We Look Forward to Seeing You!

Hi ,

I hope you are excited about the upcoming workshop - we are thrilled to have you with us and to have Jerry leading our group! I just wanted to briefly touch base about some practical issues ahead, as well as to address some questions that have come up individually in my communication with the group.  

The Jerry Pellegrino Food and Wine Tour itinerary is on our website at: https://icaitaly.com/pellegrino-italian-food-and-wine-tour-itinerary

Participants will arrive on Sunday, June 12.  

Eros wrote all of you in regard to your forms.  Those of you who have not yet submitted them MUST do so before boarding our bus or entering our facilities.

Jerry has kindly provided his email address should you have specific questions about the session. 

                                         Jerry      jpcorks@aol.com

Airport Pick Up

For those of you arriving by air, as we discussed, pick up at the: Rome/Fiumicino, Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) will be on the morning of May 12.  

1. You will arrive at Terminal 3 of FCO,  and after deplaning, you will follow signs to Immigration to stamp your passport. From here you will follow signs to Baggage Claim - please check the monitors carefully to identify which conveyor received your bags.  
2. After Baggage Claim, you will follow the signs to Customs - you should just pass directly through this area as it will be unlikely you will be stopped for any inquiries.  Alternately, follow instructions.
3. Immediately after Customs, you will pass through some very large frosted glass doors.  After passing through the doors, immediately turn left. Ahead, you will see a large white column marked Information Point.  Our representative will be waiting here with a sign, identifying himself with ICA. 
4. We plan to depart FCO at about noon, on a bus operated by the Provenzani  company. The ride to Monte Castello is approximately 1hour: 45 minutes. 
5. Approximately midway, we will stop for a bathroom break and refreshments.  

For those of you arriving by car, se your GPS to Monte Castello di Vibio (PG), Umbria, Italy. This will avoid confusion with other villages of the same name.  You can park anywhere around the village wall, unless these is a specific instruction by our Commune not to park in a particular area. Our main facility and office is immediately behind the church of San Giacomo e Filippo.

Arrival:

The airport bus will arrive at about 2:00 PM and participants will be shown to their rooms followed by a late lunch. Afterward, at about 5:30 PM, we will have a brief tour of the village, followed by refreshments at the Cafe Centrale. Dinner is at 8:00 on the terrace. 

Daily Routine to expect once you are here:

Typical Workshop Schedule (The schedule below is meant to provide a general guideline -final class timetable will be described by the group leader):

Daily Schedule

Workshops typically begin with an orientation on Day 1 

Morning session: 9:00 AM following breakfast 

Break for lunch: 1:00 - 2:00 PM. 

Afternoon session: 3:30 - 5:30 (Afternoon starting and stopping times will be announced by the instructor.) 

Dinner is at 8:00 PM on our terrace. 

9:00 - 10:30 After dinner events, such as artists talks, lectures, film viewings, and group activities will frequently be available. Please be aware of announcements and check the bulletin board for opportunities. It is recommended that all participants attend these activities. 

Weekly Schedule:

M-Th: Workshop or independent work.

Friday: Excursion (no meals)

Sa/Su: Generally reserved for independent work or independent travel (see calendar for options)

Please Note:

The entire group will be accommodated at our villa.  A uncharge of €50 per person for doubles and €75 per person for singles per day will be accessed including during excursions. Payment can be made on PayPal. We will issue an invoice on PayPal to each member of the group.

Fresh towels, sheets and housekeeping are provided weekly. 

Washing service is available on site and prices are 10 Euro for 5 kilo’s. Washing machines are also available free of charge at our main building. Line drying of laundry is on terrace. 

Remember that the electrical system in Italy is 220 v.  You cannot use hairdryers brought from the U.S. these are provided at the villa.  Electronic equipment such as computers require a plug adaptor.  These are available at our art supply store. 

Meals

We take great pride in our meal service.  We provide chef-catered meals made on site from fresh ingredients. Vegetarian and Vegan diets are accommodated with notification.  

3-meals per day will be served while in Monte Castello, except on weekends when a 11:00 AM  brunch and 8:00 PM dinner are served.  No meals are served on Friday, which is a typical excursion day.

