A peaceful painting holiday in the heart of Tuscany
Many people searching for an “art retreat in Italy” are really looking for what we have offered since 2005: a peaceful painting holiday in beautiful surroundings, where someone else takes care of everything — the cooking, the planning, the materials — and your only task is to paint, draw and rest.
At Art Toscana we run painting holidays and art courses in Italy from our own home in northern Tuscany. We keep our groups small — a maximum of ten guests — so that everyone receives individual attention, and nobody is made to feel they are not “good enough”. Whether you are an experienced artist or have not picked up a brush since school, you will be welcome here.
Where you will stay
Our holidays are based at Val di Pozza — “Valley of the Well” — a spacious Tuscan farmhouse set amid 23 acres of the Garfagnana Nature Reserve, a mile and a half from the mediaeval town of Barga, twenty miles from Lucca and an hour from Florence. The house has six comfortable bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, three living rooms, a swimming pool, and extensive gardens with views of the snow-capped Apuan Alps.
The restored barn beside the house is our artists’ studio, with space, light and a library of art books. There is always a quiet corner to work in — or a shady spot on the terrace, if you would rather paint outdoors.
What our painting holidays include
- Small groups — a maximum of ten guests, with tutors who are practising artists and experienced teachers.
- All materials provided — paints, brushes, paper, easels and a sketch book are all included. You do not need to bring a thing.
- Five days of tuition — morning and afternoon sessions, with plenty of time to swim, read or simply do nothing at all.
- A real holiday — full board, with home-cooked Italian food and local wine.
- For non-painting partners too — walking, fishing, wine tasting, Italian cooking, horse riding, cycling and photography can all be arranged.
- Easy travel — our courses run Tuesday to Tuesday to suit midweek flights, and we meet you at Pisa airport when you arrive and return you at the end of your stay.
- Stay a fortnight — many guests book two weeks, with a 10% reduction for the second week.
Painting tuition, at your own pace
Our courses are led by course director Christopher Bell and our team of experienced tutors. You will learn as much or as little as you want: some guests come to work seriously on their technique, others simply want a week of slow mornings, good food, conversation around the dinner table, and the freedom to spend the day looking at Tuscany with a paintbrush in hand. Previous guests tell us the week restored far more than their painting.
Painting holidays in Tuscany, Venice, Florence and Sicily
As well as our painting holidays in Tuscany, we run holidays in Venice, Florence and Sicily — painting in a convent studio in Venice, among the waterways and multicoloured houses of Burano, or in the landscapes that have drawn artists to Italy for centuries. Ask us about dates and locations for the coming season.
Enquire about a painting holiday in Italy
If a peaceful week of painting in Italy sounds like your kind of holiday, we would love to hear from you. Enquire about dates, availability and prices, or simply ask us anything at all — every enquiry receives a personal reply from Chris or Krysia.