September 19 - October 3, 2022
Rome ~ Tuscany ~ Florence ~ Siena ~ Arezzo Antique Market
All of our Beadventures to Italy are special—but this one is very, very special! Not only will you experience the beauty of Tuscany during your 15-day adventure, you’ll also have a workshop with international star bead artist—Monica Vinci!
You’ll arrive in Rome where you'll spend two days and then take the train to Tuscany. Here you'll stay at a lovely country inn nestled on top of a rolling hill amidst olive trees and grape vines. Il Borghetto will be our base as we tour Florence, Siena, and the Tuscany valley. Our workshop with Monica will be this beautiful never-before taught cuff and take place on Il Borghetto’s lovely patio. Following our workshop with Monica, we’ll travel to Arezzo and be there for its incredible, world-famous Antique Market. You'll then return to Rome for your departure home.
Day 1 - Monday, September 19 - Arrive in Rome
Arrive at Rome Airport (FCO) and transfer to our hotel in the Aventino area. Maggie will wait for you to arrive at the hotel. Aventino is one of Maggie’s favorite areas in Rome. The walks are lovely with views of ancient Roman ruins, rose gardens. Because folks will be arriving at various times throughout the day, you will be free to rest up and/or explore Rome on your own (Maggie will have suggestions for how you might want to spend your day). Since everyone will be tired, dinner will be on your own tonight.
Day 2 - Tuesday, September 20 - Explore Rome
This is a free day in Rome so you can tailor it to meet your interests. For first-time visitors to Rome, Maggie can make suggestions about popular sites to see—especially how to make reservations to the Vatican ahead of time before you depart on your trip, which is VERY IMPORTANT! Maggie has found that a great way to get a feel of the city is with the “hop-on, hop-off” bus (a stop is located a short walk from the hotel). Maggie always heads to the area around the Pantheon and the bead stores (two in the area) and for other shopping. In the early evening, we will meet in the hotel lobby for our group dinner. The restaurant is a real gem located just a block from our hotel with great food and charm.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Wednesday, September 21 - Travel to Tuscany
After breakfast we will travel by train to Tuscany, enjoying the Italian countryside. In late afternoon/early evening, we’ll arrive at Il Borghetto Country Inn in Montefiridolfi, just outside of Florence, which looks out over the rolling hills of Chianti where some of Italy's finest wines are made. Here we will have dinner on the patio (weather permitting) overlooking the valley.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Thursday, September 22 - Tour Florence
AFollowing breakfast we will travel to Florence via private transport. Maggie has arranged a tour of Arte della Seta Lisio Foundation, which was founded to keep alive the art of hand-weaving in silk. After the tour, we will have lunch at a local restaurant. We’ll then visit the Palazzo Pitti to view its Costume Gallery where we will see the history of Italian fashion throughout history up until the 20th century. We will return to our villa in late afternoon and greet our guest instructor, Monica Vinci, who will join us for dinner. Monica hails from Pisa area and will be teaching a workshop over the next two days. Her work is very rich, lush, unique and her insight into the area is priceless.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Friday, September 23 - Workshop with Monica
After breakfast our workshop with Monica will get underway!!! Weather permitting, we’ll bead on the patio, break for lunch and then resume the workshop until late afternoon. Before dinner, we will have a tour of the vineyards and winery of Il Borghetto. Their wines are exported to many top restaurants throughout the US.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Saturday, September 24 - Workshop Continues
After breakfast our workshop with Monica will continue. We will break for lunch and then resume until late afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Sunday, September 25 - Back to Florence
One day in Florence is not enough! After breakfast we will be off to Florence via private transport to meet up with Leo, our private, incredible guide, for a morning tour of this gorgeous city. After the tour we’ll enjoy lunch, visit some of Florence’s markets, and further explore this fascinating city.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Monday, September 26 - Special Visit to Siena
This tour is one of Maggie’s favorites! After breakfast we will travel via private transport to the hilltop town of Siena, where we will meet author and Siena resident Dario Castagno for a unique presentation on the Palio and a tour of his Contrada. You’ll learn that the Palio is not just a horse race, but a cultural phenomenon. After lunch at a lovely local restaurant, there will be free time to explore the city.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Tuesday, September 27 - Chianti Wine Region Tour
Not only is Dario Castagno an author and ambassador for his Contrada, he also guides tours of the Chianti region! During his off-the-beaten path itinerary, he will share not only the history but also the soul of this ancient and civilized region—as well as its world-famous wines!
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Wednesday, September 28 - Free Day
Right now this is a day to relax at the villa—unless we come up with something else!
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 - Thursday, September 29 - Travel to Arezzo
In mid-morning we will say goodbye to the countryside and depart via train for Arezzo, one of the wealthiest cities in Tuscany. Our home will be a hotel near the historic city center. After settling into our rooms, we will have lunch, get an introduction to Arezzo, and enjoy a group dinner.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 - Friday, September 30 - Explore Arezzo
In the morning we will meet our guide for a tour of Arezzo and learn about its historical highlights. After the tour, you will be free to explore the city on your own (the Antique Market actually opens up Friday evening, so you can get a “sneak preview” of all those potential treasures!)