ANY FOOD ALLERGIES MUST BE IDENTIFIED ON THE HEALTH FORM. IF YOU WILL MISS ANY MEALS, PLEASE NOTIFY US 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE. NON-PARTICIPANTS MUST PAY A MEAL FEE OR DAY-VISITOR FEE.TAP WATER IS SAFE FOR DRINKING THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE.

Typical meal times are as follows:

• Breakfast (Colazione) 8:30 AM
• Brunch (Sa and Su). 11:00 AM
• Lunch (Pranzo) M - Th 1:00 PM
• Dinner (Cena) M-Th/Sa/Su
• Friday: Typical excursion day - no meals served

Except for breakfast - or brunch buffet - meals arrive plated as follows:

White and Red house wine is provided on table in carafe. Bottled wine from Wine List is available for an additional fee. Sparkling and still water are provided on the table. 

Breakfast Buffet:

Several types of eggs, artisanal meats, several types of cereal, artisanal cheeses and yogurt, fresh bread and pastry, fruit salad, Yoga brand fruit juice, Fresh and dried fruits, jelly/jam, local honey, coffee/tea

Typical Lunch/Dinner Menu

Lunch/Dinner: Two courses will arrive at the tables, plated.  Two courses will be served at the buffet.

• Appetizer (antipasto)
• First course (Primi) Pasta course
• 2nd course(Secondo): meat chicken or fish, served with vegetables and starch or legumes
• 3rd course (Contorno): Salad
• 4th course (Dolche): desert or fruit
• Digestivo Lemoncello, digestif, or coffee are offered after meal. 

Additional Notes

While you are in residence, you will be served three meals per day M-F, except on your excursion days, when no meals are served at ICA (most meals on excursions for the food and wine group are included).  At the villa, breakfast is served buffet style. Meals are multiple course and served plated.  House wine is provided and wines from our cellar are available for an additional fee. 

Excursions

Our Excursions typically occur on Friday’s with departures generally at 7:00 AM from Monte Castello. Generally, we return to Monte Castello at approximately 7:00 PM.  No meals are served at the center on excursion days. For dinner on these days, we suggest one of the excellent restaurants in Monte Castello. 

For information on other excursions, related to specific to Retreats and Workshops, please consult the itinerary for that specific event.

Final Exhibition/Performance/Presentation/Reading

Final group exhibitions/performances/readings, are typically held in the village on Thursday evenings from 6-8 PM.  For visual artists, the venue is usually our Bocca al Luppo Gallery (photo). For individuals and groups in the Performing Arts and Humanities, the venue is typically our Teatro Concordia (photo) with the event held after dinner at 9:15 PM.  

Refreshments at the Bocca al Luppo Gallery are served immediately and throughout the course of the event. These include Prosecco, soft drinks, water, cheese, and focaccia with various toppings. Refreshments are typically served after events held in the Teatro and include Prosecco, cheeses and sweets. 

Other specific program instructions
will be provided by the group leader

Our group exhibition/performance/reading, will be in our Bocca al Luppo Gallery will be on Thursday, May 19. Refreshments will be served. These include Prosecco, soft drinks, water, cheese, and focaccia with various toppings.  

We will make an excursions as follows: 

Friday, May 20:

1. Review projects
2. Lunch at 13:00
3. Afternoon trip to Deruta on Friday for a tour of the ceramics workshops.  
4. Dinner on the terrace is at 8:00.

A farewell dinner on Saturday, May 21.

Departure will be at 5:30 AM for the FCO airport.  We ask that no flights depart before 11:00 Prior to this time, we cannot guarantee a timely departure. 

Final Notes

COVID:
COVID protocols currently vary from nation to national and airline to airline.  We strongly encourage you to check with your consulate and airline about current protocols.  Those needing a COVID test before departure will be able to do so the day before at the pharmacy in Monte Castello.  The cost is 30€. Results are available within about 30 minutes.  Should you test positive for COVID we have a quarantine option available for a fee. 

The farewell diner is on Tuesday, June 21.

Our airport bus departs on Wednesday, June 22 at 6:00 AM. We cannot accommodate flights departing prior to 11:00 AM.  Independent departure is 10:00 AM. 

Any travel restrictions at the time of the workshop for which you are registered, may result in re-scheduling. ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH ALL ICA POLICIES INCLUDING REFUND/CANCELLATION POLICIES.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Again, we look forward to having you with us. 

Best,

David