I T A L Y
WHEN REALISING THE IMPOSSIBLE
ROME AND BEYONDA taste of the Roman countrysideA tale of the tailors – a movie explorationA sensorial journeyBehind secret doorsExplore ciociariaMILAN AND BEYONDMilan’s secret sideDeep dive Da VinciSix centuries of terracottaCity of style and craftmanship The lake escapeJewel of Renaissance Ahoy! Starboard of Port-ofino TABLE OFVENICE AND BEYONDVenice ‘beyond the bustle’Iconic Venice uncoveredThe sparkling ItalianYour Island gymFLORENCE AND BEYONDWhen the curtain fallsAristocratic FlorenceTuscany in a contemporary visionThe secrets of marbleUrban trekkingThe ancient way of the trades
Over the course of the last 10 years ourTERRAEVENTS’ teams have createdunforgettable experiences for discerningtravellers, our destination experts leavingno stone unturned in their search forperfection. A road to discovery which issurely the definition of transcendent - beyond the limits of ordinary, from thebizarre to the most opulent; a collection ofmoments leaving their mark withmemories which linger far beyond thepost-holiday haze. The Transcendent Collection is arefinement of our discoveries, fromwanderlust adventures to culturalimmersions. Experiences that showcasethe unique qualities of each of ourdestinations in an extraordinary manner,distinct from the conventional orcommonplace experiences ordinarilyproposed to the independent traveller. OurTranscendent Collection will unlock closeddoors to havens of hidden joys, mosaics ofhistory, art, and the distinctivelydistinguishing culture of each of ourdestinations.Start your own journey… create your ownstories… capture moments that matter.W H A T I S ?
AND BEYOND
MILAN'S SIDE Duration: from 2 to 4hoursMin 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: everydayBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
Most commonly regarded as the Italian hub for business and fashion, Milan’strue beauty is often overlooked amidst the allure of designer boutiques andglamorous eateries. Our exclusive urban expedition will open your eyes to theunseen elegance which nestles beneath the metropolitan bustle. From Libertypalaces to art nouveau inspired architecture, focus your eyes on a pastiche ofhidden enchantments , the dappled lighting, delicately detailed décor andopulent flourishes and flounces which adorn the streets of Milan. Yourexplorations will be accompanied by a chronicle of Milan inspired revelationsfrom our urban historian as you’re beguiled by the rich ethos of Milan and theMilanese.
If art and history are your thing, thisis a not to be missed opportunity toexplore the collection of 12,000 pluspages which contain the writingsand drawings forming the mostextensive single selection ofLeonardo’s notebooks and provide aunique insight into his extraordinarymind.A Master Class conducted by aluminary of art and history withinthe environs of the PinacotecaAmbrosiana, a historical libraryhousing a superb art collectionwhich includes Leonardo’s onlyknown portrait of a man, ‘TheMusician’. Whilst the rest of theworld takes their place in an endlessqueue for their 15 minutes in front ofThe Last Supper, you will enjoyexclusive behind the scenes accessto documents and artifacts keptfrom regular display.DEEP DIVEDuration: 3 hours caMin 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: everydayBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
It’s time to get hands on as we delvedeep into Milan’s long history ofterracotta. At the turn of the 15thcentury the Duke of Milan FrancescoSforza commissioned the building of akiln to support the production ofterracotta tiles and other fabricationelements to be used in theconstruction of a major city hospital. 600 years later we invite you to join usat this world-famous pottery centreand create your own terracottamasterpiece using the originalcenturies-y-old kiln. A full immersioninto six centuries of Milan’s history tolearn first-hand the rudiments of thisancient craft.SIXCENTURIES OF
Duration: half dayMin 2 Max 5 guestsAvailability: Monday to Saturday Booking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
CITY OF
Duration: from 2 to 4 hours Min 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: everydayBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailabilityIn a City considered an unrivalled global cornerstone for fashion and design,where both take on their own distinct art form, we’ll take you on an explorationof the roots of Milan’s conceptual and creative heritage led by an illustriousexponent of Milan’s style scene. Cruise the cobbled streets of the historic oldtown seeking out the lone craftsmen, the tucked-away tailors, specialistateliers and vintage boutiques.
