Cut to 2002 and the launch of Learn Italy, a series of week-long holidays for small groups
(not more than fourteen) which involve a balance of relaxed teaching, guided visits to
interesting sites (not always the well-known ones), good food, wine, and a high standard
of accommodation. Learn Italy came about as a
logical extension of the concept held by Julia and
Martin that "ideas and knowledge make lasting souvenirs". It is also a logical
extension of their expertise. Both have contacts
with art historians, archaeologists and other cultural experts who have helped them devise
Learn Italy.
Martin and Julia thought that Learn Italy would appeal
to visitors to laterlife.com for several good reasons: the
holidays are designed for people who have come to
expect a high quality holiday, have active minds and are interested in
more than lying on a beach; who maybe don't want to struggle with hire cars
and inadequate guide books. A Learn Italy holiday is also ideal for people
travelling on their own, as shared interests generally make for convivial
companions.
Who
are Julia and Martin?
 Julia Barron,
44, first visited Italy on a school trip when she was twelve.
After graduating in Romance languages she worked for several years in industry and
returned to university to obtain a doctorate in linguistics, a
subject on which she has lectured at the universities of London,
Manchester, Glasgow and Surrey.
She and her husband, Chris (Chief Executive of
Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet) live in Glasgow but have recently bought a small home
near Massa Marittima in Southern Tuscany.
Martin Gray, 57, spent the best part
of his working life lecturing at the
University of Stirling, where he was Head of the Department of English
Studies. He is author of several academic books, as well as The Penguin
Book of the Bicycle (1978). His involvement  with Italy started at the
University of Perugia in the mid-1960s.
In 1971 he bought a house near
Montalcino with his wife Katie, who is also an academic, currently working at Oxford
University's Continuing Education department. Their daughter Laura works in the wine
business in Montalcino and is married to a restaurateur.
Where
is their first holiday?
Their first holiday will run this autumn (22-29 Sept 2002) and will focus on the
Etruscans. Dr Judith Toms will be the guiding light on one thousand years of Etruscan
culture, it’s art, strange burial catacombs and murals, jewellery and artefacts. The culture was brought
to an end in about 100 BC by absorption into the Roman Empire, and for a long time little
was known about it. But recent archaeological findings are bringing a huge new knowledge,
and the holiday will cover social structure, daily life, religion, language, art and
architecture. The sites around Montalcino to be visited include Tarquinia, Chiusi,
Sarteano, Grosseto, Vetulonia and Roselle.
Future plans include a bespoke week in Florence exploring Renaissance art at the end of
January (sorry already full) and an extra week on the Etruscans at Easter 2003 based at
Massa Marittima. Martin and Julia are also developing some
interesting language and culture holidays for next year.
If you’d like to know more about
Learn Italy, or to obtain a brochure click here
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