BRAND NEW AND UP-DATED……
We’ve always focused on high quality travel in Europe, especially Italy and 2024 is no exception. You can travel with Grand Tourist in two ways, firstly as part of a small group, participating in a carefully curated journey, with a group size of 6-8 guests. Or contact us to travel on your own, unique tailor-made journey. What is your dream destination? It could be Venice or Amalfi, Rome or Sicily. Perhaps it’s driving a Ferrari in Maranello, or a private boat bobbing along the Amalfi Coast. You may prefer to discover the art and history of Venice. The choice is yours. A new discovery for us last year was the magical and fascinating region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the most north-easterly region of Italy, stretching from Venice in the west to Trieste in the east. It’s a wonderful area of rolling hills, fabulous coastline and superb wines.
In April we’ll be in Venice for a special ‘At home in Venice’ small group experience. Staying in the heart of Dorsoduro just steps from the Accademia. We have one room still available.
A SUMMARY OF 2024 – so far!!
JANUARY 2024 – Mission accomplished. Alma College Winter Residency in Italy – DONE!
The residency took place in Italy at the historic Villa Franceschi, a country house hotel, located on the mainland, half an hour from Venice. A gorgeous location indeed.
We are very excited to confirm that the event was a huge success. We will be continuing to support and co-operate with Alma College, Michigan to deliver both Summer and ‘Winter Residency’ programmes in the coming years. The next residency in Europe will be at St Hugh’s College, Oxford University (my alma mater) in August 2025.
A draft program can be viewed here:
These European residencies are for students studying for a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing. It is open to all Alma MFA students, both past and present. Check out the Alma College website for more details: www.alma.edu
FEBRUARY 2024 – It’s Carnevale in Venice and the streets are filled with elaborately costumed visitors from all over Europe, especially France. The French love Carnevale. It’s not too late to travel to Venice for Carnevale – it’s a photographer’s dream! If you fancy joining in the fun then drop us a line.
APRIL – in April it’s our ‘Springtime in Venice’ small group tour. Start date: 8th April, 2024. The perfect time to discover and enjoy Venice like a local staying at the wonderful ‘Pensione Accademia’ it’s a magical location. Here’s the full programme: Venice in April, Springtime 2024 – we have just one cozy, single room available.
Pensione Accademia, Venezia is our base for ‘Springtime in Venice’
A few of us are then carrying on to Trieste – a port city two hours north-east of Venice. 12 Reasons to join us in Trieste, Italy – one or two places available.
Next comes The VENICE BIENNALE – Also in April the internationally acclaimed Venezia Biennale event kicks off on Saturday, 20th April, 2024. This is an every other year (biennial) art exhibition. Countries from all over the world host exhibits. This year the Biennale is curated by South American genius Andrea Pedrosa: Venice – La Biennale 2024
The theme is ‘Stranieri Ovunque’ which translates into ‘Foreigners Everywhere’. These words refer to all of us as being outsiders, and refers to our own ‘otherness’ and how we are all a mixture, a hotch-potch of cultural inputs, life experiences and complicated interactions with our environment. I’m excited to see more from the organisers. We can’t wait to see what original and interesting art will be on show from 20th April, 2024 in Venice. We’ll be leading a series of visits including our own specially-curated ‘Highlights of the Biennale’ programme.
The expression ‘Stranieri Ovunque’ comes from Claire Fontaine – an art collective currently based in Palermo, Sicily.
In 2019 our favourite exhibit was the A-Z of the Biennale a joint feature from Andorra and Zimbabwe. In 2022 the theme was ‘The Milk of Dreams’ words by Leonora Carrington an exceptional surrealist artist, who spent most of her life in Mexico. You can see some of Leonora Carrington’s work here – she was a painter, writer, poet, costume designer and film maker – an extraordinary talent.
MAY 2024 – Art in Italy – A week for artists staying on terraferma (the mainland) 20 minutes from Venice in a gorgeous country house hotel. An artist’s week in Italy… This is the perfect opportunity for creative types. Water colours, sketching, lessons and wonderful food and wine – what could be better. A few places still to be claimed on this artistic week of creativity.
