The Insider’s Italy Experience: 
September 30-October 12, 2007

A Privileged & Spiritual Odyssey with Inspirational Author and Motivator,

 Sheilaa Hite & Randi Winter,

Journalist and Specialist in Inspired Pursuits

(Odyssey-- a spiritual quest of self-discovery; a journey home)

Join us to experience this magical journey that will inspire your heart, mind and soul while exploring Italy -with all your senses. Here the appreciation and style of life is paramount- the same way it has been for centuries as families defended, protected and cherished it. Be immersed in the Florentine and Roman art, history and culture, while we delve into this country’s artistic soul and celebrate the true bounty of the harvest season with a special cooking class, a truffle hunt, wine, oil and chocolate tasting and much more. Wine and dine with the baron after we stroll the picturesque gardens at one of Tuscany’s most magnificent baronial castles just a few nights after we are guests at a private dinner party hosted by the Gucci family in their Florentine villa (joined by several of their interesting personal friends), as together we enjoy an unforgettable evening of wine, food, music and brilliant conversation. VIP access to top designers in fashion, jewelry and artisan products abound.  

Be part of an exquisite treasure hunt that takes us through the passionate heart of Italy seeking and finding the most precious jewels of all-- our oft forgotten connection to our own spontaneity and joy-filled hearts, our sense of self value and true purpose in life and the self-permission so necessary to experience life to the fullest.

Through carefully planned activities at sacred and secular sites in and around some of the most beautiful cities on the Continent, we will engage, energize, activate and delight our hearts, head, bodies, souls and spirits as we reset our personal belief system to giving yourself permission to be a spiritual, caring person and enjoy the worldly pleasures that life has to offer.  

These priceless experiences are exclusive opportunities for you. Share the pleasure of La Dolce Vita usually reserved for the privileged insiders. The Italy we experience is one where the impossible becomes possible      "...and the end of all our exploring-- will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time."    T. S. Eliot

Pre and post stays including a Gucci group fashion show and activities or upgraded accommodations optional. 

FLORENCE

Sunday - 30 September- Day 1- FLORENCE
Welcome to Italy. If you have not already been settled into our lovely hotel to take advantage of some pre Odyssey shopping or sightseeing, be sure to arrange for arrival before noon to ensure we will be able to embark on our amazing journey together.    

Check in upon arrival at the historic and well located Hotel Plaza Lucchesi on the Arno River.  Lunch at Leisure

2:30 pm Welcome. Our private guide will give you an orientation of the city and provide maps and insider information on Florence and all our contact information. 

Sheilaa and Randi will welcome you to our Italian Spiritual Odyssey and guide you to open your eyes, ears and heart to the sights and sounds of each city and how to focus on the Odyssey’s goal of great self-discovery and enjoyment. 

3 pm Walking tour. Our first afternoon will be a connoisseur’s guided tour of Florence. Visit the best artisans in Florence (visiting the workshops, antique shops, wood engravers, master painting restoration, gold artisans and designers.

Tonight we dine together and get to know one another and share the excitement of the day and the anticipation and wonder what tomorrow will bring.  

Monday- 1 October- Day 2 - FLORENCE

Early morning walking meditation to sense Florence as it is waking. Experience and become aware of the changing patterns of the city as it awakens. Feel the beginning of our own Renaissance reflected in the beauty of Florence.

Back to the hotel for breakfast 

9.3O am Visit to the silk weaving factory where they are still using hand looms from the 1700s to create brocades and taffetas that shimmer in the light coming through the old glass windows. These silk weaves were once the exclusive property of individual noble families. In 15th century frescoes we can spot the female members of prominent families wearing their trademark silks. Here, the world’s most famous patterns have been loomed and where the stunning silver and gold fabrications of Versace and Gucci are still woven to this day. You will have the opportunity to have your own special fabrics designed and loomed for you.

Lunch in a typical Florentine fiaschetteria.