Some of northern Italy’s most spectacular natural scenery is just a short drivefrom the centre of Milan, the lakes being particularly favoured by the Milanesewhen making a break from city life. Lake Iseo, while just as picturesque as thebetter known and at times ferociously frequented Lake Como, is a way quieterplace, its waters lapping the pristine shores adorned by fairy-tale medievalvillages and elegant villas against a background of spellbinding views.Nestled on the banks of Lake Iseo is the tiny town of Sarnico, home to thelegendary RIVA Yachts Shipyard. Export yourself back to 1842 to the birth ofmotorboat excellence, to explore the origins of the champion design andheritage of this establishment. Learn the story of a company which came backfrom the brink, a story where sustainability provided the key to survival and abelief that skilled craftsmanship provided the key to their success. Then realise a dream as you board one of these classical maritime jewels andslip away across the iridescent rippling waters of Lake Iseo. THE ESCAPE
Duration: full dayMin 2 Max 7 guestsAvailability: from Fall 2021 -Saturdays and Sundays onlyBooking: at least 10 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
Duration: full dayMin 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: everydayBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailabilityBoard the fast train from Milan andprepare to be immersed in RenaissanceItaly. A journey of just over two hours willtake you to Genoa, a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site set smack in the middle ofthe Italian Riviera. Accompanied by anurban raconteur, wander through thecity’s historical centre, a mishmash ofmedieval architecture, regal renaissanceand splendidly preserved palaces. Slipinto the labyrinth of tiny streets and laneswhich lead to the waterfront whosewaters have been alive with boats beforethe times of the Roman Empire. Anindependent city-state during the MiddleAges competing with Venice forMediterranean supremacy, Genoa alsogave the world one of its greatestexplorers and navigators, ChristopherColumbus. And be ready to unearthLigurian culinary delights – the delicateolive oil rich in fruity notes, the inimitablepesto and focaccia and the Ligurianwhite wines with their herbal and mineralundertones. For Ligurian food is surely‘the song of the wind which carries thescent of the sea and wild herbs from itsverdant mountains’.OFR E N A I S S A N C E
STARBOARD OF PORT-OFINO
If the sound of waves lapping the shore and the vision of light dancing oncrystal blue seas is your idea of perfection, then Portofino is the place for you .Less than a three hour drive from Milan, or opt for a combo of rail and road viaGenoa. Beautiful boats and beautiful people seem to go hand in hand in Portofino, aniconic example of Italian Dolce Vita. This is where Elizabeth Taylor and RichardBurton dropped anchor to drink and duel, where Ava Gardner would take asuite over the harbour, Sophia Loren took inspiration and where Greta Garbocame to be alone. Jump to the 21st century for Portofino to become the perfectmovie set version of Ital and a favourite holiday hotspot for today’s celebs. This enchanting fishing village is a spectacle to behold, a feast for the eyes inany season of the year with the facades of the old fishmen’s dwellings in fadedyellow, ocher, brown or blue, crowding the harbour. The relaxed pace ofPortofino is almost an anaesthetic as you stroll along the thousand-year-oldalleyways or make your way to the lighthouse to enjoy panoramic vistas of theGulf of Rapallo, the rugged coastline of the Cinque Terre and the tall sailingboats and superyachts bobbing up and down in the harbour. Seat yourself at one of the elegant eateries which hug the harbour andpiazzetta, to enjoy magnificently fresh seafood, pasta with pesto and of coursea glass (or more) of fine Ligurian white wine or slip away to lunch in theenchanting environs of the Hotel Splendido, an unrivalled location overlookingthe harbour and the glittering blue Mediterranean waters. Duration: full dayMin 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: everydayBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
AND BEYOND
Duration: 3-4 hours caMin 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: Monday to Friday,from 9am to 1pmBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
Venice is overflowing with sights to see, but what happens if you choose toavoid the obvious. Now is your chance as our expert Venetian vanguardaccompanies you on a visitation of Venice which definitely does not include theclassic ‘top ten sights’. At first glance the Cannaregio district, with its quietcanals may seem like Venice’s backwater, but be prepared to be surprised anddelighted by an opportunity to view a side of the city seen by few. This is anarea of artisans, from the workshop of a remer carving voga oars, to a gold andsilver laboratory, an atelier where historical costumes and accessories are madefor grand masked balls and private collections, a carpenter, a jeweller, amaskmaker, and the one and only furnace to be found in the historical centreof Venice, which will open its doors to you for an exclusive insight into theirunique art works. Be wildly curious, be enchanted, and be content to round offyour day for some Venetian cicchetti & ombre.VENICE
ICONIC VENICE Duration: 3-4 hours caMin 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: Monday to Friday,from 9am to 6pmBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
Uncover the secrets of Venice with your very own art historian. Explore thearchitecture of Venice where every street corner has a story to tell and eachbuilding has its own unique quirk, discover the tales behind the marvellousmedley of architecture and mixed cultures, the melting pot that makes Veniceso fascinating.Our Venetian raconteur will provide you with an exclusive private visit to theOlivetti shop museum. Hidden under the arches of St. Mark’s Square, thisspace was conceived by Carlo Scarpa in 1958 and is regarded as one of themost important examples of 20th century architecture in Venice. Thematerials used are of extraordinary quality, slabs of Aurisina marble from Carsonear Trieste cover the pilaster, the floor is a magnificent mosaic of multi-coloured glass tessare and the walls gleam in their polished Venetian plaster. Surely the most beautiful typewriter shop in the world! When your visit is over,we’ll invite you to take your seat on a private terrace, sipping on your icedSpritz as you peruse and ponder on one of the most unique cities in the world.