Just a few artistic renditions and their artists (above)!
JUNE-SEPTEMBER 2024 – AMALFI, ISCHIA and SORRENTO – why not treat yourself to a few days of ‘la dolce vita’ – flying in/out of Naples we can create a unique trip just for you. Alternatively join us for a small group tour in September, 2024. For many people Sorrento is a dream come true, here are a few photos that show you why….
SEPTEMBER 2024 – our full Ischia and Sorrento itinerary is here: Discover Amalfi with Grand Tourist – this trip starts in Naples on 24th Sept, 2024
Also in September we’ll be embarking on a journey of discovery, history & legends travelling in GREECE – we will travel from Athens to Delphi, Volos, Skopelos & on to Thessaloniki. DATES: 10th Sept, 2024 – these dates are provisional: Greece – a journey from Athens to Thessalonika
OCTOBER – Why not join me and a small group of travellers (maximum 8 guests) for a tour of Sicily. Starting in the south-east corner of the island, we will discover the beautiful Val di Noto, with a fine selection of Baroque villages and fabulous architecture. We’ll visit the places and towns featured in the TV series Montalbano. Then we’ll head along the south coast to visit the fabulous Greek temples at Agrigento. From there we cut across to Sicily’s north coast and the exquisite seaside town of Cefalu. Then we make our way via mysterious, semi-abandoned palaces to Palermo. A city rich in culture, history and tradition. This is the perfect introduction to Sicily. The Treasures of Sicily
Dates: 4th – 12th October 2024
SEPTEMBER – we are currently hatching a tour of the Italian Lake District. This will probably be about 7 days in length and will feature visits to Lake Como, Iseo, Garda and Orta. There’ll be boat rides on ‘dolce vita style’ Riva speed boats, fantastic restaurants, gorgeous villas and gardens. A pleasure for the senses. We’ll finish up at a 5-star spa hotel, on its own private estate, and a trip to nearby Verona (city of Romeo and Juliet). Italian Lakes Tour that’s heaven!
Adventures, dreams, fun, discovery, that’s what travel is all about!
JULY – in Venice, a time of blue skies, brilliant colour, sunshine and the Feast of the Redentore – a floating bridge is built across the Giudecca Canal linking Salute with the Church of the Santissimo Redentore. A wonderful time to be in Venice and to give thanks for Venice’s delivery from the plague. There’s usually a huge firework display and Venetians get in their boats, loaded down with picnics and wine and bob about on the waters of the lagoon waiting for the pyrotechnic event. Those in the know head for Giudecca for a ring side seat and perhaps a Spritz or two!
SEPTEMBER – and it’s time for a little creativity. Join our Writer’s Retreat for a week of workshops, conversation, writing and most importantly, fun. Bookings are now being taken for this fun-packed week of creativity, inspiration and learning. The Writer’s Retreat as one of our lovely students said at the end of the first event in September 2019, ‘…it was the best money I’ve spent on myself and my creativity, ever…’ Well we can’t argue with that – join me and Sophfronia for the writing week of your life…..
Dates: 18th-24th September
In October 2023 we offered this incredible ‘Venice to the Alps‘ trip an amazing ‘Grand Tourist’ journey from the shores of the Adriatic across the lagoon to Venice, then into the hills and foothills leading to the Dolomite Mountains and the fabled Brenner Pass. Travelling through Austria visiting Innsbruck and the musical paradise of Salzburg. Salzburg was the birthplace of Mozart and was the filming location for ‘The Sound of Music’ movie in the 1960s. We can do this again for a small group of friends, ideally we need 4-6 travellers to operate this journey.
OCTOBER – it’s the season of fall foliage, autumnal colours and of course truffles. Join us for a truffle hunting adventure in the hills around Bologna. We have a variety of truffle hunting packages we can offer to our guests – working with local truffle hunters to take you for a walk in the woods and hopefully to find a truffle or two. Please note – this is a highly specialist trip and relies on our relationships with local truffle hunters. We enter into their world as invited (and privileged) guests. It’s an opportunity for us to really respect and understand nature’s bounty – as such we can only offer this experience to a very small number of clients each year. Seeing the hunters and their dogs working together to find and locate the truffles, often as much as two metres below ground level is seriously impressive.
