Plan your trip to Italy with me!

It’s time to fulfill your dreams of travelling to Italy like you have never dreamed of before!

After 25 years living here in Italy, I can arrange unforgettable holidays and events all over this fascinating country, not only in the much loved cities of  Florence and all time favourite Tuscany, but also the lesser known areas such as the Veneto region, which is famous for its beautiful artistic cities like Padua and Venice and the romantic Verona with its famous wines (Bardolino, Soave and Valpolicella) and the nearby jewel  Lake Garda and

The hills of Verona

Lake Garda

and also Trentino Alto Adige in the north which is famous for beautiful mountains, and enchanting landscapes and good food.

Trentino Alto Adige

The most seeked out place now for eco-turismo is trekking in Le Cinque Terre and I can organize your wonderful walk there in a snap!

Vernazza from above by trekking

Do you want to hike and trek or go on bike tours into incredible country villages, through some of the most beautiful countryside in the world on well maintained bike and hiking paths? I can prepare a fitness-nature holiday like you have never experienced in your life! Including hay baths, spas and biological food from some of the most seeked out areas of Italy. Do you want to try rafting or canyoning or going into caves? Don’t worry! How about a walking tour in the Lake District of Lake Como and Maggiore, with a hop over to Lake Lugano! No problem! Don’t forget, we will stay in some of the most prized hotels, or cosiest charme hotels or boutique hotels with fantastic food, worthy of your work out!

biking in the Dolomites

I can also provide a highly exclusive, innovative and personal way in which to travel and entertain in Italy. I offer a range of unique services based upon unparalleled local knowledge and unprecedented access to palaces, homes, art collections, sculpture parks, foundations, museums and galleries throughout Northern Italy.

I specialise in travel planning and create tailor-made itineraries for individuals and small groups interested in visiting, or entertaining in, Italy’s most prestigious museums and monuments, private palaces and art collections, many of which are simply inaccessible to the general public. I take great pleasure in arranging introductions to distinguished and flamboyant figures in the Italian  art world, culture and society. I can take you into their private realms like artist’s studios, wine cellars and private palaces. These fascinating people will play host to my clients and offer an unparalleled experience, one which unveils the hidden realms of a country that one may believe oneself to be familiar with.

I offer complete planning for private parties or high-level corporate events in Italy and I am prepared to arrange programmes of entertainment for high net worth individuals, in the major cities  of the North.

I have worked closely with many of Italy’s well-known institutions on a regular basis, including La Biennale di Venezia,  the Uffizi in Florence, St Mark’s Basilica, The Doges Palace in Venice, Castello di Rivoli in Torino, Museum of Modern Art of Roverto (MART) – Italy’s foremost museum of Contemporary Art.

I have a privileged relationship with some the finest hotels in Northern Italy and unique places like Rural Agriturismo and Bed & Breakfasts of Charme in Italy and my clients always receive VIP treatment during their stays. I also know all the finest Beauty Spas in Northern Italy and can plan a fabulous weekend of relax, wellness and the best custom massage treatment ever! I have the added benefit of being able to secure room allocations during their busiest and most requested periods such as Biennale in Venice, along with free tickets! I  have access to a portfolio of private villas and palaces that are currently off the general market, but that can be rented on  request, as well as acquired in certain circumstances.

I can also give you the guided tours you always wanted, as I am a specialist Art Historian of Italian art of the Renaissance and of course, modern and contemporary art. I am also a fine connessieur of wines and regional foods, I know the language, the history, the culture, the local customs and if I don’t know it, I’ll soon find out! The expert on Italy is me! Looking forward to hearing from you!

summer Art retreat in Italy 2010

An Italian Art Extravaganza!

A weeklong program of Rejuvenation, Revelation and Relationships to spark your creativity!

For aspiring artists or artists who want to be inspired

Paint in Italy! An intensive art and cultural course on inspiration sought out by the beauty, history and delicacies offered in an unique Italian environment. An exploration of ancient, modern and contemporary all mixed together.

The scenery is the best of Italy and the course is unique and exclusive.

Experience some of the most gorgeous scenery in Italy in this artistic and cultural journey in the hills of Verona. A real insiders overview with fabulous landscapes, a slice of Italian history, demonstrations, wine tours, cookery class, talks and visits to many artists studios and museums and galleries.

Spend your summer in Verona engaging in intensive studio work.

Paint in the Valpolicella and Lago di Garda, where sky meets lake we are hosting our new plein-air painting workshop. Celebrated and beautifully preserved ancient villages that spill down to the crystal blue lake – the perfect venue for a painter!

Presenting your teacher:

Jennifer Karch Verzè, Canadian International Art Educator and art historian, expert in Italian art, culture and cuisine. Residing in Verona for 25 years in the Valpolicella wine region

Jennifer’s motto, “Be curious and creative”.