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 13 - Saturday, October 1 - Arezzo Antique Market
The market is one of the largest in Italy and as a result of our workshop with Monica, it especially will be fun to search for items to be used in your future work! You’ll be able to stroll the streets for antique, vintage, and modern items among the 500 exhibitors and about 100 little shops. The fair takes advantage of the extraordinary scenery of Piazza San Francesco, Piazza Grande, and the Logge del Vasari, but the stalls spread over the side alleys and squares across the historic center, transforming the character of the city for the two days of the Antique Market. In the evening we will meet up for our farewell dinner—and talk about our great finds!
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 14 - Sunday, October 2 - Depart for Rome
You’ll be free in the morning (an opportunity to return to the Market!). After lunch we will travel by train for our hotel at the Rome airport.
Meals included: Breakfast
Day 15 - Monday, October 3 - Depart for Home
The hotel has a convenient shuttle to the Rome Airport (FCO) for you to catch your flight home or to continue with other adventures!
Important Note About Itinerary
We are continuing to fine tune the above itinerary. As a result, there may be additions and other tweaks as we work through the details. Be assured that any changes will maintain--if not enhance--the quality of your travel experience!
Monica has designed this beautiful bead embroidery bracelet for this Beadventure. It was inspired by the coffered ceilings of the Cathedral of Pisa, the Dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta of Siena, and the wonders of Florence. It uses many bead embroidery stitches and the focal point is a suspended Swarovski crystal. As you find with Monica's work, this project incorporates fine materials found in high fashion embroidery. Bellissima!
About Monica Vinci, Your Workshop Instructor
I was born on the island of Sardinia and now live in the city of Pisa, Italy. When I was a child, my mother and my grandmother taught me to crochet, knit, embroider, and build Sardinian’s baskets.
During my pregnancy, I found I loved working with beads—first with Swarovski elements, then I learned peyote stitch, bead embroidery, soutache embroidery, and macramé. Whether a simple or more elaborate creation, I make my jewelry trying to reach perfection and taking care of the smallest details.
Following the birth of my son I decided to dedicate herself to his upbringing and it was then that I fell in love with beads. Gradually, beading became an incredible passion. I began publishing in Italian and foreign magazines, as well as teaching. I have created a large studio in my house where I teach classes at as well as at various shows in Italy and abroad.
My greatest satisfaction is to see my students making success and creating magnificent pieces. At my workshops, I try to convey all my little secrets that I have acquired over the years. Never stop learning!!! I'm self-taught and I always want to learn new techniques and transmit my knowledge to others. You always have goals in your life, and they are always the most important stimulus for creativity! – Monica Vinci
About Maggie Meister, Your Tour Leader
The love of ancient history, color and patterns have followed me throughout my life and my designs have come to fruition during the time my family and I lived in Italy. In looking back beads have always been a part of my life – from playing with Mardi Gras beads or collecting semi-precious stones as a young girl to my love of ancient and ethnic jewelry as I became older. Today seed beads have become the medium I use to translate my sources of inspiration into personal designs for adornment.
When living in Naples, Italy, I was surrounded by ancient history. The fragments of Roman columns, mosaics, and frescoes are my inspiration, and I am grateful for those “ancient voices.” Translating these voices into designs fills my days with joy and wonder and I cherish my “connection” with the past. Beading is a way for me to share this wonderful experience and bring those voices of the past into the present." -- Maggie Meister
Maggie has taught around the United State and in Europe and leads Beadventures to Italy each year. Her book, "Classical Elegance," was released in August 2011. Her work was featured in the October 2012 issue of Ornament Magazine and Maggie was a 2013 “Designer of the Year” for Beadwork Magazine. – Maggie Meister
Trip Cost
4250 Euros (click here to convert currency) Single supplement (based on availability) Additional 1310 Euros
To Sign Up & Payment Terms
To guarantee your spot on this trip, send a US$1,000 deposit and completed registration form (click here to go to registration information and form); balance will be due 120 days prior to start of Beadventure.
Trip Cost Includes
Trip Cost Does Not Include
COVID Vaccination Requirements
While Beadventures appreciates the excitement and rewards that our trips offer, our number one priority is the health and safety of our travelers. To ensure your safety and peace of mind, Beadventures will require that all travelers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure.
To meet this requirement, you will be asked to provide Beadventures with a copy of your original COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card no later than 14 days prior to the trip’s departure. The white card must display your name, type of vaccine, and the date(s) the vaccine was administered. We recommend you also bring it with you should it be needed while on your trip. We also suggest taking a picture of this card to keep for your records as a backup.
Beadventures will update this requirement as the world’s circumstances change and make appropriate adjustments as dictated by health standards, protocols, and destinations.
Travel Protection
Beadventures recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Beadventure customers have had great customer service from TravelEx Insurance Services. For more information on its available plans or to enroll, click here or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 02-0040.
Fitness Level
There is a great deal of walking on this trip, much of it up and down hills, on uneven cobblestone streets, as well as stairs as most places do not have elevators. Porter service or elevators are not always available in hotels, so you need to be able to personally handle your luggage. As a result, this trip is not for those that have difficulty walking or other mobility issues.
Supplies for Monica’s Workshop
Bring your customary supplies, bead mat, magnification, and a battery-powered task light (preferably one that can be charged from an external source; otherwise you'll need to bring lots of extra batteries). You will not have access to electrical power to run a typical task light during class.