Just as champagne must originatefrom the champagne region ofFrance, Prosecco must originatefrom the Veneto and Friuli regions ofnorthern Italy to bear the name. Bewhisked from your hotel to drive onehour north of Venice to reach themarvellous town of Valdobbiadene,a UNESCO World Heritage Site andhome to the very best Prosecco. The vines are quite simplyeverywhere, swooping across thelandscape amidst ancient castlesand bell towers and swathing theconical hills – called glera, they giveus the much adored frothy, fizzy,frivolous wine which is Prosecco.Be introduced to the oenologists of two of the most renowned wineriesin the area, pose your questions toexplore the process of making theperfect Prosecco, against a backdrop which will quite simply cause you tocatch your breath (& take anotherthoughtful sip of the sparklingnectar). Feast both body and soulwith lunch at the winery beforemaking a reluctant retreat back toyour hotel.THE ITALIAN Duration: 6-7 hours caMin 2 Max 20 guestsAvailability: Monday to SaturdayBooking: at least 10 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
Kick start your day! Escape the citywith your personal trainer to the littleknown Certosa island. This green andwooded hideaway has a network ofpaths for walking, jogging and cyclingand is the perfect place to enjoy amorning workout. We will organise theperfect activity to suit your needs - abrisk stroll, morning yoga or somethingto push your boundaries further!YOUR ISLAND
Duration: 2 hour caMin 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: everyday Booking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
AND BEYOND
WHEN THE FALLS
Duration: 4 hours caMin 2 Max 8 guestsAvailability: everyday Booking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailabilityA unique and exclusive behind the scenes private tour of two iconic Italiantheatres. Literally tread the boards as you explore the historic Pergola Theatre,discovering the secret paths and ancient mechanisms of the oldest Italian styletheatre still in use today and the modern opera house Parco della Musicacomplex, an urban architecture design with large halls for opera and otherforms of musical performance in which acoustic excellence is generated byarchitectural prowess. It also represents a landmark, creating a physical andconceptual bridge between the historic city centre and the landscapedCascine park area.Be suspended between facts, characters, anecdotes and legends as youexplore the stories and the mechanics that drive some of the world’s mostfamous performances.
F L O R E N C EDuration: 4 hours caMin 2 Max 12 guestsAvailability: Monday to Friday Booking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailabilityFlorence’s grand palaces or palazziwere once home to the mostpowerful families in the Renaissanceperiod and beyond. Our personalpatrician guide will lead you throughthe doors of two private palaces,palazzo Corsini and palazzo Gondi,rare in the fact that they are stillowned by the families that builtthem many centuries ago. Rumourhas it that Leonardo Da Vincipainted his Mona Lisa in one ofthese rooms, uncover more tales asyou meet the family members whoown these palazzi.
