Painting holidays itinerary

The following is a typical painting course itinerary but it will all depend on the weather and other unpredictable factors. According to the weather, we'll pick the best locations for each day's painting excursion.

Itinerary

Saturday

  • Pick-up at Pisa airport between 11am and 2pm.
  • Light lunch/afternoon snack.
    • The watermill in Tuscany
  • Settling in at mill; exploring the gardens and river.
  • Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
  • Aperitifs at the mill.
  • Dinner at the Elvetico in the Piazza Medicea, in the walled Medieval town of Fivizzano, including wine.

Sunday

  • Breakfast at the mill.
  • Painting around the Mill, with individual tuition.
  • Light buffet lunch at the mill.
  • Painting around the Mill, with individual tuition.
  • Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill
  • Aperitifs and dinner at the mill, including wine.
Verrucola

Monday

  • Breakfast at the Mill.
  • Transport to Verucola: impressive castle with village nestling around it.
  • Painting at Verucola, with individual tuition.
  • Lunch at restaurant in Verucola.
  • Painting at Verucola, with individual tuition.
  • Pick up Verucola late afternoon, with option of option of drop-off in Fivizzano for an ice-cream/coffee/shopping and stroll back to Posara.
  • Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
  • Aperitifs and dinner at the mill.
Fivizzano

Tuesday

  • Breakfast at the Mill.
  • Transport to Fivizzano (market day in Piazza Medicea, views over valley and Posara from Piazza Belvedere).
  • Painting in and around Fivizzano, with individual tuition.
  • Picnic lunch, including wine etc.
  • Painting in and around Fivizzano or in Terenzano, with individual tuition.
  • Pick up late afternoon or stroll back to Posara.
  • Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
  • Aperitifs and dinner at the mill.
Lucca

Wednesday - (No formal tuition this day)

  • Breakfast at the Mill.
  • Excursion: either to Lucca or to the Cinque Terre (at breakfast time we'll provide materials for your own picnic lunch or, if you prefer, you can buy a snack or a more formal lunch when you are out - it's up to you).
  • Sightseeing in Lucca or the Cinque Terre. Individual sketching.
  • Packed lunch or buy yourself lunch or a snack
  • Early afternoon train back.
  • Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
  • Aperitifs at mill.
  • Dinner or pizzas at the mill.
Terenzano

Thursday

  • Breakfast at the Mill.
  • Painting in and around the mill, studio work, with individual tuition.
  • Lunch at the mill.
  • Transport to Pognana, a tiny village with stunning views of the valley, with its villages and castle, and up into the mountains (Apuan Alps)
  • Painting in Pognana, with individual tuition.
  • Pick up late afternoon.
  • Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
  • Dinner at the mill.

Friday

    Mont dei Bianchi
  • Breakfast at the Mill.
  • Transport to Monte dei Bianchi.
  • Painting in and around the grounds of the Vecchio Tino restaurant with individual tuition: spectacular mountain views, olive groves, etc.
  • Special lunch at the gourmet Vecchio Tino restaurant (local specialities), including wines.
  • Painting in Monte dei Bianchi with individual tuition.
  • Pick up late afternoon.
  • Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
  • Aperitifs and farewell dinner at the mill.

Saturday

  • Breakfast at the Mill.
  • Transport to Pisa airport between 9am and 1pm.
  • Those with late flights may leave their bags at the airport and take a (very short) taxi ride to Pisa for sightseeing.

What you need to bring

Your tutor will be in touch well before the course with a suggested list of materials, but we are generally very relaxed and there's no obligation to bring anything specific. To save you being overloaded on your flight we can provide:

  • portable chairs
  • drawing boards
  • water bottles
  • white spirit
  • rags
  • easels

As for clothing the days are usually warm to hot, but it can rain, sometimes for a day or two at a time. So we recommend a lightweight waterproof coat and perhaps an umbrella to protect your work. The evenings might be a little cooler, so warm pullovers or tops are a good idea. Sensible shoes for walking are also recommended.