Chris and Krysia welcome you to the Art Toscana website.

We have been running painting holidays in Tuscany since 2005, Florence, Venice and Sicily since 2010.

Set amid 23 acres of the Garfagnana Nature Reserve, a mile and a half from the mediaeval town of Barga, 20 miles from Lucca and 56 miles from Florence, our spacious Tuscan farmhouse has a restored barn, extensive studio facilities and a swimming pool. It is an ideal retreat for exploring creativity.

With fantastic views of the snow-capped Apuan Alps, the house and grounds are situated in one of Italy’s richest botanic regions. Our house ‘Val di Pozza’ (Valley of the Well) is comfortably furnished and, whilst offering total seclusion, is only a short distance from Barga.

We have designed exciting painting course holidays for both beginners and the more experienced where the emphasis is on individual teaching within a maximum group size of ten. Although the painting courses are packed with lots to do, you may prefer to spend more time relaxing around the pool or watching the eagles soar.

All materials, equipment, and a sketch book are provided.

If you are a non-painting partner who would like to spend your time walking, fishing, wine tasting, Italian cooking, horse riding, cycling, or furthering your photographic skills, we can arrange this for you. Click here for non-painters. We offer you a painting holiday where you can pursue your creativity with other interesting people, have fun and be well looked after in friendly and stimulating surroundings.

Our courses in Tuscany, Florence and Venice run from Tuesday to Tuesday to make the most of reduced fares for midweek flights and to avoid crowded airports. 

We meet you at Pisa airport when you arrive and take you back to Pisa airport at the end of the course.

Many of our guests stay for two weeks for which there is a 10% reduction for the second week.

“There are not enough adjectives to describe this week at Art Toscana; phenomenal,fantastic, glorious, enchanting. You are so gracious and giving of yourselves and are hosts above and beyond-A-one!”

Sabine & Robert Breier from New York USA

“This has been such an eye-opening week. Such an honour to be allowed to learn in such a beautiful environment. I have learned so much and this experience has truly brought back my passion in painting and I will use this experience to further my career in art. I will remember this for the rest of my life.”

Michael from South Glamorgan. UK

“Words cannot express my happiness and how I felt after attending this one week of art vacation at Toscana-Art … I had never touched a painting brush or drawing pencil since I was in kinder garden … Chris you initiated in me the love of art again. You stimulated me to venture into a new territory that I wouldn’t imagine I would venture into with no boundaries.”

Saad from Beirut Lebanon 

When I arrived I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to paint at all. Now I can’t wait to get home to try out all you have taught me. Many thanks for your inspiration. The whole experience has been a wonderfully creative introduction into a whole new world. Bring on the bigger brush!!!”

Nick from UK

Click here for more testimonials