LA MERIDIANA
International School of Ceramics in Tuscany
DATES
January 22nd – January 29th, 2008. 8 full days.
February 26th – March 4th, 2008. 8 full days.
ARRIVAL & WELCOME
At your arrival in Pisa airport we will pick you up with our private bus and take you to a fine four star hotel in the countryside near La Meridiana.To view the hotel please visit: www.borgodicortefreda.com
Meet-and-greet with an Italian aperitif will be followed by a slide presentation of La Meridiana. The welcome dinner will be the first of many extraordinary gourmet experiences.
CLAY ACTIVITIES
Clay activities will start on the morning after the day of arrival and making will be either wheel throwing or hand building, according to personal preferences. We will have three full days of making, going trough a revision of throwing and hand building techniques that include a mediterranean way of handling clay. The aim is to broaden the awareness of the range and variety of techniques in order to expand the possibilities of expression. A short introduction to glazes, glazing of the work and the firing will complete the clay experience.
SCHEDULE
Day |
Programme |
Activities |
Tuesday
Day 1 |
Pick up at Pisa airport. Driven to hotel. Room assignement |
Aperitif, slide show and programme presentation.
Welcome dinner & Buonanotte! |
Wednesday
Day 2 |
Introduction to workshop.
Making till 6.00pm |
Lunch, Dinner with Cheese, Salami and Wine tasting at a local producer farm |
Thursday
Day 3 |
Making till 5.00pm |
Lunch.
Wood fired Pizza |
Friday
Day 4 |
Making till 4.00pm |
Evening in Certaldo Alto with
demonstration of majolica painting and dinner |
Saturday
Day 5 |
Bisquit firing |
Day trip to medieval Monteriggioni, Chianti and Siena.
Dinner |
Sunday
Day 6 |
Glazing till 12.30pm |
Lunch. Afternoon free.
Dinner and evening programme. |
Monday
Day 7 |
Glaze firing |
Guided Tour in Florence.
Farwell dinner at La Gramola www.lagramola.it |
Tuesday
Day 8 |
Unloading of kiln and packing.
Leave for Pisa at 2 pm |
Transport to airport, with visit of
S. Piero a Grado on the way.
Arrivederci! |
On making days we will pick you up at the hotel after breakfast, at 8.45am. Workshop hours as scheduled. Morning and afternoon coffee breaks will be offered.
NON CLAY ACTIVITIES
The cultural activities combine visits to well known Art Cities and their famous treasures with the discovery of some more unusual sights. Our aim is to give you an insight in Italian life and culture of the present and the past, including most relaxing and enjoyable gourmet experiences!
- The medieval town of San Gimignano is a short drive from La Meridiana. Known for its stunning towers, the “Medieval Manhattan”, it is a most beautiful setting in which to explore and relax while tasting one of the best “gelato” made in Italy.
- Certaldo Alto, an unspoilt town on top of a hill, where you can still feel a medieval atmosphere. It’s the birthplace of Giovanni Bocaccio, author of the literature masterpiece “Decamerone”.
- At the wine tastings we will sample the world-renowned wines of the area and visit the cellars where they are produced. Besides wines we will also get the chance to taste and purchase the local extravergin olive oil, produced in small quantities. The group will benefit from a sommelier that will explain the fundamentals of wine and olive oil tasting. Tuscany has become a centre for custom-made world-quality chocolates. All production is on a non-industrial, strictly artisan level and has recently made chocolate a new ‘typical product’ of Tuscany.
- On the day trip we will visit Monteriggioni, a typical and stunningly walled medieval city, the Chianti region with it’s landscape shaped by man over the millennium and the splendour of Siena with it’s magnificent Piazza del Campo.
- The day in Florence includes a guided tour. Maps and information about the town will be available. Participants will have time for individual exploring and shopping. Back at 6.00pm for farewell dinner.
- During the season there are always country fairs and festivals going on in the surrounding towns and villages that we can add to our gourmet program. Be it freshly pressed extravergin olive oil, truffles and mushrooms or saffron, there are no better occasions than this for tasting a variety of products of genuine products.
The initiatives in the scheduled week may be slightly changed if occurred.
THE TEACHER
Pietro Elia Maddalena studied ceramics at the West Surrey College of Art & Design in England. After several years of training, he returned to Italy where in 1980 he established a pottery workshop in Tuscany. In addition to his own ceramic production, he continues to build, direct and teach at the International School of Ceramics La Meridiana.
See www.pietro.net
THE COST
The cost is of € 1.300 and includes the following:
- Lodging in 4 star Hotel
- Full board ( breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- All materials and firings
- Ground transportation
- Cultural activities as listed in the programme
Spouses are welcome. Their fee will be 70 % of the student cost and entitles to everything offered by La Meridiana except what pertains workshop and ceramic activities. The cost for a non- clay participant is of € 900.
For more information please email, call or write to:
info@lameridiana.fi.it
Phone/Fax +39 0571 660084
La Meridiana
International Centre of Ceramics in Tuscany
Loc. Bagnano, 135
50052 Certaldo, (FI)
Italia |
