Learn Italian in Luxury … in Italy!

This month saw the first of this year’s Learn Italian in Luxury weeks, organised in conjunction with Real Italy at La Chiesa di Santo Stefano by Grand Tourist, a company which specialises in luxury travel.

These weeks are always a tremendous success, and this event was no exception. Guests have the opportunity to develop their language skills in the wonderful Le Marche countryside, whilst staying in a luxury Italian villa.

The level of ability and experience of speaking Italian varied from the novice to some who were wrestling with subjunctive clauses, but this really doesn’t matter. The atmosphere is one in which people are able to learn at their own pace, and when some of the more fluent speakers are talking to the ‘teacher’, it is excellent practice for the others to listen and then ask questions later.

Each day is divided into informal lessons – usually outside in the Italian sunshine - and trips to a range of different locations, from the stunning Basilica at Loreto to a lovely restaurant where the owner’s mother gives a demonstration on how to make pasta by hand (including rolling it out with the longest rolling pin you have ever seen!). All, of course, in Italian.

Food does tend to be a high focus for the guests, and each day they have a chance to sample some of the local restaurants (including eating some of the pasta that they have helped to make). All types of venues are selected to give a real taste of Italy – from very simple trattorias to elegant restaurants. In each case, the food is delicious – whether a simple plate of home made tagliatelli with tomato sauce, or a lovely risotto of truffle and courgette flowers. The other meal each day is taken at Santo Stefano, and lunch is a particular highlight with buffets of salads, savoury tarts, tiny Italian meatballs, freshly baked focaccia bread, local meats and cheeses - just a few of the choices.

And of course, there is always an opportunity to try out the local wines. A future blog post will focus on some of the wonderful wines in the Le Marche region of Italy, and most of these never see the light of day outside of this region. Italians like to keep the best for themselves!

The final day sees the ‘Treia Challenge’ – when each guest is sent in to the beautiful local hill town of Treia with a number of tasks to perform in Italian. From a complex task such as finding out about the famous ball game played locally (and only in Treia) to something simple such as buying 200 grams of cherry tomatoes from the greengrocer, the tasks are varied and test the conversation skills of the individual.

The next course is in October, and places are filling up quickly. More information can be found on our website, and you can follow the link from there to the Grand Tourist site.