SAMPLE ININERARY

IN ALL OUR TUSCANY WORKSHOP ITINERARIES WILL BE A SELECTION OF SOME OF THE BEST LOCATIONS WE HAVE USED IN OUR PAST COURSES, WITH THE ADDITION OF LOCATIONS IN UMBRIA FOR OUR 14 DAY COURSES IN 2010.

Raffaele Nobile, brought up in Naples, Sicily and the UK. I have lived for the last 12 years in Tuscany, now firmly rooted at Villa Nobile, close to the wonderful etruscan hill top town of Cortona.
As a keen painter myself, I am also passionate about Italy and all its beauties, I founded the company six years ago, in order to offer the best possible art holiday experience, drawing on my knowledge of the chosen local areas, their best painting locations and hidden secrets.

10 Day Workshop

Day 1: Pick up at Rome Fiumicino / Da Vinci airport at 2.00pm: Travel to our homebase of Cortona, where you will have time to relax and freshen up. Informal evening to meet the tutor and the rest of the group, talk about the workshop and what you wish to achieve in the week ahead, followed by our evening meal in Cortona.
Days 2 & 3: Tuscan Villa: After breakfast our tutor talks about some of the techniques you may use during the course of the week and gives a short demonstration. Painting on location at the villa. Picnic lunch. Continue workshop into the afternoon, early finish to visit the museum Diocesano in Cortona which contains works by Luca Signorelli and Fra.Angelico. Time for a passeggiata (stroll) before dinner.
Day 4: Excursion to Montepulciano & Pienza: We visit the charming hill town of Montepulciano with time to enjoy the narrow streets and renaissance - inspired buildings. Walk through the ancient ageing cellars of a local winery, sample the famous "Vino Nobile". Visit the 'Tempo di S.Biaggio' by San Gallo. After lunch we continue to the town of Pienza where you will have time to browse, shop or sketch. Return to villa, freshen up & relax before your evening meal.
Day 5 & 6: Monastero Oasi: Early breakfast and then painting workshop on location near the 13th century Oasi Monastery set on the Mt. Egidio hillside, below Cortona. Sketch and prepare to paint. Picnic lunch & time to relax at the villa. Continue in the afternoon.
Day 7: Sant' Antimo: Painting workshop on location at the Italian-Romanesque Abbey of Sant' Antimo. This 12th century abbey sits in a valley of olive groves and is surrounded by typical Tuscan hills, making this setting picture perfect. Lunch with time afterwards to continue work and visit inside S.Antimo. Listen to the haunting sound of Gregorian chants echoing throughout the day. We travel to Bagno Vignoni for a swim or just relax in the warm healing thermal waters. Dinner at the restaurant of Bagno Vignoni.
Day 8: Excursion to Assissi: Painting in the morning at the Villa Metelliano, then a visit to the famous church of San Francesco di Assissi containing works of art by Giotto and Cimabue.
Days 9 & 10: Painting: In and around historic Cortona. The main piazza, with its many narrow streets and alleyways, contains some buildings which date back to the 13th century and are still inhabited. Choose your own subject. Lunch on location at local trattoria. Early finish on day 10 for appraisal of your work with tutor, and feedback of your workshop and experience with Tuscany in the Frame. Celebratory evening meal.
Day 11: Transfer to Rome Fiumicino (Da Vinci): Departure by minibus from Cortona at 8.00am to arrive at Rome 11.00am

7 Day Workshop

Days 1, 2, 3 & 4 As Days 1 - 4 above
Day 5: Sant' Antimo: Painting workshop on location. See Day 7 above.
Day 6: Monastero Oasi: Early breakfast and then painting workshop on location. See days 5 & 6 above
Day 7: Complete any unfinished peices: or visit Cortona for last minute shopping / sketching. Early evening finish for appraisal of your work with tutor, and feedback of your workshop and experience with Tuscany in the Frame. Celebratory evening meal.
Day 8: Transfer to Rome Fiumicino (Da Vinci): Departure by minibus from Cortona at 8.00am to arrive at Rome 11.00am