Tuscany is known across the globefor its contemporary art. Sculpturesthat play in the wind, monumentalgiants and works that are immersedin nature, all set on the beautifulbackdrop of the Tuscan landscape.Some of the world’s most infamouscontemporary artists have comehere to create and innovate, fromNam Jun Paik to Rafael Soto. Withyour personal guide you will journeythrough two of the most famous Artparks in the Capalbio municipalitygaining unique insights from yourmaster guide. Exploring Giardino deiTarocchi (Tarot Garden) and DanielSpoerri Foundation and Open-airmuseum, you will immerse yourselfin the world of contemporary artwith of course a stop for lunch inCapalbio’s charming town toexperience the local delights.TUSCANY IN A Duration: 12 hours caMin 2 Max 12 guestsAvailability: everyday fromApril 1st to October 15thBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
THE SECRETS OFDuration: 12 hours caMin 2 Max 12 guestsAvailability: Monday to FridayBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
If you are in search of a unique and unforgettable experience, an exploration ofan open-air marble quarry will certainly not disappoint. Pick up and jump in a4x4 for your onward exhilarating adventure to the Apuan alps, to visit aworking marble quarry. Our expert peruser 'of all things marble' will guide youthrough the process of extracting and transporting this magnificent crystallinecalcitic rock, illustrating how this has evolved over time. The experience willinclude a visit to the hipster hamlet of Pietrasanta home to many a modernsculpture’s atelier, the perfect place to enjoy a bite to eat – take your choice ofbistrot or authentic living room style restaurants before proceeding to theARKAD foundation to be welcomed by the owners Cynthia Sah and NicolasBertoux, who have created an intercultural centre to support sculptors in theirwork.
Challenge your impression of Tuscanbeauty. For those who love the greenFlorentine rolling hills we invite you toview this surreal beauty from a newperspective. Best enjoyed early morning as the sunmakes its ascent above the roof tops,climb the hills and streets of Florence,enjoying the city from the mostunexpected viewpoints. Meander through the labyrinth of narrow roads,beneath the facades of beautifulancient villas, enter into secret gardensand stop to gaze at the unforgettablespectacle of breathtaking panoramas.URBAN
Duration: from 2 to 3 hoursMin 2 Max 8 guestsAvailability: everyday Booking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
Renowned across Italy for itshandmade products, from semi-precious stones to paper, scagliola(an imitation of marble), silk andleather, Florence has a long traditionof skilled trades and crafts.Accompanied by your dedicatedartisan companion, explore thepopular district of Oltrarno on theleft bank of the Arno river – the city’soff-radar bohemian borough. This isthe hipster quarter of the Florence,the artisan epicentre and wheremuch of the true Florentine soul stillresides. Antique shops, independentdesigners, and tiny artisanworkshops line the side streetssurrounding Santo Spirito and SanFrediano – buzzing cafés, intimateeateries and weekly themedmarkets make this a part of Florenceyou won't want to stay away from.Meet with some of the city's finestartisans in their ateliers andworkshops to uncover the secretsbehind their trades and the ancienttechniques they apply.THE ANCIENTWAY OF THE Duration: 3 hours caMin 2 Max 6 guestsAvailability: Monday to FridayBooking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
AND BEYOND
A OF THEROMAN COUNTRYSIDE
Escape the bustle of Rome to explore the spectacular greenery of thesurrounding Roman countryside. A short 20-minute drive from the city centreto find yourself in an organic haven, from vegetable gardens to cheese making,bee keeping and vineyards. This is no ordinary farm, it is a harmoniouscelebration of the fruits of nature, first celebrated by Prince AlbericoBoncompagni Ludovisi who made the region famous for its winemaking. Divedeep to discover the farm and cheese workshops, before embarking on aherbology adventure, hunting for medicinal plants and learning their secrets,before settling for a splendid picnic, a culinary celebration of taste sensationsfrom the local areaDuration: 8 hours caMin 2 Max 8 guestsAvailability: everyday Booking: at least 5 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
A TALE OF THE TAILORSDuration: 4 hours caMin 2 Max 8 guestsAvailability: Mon, Tue, Wed morningBooking: at least 1 month inadvance. Subject to availability
Joined by a professional stylist delve into the history of Italian movie fashionand haute couture. This journey will take you on an exploration of two famouscinematic and theatrical tailoring studios . The Sorelle Ferroni launched from humble beginnings in 1911 as a small familybusiness creating costumes for minor theatrical productions. Following ontoWorld War II, Rome’s Cinecittà studios soon became a powerhouse within theinternational cinematic world, and the Ferroni sisters recognised this as anopportunity to ‘pivot’ their skills in taking Italian haute couture to the silverscreen. From one set of sisters to another to visit the Micol Fontana Foundation. TheFontana sisters, Giovanna, Micol and Zoe, were at the heart of the renaissanceof Italian fashion in the 20th century.A rebirth which enjoys a precise date,February 12th 1951 when the first modern Italian fashion show was staged inFlorence, featuring designs by Emilio Pucci and the Fontana and Ferronisisters. A turning point in the assertion of Italian fashion and the launch of itsleading lights onto the international stage.The Fontanas further consolidated their reputation by dressing manycelebrated actresses including Princess Grace of Monaco, Elizabeth Taylor,Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy.An exquisitely stylish experience for lovers of fashion, style and cinema.
