Being the only theatre company/ travel agency in Europe means that Walking Tours of Florence is superbly placed to arrange just about anything.

Have a look at an event we had three weeks to organize!

The Request; Money is no object, organize the best you can for a surprise birthday party for a group of sixteen tourists holidaying in Umbria

The Limitations; the special event/party had to be in Umbria, Italy, close to where the group was holidaying

The Result: Over sixty people involved in a magnificent interactive performance in full Renaissance costume with Italy's best Renaissance dance group, spectacular fireworks, Perugias' best cook creating a marvelous Renaissance feast, a team of twenty medieval flag wavers, a comedy troupe of court jesters, actors, musicians and soprano singers.

Behind The Scenes: Our first task was to locate a suitable setting. We settled on a superb Renaissance villa and garden set in deepest Umbria and owned by the descendants of Dante Alighieri.

The party was to be costume only so the grounds and villa being walled suited the special dreamy atmosphere we wanted to create. No one was allowed in the grounds without Renaissance costume during the event.

Secretly we then liaised with the group's guides (they were on holiday bicycling around Umbria) to find out the sizes and personalities of the group. We organized high quality authentic Renaissance costumes for the group and all involved in the interactive performance. We also researched and allocated famous persons from Renaissance history to each of the guests depending on their personalities....for fun, one was Fillipo Lippi a mad sex manic artist monk! Another was Christopher Columbus, another Michelangelo, to name a few…

The costumes with labels carefully attached were placed in the guests' rooms while they had a lecture from our historian in the lounge of the hotel on Renaissance customs, he also carefully mentioned each of the characters they would be playing. The guests were still not aware of the surprise party, they were then told to go to their rooms where they found the costumes in their sizes with the characters described that they were playing and were told to meet downstairs at a fleet of limousines which would whisk them away to their mystery destination…

Scene 1 The guests arrive at the mystery location to see grand old gates and a high old stone wall. Suddenly the gates open to reveal a magnificent courtyard lined with twenty flag throwers and trumpeters dressed in traditional Umbrian costume. Flower girls present the women guests with bouquets and the trumpets begin.

Scene 2 The historian leaps out of the bushes. Like everyone else he is now in costume and is there to answer any questions the guests might have regarding their characters and the mystery villa.

Scene 3 Whilst the guests are relaxing in the beautiful formal Italian gardens suddenly, from afar appears a strange monster chasing a frightened maiden…

Scene 4 The guests enjoy a spectacular Renaissance feast presented and designed by Perugias' best cook (see the menu and wine list) For added atmosphere, a soprano singer strums a lute softly in the background and sings Renaissance songs, while the historian helps the characters play their parts…

Scene 5 The party moves again to the garden where they watch a band of musicians and Italy's best Renaissance dance group perform under the stars

Scene 6 The joking begins with a troupe of jesters and fire throwers making the most of the most important guests

Scene 7 A huge birthday cake is proudly presented and toasts are made

Scene 8 Grand Finale: Suddenly fireworks begin to sound and the group rushes over to the gardens' edge to gaze at truly spectacular fireworks that go on forever, back lit by the beautiful Umbrian countryside. Champagne is passed to the guests as they toast the wonderful evening, the guest of honor and the generous host

Email Rose at rose@artviva.com for more information

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Italy pre-production,  production, production logistics, location managers, location scouting, high quality reasonably priced renaissance and medieval costumes, costumes, make up, lighting and equipment rental, sound equipment, location permits,  fixing, props, on site translators, research, historian research services, highly regarded historians and art historians expert on the art and history of Italy, drivers, transport, actors, extras, flag throwers, musicians, accommodation booking, phone rentals, catering services, and research assistance ensuring costumes, props and locations are historically correct. Guided tours and museum bookings also available.