Il Sasso: Italian Language School
Enjoying home cooking
at my Montepulciano 'residence'. |
I had two weeks at the Il Sasso school in 2014 and really enjoyed the whole experience. The classes were small, [7 people each week] and there was lots of personal attention. There were great teachers and a calm, learning environment. Total enjoyment.
2016 Update
So much so that in 2016 I had another week at Il Sasso to 'kick-start' my thinking / doing in Italian. It was another wonderful experience and I met great people. This is such a different type of 'travel' ... you are with people of a like mind and a common purpose -- great things just 'happen'.
Il Sasso is a relatively small Italian language school located very conveniently in the walled part of Montepulciano. The school is in an historic building in the heart of the town. It provides traditional classroom teaching, individual tuition and culture mini-courses. An Internet point is available, as is free wi-fi access. There are also opportunities in the afternoons, with a wide variety of mini-courses and afternoon activities - guided tours; wine, olive oil and cheese tastings; cooking classes and walks in the countryside.
The Italian language courses are great for having a cultural vacation in Tuscany while learning through 'immersion' in the language on how to get by in Italian in day-to-day situations. The friendly and personal atmosphere of the lessons make the experience all the better.
With the school right in the city [more like a large village] the coffee shops, eateries and piazzas are really close to hand. My accommodation was only a two minute walk door-to-door. The 'whole thing' was just a great experience and I can't recommend it highly enough.
2016 Update
So much so that in 2016 I had another week at Il Sasso to 'kick-start' my thinking / doing in Italian. It was another wonderful experience and I met great people. This is such a different type of 'travel' ... you are with people of a like mind and a common purpose -- great things just 'happen'.
Il Sasso is a relatively small Italian language school located very conveniently in the walled part of Montepulciano. The school is in an historic building in the heart of the town. It provides traditional classroom teaching, individual tuition and culture mini-courses. An Internet point is available, as is free wi-fi access. There are also opportunities in the afternoons, with a wide variety of mini-courses and afternoon activities - guided tours; wine, olive oil and cheese tastings; cooking classes and walks in the countryside.
The Italian language courses are great for having a cultural vacation in Tuscany while learning through 'immersion' in the language on how to get by in Italian in day-to-day situations. The friendly and personal atmosphere of the lessons make the experience all the better.
With the school right in the city [more like a large village] the coffee shops, eateries and piazzas are really close to hand. My accommodation was only a two minute walk door-to-door. The 'whole thing' was just a great experience and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Meeting People and Making Friends
On my travels to Montepulciano in 2014 I had a wonderful friendly experience. I was travelling on the overnight train from Paris when a passer-by in the train's corridor overheard me say I was going on to Montepulciano. He stopped and immediately offered me a lift from Florence as he lived in Montepulciano.
As it transpired there was one of those Italian 'fixtures', lo sciopero, [a labour force strike] on the train services in and around Florence. In the general confusion of "are we going?", "are we staying?" I got separated from my new friend. I ended up staying in Florence that night and trained out the next day, arriving at school in Montepulciano on Monday morning.
That afternoon I joined one of the school's cultural walks and, would you believe, about 20 minutes into the walk there came my new friend, Fernando, walking towards me. He had been out walking his grandchild. He lives about 200 metres from the school!
I was invited round for coffee for the next day and ended up as the guest of honour [head-of-the-table and all that] for his family gathering on Easter Monday. His wife, Valda, his married daughters and their husbands and his grandchild were all there. It was such a privilege ... just wonderful. I had to eat this and that ... and more! The courses were many and varied ... so much food. There was the traditional Easter cake, Colomba di Pasqua, [Easter Dove] and two other type of dolci, pasta, multiple meat plates, eggs, vegetables, .... more, more ... mangia, mangia!!
It was another 'moment' I'll always remember ... the hospitality, the food, the friendliness, the laughter! .... and the food!!
Since then I correspond regularly with Fernando by email, with the odd snail mail card for special occasions. I'm looking forward to seeing the family again on my next trip to Montepulciano.
2016 Update
I did get to see Fernando and his wife and family again in 2016 ... it was a special time well spent... just wonderful.
As it transpired there was one of those Italian 'fixtures', lo sciopero, [a labour force strike] on the train services in and around Florence. In the general confusion of "are we going?", "are we staying?" I got separated from my new friend. I ended up staying in Florence that night and trained out the next day, arriving at school in Montepulciano on Monday morning.
That afternoon I joined one of the school's cultural walks and, would you believe, about 20 minutes into the walk there came my new friend, Fernando, walking towards me. He had been out walking his grandchild. He lives about 200 metres from the school!
