Cortona or Lucca?
May 18th, 2008, 07:17 PM
#21
I have been to both and actually preferred Cortona for its somewhat gritty, unvarnished personality and its fabulous Etruscan museum and crumbling Etruscan walls just outside the city.
There was a festival occurring and I asked some colourfully robed priests if I could take their photos. They smilingly agreed, and hid their cellphones behind their backs!
We interacted with a number of Cortonese and found them to be polite and helpful.
There was a festival occurring and I asked some colourfully robed priests if I could take their photos. They smilingly agreed, and hid their cellphones behind their backs!
We interacted with a number of Cortonese and found them to be polite and helpful.
May 18th, 2008, 10:40 PM
#22
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Dawn,
I haven't been to Cortona YET(may go this October). But I have been to both Lucca and Bologna and loved both.
Since the class is only two hours a day, I would pick Bologna. The food is really amazing!! And the daytrip choices are better. There is Parma (ham and cheeses) and Modena(the birthplace of Basalmic Vinegar
) This is to name just a few.
Whatever you decied, I am sure you and DD will havea great time
Tom
Here is a photo of a storefront window in Bologna pbase.com/trsw/image/69105339
I haven't been to Cortona YET(may go this October). But I have been to both Lucca and Bologna and loved both.
Since the class is only two hours a day, I would pick Bologna. The food is really amazing!! And the daytrip choices are better. There is Parma (ham and cheeses) and Modena(the birthplace of Basalmic Vinegar
) This is to name just a few. Whatever you decied, I am sure you and DD will havea great time
Tom
Here is a photo of a storefront window in Bologna pbase.com/trsw/image/69105339
May 19th, 2008, 01:10 AM
#23
I have been to Saena Iulia 3 times over the past 2.5 years, and love both the school and Siena. I am not sure they would be able to help your daughter (I base this purely on my experiences of never having seen anyone under 18 at the school).
It is always worth dropping them an email as they have always been exceptionally good with response and information.
It is always worth dropping them an email as they have always been exceptionally good with response and information.
May 19th, 2008, 04:35 AM
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IME, Cortona is completely different in high season from the rest of the year. I absolutely hated in the last time I was there in July. The streets were absolutely teeming all day long, to the point where you couldn't easily move around. And there was significantly more English being spoken than Italian or other European languages. Really, it was theme-parkish. The shopkeepers were frazzled; everyone was on edge; it was a chore to be there, not a pleasure.
Went back again at the end of October, and it was vastly different. No crowds, more laid-back atmosphere, shopkeepers warm and friendly. Still, there are SO many British expats there you can't escape their influence, which waters down the Italian feel of the place (the same could be said for *my town* in France, by the way, so it's not a total slam - I still love the place).
I would pick Lucca.
Went back again at the end of October, and it was vastly different. No crowds, more laid-back atmosphere, shopkeepers warm and friendly. Still, there are SO many British expats there you can't escape their influence, which waters down the Italian feel of the place (the same could be said for *my town* in France, by the way, so it's not a total slam - I still love the place).
I would pick Lucca.
May 19th, 2008, 05:48 AM
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 16,658
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks everyone for the feedback.
Yes, I have emailed the schools as a classroom would not be approrpriate for my dd at this point.
I am looking to do the two on one courses many offer.
All thus far have said yes.
Yes, I have emailed the schools as a classroom would not be approrpriate for my dd at this point.
I am looking to do the two on one courses many offer.
All thus far have said yes.
May 19th, 2008, 11:46 AM
#28
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ditto, spent 28 days in Lucca, loved every minute of it. It's absolutely beautiful there, great food, great shopping, lots of green spaces to relax. Absolutely fabulous. This is the apartment we stayed in, we had the apartment azzuro http://www.tuscany.net/gialloeazzurro/pages/apart.htm
Beautiful location with a view out the window of San Frediano Church. Very close to the main passeggiata where everyone strolls at night, just a great, great location. Very nice owners as well. There is a crazy neighbor lady who is always screaming in her apartment and sometimes in the stairwell, but it kind of added to the whole experience so we didnt mind LOL!
Beautiful location with a view out the window of San Frediano Church. Very close to the main passeggiata where everyone strolls at night, just a great, great location. Very nice owners as well. There is a crazy neighbor lady who is always screaming in her apartment and sometimes in the stairwell, but it kind of added to the whole experience so we didnt mind LOL!
May 19th, 2008, 11:59 AM
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 16,658
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GiuliaPiraino - that is classic! It would just add to it - I completely get that. Thank you for sharing.
I am still deciding between Siena, Lucca and Bologna now (crossed off Cortona).
I am still deciding between Siena, Lucca and Bologna now (crossed off Cortona).
May 19th, 2008, 12:13 PM
#30
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh how horrible, you have to choose one of those????? I love all three of them! Also, they are so apples and oranges, that would be very hard to decide. Tuscany and Emilia Romagna are so different and both beautiful in their own right. I'd have to say, that Emilia Romagna's food is my favorite over Tuscan food, even though I enjoy them both. I could eat my weight in Brutti ma Buoni cookies(that means ugly but yummy isn't that funny?)and Lardo di Collana, both delicacies in Lucca. The lardo is pure fat you can spread on hot bread. It sounds scary but it's heavenly. DH and I joked while we were there "mangia lardo, diventa lardo", meaning "eat lardo, become lardo" LOL
I think with an 11 year old, Lucca is the better choice however. I have a friend who teaches Italian privately in Lucca and she has very good things to say about the school there, it's Koine right?
