RETREAT IN TUSCANY
October 9th - 15th, 2023
italian cultural explorations
the
retreat in tuscany
includes
OPIFICIO VOICE & CRAFT
singing - yoga - cuisine - arts - cinema
cost all inclusive
tuition - accomodation - meals - transportations
€3,600 €2,300
DO YOU NEED A VACATION?
Yes, of course you do.
But more importantly, you deserve one.
Take a break from the hustle, the routine, the exhaustion and the mundane.
Allow yourself to relax, let go, and be recharged in the same corner of the world that
birthed humanity’s glorious Renaissance: Tuscany, Italy
Eat melt-in-your-mouth local cuisine
Explore Tuscany with excursions that will leave you bursting with creativity
Clear away the incessant mental chatter with the peace of the Grande Prato Villa
Create life-long friendships with like-minded souls
Enjoy workshops that will set you free through voice, food, mind and spirit
a quick overview
San Giminiano Village
Oliveto Castle
The Grande Prato
The Grande Prato
The Chiosco Bistro'
The Grande Prato
The pool at Grande Prato
The Grande Prato
THE PROGRAM
DAY 1 - SUNDAY, OCT. 9th, 2023
All day: Participants arrive and check-in to accommodation at Grande Prato
Snacks & drinks available all day
Poolside relaxation always an option
8pm: Official group welcome to the Grande Prato, Tuscany with Sara, Cynthia & Giovanna!
- Dinner @ Grande Prato
DAY 2 - MONDAY, OCT. 10th, 2023
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Breakfast @ Grande Prato
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Workshop
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Lunch break @ Grande Prato
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Workshop
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Cooking class + food tasting
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Dinner @ Grande Prato
DAY 3 - TUESDAY, SEPT. 11th, 2023
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Breakfast @ Grande Prato
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Workshop
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Lunch @ Grande Prato
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Afternoon: Travel to the 15th Century Castle of Oliveto
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Wine tasting & dinner @ Castello di Oliveto with guide
DAY 4 - WEDNESDAY, OCT. 12th, 2023
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Breakfast @ Grande Prato
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Workshop
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Travel to Medival Village of San Gimignano
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Lunch @ San Gimignano
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Explore 14th Century architecture in this picturesque village
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Dinner @ Grande Prato
DAY 5 - THURSDAY, OCT. 13th, 2023
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Breakfast @ Grande Prato
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Workshop
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Lunch @ Grande Prato
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Cinema workshop; there will be a unique and rare exhibition about old Italian Movies Posters
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Dinner @ Il Chiosco (in the area of the Grande Prato)
DAY 6 - FRIDAY, OCT. 14th, 2023
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Breakfast @ Grande Prato
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Workshop
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Lunch @ Grande Prato
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Workshop
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Dinner and Live Concert "Movie Soundtrack"
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Diploma Ceremony
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Goodbye celebration under the stars
DAY 7 - SATURDAY, OCT. 15th, 2023
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Breakfast @ Grande Prato
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Check out
Giovanna Gattuso
Music Award Winner, Singer Songwriter, Author, Vocal Instructor
Awarded Best Latin Female Singer-Songwriter and Best World Music Album at the 16th Annual International Los Angeles Music Awards, Giovanna Gattuso is the founder on the Venice Voice Academy (2006 in Venice Beach California) and the Maison della Voce (2017, Rome, Italy).
Her artistry also includes worldwide collaborations in music, art and fashion.
Author of the Crossover Singing Method, Top 5 on the Best Seller Italian list as Vocal/Singing Methods, released in Italian and English, and the audio book Fasten your seatbelts: Singing behind the wheel!
Giovanna regularly holds master-classes and seminars featuring her personal vocal system in ITALY, USA & CANADA.
Giovanna is a sophisticated and refined musician and vocalist and her vast repertoire and styles include traditional Opera, Mediterranean Folk music & Jazz.
Cynthia Gibb’s career spans 42 years, as an actress, singer, dancer and vocal coach.
She is a Golden Globe nominee for her starring role in Gypsy, opposite Bette Midler and played the title role in The Karen Carpenter Story. Gibb has been in 45 movies and was a series regular on Fame, Madman of The People, Deadly Games and was in Criminal Minds, Law & Order, and many other TV series.
Gibb began studying classical Bel Canto vocal pedagogy in 1999 and she has been teaching singers since 2008 in Los Angeles, the New York area and Italy.
