissance with a guided tour in the morning and the afternoon free to tour its 
many sites. At the end of the day we will gather at an arranged meeting point for return to our villa late in the evening.
Day Nine. Tuesday, April 27 - Workshop
Today is our final workshop day with a wine tasting in the late afternoon at the villa. Many of the wines will sample are produced by the family of the villa in which we are staying and are featured in restaurants throughout the US.
Day Ten. Wednesday, April 28 – Return to Rome
We say goodbye to Tuscany early in the morning and return to Rome via our bus. We will gather for our final farewell dinner in Rome.
Day Eleven. Thursday, April 29 - Departure
Depart from the Rome airport.
Optional Extension Trip
For those that would like to continue their experience and see more of Italy, this extension trip will take you to Naples, where you will stay in a lovely villa; a tour of Pompeii and the Naples museum; a drive down the breathtaking Amalfi Coast (including a visit with at cameo carvers); on to beautiful Venice and Murano.
Day Eleven. Thursday, April 29 – To Naples
This morning we leave Rome for Naples. On the way, we stop at San Vincenzo Abbey in the Molise section of Italy. This medieval abbey was at one time, the most important in all of Italy. It is now occupied by Benedictine nuns and efficiently run by Reverend Mother Miriam. They are bookbinders, potters and bead artists. After visiting the abbey and grounds and a light lunch, we head to Naples to arrive at Villa Giulia in time for dinner. The villa is a 16th century restored farmhouse and is surrounded by beautiful gardens and rooftop views of the Mediterranean. Dinner included.
Day Twelve. Friday, April 30 - Pompeii
This morning we get an early start to meet our guide, Aldo, and tour the 
ancient city of Pompeii. Aldo will take us back in time to experience life before the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. We will also stop at the cameo factory to see the artisans carve the cameos. If time permits, Aldo will take us to downtown Naples to walk the streets of this ancient city. We will stop at a Neapolitan pizzeria to eat the best pizza in the world (included). We then return to the villa for a relaxing evening and dinner (included.
Day Thirteen. Saturday, May 1 – Island of Ischia
Today is a holiday throughout all of Europe. We will get an early start (the ferries will be crowded) to visit the island of Ischia – about a 45 -minute ferry ride from the port of Pozzuoli. Ischia is a beautiful lush green island that can be seen from our villa. It is known for its spas and beaches. Today is free to explore the island with suggestions from Maggie. We return to our villa for dinner (included).
Day Fourteen. Sunday, May 2 - Naples
We will visit the National Museum in Naples to see the treasures found in Pompeii. Afternoon at the villa for our traditional Neapolitan Sunday meal.
Day Fifteen. Monday, May 3 – Amalfi Coast
We meet Aldo and head for the world-renowned Amalfi Coast! Aldo will explain the history of the coast and the vegetation and flowers we see along the way. We will stop at various points to take in the breathtaking vistas. Lunch is in the village of Priano at a lovely family-run hotel overlooking the coastline (included). We return in the late afternoon to the villa for a light dinner and our last evening in the South of Italy.
Day Sixteen. Tuesday, May 4 – Fly to Venice
In the morning, our bus will take us to the Naples airport for a short flight to Venice. Our home will be on the island of Murano where we will visit various glass artisans and the small glass museums as well as shop for beads!!!
Day Seventeen. Wednesday, May 5 – Tour Venice
This morning we take the vaporetto to Venice! We will visit San Marco square 
and tour this magical city with a guide. The afternoon is free time to shop and explore!
Day Eighteen. Thursday, May 6 – Island of Burano
The morning is free to shop on Murano and in the afternoon we will meet and take the vaporetto to the picturesque island of Burano. Burano is known for its lace making and has a small exhibit with samples from the past. Farewell dinner (included) on Burano and we return in the evening to Murano.
Day Nineteen. Friday, May 7 - Departure
Depart from Venice airport.
Project: Tuscany Inspired Pendant Necklace
Tracy has designed this project inspired by her Tuscany Beadventure...she writes: “Although this necklace could be created any place in the world, you will always be reminded of the fun you had during this fabulous trip to Italy! We will begin by creating a rope of Viking knit that will be used to hang your one of a kind pendant piece. To make the pendant, we will explore different low-tech methods of texturing metal and then layer them using riveting techniques. Your masterpiece will be finished off with wire wrapped beads to embellish. This is a project for the beginner to the advanced metal and wire worker.
What is better than Italy, metal, wire and friends!”
Workshop Tool List
Project supplies for the workshop will be provided. The following are the tools that each student will need to bring:
Long round nose, chain nose, and flat nose pliers
Flush cut wire cutters
Metal shears
Chasing hammer and pad (this can be a pounding pad or old mouse pad)
Plastic mallet
3x3 bench block
Household hammer
Metal 2-hole punch
Metal file
About Tracy Stanley . . .
Tracy has spent her life living in the Pacific Northwest. This has given her a deep appreciation for natural and organic elements, which she reflects in her work and in her teaching art. Tracy began teaching over 17 years ago and gets great satisfaction in passing on her knowledge and skills. Her greatest satisfaction comes from teaching her students solid techniques that will help them create quality pieces of which they can be proud. Tracy travels to teach at bead stores and shows all around the country—and now to Italy for her first Beadventure!
For more about Tracy and her work, you can visit her website.
Trip Cost
Tuscany Trip:
2625 Euro (calculator to convert to US dollars)
Includes: Lodging, workshop tuition and supplies, most meals, land transport, site visits
Does not include: airfare, a few meals, alcoholic beverages
Extension Trip:
1475.00
Includes:
Payment Terms: $300 deposit reserves your place on this Beadventure (you can chose one or both). Final payment is due 45 days prior to departure. For terms and conditions, registration form, go to Terms & Conditions.