Fall in love all over
Bettina Schindler-Pratesi,
again... with ancient
Restoration Specialist
history in Florence...
with friends old and
new on a guided walk...
with landscapes etched
in time... and with each
other under the picture-
perfect Tuscan sun.
“
I work in the old San Niccolò
district of Florence, surrounded by
workshops belonging to the city’s
most talented and creative artists.
San Niccolò is the essence of artisan
From afar, the giant peaks appear to be
Florence, and I love being part of
snow-capped, but upon closer inspection
you’ll see that it is the white marble
the inventiveness, imagination and
this region is world-famous for – it’s an
traditions that have flourished for
awesome experience! Changing landscapes
centuries in our narrow streets and
continue to mesmerize on the way to the the coast. Cinque Terre, “the five lands,”
alleys. I am a Restoration Specialist, seaside villages of Cinque Terre. Pause
are now linked to the outside world by
and when you wander into my
in the old Toscana village of Colonnata rail, but for centuries were accessible
workshop I’ll share with you the
for lunch. Scenic beauty welcomes you only by sea… or on foot, the best way to
to Portovenere on the Gulf of Poets. It’s
secrets of my work. Antiques are
appreciate life in what is truly a world of
not hard to see why this Roman-Byzantine its own. If you wish, hike with us through
my life – and I play a very special
town, frequented by Lord Byron, was terraced vineyards overlooking the sea
part in their lives. Ivory, bone,
named for the goddess Venus. Colorful from Monterosso to Vernazza – the “pearl
mother-of-pearl, horn, wood and
houses cascade along a hillside against of Cinque Terre.” If not, travel by train,
many other natural materials need the azure sea… guarded by the black-and- a thrilling experience unto itself. Along
loving attention every century or so to
white-striped Gothic church of San Pietro the way, fall in love with village life…
perched above... the images you’ll enjoy
survive
indelible seascape memories… and lunch
– I’ll happily share my craft!
” on an afternoon cruise from Portovenere
in a sidewalk café, seasoned with the
to the Cinque Terre village of Monterosso flavors of local wines, citrus, olives, and
will not soon be forgotten. Meals BD the catch of the day. The remainder of
the day is free to do as you please. Find
5. DISCOVERING “THE FIVE LANDS”
your own pursuits and follow your passion
4. THE WAY TO CINQUE TERRE Wake up to some of the most spectacular
in picturesque villages that lie just this
Your first Culturious road trip twists and coastal views in Italy; your villa is perched
side of heaven. Meals B
turns its way toward the Gulf of Genoa en on a hillside overlooking Monterosso al
route to the huge mountains of marble at Mare. Feel the rhythm of the sea during 6. A TASTE OF TUSCANY
Carrara. While Michelangelo didn’t get to an early morning dip off the private A jog or a swim is an excellent way to
ride in a 4 X 4 like the one that takes you beach of Porto Roca, the perfect way start the day before a taking a drive
to the quarries when he first came here in to get ready for a day of exploring. through the Tuscan Hills to nearby Lucca.
back in 1505 to select marble for his life’s Fragrant with lemon trees and calla While just about everything you see and
works, he did see the same breathtaking lilies, Monterosso is one of five remote do here feeds your soul, Tuscany is all
sights you’ll see during your journey. fishing villages strung like jewels along about the food. A hands-on lesson with
8
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