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Experience real Tuscany and learn Italian!
Curious about Italian history, language and culture? Eager to learn how to prepare some genuine hand made pasta? Interested in wine and olive oil tastings?
Our one week program will give you a perfect opportunity to discover and experience Tuscany while learning the Italian language and culture, in a pleasant, charming and relaxing atmosphere.
In one of the most beautiful spots in Tuscany (film set for the movies “The Gladiator” and “The English Patient”), we offer an exciting program that includes accommodation at our farmhouse, 15 hours of high quality Italian language instruction, visits to historic sites, cooking classes of the traditional Tuscan food, wine and olive oil tastings, participation in the olive harvest, visits to oil presses and much more!
Enjoy Tuscany at its most intimate. You may ask “But how is Tuscany in Autumn and Winter ? Is it still beautiful ? Will I enjoy my stay there?” Our answer is: Yes, you can spend a wonderful time in Tuscany during November and December.
This is the time when Tuscans take possession of their country again.
During the fall and the winter time you can join them, and get the feeling of belonging to this magical region where culture and traditions are still very much alive.
Stay in a typical Tuscan accommodation: the “Agriturismo”.
An “agriturismo” is a uniquely Italian experience where guests can stay in a farm-like residence in the countryside and enjoy a rural lifestyle without giving up modern comforts.
You'll be living at our family-run “Agriturismo Cretaiole” that is located south of Siena in the very heart of Val d’Orcia (World-wide heritage of humanity by UNESCO), just outside Pienza on a beautiful hilltop, where you can enjoy amazing views of the surrounding countryside. Your Italian language classes will take place every morning at the “Scuola Camprena” – School for Italian language and Cultural studies - , while many of the other activities will take place at Agriturismo Cretaiole. Our location also makes it easy to make day-trips to many wine-producing towns like Montalcino and Montepulciano along with famous destinations like Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Perugia, and Cortona.
Our courses in Italian language and culture
Our courses in Italian language and culture take place in the light and airy rooms of the “Scuola Camprena” – School for Italian language and Cultural studies - located on an Etruscan settlement, close to a 14th century Benedictine monastery and only a few minutes drive from Cretaiole.
 At the school you will receive individual attention: courses are tailored to your personal wishes and language proficiency.
This means that they work exclusively through private instruction or in small groups, giving you the satisfaction of learning Italian in an effective and focused way while experiencing a sense of harmony with the natural surroundings.
The roomy premises of a former estate were carefully renovated in 2003 and reflect the integrity of the gently rolling countryside. The glass panels and high windows afford beautiful and peaceful views, that transform the light and mood of the surrounding landscape into inner contentment and focus.
The school is thus also a place to relax and reflect , where you can contemplate and enjoy the unique landscape of this corner of Tuscany.
The Italian language and culture have their roots here.
Based at this school you can discover every historical era, from the Etruscans and Romans, to castles and monasteries of the Middle Ages, to the Renaissance in Pienza and Montepulciano.
The Roman road Via Cassia is still used today, and you can walk the Via Francigena.
Courses
 Depending on your personal and professional interests, your particular knowledge of foreign languages and learning style, the school will offer:
Beginners, advanced and "professional" level language courses
Focus on:
speaking
grammar
pronunciation
written expression
The program of each course ranges from beginning to advanced.
Monday-Friday: 3 hours a day, from 9.00 am.
* Proficiency and - as far as possible - age are taken into account when forming groups. Therefore if you register for a group course, but the levels of the participants are very different, we will automatically offer you private tuition (half the number of hours of a group class).
Lessons
Teachers: All have university degrees and experience eaching Italian
Class size: 5 max.
Course includes: Individual course material, placement test on request, course certificate (the course books may be borrowed or purchased)
THE AGRITURISMO AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES…
 Cretaiole is one large farmhouse originally built in the 1400’s and recently subdivided into six spacious, comfortable apartments with separate entrances and independent heating. They can sleep from 2 to 7 people.