Her students have gotten into the most prestigious universities in the U.S., and many are working professionally as actors, recording artists, and musical theater performers. Her students can be seen on Netflix, HBO, ABC, NBC, Fox and on stages throughout the U.S.
Sara Ruoti is a well known singer, events producer and radio host of the famous Italian award-winning “White Radio” which has been nominated for the Macchia Nera Award. She is the Artistic Director of the program: "Cinema da Ascoltare" through which she has hosted hundreds of movie sound-track composers, actors and directors.
Notable performances include appearances at Torvergata, Rome during the World Youth Day in front of Pope Giovanni Paolo II Wojtyla, concerts at Villa Medicea (an international film destination), Villa Petraia, Festival della Versiliana and Tettuccio of Montecatini Terme.
She has organized major events including “Millennium Choir and Orchestra” at the Duomo of Prato, Duomo of Piacenza, Cathedral of Cremona, Basilica of San Marco in Florence.
Since 2014 she is the manager of Team Crossover in Italy and she organizes masterclasses, workshops and now, the Opificio Sing & Craft.
Sara Ruoti
Singer, Radio Host, Manager of Team Crox
YOUR INSTRUCTORS
Cynthia Gibb
Actress, Singer, Vocal Instructor
singing - yoga - cinema
Meet and fall in love with your voice. Learn how your "instrument" works, practice an effective warm-up to use before singing or public speaking and discover how to develop a free, flexible and powerful voice. You will learn:
VOCAL TECHNIQUE
PROPER BREATHING
YOGA FOR SINGERS
HOW TO APPLY TECHNIQUE TO VARIOUS GENRES OF MUSIC,
AND ITALIAN SONGS
Workshop
singing - yoga - cinema
Let's get energized with our yoga at the Opificio. While being surrounded by the beauty of stunning Tuscany views, you will enjoy a deeper connection with your body, mind, and spirit. We will introduce "Breathing with the Wind" which was created on the beach in California; a way for singers to use yoga to blend voice and body.
singing - yoga - cinema
"Il cinema a tavola", or dinner with the cinema, is a very unique workshop that explores the incredible artwork of original cinematographic posters from the 1950s to the 70s and 80s.
You will discover fun stories and trivia about films, their art and music, combined with delicious food. Our guest host for this event is an international expert collector of cinematographic art and he will share behind-the-scenes information on movies including the development of the hand-painted advertising artwork and their soundtracks.
The greatest actors, actresses, directors will be remembered, including TOTÒ, A. SORDI, V. GASSMAN, N. MANFREDI, V. DE SICA, M.MASTROIANNI.
Between Florence, Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano, Volterra, and Chianti you can find the marvelous Grande prato. Since 1994 this rustic, two century old farm has become a place for people of all ages to love.
Rooms and apartments will offer space to relax after our amazing workshops and sightseeing. Enjoy swimming in the pool or reading a good book on a lounge chair overlooking the Tuscan hillside.
The meals and snacks are served to participants amongst friends at our outdoor tables. You'll be served traditional dishes to comfort and new recipes to intrigue your taste buds. Three ingredients are inevitable at Grande prato: extra virgin olive oil, Chianti wine, and a smile!
The rooms all have their original ceilings with old wooden beams and Tuscan brick. Every window and door open on to postcard views of Tuscany. From each spot, including the magnificent pool, you can see green hills, vineyards, olive orchards and medival villages clinging to hilltops in the distance. To the west, magnificent sunsets, paint every evening a different color.
check also: https://www.grandeprato.it
Our Opificio at Grande Prato
Relax
Yoga
Art
Relax
Explore
Music
Great Food
Italian Wine
Tranquility
the Grande Prato
The Castle of Oliveto built in 1424 by the noble and Florentine Pucci family. located in the heart of the Florentine hills, 30 km from Florence, 50 km from Siena and well connected with the most beautiful and picturesque areas of Tuscany. Lorenzo de' Medici; the popes, Leo X, Clement VII, and Paul III; the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinand III; and the King of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele III are only some of the Castello di Oliveto's illustrious historical guests.
Our Visit will include:
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The tasting of 7 wines: Spumante Brut, Bianco IGT, Chianti di OCG , Chianti Riserva, 2 Super Toscani, Vin Santo.
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Guided tour through the Castle's : Sale Affrescate, Pope Room, Private Chapel, Rivellino and Historical Cellar.
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Dinner "Degustazione del buon gustaio" @ the castle will include Bruschette, crostini affettati, insalate, first course, second course and dessert.