NOVEMBER – BRAND NEW TOUR IN VENICE – Venice, San Martino and Spa Indulgence – A great time for visiting Venice and discovering the amazing art galleries, churches and hidden treasures around every corner. It’s also the perfect time to visit the Biennale, when the event is winding down and the crowds have gone. We’ll be offering a 5-night Venice trip with an optional add-on to Abano Terme – the spa town famous for its thermal waters and their therapeutic capabilities, since Roman times. Contact us for more information: janet@grand-tourist.com
Why San Martino – Festa di San Martino – Venezia
San Martino – delicious treats fill the shop windows for the Feast of San Martino – 11th November, Venice
Why Abano Terme – so how can a few days at Abano rejuvenate you for months, here’s how: Grand Hotels, volcanic mud and thermal waters…. and if you’d like to join one of our trips, there’s more here:
Grand Tourist – Abano Spa Retreat
DECEMBER – who knows what’s in store for December, your own Grand Tour of Italy, a trip to Sicily to enjoy the Festa di Santa Lucia, or a week in Milan enjoying fashion, art and amazing shopping.
THANK YOU – for showing an interest in the journey and reading this article. You can read hundreds of articles about Italy on the Educated Traveller blog www.greyhoundtrainers.com. We’d like to invite you to share the Educated Traveller blog and recommend us to your friends. Why not consider travelling with Grand Tourist our sister company (and specialist travel planner) in 2024. We can create a journey just for you or you can join one of our small group trips. Ferrari driving in Tuscany, Art and History in Venice, Truffle Hunting in Emilia Romagna are just some of the unique experiences that we’ve been offering to clients for many years. All our journeys and experiences are delivered with authenticity and charm.
To discover more about our philosophy and dedication we invite you to watch the video below. We wish you SAFE TRAVELS and all the very best adventures in the coming months xxx
From the northern shores of Lake Garda to the southern tip of Sicily we specialise in the history, geography, art and culture of the Italian peninsula. Join us on the page or in real life in Italy in 2024.
- November, 2023
With special thanks to:
#searchingforitaly #italy #italia #educatedtraveller #grandtourist
Contact us now for your tailor-made journey in Italy.
….’Travel broadens our horizons and replenishes the soul. It offers us a new found respect for our exceptional planet and a sense of discovery that enriches our lives…’
February 2024
Greyhound Trails Travel
Congratulations, my dear! This is an amazing program and I’m so glad that Covid times are behind us!!!
Hope all is well. We are currently in Delray Beach, Florida until the beginning of May. It is on the east coast, between Miami and Palm Beach. We have rented a nice house but are having issues with it not being ready for rental, so hope that today (almost two weeks later) will be our last dealing with the landlord who has not been very responsive. Otherwise, we have dear friends here and are seeing them frequently and the sun is out and it’s not yet too hot which is perfect!!!
We are not on vacation, per se. Michael is now busy staffing up the restaurant for the coming season and I’m booking sessions for my business. I also have to spruce up my website with new photos, redo my Quickbooks program to reflect my increase in prices for 2024 as last year was my 25th year in business and I’m due and worth the price increase!!! Lots of correspondence and computer work, so it’s get some exercise, work on my stuff, go for beach walks in the evening and see friends now and then. At least for now. Once the house gets settled we’ll probably hit the pickleball courts and take trips south to Miami to visit friends there.
We took the Auto Train down here with our car on February 14th (a memorable Valentine). We had a couchette (if you will) that was a small cabin with bunk beds, the closest thing you can get to a European train here. The train leaves at 5pm just south of D.C. and arrives in Orlando at 10am. Then it’s a three-hour drive after that to Delray Beach. We return on May 2nd as it was very nice not to have to drive that extra mileage!
So that’s all the news that is fit to print, as they say.
How are you? Andrew? The kids??
Much love, Nicole
Nicole Friedler Brisson nafbrisson@yahoo.com 508.2742399
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