FAQs  Acknowledgements

Where is Barga exactly?
How do I get to Barga?
Do I need to hire a car to get around?
Do I need to be able to speak Italian to enjoy a holiday with Artemisia?
Is it necessary to be experienced to participate on any of your courses?
I am vegetarian. Will I still be able to enjoy the food at Artemisia?
Are there banks and cash machines in Barga?
What if I need to visit a doctor or a pharmacist during my trip?
Is there anything else to keep me occupied in Barga during my free time?
What age are the participants who go on holiday with Artemisia?
Do you have disabled access?
What will the weather be like?
What about the local currency?
Is Barga safe?
Do I need a visa to travel to Italy?
Do I need a passport to travel to Italy?
Do I need to have any inoculations for travel to Italy?
Can I bring pets with me?
Is there anything special I need to bring with me?
Will there be time to relax when I am there?
Are there shops in town?
What is the time difference in Italy?
Can I call home?
What is the time difference in Italy

Important information for people using E111 forms
On 31 December 2005, your E111 will cease to be valid. From 1 January 2006,
you will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive healthcare that becomes
necessary during your visit to an EEA country or Switzerland. You can apply online by following this Dept. of Health link or read the leaflet here for more infomation.

Where is Barga exactly?
Barga is in the northern part of Tuscany (Toscana), which is the region of Italy bordered by Liguria, Umbria, Marche, Lazio and Emilia Romagna. Click here to view a map of the area. It is situated on a hilltop in the Garfagnana valley in the province of Lucca (Lu), inland from Viareggio, and is overlooked by the Apuan Alps (Alpi Apuane) and the Appenines. Barga is a walled town of mediaeval origin and a major centre of cultural and social activity in the area. It is a short journey away from the cities of Lucca and Pisa. Click here to read some articles about Barga.

How do I get to Barga?
Barga is easily reached by bus, taxi or train from the local airport at Pisa and by train or bus from airports in Florence, Verona, Milano, Rome and Genova. There are now a good range of budget airlines flying direct to the nearest airports as well as scheduled airlines and charter flights. See our information on a wider selection of international options.

The Italian rail network is extensive and trains run throughout the day and night. The local rail station is at Fornaci di Barga, just a few minutes down the valley. More information can be found at the Italian Tourist Board website.

Travel by rail is relatively inexpensive in Italy by comparison to many European destinations. Coaches (pullman) also link all major Italian towns and cities and some services can be quicker than the equivalent rail service, particularly over longer distances.

If you need help to plan your journey to Barga, we will be delighted to assist. We can also arrange transfers for you from your arrival point if necessary.
other Italian airport websites can be accessed here:
http://www.aeroportoparma.it/ (Parma)
http://www.bologna-airport.it/ (Bologna)
http://www.ancona-airport.com/ (Ancona)
http://www.safnet.it/ (Florence)
http://www.airport.umbria.it/ (Umbria)

For further travel information and route planners, Italian state tourist offices abroad will allow you to access the branch of the Italian Tourist office closest to you.

Do I need to hire a car to get around?
There are local bus services from Barga throughout the surrounding area and links by train from Fornaci di Barga to the whole of Italy. Car hire is certainly possible if you prefer the freedom it affords and you may prefer to rent a car at the airport to make your way to Barga. You will find links to car hire companies in the airport websites.

For information on driving in Italy, including journey planners and route maps, live traffic information and motoring news, the following are useful links:
http://www.autostrade.it/pagine_1/rete.html
http://www.edidomus.it/auto/servizi/infotrafic/routeplanner.cfm
http://www.edidomus.it/auto/servizi/infotrafic/mappa.cfm

Do I need to be able to speak Italian to enjoy a holiday with Artemisia?
Absolutely not! Although you will always gain that little bit extra from any trip if you are able to follow what’s going on around you more closely, you will find that English is spoken extensively in Barga and sufficiently for your needs in the surrounding area. Barga and its surrounding villages share a colourful and fascinating history as the point of departure for the ancestors of many of the Italians now living in Scotland (particularly in the West of Scotland). It is also home for at least part of the year to many of the descendants of those migrants, the “bargo-scozzesi”, whose presence and influence in the town creates a unique and vibrant cultural mix.