Castello di Oliveto
San Gimignano is a small walled medieval hill town in the province of Siena, Tuscany, north-central Italy. Known as the Town of Fine Towers, San Gimignano is famous for its medieval architecture, unique in the preservation of about a dozen of its tower houses, which, with its hilltop setting and encircling walls, form "an unforgettable skyline".
Within the walls, the well-preserved buildings include notable examples of both Romanesque and Gothic architecture, with outstanding examples of secular buildings as well as churches. The Palazzo Comunale, the Collegiate Church and Church of Sant' Agostino contain frescos, including cycles dating from the 14th and 15th centuries.
The "Historic Centre of San Gimignano" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The town also is known for saffron, the Golden Ham, and its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, produced from the ancient variety of Vernaccia grape which is grown on the sandstone hillsides of the area.
San Gimignano
Learn how to cook Tuscan dishes while with local ingredients while tasting wine. You will enjoy the warm outdoor atmosphere of our Tuscan kitchen and the meal will be served in the large dining tables outdoors, under our shady pergolas or even poolside. There is original pizza oven built in stone!
Cooking Class
at Grande Prato
cost all inclusive
tuition - accomodation - meals
€3,600 €2,300
Payment in full
€2,300
Offer valid until
JAN 6TH, 2025
save €100
€500
Down Payment
non-refundable
to save your spot!
Payment Schedule
- first payment of
€950
by AUGUST 31TH, 2023
- second payment of
€950
by SEPT 30TH, 2023
*Must be paid in full
by SEPTEMBER 30TH 2023
to attend
Price is for a single room accommodations
Discount available for couple or group.
FOR INFO AND BOOKING WRITE US:
infocrox@gmail.com
You've got questions, we've got answers.
General FAQ
What is our “Opificio?”
One meaning of opificio is a place where artisans gather in a community to create collaboratively. Ferdinando I de’ Medici created one of the early opificios for artisans in stonework. This meaning is aptly applied to our Retreat as we work together to collaboratively develop our vocal talents in a supportive, community environment.
When should I arrive at the Villa in Tuscany?
Anytime before 8pm local time on OCTOBER 9th. Our welcome reception begins at 8pm. Snacks will be available all day.
Who can attend this retreat?
All ages and singing level are welcome. Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The prices are listed in Euros (€). Can I purchase with my American credit/debit card?
Absolutely! Prices are listed in Euros as we will be booking the hotel locally in Italy, but any credit/debit cards are accepted. Click HERE here to check the Euro / USD current conversion rate.
Do I need to be a professional singer to attend?
Absolutely not! This retreat is about finding your voice. We encourage all levels to attend, even if the only time you sing is in the shower.
What if I want to enroll later, for example, 2 months from now?
Enrollement will stay open until we reach capacity. Given the limited numbers of rooms at Grande Prato we expect that the retreat will fill quickly. Tuition is discounted for early enrollement and will increase with time.
What if I don't want to attend workshops one day and just visit Italy on my own?
This is YOUR retreat and you may spend it as you wish. Nothing is mandatory except to have fun!
I'm not sure I can make it this year. If I want to attend in 2024 instead of in 2023, will prices remain the same?
We can estimate he price will likely go up for future retreats. We encourage you to book your flights while prices are low.
How much time will be spent in class vs. exploring Tuscany?
As this is a retreat and not a certification course, we spend only an average of 3 hours/day in class and the rest exploring Italy. Although we will share a great amount of knowledge with you, a major part of your transformation will be experiencing the beauty of Tuscany, where the Reinessance was born.
If I have trouble with stairs, will there by wheelchair accessible access?
Given it's antiquity, Italy has a lot of stairs, uneven walkways and cobblestone streets. We will not be able to guarantee easy wheelchair access for all excursions and recommend bringing a personal aid as we will not able to offer assistance or lifting.
Are all meals included?
Yes, all meals are included. For breakfast what you might imagine in a Tuscan Villa: brioche, coffee, prosciutto, eggs, etc. Italian deliciousness!
Is the agenda subject to change?
Sometimes things come up, especially when planning so far in advance. If adjustments have to be made we promise that we will do our best to book equally amazing events.
Price is for a single room accommodations?
Yes! So if you are a couple or 2/3 friends and want to share the space, you will get a discount!
Are there any other costs?
You are responsible for your flights, travel insurance (we highly recommend it) and transportation from the airport to the villa. We can help you arrange that if needed.
If you still have questions, we'll be happy to help!
Simply email: infocrox@gmail.com