ITALIAN INTERMEZZO

Join world music performer and producer, Sharon O’Connor for a Magical Experience to in 2010.

Italian Intermezzo -- Escape To Ireland -- Legendary Danube -- Provence & Burgundy Wine Cruise

$8,599.99 Per Couple
(with one person cooking)

Italian Intermezzo
Villa San Michele in Florence

May 23—28, 2010

Book now and receive a free autographed set of six Menus and Music volumes.

We’ll stay at the legendary Villa San Michele, an Orient-Express hotel. A former 15th century monastery with facade attributed to Michelangelo, this 5-star hotel overlooks the art-filled city of Florence. One of Europe’s most charming and picturesque hotels, the villa is an oasis of peace surrounded by formal gardens and woodlands.

We’ll enjoy cooking classes by renowned chef Attilio de Fabrizio. All courses are “hands on” with a maximum of 10 participants working in the kitchen alongside the experts. At the end of each lesson, we’ll be served the dishes we prepared in class. We’ll have a blast learning how to create the dishes and then take home printed recipes so we can astound our friends back home. Instruction is in English and covers salads, pasta, main courses, desserts, and the art of entertaining.

There is only one word to describe our stay at Villa San Michele, perfection! We had the most glorious time! It was the best trip of my life and the thought of going back there has just renewed me! Thank you for giving us a truly amazing week, we will be coming with you again.

- Kathy, from Virginia

A special Catherine de’ Medici Dinner, with musicians and waiters in costume and the room set up as in authentic Renaissance style, is another highlight! We’ll have private guided tours and view priceless art at the Palazzo Pitti and the Academy. There will be a festive evening concert to attend in Florence. You’re invited to private cocktail receptions, a special luncheon at Il Latini, and to enjoy a little time off for shopping and swimming.

Program includes everything except airfare.

During this entire dream week, we’ll enjoy the swimming pool and secluded gardens of the Villa, and thanks to the hotel’s free private shuttle service that runs every 20 minutes, the museums and boutiques of Florence are only 12 minutes away. All cooking classes are in English.

Read about a past Italian Intermezzo trip.

Daily Schedule

May 23

• Upon arrival, transfer from the Florence airport. Settle in at the Villa San Michele. A private cocktail reception in the Italian Gardens followed by dinner with regional wines in order to get to know all the other participants in the program.

May 24

• After a fabulous breakfast, a hands-on cooking class with executive chef Atilio di Fabrizio and chef Luca Orini. Sharon O’Connor will play her violoncello with a Florentine Baroque Trio.
• We’ll enjoy lunch together with dishes that we learned to make in class.
• An à la carte dinner with exceptional regional wines on Villa San Michele’s gorgeous loggia overlooking Florence.

May 25

• Day at leisure for shopping in the city’s fine boutiques, visiting historic sites and museums, sampling gelato and fragrances at Santa Maria Novello, one of the world’s oldest and best loved apothecaries, etc.
• In the evening, we’ll attend a fabulous evening concert and at Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theater, Florence’s opera house.

May 26

• After breakfast, a cooking class with chef Attilio and chef Luca. We’ll learn dishes typical of traditional Tuscan cuisine such as Panzanella, Ribolitta, Gnocchi, and Zucotto. For lunch we’ll enjoy the specialties that we learned to prepare in class.
• Our fabulous evening starts with a private cocktail reception at the Villa followed by a magical Renaissance-style dinner! The décor and amazing parade of dishes for this event are inspired by Catherine de’ Medici. The waiters and brilliant musicians will be dressed in Renaissance costumes. The Cenacola Room, with its fresco of The Last Supper completed in 1642, will be set up as in the Renaissance days.

May 27

• After breakfast, a morning guided tour with docent to the Palazzo Pitti and also to the famous Museo dell’Accademia with Michelangelo’s David, which has been restored.
• After a morning devoted to art, we’ll enjoy a casual gourmet lunch at Il Latini, one of the most soulful and popular restaurants in Florence.
• A free afternoon for dawdling over dessert and espresso, shopping, sight seeing, or swimming and relaxing back at the Villa.
• Dinner with exceptional regional wines on the Loggia at Villa San Michele.

May 28

• Departure after one last fabulous breakfast before the transfer to the Florence airport.

Italian Intermezzo -- Escape To Ireland -- Legendary Danube -- Provence & Burgundy Wine Cruise

$8,599.99 Per Couple (with one person cooking)