3 pm Guided walking tour of the “Antica Officina del Profumo” di Santa Maria Novella. The present pharmacy dates from 1612. It is famous all over the world and it was granted the warrant of "suppliers to his Royal Highness" by the Grand Duke Ferdinand II and to the King of Italy. The Gothic ceiling filled with frescoes by Paloino Sarti portraying the personifications of the four corners of the earth. There are eight walnut cupboards with glass doors containing exquisite 19th century bottles of the different coloured essences and products for sale. Among the items for sale, besides their glorious potpourri, are Sali di Pediluvio foot balm (it will keep you ready for our walking).

 Dinner at leisure.

Tuesday-  2 October- Day 3 -FLORENCE

Breakfast and discussion of day’s intent of increasing awakening and awareness of the primal creative-sensual spirit both natural and man made.  

 8.3O am Guided walking tour (3 hours) including Accademia (David), Duomo, Baptistry, Piazza della Signoria,
and the Ponte Vecchio. Visit to the oldest food market in Florence.

Lunch at leisure.

3 pm Private visit to one of Florence’s top fur and leather designers. We will have access to the stunning array of his creations. Delve into both the process of creating pieces of amazing beauty and explore our own perceptions of ourselves and the “skin” we are in and how it influences us in our daily lives.

Dinner at leisure. Balance of evening free to explore.

Wednesday- 3 October- Day 4- FLORENCE

Breakfast and discussion of day’s intention of love and gratitude.  

9 am Guided tour inside the Uffizi Gallery and the grounds of the Pitti Palace, admiring Vasari’s corridor.

Lunch at leisure.

Visit the Ferragamo Shoe Museum in the afternoon  (he gave meaning to the word LUST!)

Time at leisure for the last shopping time in Florence.

My name is Guccio Gucci, my great grandfather was Guccio Gucci, my grandfather was Aldo Gucci and my father is Giorgio Gucci.

*An Evening to Remember : Mr. And Mrs. Guccio Gucci will be our hosts at their Florentine Villa for this very special evening;  a private dinner enjoying the company of the Gucci family and several of their personal friends as you are “introduced” into the Maledetti Toscani spirit. Live music will enhance the evening’s festivities  It will truly be an evening to remember!

FLORENCE TO TUSCANY, SAN GIMIGNANO AND COUNTRYSIDE

Thursday- 4 October -Day 5- FLORENCE TO SAN GIMIGNANO

Breakfast and orientation for the day… to connect passionately with the infinite bounty and flow of life

9.30 am Board our bus to transfer from Florence to Hotel Villa San Paolo in San Gimignano.

Enjoy the spectacular drive from Florence through the wine country, as we approach the medieval walled city of San Gimignano. We will have our first introduction to the Tuscan country lifestyle.

Once we arrive at the walled city with its ancient towers, we will have a city tour with our guide. There is time to shop and lunch at leisure in San Gimignano.

Arrive at hotel 3.30 pm with time at leisure to relax and make appointments at the magnificent IRISSPA if you have not already done so.

Tonight we will be taking a short drive for one of the most memorable and fun oil and wine tastings you will ever have in your life. You never realized just how much fun wine tasting can be until you share in this experience. Enjoy a special dinner created  by our renown winemaker and host whose family has been crafting wines since the 1620s and whose family started the Super Tuscan wines. 

Meditation in the vineyard. 

Friday- 5 Oct-Day 6 SAN GIMIGNANO,  CHIANTI

Breakfast and you will be briefed about today’s exciting activities and focus on connecting with, creating and ingesting your own magical potion. Engage all your senses today. We will truly connect with the earth and the special bounty we can unearth to savor and celebrate.

8.30 am Wearing appropriate clothing, we will head out to have a splendid walk through the woods of Chianti with the guides and their specially trained dogs looking for precious truffles.

Lunch will continue today’s theme with a specially designed meal featuring truffles in a typical Tuscan farmhouse. We will have a truffles and vines meditation.

