COME TO PARI, TUSCANY, FOR A WONDERFUL CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AND A WEEK OF CREATIVE WRITING IN AN INSPIRING ENVIRONMENT

I want to thank those who have inquired about the Pari workshops. Individual artists and writers or others who wish to stay in Pari at any season for artistic-cultural reasons should contact Maureen or David Peat (see below). You will enjoy the wonderful ambiance of a medieval hilltop town, with spectacular views, aesthetically pleasing buildings, and an incomparable atmosphere of community. Accommodations are uniformly comfortable and the housing, although it varies, has all modern conveniences. You will meet people from around the world, as well as many of the Pari residents. Instruction, accommodation and meals are all included in your fee. Maureen Doolan and her wonderful staff at the Pari Center for New Learning will be able to help you connect with other services, some free of charge, others provided at very reasonable prices.

What Results Can Pari Offer You?

Your stay at Pari may well ensure that you join the list of successful writers supervised by our instructors, writers who have published books or stories, or won literary prizes or grants. Or perhaps you will simply find ways to move your project to completion, or just enjoy the experience of trying out new or spontaneous work on other writers.

ABOUT PARI AND THE CENTER FOR NEW LEARNING

History

The medieval village of Pari, 25 km south of Siena, is located on a hill top with magnificent views of the heavily wooded countryside. The surrounding area is given over to olive groves and grape vines and small-scale farming. In winter wild boar are hunted in these woods.

The Pari region has been occupied since prehistoric times. The Etruscans certainly made use of the curative properties of the sulfur hot springs located below the village. In addition to burial areas close to Pari the remains of a major Etruscan town can be visited at Roselle some 40 km away.

One thousand years ago Pari was a walled town of several hundred persons grouped around the central castle, the residence of the Counts of Ardengheschi. By the 14th century the region had come under the government of the Sienese.

Until the 1950s life in Pari had continued unchanged over the centuries. Moreover, it was totally self-sufficient for its food, heat, furniture, shoes and clothing. Wool, for example, was made from the fleece of the local sheep and a form of very durable linen was made from the ginestra (broom) plant. Mulberry trees surrounding the village attest to the use of silk. Very little money circulated in the village and its economy was based on a system of exchange and barter for goods and services.

Pari Today

Today the village continues in a remarkable state of preservation. With the coming of the industrial and economic revolution to Central Italy in the 1950s and '60s, Pari's population began to drop from 1500 to the present 250 as people left to find well-paid jobs in the cities. By using Pari as a conference and learning center, we hope to provide stimulation and new possibilities, particularly to the young people of the area . It will certainly be an opportunity for them to meet people from many different places and backgrounds and to practise a little English. The Center will also provide work for local people.

 

Pari produces some of the best olive oil in Italy. The land is generally poor and rocky. There is a saying that, "The poorer the soil, the better the oil" and this certainly holds true for the local oil. The villagers still use traditional methods of cultivation and harvesting of their olives and grapes and there is an old stone press located in the village for the pressing of the olives.

Families today are still remarkably self sufficient in their supply of food. In addition to the production of oil and wine most families keep chickens and have a large kitchen garden and a few fruit and nut trees. Herbs are cultivated (and found wild in the countryside) both for cooking and for traditional medicines. A few families keep a pig for their annual supply of prosciutto. There are small flocks of sheep on the surrounding hills kept, not only for their wool and meat, but also for pecorino cheese. Porcini mushrooms are gathered in the fall and wild asparagus in the spring. The men also hunt wild boar, deer, pheasant, hare, etc. in the local woods. So, it is still possible to live off the land - and to live well!

The meals provided by the Center are cooked by the local women using traditional Tuscan recipes and the best of local meats and produce. (No problem if you are vegetarian, the local vegetables, cheese and eggs are of the highest quality!)

The Center for New Learning workshops and conferences will take place in the old schoolhouse - Pari no longer has enough children to run its own school - which has recently been renovated. Participants will eat together in the village hall.

Accommodation

Accommodation varies. There is a small inn in Pari, the Locanda Il Cacciatore, that has three double rooms with private bath and two single rooms with shared bath. There are rooms with private bath available in the homes of Pari families and there are a number of small apartments. If people wish to share a room or take one of the single rooms in the Locanda with shared bath then there will be a small reduction in cost. This will be worked out individually. Since each type of accommodation is limited people will be housed on a first come first served basis. Please state your preference on the application form. If you wish to bring a partner who will not be participating in the workshop then there will be a reduced fee to cover the cost of shared accommodation and meals.

Tourism and Entertainment

As well as being an ideal site for small meetings, Pari is also a perfect center for tourism. Not only can day trips be made to Siena, Florence, San Gimignano, Rome and Arezzo but visits can be made to the many small medieval villages in the area as well as the abbeys of San Galgano and Sant'Antimo. The famous Brunello wines can be tasted at Montalcino and the sea is only fifty minutes away. For those who enjoy walking, there are many unpaved roads that go deep into the valley or to the top of Mont'Acudo, the highest point in the immediate area. Don't forget your bathing suit - the hot sulfur springs are a walk away and certainly worth a visit, particularly for those suffering from problems with joints or skin conditions such as eczema. The associated medical center provides massages, inhalations and other treatments for a modest fee. We also hope that a small swimming pool will be open in Pari by the summer of 2001. A tennis court is also available. While it is possible to get buses into Siena, Florence and Grosseto (two a day from Pari) anyone wishing to stay on and go farther afield should consider renting a car.

In addition to the bar (for coffee, pastries, ice cream, an evening drink), Pari houses a grocery store, a butcher, a general store for newspapers (Italian only), postcards, cigarettes, etc., a hairdresser and a post office that opens Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. The Locanda Il Cacciatore also has an excellent restaurant serving traditional meals (for those who wish to stay a little longer.) There are also many excellent restaurants a short drive away.

Medical

North American participants should have health coverage. Those participants coming from EC countries should bring a stamped Form E111 with them, available at all post offices. A doctor visits Pari several times a week. The area has an Emergency (ambulance) service that includes paramedics and doctor on 24hr call. Those taking medication should bring an adequate supply with them. Pari, is a hill top village and is unsuitable for those with limited mobility.

Travel

For your general information, Pari is located a few kilometers from the main superstrada that connects Siena to Grosseto. Full travel details will be given to conference participants after registration.

Climate

Spring begins in early March and while the days begin to warm up the nights can be cool. This is also the season for rain. From June until the end of September the days can be hot. However because of the elevation (1000 feet) and the evening breeze, it is always cool enough to sleep comfortably. The weather can remain pleasant until the end of October, with cooler evenings and the occasional rain.