Music in the Garden (Música in Giardino)

From the moment you land to the day of your departure, you will not have to think or worry about anything. Through our carefully crafted, eight days program, you will experience the best of Tuscany, including places closed to the general public. The offer includes transportation (including to/from Florence airport) to all events, daily breakfast and several lunches and dinners at the Villa, housekeeping, daily guided tours, wine tastings, a cooking class with a famous Tuscan chef and tickets for museums, castles, concerts and other attractions.

At the Villa, you will be pampered and immersed in a full musical experience, from after-dinner poolside concerts to optional classes on the history of Italian guitar and vocal music of the Bel Canto.

The Villa combines modern comforts (AC, swimming pool, high speed internet, rooms and bathrooms with up-to-date features) with the charm of a centuries-old European mansion decorated with original antique furniture. The 150-acre property, setback more than a mile from the nearest road, includes acres of olive trees, an extensive vegetable garden, and several hiking paths.

The Villa is conveniently located near Siena, Pienza, San Gimignano, the Val d’Orcia, Montalcino and the Chianti Classico wineries.

Itinerary

Saturday

• Pick up at Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence 

• Arrival at the Villa, check in, leisure time at the pool and surrounding area with live classical guitar music by Michael Bard

• Dinner at the Villa, served in the garden by the pool with the products of our vegetable garden with live music

Sunday

• Breakfast at the Villa

• Leisure time at the Pool

• Light Lunch at the Villa by the Pool

• Tour of the property including vegetable garden, olive grove, the woods and the reservoir

• Private Voice and Guitar lessons with Deborah and Michael (upon request)

• Dinner at the local restaurant Conte Matto (the Mad Count) in Trequanda

• (Optional) Master Class: “Giuliani, Carcassi and Carulli” -Great Guitar works of the Italian Composers, taught by Michael Bard and Deborah Benner 

Monday

• Breakfast at the Villa

• Departure to Pienza

• Tour of Pienza with local, English-Speaking Guide

• Departure from Pienza to Montalcino, with panoramic views of Val d’Orcia

• Arrival in Montalcino, Wine Tasting and lunch at the historic Fattoria dei Barbi, one of the 5 original families that produce Brunello of Montalcino

• Walk in the picturesque town of Montalcino

• Return to the Villa

• Voice and guitar lessons with Deborah and Michael (upon request)

• Dinner at the Villa, served in the garden by the Pool with live music

• (Optional) Master Class: “Singing in the Bel Canto Era” - Italian Vocal Repertoire, taught by Deborah Benner and Michael Bard 

Tuesday

• Breakfast at the Villa

• Departure to Siena

• Visit of Siena with local, English speaking guide. The visit includes the Duomo, la Porta del Cielo (gates of heaven), the Palazzo Comunale (City Hall) with the frescos of Ambrogio Lorenzetti (the good and bad government) and lunch in the spectacular Piazza del Campo.

• Return to the Villa

• Dinner at the Villa, served in the garden by the Pool with live music

Wednesday

• Breakfast at the Villa

• Departure to Vico d’Elsa in the Chianti Region

• Visit of our family farm and winery Fattoria Majnoni Guicciardini and our family Mansion, which includes a chapel with frescos of the 16th century

• Wine tasting and light lunch at the Fattoria Majnoni Guicciardini

• Departure to San Gimignano

• Visit of San Gimignano with local, English speaking guide

• Return to the Villa

• Voice and guitar lessons with Deborah and Michael (upon request)

• Dinner at the Villa, served in the garden by the pool with live music

• Rehearsal with performers for informal final concert

Thursday

• Breakfast at the Villa

• Visit a spectacular medieval Castle with private art collection not open to the public and accessible only by the guests of Villa Bonizella.

• Lunch and SPA Day (for those who are not interested, option to stay and eat the Villa).

• Return to the Villa

• Voice and guitar lessons with Deborah and Michael (upon request)

• Dinner at the Villa, served in the garden by the pool with live music

Friday

• Breakfast at the Villa

• Visit to Monte Oliveto Abbey, with 15th century frescoes.

• Light Lunch at the Abbey Restaurant

• Return to the Villa

• Cooking lesson with Tuscan chef 

• Dinner by the pool prepared and served by a Tuscan chef and his staff

• Live concert with the Trio Caliente 

Saturday

• Breakfast at the Villa

• Drive to Amerigo Vespucci Airport in Florence