I think with an 11 year old, Lucca is the better choice however. I have a friend who teaches Italian privately in Lucca and she has very good things to say about the school there, it's Koine right?
May 19th, 2008, 12:59 PM
#31
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Giulia,
Loved that story about the screaming neighbor! LOL!
The apt is so cute, and with a view of San Frediano! I loved that church, inside and out. Many times sat in one of the benches or teh caffes in the piazza there just looking at it.
Was the area with the bed a separate bedroom, or was the apt a studio?
Interesting about your friend having a high opinion of Koiné. Maybe I was just unlucky.
Loved that story about the screaming neighbor! LOL!
The apt is so cute, and with a view of San Frediano! I loved that church, inside and out. Many times sat in one of the benches or teh caffes in the piazza there just looking at it.
Was the area with the bed a separate bedroom, or was the apt a studio?
Interesting about your friend having a high opinion of Koiné. Maybe I was just unlucky.
May 19th, 2008, 01:14 PM
#32
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The apartment was totally brand new inside. The bedroom was good size, separate room with a queen bed, two night stands, a large armoire and lots of room enough that I could set up a drying rack for our clothes. The bedroom and the living room both had windows out to San Frediano. The living room had a small dining table, small sofa, tv and a great kitchen with dishwasher, microwave, coffee pot, etc. The bathroom had a shower and one window and a washing machine. I thought it was great.
Funny the neighbor I guess was always fighting with her daughter, because we'd hear the daughter or some young woman scream "oh mama!!!" and then the woman would scream "oh Dio!!!", and then non-descript Italian screaming. She also compulsively scrubs the stairwell for hours. I would go running in the morning and she'd be there when I left and then she'd be there when I came back. I thought surely she wont be there when I come back 2 hours later, but yet, there she was! I actually kind of liked her, the idle chit chat helped me improve my Italian, after 28 days, you get to know someone even if they are nuts! Now, even 6 years later, DH will call out from his office "oh mama!" and I return with shouting out "oh Dio!", it still cracks us up years later!
I don't know much about the school. DH and I were going to attend but opted for a private instructor who came to the apartment or met us in the park or at her house. It was 20% of the price. But there is a benefit to being in a group setting that we didn't have. All I knew was that the price was way more than we wanted to spend and we ended up learning a lot privately and made a new friend!
Funny the neighbor I guess was always fighting with her daughter, because we'd hear the daughter or some young woman scream "oh mama!!!" and then the woman would scream "oh Dio!!!", and then non-descript Italian screaming. She also compulsively scrubs the stairwell for hours. I would go running in the morning and she'd be there when I left and then she'd be there when I came back. I thought surely she wont be there when I come back 2 hours later, but yet, there she was! I actually kind of liked her, the idle chit chat helped me improve my Italian, after 28 days, you get to know someone even if they are nuts! Now, even 6 years later, DH will call out from his office "oh mama!" and I return with shouting out "oh Dio!", it still cracks us up years later!
I don't know much about the school. DH and I were going to attend but opted for a private instructor who came to the apartment or met us in the park or at her house. It was 20% of the price. But there is a benefit to being in a group setting that we didn't have. All I knew was that the price was way more than we wanted to spend and we ended up learning a lot privately and made a new friend!
May 19th, 2008, 02:18 PM
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 16,658
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GiuliaPiraino - would you mind sharing your friend's name with me? I am doing private lessons and would love to spend less money!
We are already doing one week in Florence at the school (but in private lessons).
Thank you in advance! I love Fodors!!
Dawn
P.S. - if you would prefer not to share on the board my email is
Dawnnoelm @ aol
We are already doing one week in Florence at the school (but in private lessons).
Thank you in advance! I love Fodors!!
Dawn
P.S. - if you would prefer not to share on the board my email is
Dawnnoelm @ aol
May 19th, 2008, 04:45 PM
#34
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Giulia,
Thanks for the description of the apt. It sounds perfect. I would love to go back to Lucca, and someday I will. If I do I rather rent an apt., so I'll keep this one in mind. Now I even "know" a potential future neighbor! LOL!
There is something to be gained by being in a group setting, but it could also be a liability if the people in the group are at different levels(which happened in my case).Trust me, what you gained by living there for 4 weeks, interacting with the locals, and one on one with your teacher is far superior that what you could have gotten at the school.
Thanks for the description of the apt. It sounds perfect. I would love to go back to Lucca, and someday I will. If I do I rather rent an apt., so I'll keep this one in mind. Now I even "know" a potential future neighbor! LOL!
There is something to be gained by being in a group setting, but it could also be a liability if the people in the group are at different levels(which happened in my case).Trust me, what you gained by living there for 4 weeks, interacting with the locals, and one on one with your teacher is far superior that what you could have gotten at the school.
