Travel Book Club: Val d'Orcia, Italy

Zoom Course

Travel Book Club: Val d'Orcia

Companion Book (optional): War in the Val d'Orcia by Iris Origo

Group: 5 Friends Minimum - Choose a preferred start date, time and weekly/bi-weekly frequency, then CONTACT US to schedule

Date: 4 Sessions, scheduled weekly or bi-weekly, on the same time and day of the week of your choice.

Time: TBD

Expert: Chiara Fanti, Certified Tour GUide

Fees: $25/session and offered as a package of 4 sessions at $100 per Zoom Window*. 

Doing Good: 10% of net proceeds benefit Art Angels of Arezzo or a nonprofit of your choice.

Itinerary:

Come join a different kind of tour! Following the pages of Iris Origo's War in Val d'Orcia, we will embark on a journey linking past and present. Through the stories of the people—shared by Origo in her journal and also by Chiara's own family members and friends—we will discover how the towns recovered and blossomed again after the war. And, we will learn what to do, see, and experience, with a much deeper appreciation of the place and admiration for the people. 

About the book: Though set during a tumultuous time and providing a unique perspective on the trials of war, Origo’s book is about the people of Tuscany—their bravery, sense of community, compassion, mutual support, strength, friendship and hope.

"Origo's diary is a compelling story of heroism, compassion, and--in the author's words--'the most primitive traditions of ungrudging hospitality, uncalculating brotherhood...the shared, simple acts of everyday life.'"  --Vic Sussman, The Washington Post

Week 1: Imagine an Italian Summer - Introduction

Welcome to one of the most beautiful places on Earth—the Val d'Orcia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004, known for its perfect hills, cypress trees, family farms, olive groves and vineyards—it’s Chiara’s home and the setting for Iris Origo’s memoir War in the Val d’Orcia. The journey begins!

What to expect: 

• Introductions: Get to know your fellow Travel Book Club friends and your expert guide, Chiara Fanti. 
• Virtual Tour: Chiara will use multi-media to introduce you to the renown Val d'Orcia and to Iris Origo, the protagonist of our journey back in time, and the inspiration for our present day exploration of this special region of Tuscany. 

Week 2: Walking Tour - Montepuliciano

Week 3: Walking Tour - La Foce

Week 4: Walking Tour - Siena 

Available from Amazon. Click here: BUY WAR IN VAL D'ORCIA