We will try to help you bring your Italian up to scratch if you wish by giving informal lessons in basic Italian – enough for you to get by and to order your vino rosso or tiramisu with a flourish!

Is it necessary to be experienced to participate on any of your courses?
Not at all. All of our activities are designed with your needs in mind. Our tutors and the professionals we will visit during our excursions are all ready to assist and guide you as far or as little as you require. Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush in your life or you’ve already created several pieces of which you are rightly proud, for example, there will be the opportunity to learn, to consolidate and to build upon your experience and skills. At Artemisia we believe in supporting your creativity, not in directing it. Within the parameters of a small group, individual aims will be encouraged and supported wherever possible and course outlines are flexible enough to permit new ideas to be explored, no matter what the holiday.

I am vegetarian. Will I still be able to enjoy the food at Artemisia?
Absolutely! Traditional Tuscan food includes a wide range of mouth-watering vegetarian dishes made with locally grown seasonal ingredients. Our cook has many years experience in preparing food for all tastes and one of your hosts is also vegetarian.

Are there banks and cash machines in Barga?
Yes, there are a number of banks and there are cashpoints in town, which accept international credit and debit cards outwith banking hours.

What if I need to visit a doctor or a pharmacist during my trip?
There is a pharmacist just 150 metres from the Villa Bellavista and other pharmacies in the centre. There is a First Aid (pronto soccorso) and Accident & Emergency facility within the local hospital which is 300 metres away. You should ensure that you are fully covered by an appropriate travel insurance policy including medical cover in case of accident or illness and that you bring with you any prescribed medication you expect to require during your stay.

Is there anything else to keep me occupied in Barga during my free time?
Barga is an extremely lively town during the summer months in particular. It is home to an international jazz festival and to numerous other cultural and popular events. See barganews.com for more information. Whether you are looking for organised events and entertainment or simply a quiet bar or restaurant to relax in and watch the world go by, you will find it here. There are also many local leisure facilities, ranging from a cinema, swimming pool and tennis courts, to walking trails which begin just a few steps away from the Villa Bellavista, offering you stunning views of the mountains and valleys below. And if all you need is a quiet space to sit and read or write your postcards, our garden is always at your disposal.

Italians love a festival (una sagra) and in the summer, for example, the Barga Fish and Chips (pesce e patate) festival can be enjoyed (a celebration of the bargo-scozzese relationship) alongside celebrations of local foods (polenta, maccheroni), not far away from exhibitions of paintings by Scottish artist, John Bellany, Scottish Pipe Band recitals and performances of Italian opera! There is also the amusing spectacle of the home grown Cheese Hurling contest as an antidote to the high culture on offer!

What age are the participants who go on holiday with Artemisia?
It doesn’t matter what age you are, nor whether you are part of a group or travelling alone. As long as you feel open to participating in a small group holiday with like-minded people then you are more than welcome to join us!

Do you have disabled access?
Unfortunately at this time the Villa Bellavista can only be reached by its traditional entrance with a short flight of steps from the road. It is our intention to apply for permission to create a ramp in future and we regret any disappointment this may cause potential guests in the meantime.

What will the weather be like?
Tuscany enjoys warm-to-hot weather in Spring and Summer, and Autumn can be beautifully warm too. The air is clear and the skies benefit from a clarity and a quality of light which make this region a favourite for artists and lovers of nature. For detailed weather projections, please see http://www.comuni-italiani.it/046/003/meteo.html. It is always best to be prepared and to bring a few warmer items of clothing and a light waterproof as weather around the globe continues to be unsettled and less predictable than in the past! You should also be sure to pack high factor sunscreen as the sun can be very hot in this area (but you can always buy it locally).