Join me for week long ART ADVENTURE ESCURSION in our research art atelier-studio in the heart of the exclusive and peaceful grounds of the 16 th century Ca’ Vendri, just minutes outside of  VERONA.

What awaits you:  Art And Pampering in an ancient BOUTIQUE  Villa  UNIQUELY COMBINING CHARM AND LUXURY. Our Art workshop retreats offer all encompassing cultural and creative experiences.

Through daily walks of the historic venues in picturesque Verona, home of Romeo and Juliet, the Valpolicella hillsides, through the fields of vineyards, cherry and olive trees, taking old country pathways and trails that only the “cognoscenti” know where they are.

The art classes, workshops and courses in art history, fine arts, art+design, career development, illustration, photography, ceramics and MUCH MORE are designed for vacationers, travelers, residents and part-time residents…Anyone who would like to add ART to their life or vacation experience.

Whether you pre-plan your trip around an art experience, or arrive in Verona or Lake Garda and decide that you want to participate in a class, workshop, retreat or excursion while visiting – please feel free to call us or email and ask about what art experiences we might be offering while you are in town.  We provide opportunities to refresh artistic vision, acquire new skills or simply try a new medium. Small classes offer one-to-one attention by expert instructors.

Our distinguished teachers include professional and working artists and designers, historians and educators. Through their dedication and commitment, their courses fosters lifetime learning and strive to cultivate community and global interaction. Educators craft innovative curriculum while exploring refreshing art studios. For the accomplished artist and the novice, the studio classes provide opportunities to refresh artistic vision, acquire new skills or simply try a new medium. Small classes offer one-to-one attention by expert instructors.

Live well – study art!!

Get serious about your creative style.

Build a foundation in basic art concepts.

Sharpen your creativity and artistic expertise by taking classes in the countryside of  Verona.

Visiting artists and guest presenters will be coming to develop a familiarity with contemporary art and artists, as well as learn strategies for integrating related themes and working processes into the classroom. Using the educational methods and materials along with museum and studio visits, participants will return to their school with units of study.

Added to the beauty of the area and the daily outings, will be the daily art lessons taking place in the historic villa, nestled in the countryside of vineyards and fruit trees.

Enjoy a unique opportunity to get away for a total immersion into art making under the guidance of professional artists and art instructors. Surround yourself with the inspiring and beautiful atmosphere of an ancient villa immersed in the vineyards and hills retreat located about 10 minutes from the historic center of Verona, Italy. The retreat provides comfortable lodging with private bath, and delicious meals for these weeklong workshops.

Not to be forgotten is the culinary cuisine of the area with wine tours of the local famous wineries to taste the Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto along with local food and delicacies.

Every day will be an ART ADVENTURE in every SENSE of the word.

Yours in art,

Arrivaderci a Verona!

Jennifer,

for information, please contact me at this blog.

Wine Cellar in Tramin near Bolzano – archi-future

This is one of our favorite places for wine – we have had many good drinking memories of fine Gewurztraminer and Muller Turgau. We actually biked there when Christian was 4 and on the bike chair on my bike and we did all the vineyards around the area, staying at a lovely Agriturism in Tramin/Termeno.

This little town, nestled amongst vineyards in the sun in the main Adige valley is an magical place.

Now they have opened ANOTHER architectural enterprise, besides the local cantina in Caldaro and this looks like the place to visit.  It’s an architectural sculpture that looks like a creeping vine that encloses the new building of the Cantine Tramin designed my Arch. Werner Tschool of Bolzano. The structure of the building continues the natural growth of vineyards around the building, in Alto Adige, where many small wine growers contribute to the local coop cantina/cellar. There is around 20,000 sq mt dedicated to  a museum, sales, and a working area. The cantina won the best bottle of wine of 2010 for the Gewurtraminer Terminum Vendemmia Tardiva 2007.

We are going to HAVE to go there on one of our next motorcylce trips and taste them all!

www.cantinatramin.it, www.werner-tscholl.com

Arabeschi di latte – food events

Futurist dinner

Dinner in Verona

The group of  five young Florentine architects created in 2001, Arabeschi di Latte, is a creative conglomerate about food and the passion for being together around food. Francesca Sarta, Alessandra Foschi, Silvia Allori, Francesca Pazzagli and Francesca Sorga make “eating events” between art, fashion and a live show, occasions where food is the instrument to create relations, pleasure and socialization. Also creativity at its most! They do them at homes or in the piazzas, with the active participation of the public. I wanted to do a dinner with them at Palazzo Forti: we had planned on having hundreds of green apples all lined up that would be peel all twirled and the apple peel would become the carpet. Didn’t happen. The catering aspects are inspired by the everyday and the popular culture. They even opened up a shop called Mia Market in Rome. Don’t live there, so can’t see their stuff. But they did do this dinner in Verona and a Futurist dinner too. Love them.

Byblos Cucin(art) dinner

Great dinner!