In the beautiful big yard around the house our guests are able to fully relax with the magnificent views and the quiet they find here. They can choose their private corner to eat, read a book or just enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while tasting a glass of our home made wine…
OUR APARTMENTS
Each apartment is furnished in the traditional, Tuscan style, with terracotta floors and beautiful beamed ceilings. All apartments have great views, a cozy living room, perfectly working old fireplaces in stone, one or more bedrooms with king-sized bed, and private bathrooms with shower.
You can choose your favourite accommodation among bedrooms (without a kitchen), studio apartments, two-three and four room apartments that are all provided with a fully equipped kitchen.
IN THE GARDEN
In the beautiful big garden around the house everyone can pick vegetables from our organic garden and use our barbecue outside. You may use anything you find on the lawn: chairs, tables, recliners, the ping pong table and the mountain bikes. If you are familiar with wood-burning ovens you may also use ours for bread and pizza. There is chopped firewood in a pile that you can use.
There is also a faucet for delicious natural spring water that comes directly from the source at Monte Amiata through a duct leading straight to Cretaiole.
There is a room where we keep a small assortment of some of our estate products (wine, oil, vinsanto, grappa, and other items).
In the same room we also offer tourist information which you might find useful: maps, brochures, guidebooks…
You can also find some of our postcards here, which we happily give to our guests to be mailed or kept as a souvenir.
OUR ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES...
 Many of our guests return year after year because they feel a part of our “extended family”. We really try to make our guests feel at home. We stop into Cretaiole every day and will assist you with any necessity or special request. Isabella is fluent in English and a veritable font of local information!
Our aim is to help you savour our land, traditions and local culture and our goal is to give you a genuine taste of our life here, not only at Cretaiole but also "outside". That's why we believe personal contact is so important!
We hope you leave with a unique and authentic experience, something you can cherish for a lifetime as one of your fondest memories.
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
Our weekly program will include:
 Visit to the Pienza Hermitage (on our family property)
We have been the proud owners of this archaeological site since 1993. It is a mysterious, eerie hermitage of extraordinary beauty that might have once been an Etruscan tomb. While it is not open to the general public, we do allow access to our guests.
Extra virgin olive oil tasting at Cretaiole
Just like wine, olive oil has a “soul” and very few people know how to recognize it. Carlo, who is a professional member of the Panel Test in Siena, will guide you in tasting four different olive oils as he teaches you to identify their qualities and imperfections.
Pasta making class and special dinner at Cretaiole
You are all invited to learn the art of making “pici”, our traditional handmade pasta.
 You will learn how to mix the dough, kneed it, and roll simple strips of pasta like irregularly shaped spaghetti. We will have a group dinner after class. The menu comprises pici (of course), Liliana’s home made ragù sauce, some grilled meat, various cold cuts and other homemade fare. The meal is enhanced with our own wine and grappa.
Wine tasting in Montepulciano & city tour
With a professional guide you will visit the Renaissance town of Montepulciano, its Civic Museum and you’ll make a wine tasting in a historic wine cellar (Rosso di Montepulciano DOC, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG).
You’ll experience how wine can go “from the vine, to the bottle, to the lips, to the heart.”…
* Please note: the program may vary due to weather conditions, closed days, etc. We will substitute with similar activities. |
Olive harvest*
Join our family for the olive harvest in season. Every olive is hand picked, but it isn’t just hard work – there is also something special about touching the branches, hearing the sound of the olives when they hit the ground, knowing they will soon come back to us in a different form, maybe on a plate of steaming pasta or drizzled over warm bruschetta...
For every 100 kg of olives harvested you will
receive 6 kg of “your” olive oil to take home!
Visit to a local olive press*
After the olive harvest you can visit the oil press where our olives are pressed.
You’ll taste the green olive oil directly from the press and you’ll experience the unique flavours and smells of fresh pressed olive oil…
Thermal bath at the “Val di Sole SPA” in Bagno Vignoni
Enjoy a tranquil hot spring swimming pool whose water comes directly from the underground source at 51 C°. Overlooking a valley, the outdoor pool is enhanced by the surrounding panoramic view. You can stand underneath a waterfall that feeds the pool to further relax your muscles. The pool is nicely maintained with a large lawn, lounge chairs, showers and locker rooms. The pools are fantastic in the winter with the steam rising into the chilly air.