Back to the Hotel at 3 pm.

Time at leisure to relax in your hotel spa. Dinner at leisure

Saturday- 6 Oct -Day 7 TUSCANY, PISA,  LUCCA

Morning breakfast and discussing today’s intentions

This morning we will explore the beauty of Villa San Paolo with an optional extended workshop session with Sheilaa or make an early spa appointment. 

Free time for lunch 

2 pm Today we travel to the leaning tower of Pisa and  the beauty of Lucca, the home of Giacomo Puccini.

In Pisa we will experience one of the most famous culinary marvels of the region. We will go to a premier chocolatier for a special tasting designed to delight our hearts and seduce our senses.

We will continue on our journey as we proceed to Lucca for a  guided tour of the historical center, rich with churches, museums and palazzos and circled by the majestic renaissance walls. Lucca is a hidden gem of a walled city. The city offers the famous Palazzo Pfanner, a building from the 1600s that contains one of the most beautiful in Tuscany: They contain one of the most beautiful gardens in Tuscany; the famous Guinigi palace belonging to the noble family that governed Lucca in the 15th century and the location from which the Tone del Guinigi emerges,. The majestic Cathedral of San Martino, and the Church of San Frediano, whose mosaic facade dates back to the 1200.

We will incorporate the special genius and passion of composer Giacomo Puccini as we visit his home, where his pianoforte and costume designs for his operas still remain.

Free time to roam and shop. 

Dinner in Lucca. This restaurant is housed in an ancient building located in the historic center of Lucca. Within its characteristic atmosphere you can try traditional regional cooking in dishes prepared with extreme expertise and flavored with passion.

We return back to Villa San Paolo late in the evening.

Sunday- 7October- Day 8 TUSCANY TO UMBRIA

Breakfast and orientation for day as we get ready to move and experience the difference in regional scenery , food and wine as we approach Siena. Focus on community and the role cooking and food plays in our lives.

9 am Tuscan cooking class at the local farmhouse in the middle of the Chianti countryside. Lunch and wine tasting at the farmhouse.

Afternoon free as we check into our new hone for two days. This will be a wonderful Borgo where you will be able to experience the feeling of living in a small community.

Meditation and connecting to community …

Dinner on own

Monday- 8  October-Day 9 UMBRIA,  SIENA, UMBRIA  

Breakfast and orientation to feel the power of personal alchemy and manifesting our dreams.

9.OO  am We head to Siena where we will be performing our own alchemy as we learn the  art of GOLD LEAFING from the Etruscans to current applications using the ancient art of jewelry-making.

The tradition of Italian gold plating has had a long history. During Etruscan times a true and proper art form was born in jewelry making. The styles and models passed down through centuries are a lasting testimony of unique creativity and originality. You will be able to observe and practice some artistic gold plating techniques at a studio in Siena.  Our guide will be available to entertain and guide the remaining guests as they wait for their turn to become modern alchemists.

Lunch on own

2 pm guided visit of Siena

We return back to get ready for another extraordinary evening in a fairytale setting. 

6.00 pm We depart for a fairytale evening where we will be visiting a magnificent baronial castle , which will be open for a guided tour and a visit to the magnificent gardens. Enjoy Cocktails and conversation as we watch the sun set over the castle grounds. Join the Baron and his family before he escorts us to a private dinner in the castle.  Special meditation.

UMBRIA-ROME

Tuesday- 9 October -Day 10  ASSISI ROME

Breakfast and orientation for today-to merge the sacred and the secular with joy.

8.30 am Departure to Rome, via Assisi. Assisi  is the well known medieval town where Saint Francis was born. Even today, in Assisi, people can feel a mystical and spiritual atmosphere. You can walk to the top of the Eremo.

Our visit to Assisi will not be complete without a visit to Saint Francis’s cave where we will then have a special wish fulfillment guided meditation walk through the forest.

