Pieve International School

Professor Gina Werfel, UC Davis faculty member has team-teach the Painting in class with her colleague and husband, Hearne Pardee and Professor Bryce Vinokurov. She said that this has been one of the most exciting teaching moments for her in her twenty-five years of teaching, as she witnessed her students learning how to live in Italy. Another lovely outcome of this class is getting to know her students well. They have run the class for the last three summers, and all of the students have made lasting friendships with one another and with the professors.

Housed in the beautiful villa in its own park-like setting outside of Corciano, the setting was perfect for new travelers, as the local village is so welcoming to American students. The staff at the Villa also assisted their students in so many ways, everything from how to mail a letter to buying a train ticket and finding hotels for optional travel on weekends.

They have punctuate their daily classes in painting with field trips to such renowned art cities as Florence, Siena, Assisi, Orvieto and Perugia. Students painted four mornings a week and then they would take all day field trips on Fridays.

We fit in other local trips and activities, with the help of our hosts, who introduced us to experiences individual travelers would not have. Weekends were used for optional travel or just relaxing at the Villa.

Italy for many Chinese people, it is a symbol of love, passion, fashion, the cradle of western civilization, food, wine and all the other good things in life…

On July 1, ten Chinese friends from Hong Kong, Beijing and Taiwan followed Ms Lily Li on a special cultural program organized by Pieve International School.

It has been a great six-day vacation which featured tours around Perugia, Ovieto, Assisi and Todi, Cortona, visiting churches, seeing the famous paintings, Renaissance evening, opera concert; intuitive music by famous flute player – Andrea Ceccomori; ceramic class with the international artist Rossella Vasta; Italian language class with a professor of the University for Foreigner of Perugia; wine tasting; Sicilian cooking class, visiting famous Umbrian olive oil mill – Mancianti and Grazia Ceramic Museum in Deruta, Lake Trasimeno, and many other things.

Lily as the tour leader, said that organizing this Culturitaly tour for her friends from China has meant for her to share what she love about Italy, about Umbria.

Terry, one of the participants who works for a financial institute in Hong Kong said “I enjoyed Umbria very much, there are so many interesting activities in the program and I can still smell the thousand years of history. It has been a wonderful program for a culture lover’.

Fiona, a medical doctor from Hong Kong said ‘Among all the activities, I liked the Renaissance evening most…It brought me a few hundred years back”

Kitty,  who works for an international computer company, said that having stayed with an Italian family has made her feel at home.  She truly experienced the warmth of an Italian family. Having stayed with locals has made her understand how Italians live every day.

Renaissance dinner on July 5th

Elizabeth Lewis says about the program held at Villa Pieve: “I look forward to coming back to the Umbria region and my Villa Pieve family every year. The experience provides a feast for the senses, as well as a way to delve into the nourishing spiritual waters of meditation and self-discovery in a relaxing and peaceful environment. It was my time in Pieve that inspired me to become certified in Franciscan Studies so that I can share with others the light and guiding spirit of St. Francis”.

Pieve International School and Kendall College of Art and Design of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The study abroad program of 2010 was the first offered through Kendall. Four professors (Ann Norcross, Robert Sheardy, David Greenwood and Suzanne Engbers) held four different classes in subjects of Art History, Literature, and Sculpture. The group of Kendall students was comprised of a nice blend of artistic disciplines. With 3 weeks at the Villa, the group traveled around Italy touring various iconic cities. Among them Assisi, Florence, Venice, Vernezza, Carrara, Urbino, Roma & Perugia. Aided by the staff of the Villa also enjoyed, “self guided” tours all over Italy.

Among the Local Highlights the Villa arranged for our group

• Perugia’s “gems” Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria and the Archaeological Museum.
• Private tours of the Castello di Pieve del Vescovo, across from the Villa. (On the lower hill of Corciano overlooking the scenic vistas of the valley.)
• Villa del Colle del Cardinale

David Greenwood

May 28th – May 31st

A great group of 14 students of Architecture led by Prof. Peter Kommers has enjoyed the Villa Pieve facility even for just a 3-day stay.

Leadership Retreat – Prof. Kristine Hipp

May 18th -May 26th

1 week stay

During this week, the participant to this program have had the opportunity to share their ideas with entrepreneurs of sustainable businesses intellectuals and university professors. The program included guided tours to Cortona to visit the old town and the Celle Francescane,  a visit to Assisi, the town of Saint Francis, Todi.

May 8th – May 15th

Our group from Chautauqua Institution was led by artist Don Kimes, Visual Arts director at the renowned Chautauqua Institution since 1986, Kimes previously was Program Director of New York Studio School, and has been a guest artist in numerous internationally respected art progrms.

The group enjoyed one week of tours around the major Umbrian towns, cooking and Lemoncello class, wine tasting in Montefalco, museums in Cortona and shopping at the Pardi shop.

March 5 – April 30   2010

A great group of 13 students of Design and Photography for an adventure of two months. The study program at the Pieve International School included some unique expericences such as trips to Corciano, Perugia, Assisi, Cortona, San Marino, Bologna and the Ferrari Museum in Maranello. The program was held by Professor Jeffrey Conger, a prominent photographer as well as a journalist for some of the most important car and motors magazines in the US.

Our students on a trip to San Marino

Pictures by Jeffrey Conger