Cooking class in Montepulciano
Learn how to prepare a complete “Tuscan menu from the antipasto to the dolce” according to written recipes. It will be under the expert guidance of one of the best local cooks, in the beautiful location of one of the top restaurants of Montepulciano.
A splendid candle-lit gourmet Dinner will follow.
A welcome basket for two on arrival with an assortment of our home made products: a bottle of extra virgin olive oil, a bottle of “Orcia doc 2003” red wine, and a bottle of the 2004, a bottle of Vin Santo sweet wine and half a pound of aged pecorino cheese. In addition to that you’ll also find fresh milk, coffee, tea, sugar, orange juice, a loaf of crusty bread, jam and butter, fresh eggs and a small “salami” intended for your breakfast.
One traditional Tuscan dinner in a selected local restaurant (altogether you’ll get three complete dinners are included in the program fee).
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Weekly Program
Saturday
Arrival at Cretaiole, guest relaxation, meeting with Isabella, personal assistance in English
08.00 pm Dinner at the most ancient and traditional Tuscan “trattoria” of Pienza
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| Sunday |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| MORNING |
Hermitage tour:
10 am -12 am |
Italian course:
09.00-12.00 (language and Italian culture) |
Italian course:
09.00-12.00 (language and Italian culture) |
Italian course:
09.00-12.00 (language and Italian culture) |
Italian course:
09.00-12.00 (language and Italian culture) |
Italian course:
09.00-12.00 (language and Italian culture) |
| Lunch (not provided) |
Lunch (not provided) |
Lunch (not provided) |
Lunch (not provided) |
Lunch (not provided) |
Lunch (not provided) |
| AFTERNOON |
Thermal bath at the “Val di Sole SPA” in Bagno Vignoni
4 pm-6 pm |
Extra virgin olive oil tasting at Cretaiole
5 pm-7 pm |
Cooking class in Montepulciano
5 pm-7 pm |
Olive harvest:
2 pm-7 pm
Guided visit to a local olive press
5 pm -7 pm
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Pasta making class and dinner at Cretaiole
5 pm….late night |
Wine tasting in Montepulciano & city tour
3pm-5 pm |
| Dinner (not provided) |
Dinner (not provided) |
Dinner at Restaurant |
Dinner (not provided) |
Dinner at Cretaiole! |
Dinner (not provided) |
Saturday
- 10 am Pack and depart |
AVAILABILITY & RATES
WEEK-LONG PROGRAM DATES
(8 days, 7 nights, from Saturday to Saturday) – Min. participants 4 people
12-19 November / 19-26 November / 26 November–3 December / 3 December– 10 December / 10 December-17 December
PRICES PER PERSON (one week) depending on the accommodation:
Bedroom with king sized bed, private bthr w/shower (sleeps 2)
About 14 square meters
Euro 650,00
Studio apartment with king sized bed, kitchenette, fireplace, private bthr w/shower (sleeps 2)
About 30-32 square meters
Euro 730,00
Two-room apartment with sitting room with kitchen and fireplace, bedroom with king sized bed, private bthr. /w shower (sleeps 2)
About 50 square meters
Euro 780,00
Children added with single bed or baby cot with parents in the same room: free of charge
THE PRICE INCLUDES
Lodging at the farmhouse
- welcome basket (for two) with assortment of our own products+milk, bread, jam, etc.
- wood for the fireplace
- sheets for every bed, bath and kitchen towels (changed weekly)
- final cleaning up
- use of the washing machine
- use of our organic vegetable garden
- use of our barbecue outside
- mountain bikes
- taxes, gas, water, electricity
Italian language and culture course: 15 hours
Course materials (tests, articles, film, music).
Certificate at the end of the course
All the weekly activities (see program) and three weekly dinners are also included.
EXTRA SERVICES
Extra changes of bed sheets and towels can be requested
during your stay for E 10,00 (price for two persons) for a
complete change.
Independent heating, which is typically about Euro 21,00-
35,00 per week for a studio apartment (depending on the
use)
Extra cleaning up available on request (E 8,00 per hour)
The price does not include anything not mentioned above as being included.
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