In Assisi, a visit to the Basilica of San Francesco is not to be missed: there you can admire various frescos of Giotto and Cimabue.

Quick lunch at leisure

On the way to Rome, we will visit the small town of Santa Maria degli Angeli, in which you can admire the immense baroque Basilica and the touching Porziuncola.

3pm Depart for Rome Arrival at the Hotel La Griffe, where we will meet for a welcome drink and snack followed by a light dinner.

After dinner we will go for an orientation stroll to experience Rome’s gelato! A just dessert we might say…

Wednesday- 10 October -Day 11  ROME

Breakfast and orientation to focus on today’s goal to honor our creative connection to the infinite.

Free time during the day to explore the sites or arrange for private guide. Visit the Vatican, shop or stroll the magnificent Borghese Gardens.

Lunch at leisure

245 pm Meet at the Villa Borghese where we have a scheduled appointment to admire the beauty and riches that are synonymous with Rome.

We then transfer to the other side of the city where we will be visiting some of the most famous and impressive monuments of Rome. As the sun sets, we will be enjoying a light buffet dinner with a picture perfect view of the Coliseum before the start of our magical evening tour to see Rome in a new light…  Eternal City Wish Fulfillment Meditation    

Thursday- 11October -Day 12   ROME

Early morning Walking meditation to sense Rome as it is awakening.  Feel the eternal connection between yourself and all of the life reflected in the history and ancient beauty of Rome. 

Breakfast and orientation LA DOLCE VITA!

Walking tour of the food market and purveyors of Italian goodies you might want to bring home. Our final stop will be a visit to the Bulgari showroom and a chance to pick up any last minute treasures and pleasures.

Balance of the day is free until we meet at the top of the Spanish Steps to allow all the magnificence of this city to sink in, as we take in the view which will be etched in your memory forever before we descend the Steps to our farewell dinner at The Wine Academy of Rome (Vicolo del Bottino) which is owned by the Hassler Hotel. We will be wined and dined in a private room where we will have a chance to share the fruits of our treasure hunt and enjoy all of our newfound appreciation of Italy’s culinary and oenophile accomplishments. No visit to Rome would be complete without bringing your three coins to throw in Trevi Fountain to ensure that you will return soon.  

      

Friday- 12 October - Day 13 

Breakfast and final farewells to people and places that have gone from dream to memory

Post extensions available or individual transfers to the airport.

“This is the purpose of life-- to get what you want.  There are deeper things, but this is fun.”  Karl Lagerfeld

COST OF TRIP -$11,000 USD PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY

SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS AND ROOM CATEGORY UPGRADES AVAILABLE

COST OF EXPERIENCES- PRICELESS!!!!

SPACE LIMITED TO 18 DISCERNING PARTICIPANTS (Pricing may be adjusted if numbers fall below 14 Participants but not without your approval. (12 required )

DEPOSIT REQUIRED OF $5000.00US PER PERSON. BALANCE DUE JULY 25

(Due to nature of Euro a difference of 3 % will require a currency adjustment and price subject to change until paid in full)

CANCELLATION INSURANCE AND A CELL PHONE  IS MANDATORY

AIRFARE, MEALS NOT SPECIFIED, TRANSPORTATION NOT SPECIFIED, SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS, UPGRADES, ITEMS OF A PERSONAL NATURE, INSURANCE, MEDICAL COVERAGE ARE NOT INCLUDED.

FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

OPTION FOR PRIVATE GUCCI OR ADDITIONAL SPECIAL EVENTS BASED ON GROUP INTEREST WITH COST DETERMINED BY NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.

PRIVATE SHOPPERS AVAILABLE PRE AND POST AND ANY FREE TIME

For more information about this once in a lifetime opportunity:

Please contact:

Randi Winter  Specialist In Inspired Pursuits
randi@passionatetravel.com
604- 261-7871 / 425 283-7690 /1 877 307-7447

Sheilaa Hite
sheilaa@sheilaahite.com

Let your passions be your guide!