Up in the hills around Art Toscana there is a beautiful Renaissance hotel called The Ciocco, and in their foyer sits a perfect still life, a reminder of Giorgio Morandi and his quiet still life art works of vases. Chris sometimes sets up a still life for guests on our art course holidays in Italy,
The roses have been spectacular this year blooming from May until now in September. This picture was taken in June; the pink roses contrasting with the blue geraniums. Our guests at Art Toscana Art Courses in Italy commented on how lovely the roses are this year and how much they have enjoyed walking through the
On the last day of the Art Toscana Painting holidays in Italy our guests go to Sommocolonia, the hilltop village not far from Val di Pozza. They sketch the arches, narrow walkways, stone houses and aerial views of Barga using watercolours and watercolour pencils. It’s 2,330 feet above sea level so you feel as if
At The Petruso Resort where we stay with the guests from Art Toscana Art Courses in Italy, we all have a little apartment with a tropical/Sicilian garden. The staff at The Petruso Resort are so helpful, friendly and accommodating that our Art Toscana Painting Holidays in Italy guests feel completely relaxed and at home.
This picture is the restaurant at the Petruso Resort in Sicily where, in October, our guests from Art Toscana Painting holidays in Italy were just about to have their last meal before returning home. What a wonderful time we had. The picture was taken from the studio in the garden at the end of the
This aerial view of Erice was taken from the cable car. It’s a long way up; 750 metres. I was travelling with one of our American guests from Art Toscana Painting Holidays in Italy. Your legs go wobbly and your stomach turns over looking down on the coast line of Trapani on the west coast
Sicily is covered in prickly pear trees. You see them on the hills, in gardens, on shrub land, just about everywhere! They look very pretty especially when the fruits are ripe and red. In Tuscany they are considered a delicacy and people give them to each other as presents! They were beautifully prepared for breakfast
Every year the proprietors of The Petruso Resort improve and renovate the hotel and grounds keeping it looking perfectly maintained even at the end of the season when we are there with our Art Toscana Holiday in Italy guests. Last year they built a health spar which is an aromatic one where Chris and I
The 2025 Art Toscana painting Holidays in Italy was a particularly successful season with many returning guests and many of our first-time painters booking for next year. Surprisingly, our 2026 Art Toscana painting Holidays in Sicily is now fully booked and 2027 in Sicily is booking up fast. We still have availability for our 2026