A JOURNEY A discovery of Rome away from the main sights, experiencing the hiddencorners & nooks of a city which oozes history and culture from every pore andwhich will awaken your every sense. This journey to the underbelly of theeternal city includes a visit to The Biblioteca Angelica (one of Europe’s mostancient libraries), artisan workshops and pharmacies in the bohemianneighborhood of Trastevere. Add to this shopping & tasting at the traditionaldelis and gelaterias for a fun lunch & desert and you have the makings of aremarkable day relishing the rarities of Rome.
Duration: 3 hours caMin 2 Max 10 guestsAvailability: Monday to Friday Booking: at least 1 month inadvance. Subject to availability
Are you intrigued by the discovery of hidden secrets? Movies so often provideopportunities to be launched into a world of trap doors and secret passages, sowhy not just us in your own personal movie screenplay discovering esotericenigmas of the Eternal City. Whilst others queue to take their turn at peering through the AventineKeyhole, be led by our guide within the walls which surround an extraterritorialsovereign state. Walk through the labyrinth of Italianate gardens, marvel at thehandiwork of the famous architect and engraver Giovanni Battista Piranesiseen in the elegant church of Santa Maria del Priorato, and admire the villawhich houses the embassy of the Order of Malta to Italy. Venture through the tree-lined boulevards and gardens that once belongedto the legendary crusader knights and religious orders dating back to the 14thcentury. Stop at the ambrosial orange gardens, where the pungent scent of its manyorange trees are exalted by the exquisite perfumes of the roses flowering inthe nearby botanical gardens, and savour your very own Dolce Vita momentwith a jovial gourmet experience served from a heritage vehicle.But your discovery doesn’t end here – onwards and downwards to descendmore than two storeys below street level and layers of religious history whichmake up the hidden depths of a 12th century Basilica. Here you will bearwitness to ancient remains of an early Christian church dating back to the 5thcentury, a Roman house and warehouse and a mithraeum – a templededicated to the god Mithras. BEHIND Duration: 4 hours caMin 2 Max 8 guestsAvailability: Friday morningBooking: at least 10 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
EXPLORE
Be transported back in time as you venture to the ancient region ofCiociaria. A virtually unknown misty patch of fluorescent green landnestled in the wild mountains of central Italy, a secret even to manyItalians, its name comes from cioce, the hairy sheep-leather shoes worn inthe past by herdsmen. This is where skeletons of man’s early ancestors were found in deep caves,where the fiery Samnite tribes fought against the bloodthirsty Romans,and where the Gustav Line ran during World War II.For centuries, it was a no-man's kingdom at the boundaries of the richpapal state -- a poor and outcast region roamed by bandits, saints andpilgrims. Today it's enjoying something of a renaissance thanks to farmers,breeders and shepherds who've made their fortunes rearing pigs, andproducing cured meats and mouth-watering cheeses.Explore the medieval villages, carved into the landscape of this lustrousgreen region. Accompanied by our countryside captain, become privilegedpurveyors of some of the oldest villages and structures in the whole ofItaly. Tread the ancient flagstones of a centuries old cathedral known alsoas the ‘Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages’.So much to see and so much to taste - the Ciociara awaits.Duration: 8 hours caMin 2 Max 15 guestsAvailability: everydayBooking: at least 10 workingdays in advance. Subject toavailability
italy@terraevents.comwww.terraevents.comwww.terraeventslifestyle.comIf you’re searching for something in particular? Somewhere in particular ?As masters in the creation of countrywide experiences our expert teams in Italy, France,Portugal and Spain are waiting for your call!Italy is not our only area of expertise, we have on the ground teams across Spain, Portugaland France.drop us an email at:
brochure created by Francesca Giancola and Sydney Iodice