Painting under the Tuscan Sun

After breakfast, we'll zip off to the renaissance city of Florence. Our first stop will be the vibrant and colorful markets where you can find anything: from a tripe sandwich to a silk scarf! Next, Next enjoy a guided tour of Florence learning all the mystery and history of this beautiful renaissance city.

Lunch is on your own today and the afternoon is yours with some free time to explore, shop, or just sit in one of the many piazze and watch the world go by. We'll meet up later in the afternoon to return to our accommodations. Dinner at our agriturismo villa with local wine. (B, D)

This morning after breakfast, the group will head off to the on-site studio for your first half-day watercolor lecture and workshop.

Later, our driver will transport us to the town of Arezzo (made famous by the movie "Life is Beautiful" by Roberto Benigni). But first, we stop for lunch at a quiet little "Locanda" or Inn where the traditional Tuscan cuisine is created with a modern spin.

Then it is on to to explore Arezzo. Even though the medieval center was destroyed during World War II, Arezzo still has a beautiful piazza and many historical buildings and churches as well as a Roman Amphitheater and the remains of a fortress.

Here you can visit the Piazza Grande or visit the park behind the town’s cathedral (with a beautiful vista overlooking the valley), or wander the many quaint alleys and streets for some private sketching and painting time. (B, L, & D)

Today after our breakfast, we will depart for a tour of two of Tuscany’s most famous towns: Montepulciano & Pienza, set in the Val d’Orcia – what many view as the “quintessential” Tuscany.

We'll first stop in Pienza, famous for its Pecorino cheese. Here you have free time to visit shops, take in the view, sketch, or sit outside on the town piazza sipping a caffé and watching the local life around you.

We''ll stop for a relaxing lunch and then it's off to the steeply sloped town of Montepulciano where you can wander the streets, churches and town squares. There are also plenty of shops and cantinas to visit where you can tour the ancient cellars and have a wine tasting. Head back to the villa and relax by the pool before dinner. (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast, the group will head off to the on-site studio for your second half-day watercolor lecture and workshop. In the afternoon we'll depart for a beautiful and completely organic winery for a guided tour of their vineyards and cellar. We will learn the interesting methods that this winery uses: both in their sustainable farming methods and in their biodynamic approach to their vineyards.

Our tour will be followed by a fabulous wine-pairing lunch situated in beautiful surroundings with views of the vineyards, valley and hills.

Then it is off to Cortona. Cortona, which has its roots in Etruscan history, is a quiet and romantic town nestled in the beautiful hills of the Val di Chiana in the province of Arezzo. It was made famous by Frances Mayes’ book & movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”.  Again, a wonderful opportunity for you to sketch or paint. Dinner tonight at our villa. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, the group will head into the studio for a full day workshop. That doesn't mean it is all work and no play...There will be some long leisurely breaks where you can relax and enjoy "Far Niente" - The art of doing nothing.

Relax by the pool, wander the beautiful grounds, do some sketching or painting, pick up a good book, or take a nap - the choice is yours. Lunch and Dinner will be at the villa. (B, L, D)

After a leisurely breakfast at our accommodations, we will head off to meet our chef who will guide us through our half-day cooking lesson. We'll learn to make all sorts of Italian specialties, from antipasti to dolce. The menu will be determined by the season and what is fresh in the garden and the market.

Following our lesson, where I guarantee there will be plenty of laughs and wine, our lunch will be all the delicious dishes that we have produced. After lunch we will return to our accommodations to begin an afternoon workshop & lesson. Dinner with local wines at our villa. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we'll depart to the Chianti region – an area of Tuscany made famous by the red wine of the same name. This is a beautiful region of terra-cotta-roofed towns and winding roads, leading through groves of olive trees, with cypress and endless vineyards stitching sun-dappled rolling hillsides – this is wine country. We'll visit some quaint villages, have lunch on a local farm and sample some wine. What else would you do in Chianti? And since we are in Italy, we'll stop for some famous gelato! Dinner at our villa with local wines. (B, L, D)

After breakfast and your final workshop, we're going to head out to an area of Tuscany that is off-the-beaten path. We'll visit an ancient olive oil mill that has been in the same family since the late 1400’s with a tour, tasting & lunch. Here you will see that they still crush the olives with an old stone wheel. After our visit, we will stop at a nearby small medieval village, where you can shop, visit local artisans, or stop and smell the caffè in neighborhood bar. Final goodbye dinner tonight at our villa. (B, L, D)

Breakfast is provided depending on your time of departure. We'll say our goodbyes to all of our new friends.

Private transfer to Rome Airport (FCO).

Bid "Arrivederci" to Italy! Or...you could add days on to your tour.