The Hidden Medieval Villages of Tuscany and Umbria

A native of Fiesole, Italy, Mario Carniani graduated with honors from the University of Florence with a focus on foreign languages and literature. After pursuing studies on Elizabethan drama in England, he moved on to teach Italian at the British Institute of Florence and English in Italian State schools. He has conducted courses on Italian literature and history for numerous international institutes based in Florence, including Georgetown University and Dartmouth University.

Mick Plewman is an exploration leader with more than 20 years of experience working all over the world, from Central America to Sri Lanka. He is also a qualified teacher and educational psychologist who worked in the British school system and for the British Army. Mick has lived in Central Italy for more than two decades, where he is renovating an old farmhouse in Umbria. He enjoys traveling, reading, and studying the art and history of the many places he visits.

Ilaria Fiore was born in Milan, where she studied languages (English, German, Spanish) and graduated in art history at the State University with a thesis focused on the Cathedral of the City (Duomo) in the Napoleonic period. She decided to turn her passion for travel into a profession, obtaining licenses related to leading groups as well as a master's degree in food and wine tourism. She has also taught art and literature as a substitute teacher, and is an amateur actress.

Romana Gatti was born in Italy, raised in Switzerland and England, and still maintains a double nationality. She has studied art, sociology, and history, deciding after university studies to became an exploration leader. She has traveled all over the world and lived in several countries including the U.S. Choosing Italy as her permanent home, she settled in Umbria. Romana has had the pleasure to work with people from around the world with interests from art and history to nature, handicrafts, gastronomy, and wine.