The beautiful medieval hill town of Massa Marittima in the heart of the Maremma area of Tuscany is the setting each year for the British Institute of Florence summer school. Considered as a gem of the Middle Ages for its beauty and the significance of the buildings, this well-preserved hill town is historical for being a free commune in the 13th Century.
I participated in the Summer School last year and couldn’t believe how this part of Tuscany is surprisingly still little known to mass tourism.
Surrounded by dense luxuriant woods, with ancient fortresses, churches and castles, many dating back to the Middle Ages, Massa Marittima is only twenty minutes from the Tuscan coast. It is within easy reach of many places of interest, including the ruined Cistercian abbey at San Galgano and the Maremma nature park, and it is little more than an hour from the historic city of Siena.
The Institute’s Summer School offers a complete immersion into Italian language and culture. Every weekday morning there are intensive Italian language classes at different levels. Whatever their level, participants are encouraged to communicate in Italian from the very first day. The experienced team of Italian language teachers uses an interactive method aimed at developing confidence in the spoken language and broadening knowledge of day-to-day Italian life.
In addition every day there will be an opportunity to experience more about all things Italian. Participants will learn about and taste Tuscan wines and local food delicacies. This year they will learn the art of making home made pasta, find out about the production of olive oil and especially how to taste it. We are also arranging a visit to the ancient seaside town of nearby Castiglione della Pescaia.
Our Summer School is timed to coincide with Massa Marittima’s famous open-air opera festival, which takes place in the Piazza Garibaldi, a tour de force of medieval city planning. This year we shall enjoy Puccini’s Tosca and Donizetti’s Don Pasquale performed against a backdrop of the magnificent Cathedral, one of the finest religious buildings in Tuscany.
The Balestra del Girafalco takes place on the 2nd Sunday in August each year and will provide a spectacular introduction to the second week of the Summer School. This famous competition is a historical re-enactment with 150 participants in historical costumes, representing the three districts into which Massa Marittima is divided. The contest consists of a crossbow competition with eight archers from each district each seeking to pierce the heart of the “corniolo”, the heart of the gerfalcon, the bird of prey that symbolically represents the enemy.
We will also be joining the locals to celebrate San Lorenzo’s feast day on August 10th with Calici di Stelle - the night of falling stars and take part in the traditional nighttime wine festival in the streets of Massa Marittima and sample locally produced wines and olive oils.
The classes are held at Massa’s old seminary building right at the top of the hill with beautiful views over the surrounding countryside. The whole course was tremendous fun with a really interesting group from the UK, the US, Germany and Japan.
More information will be on our website in the next few days but if you would like to register your interest early email info@britishinstitute.it
I am very much looking forward to returning this year.
Ann Alexander
19th November 2009
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