Not ordinary holiday experiences between culture and beauty at an ancient medieval shelter on the green hills surrounding Florence: the Antico Spedale del Bigallo.
In the Middle Ages, this 13th century building put up pilgrims and wayfarers walking along Via Francigena, the only road for Rome at that time.
Today, after an accurate restoration, it has been transformed in an enchanting and particular hostel, still keeping its appealing medieval dormitories.
It offers 3 kinds of accommodations, box/cubicles, multiple rooms and five double rooms, welcoming third millennium travellers who yearn to live in an atmosphere outside of time and space and who enjoy both the beauty of nature and of the nearby art centres of Tuscany. This ancient building is the ideal location for the not ordinary holiday experiences we propose you.

Holidays - Courses

Calligraphy Basic Course
( Saturday, June 16th to Tuesday, June19th )

Gardening and floral design course
( 1st to 8th June / 14th to 21st July / 1st to 8th August )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calligraphy Basic Course

A really not ordinary course for calligraphy lovers, held by Daniel J. Quinn, a very famous calligrapher having his workshop in Florence.

Details - Prices - Contact us

Details

1st day
Arrival in the morning – Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Calligraphy lesson and practice
Dinner at Bigallo
After dinner: Meeting “The restoration of the Medieval Bigallo building”

2nd day
Free morning - If you want, you can take part to an organized bike tour to discover Florence history.
Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Calligraphy lesson and practice
Dinner at Bigallo

3rd day
Free morning - If you want, you can experience a tour to Convento dell’Incontro together with some sweet donkeys
Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Calligraphy lesson and practice
Dinner at Bigallo

4th day
In the morning visit to Biblioteca Laurenziana (Lorenzo de’ Medici’s Library)
Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Calligraphy lesson.
Leaving

At the end of the course a certificate will be given to all people taking part to the course

Prices

Taking part to the course is possible also for who does not stay at Spedale del Bigallo.

• People staying at Spedale del Bigallo: € 450,00 per person
Price includes: insurance, accommodation, breakfasts, meals, coffee breaks, scientific seminars, occurring work material

• People coming just to take part to the course: € 100,00 a day per person

Price includes: meals, coffee breaks, scientific seminars, occurring work material

Prices do not include:
• Bike tour to Florence: € 40,00 per person, including lunch, bike rental and tourist guide to Florence Tour to Convento dell’Incontro with donkeys: : € 40,00 per person, including pic nic, guide and the sweet donkeys.
• Sunday lunch and dinner
• Public bus tickets

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Gardening and floral design course

An unusual holiday between hands on gardening lessons in the “orto” (garden) of the ancient Spedale del Bigallo, conferences, floral design workshops and guided visits.

Details - Prices - Contact us

Details

(1st to 8th June / 14th to 21st July / 1st to 8th August)

1st day
Arrival in the afternoon
Dinner at Bigallo
After dinner: “The restoration of the medieval Bigallo’s orto”

2nd day
Morning: Conference “The history of the Italian garden”
Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Hands on gardening lesson
Dinner at Bigallo

3rd day
Free day – free lunch and dinner
If you want, you can experience a tour to Convento dell’Incontro together with some sweet donkeys or take part to an organized bike tour to discover Florence history.

4th day
Morning: Conference “The history of garden in Europe”
Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Hands on gardening lesson
Dinner at Bigallo

5th day
Morning: Conference “Plants in the Tuscan gardens”
Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Hands on gardening lesson
Dinner at Bigallo

6° giorno
Morning: Out door lesson in the historical gardens of Villa La Petraia and Villa di Castello
Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Hands on gardening lesson
Dinner at Bigallo

7° giorno
Morning: Hands on floral design lesson – Lezione pratica di composizioni floreali
Lunch at Bigallo
Afternoon: Hands on gardening lesson
Dinner at Bigallo

8° giorno
Morning: Leaving

At the end of the course a certificate will be given to all people taking part to the course.

Please, note:
• Compulsory antitetanic vaccination
• Compulsory wear: overalls, work shoes and gauntlets

Prices

Taking part to the course is possible also for who does not stay at Spedale del Bigallo.

• People staying at Spedale del Bigallo: € 650,00 per person
Price includes: insurance, accommodation, breakfasts, meals, coffee breaks, scientific seminars, occurring work material

• People coming just to take part to the course: € 100,00 a day per person
Price includes: meals, coffee breaks, scientific seminars, occurring work material

Prices do not include:
• Bike tour to Florence: € 40,00 per person, including lunch, bike rental and tourist guide to Florence
• Tour to Convento dell’Incontro with donkeys: € 40,00 per person, including pic nic, guide and the sweet donkeys.
• Sunday lunch and dinner
• Public bus tickets

up

Contact us