I was invited round for coffee for the next day and ended up as the guest of honour [head-of-the-table and all that] for his family gathering on Easter Monday. His wife, Valda, his married daughters and their husbands and his grandchild were all there. It was such a privilege ... just wonderful. I had to eat this and that ... and more! The courses were many and varied ... so much food. There was the traditional Easter cake, Colomba di Pasqua, [Easter Dove] and two other type of dolci, pasta, multiple meat plates, eggs, vegetables, .... more, more ... mangia, mangia!!
It was another 'moment' I'll always remember ... the hospitality, the food, the friendliness, the laughter! .... and the food!!
Since then I correspond regularly with Fernando by email, with the odd snail mail card for special occasions. I'm looking forward to seeing the family again on my next trip to Montepulciano.
2016 Update
I did get to see Fernando and his wife and family again in 2016 ... it was a special time well spent... just wonderful.
Wonderful Scenery and ancient buildings
Generally, there are only two directions in Montepulciano ...
Up [Su]
... and Down [e Giù]
.... but there are quiet places to relax.
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Coffee is 30 paces from school
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A little further up the road
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The view from my rooms
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Go and do and see locally ...
Montefollonico [The village of .. ]
My new 2016 school friend Bill convinced me that the stroll he had undertaken earlier in the week to the 'nearby' village of Montefollonico was well worth it ... well, strictly speaking, it was.
HOWEVER, I again 'forgot' that 'Monte' means 'mountain' ... I was reminded of this regularly on my return journey .. and I wondered whether the 'follo' in Montefollonico meant 'folly'!!!
From Montepulciano to Montefollonico and back to Montepulciano means from one mountain top to another mountain top and then back to the first mountain top. The overall return trip was about 18km and only took me six hours, including rest time [that became a bit more frequent on the return journey!!!].
That said, and aching muscles aside, it was a fantastic 'excursion'. Strolling away from Montepulciano and into the nearby vineyards was great. Looking back to buildings on the hill [mountain!!] and the views across the fields and valleys [and up the many inclines] was worth it. Below are a few photos taken en route, but nothing will beat actually being 'out there' doing it. Thanks Bill. I'd do it again!
... but I did coin my very own Italian word ... VES-passegiata! I might use that for longer 'strolls' in the future.
HOWEVER, I again 'forgot' that 'Monte' means 'mountain' ... I was reminded of this regularly on my return journey .. and I wondered whether the 'follo' in Montefollonico meant 'folly'!!!
From Montepulciano to Montefollonico and back to Montepulciano means from one mountain top to another mountain top and then back to the first mountain top. The overall return trip was about 18km and only took me six hours, including rest time [that became a bit more frequent on the return journey!!!].
That said, and aching muscles aside, it was a fantastic 'excursion'. Strolling away from Montepulciano and into the nearby vineyards was great. Looking back to buildings on the hill [mountain!!] and the views across the fields and valleys [and up the many inclines] was worth it. Below are a few photos taken en route, but nothing will beat actually being 'out there' doing it. Thanks Bill. I'd do it again!
... but I did coin my very own Italian word ... VES-passegiata! I might use that for longer 'strolls' in the future.
The Montefollonico Excursion
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Then there's that 'other' Italian past-time ... or is it 'the' Italian past-time?
Piccola Trattoria Guastini
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Piccola Trattoria Guastini
Via Lauretana Nord, 20, 53045 Valiano, Montepulciano, Italy Phone:+39 0578 724 006 This delightful restaurant is located on the right hand side of the old village of Valiano, heading from Montepulciano towards Cortona. I went there with class mates who'd been in the area a while and came here regularly. The food and wine was just great, as was the hospitality. There is ample indoor seating but the outdoor seating was outstanding with sweeping views. This is great Italian food, provided without fuss, away from the crowds .... and there were no pre-prepared pizzas in sight, just hearty foods made locally .... loved it!! |
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Cantina Gattavecchi, in Montepulciano
This is the most amazing grotto / cave. The wine storage area stretches down for a number of levels underneath the church of Santa Maria dei Servi, built in 1200. There is a large underground gallery carved out of the limestone [tufa], reputedly of Etruscan origin.
The host was great, the food outstanding .. and the wine perfect. We had a great mean there and highly recommend it. |
Cantina Storica e Degustazioni
Via di Collazzi, 74, Loc. Santa Maria, 53045 Montepulciano (SI) Tel. +39 0578 757110 E-mail info@gattavecchi.it |
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