2024 and 2025 TUSCANY & Florence PAINTING HOLIDAY | Painting in the gorgeous countryside South of FLORENCE.

Year after year, this fabulous painting holiday in Tuscany is for participants of all artistic levels using the following mediums: Watercolours (recommended), gouache, drawing, or acrylic or oil (for more experienced artists). This art holiday in Italy is a one-week gentle and fun immersion in art through ‘plein-air’ painting in quiet and beautiful places where you will discover the magic of Tuscany. Beginners welcome.

What’s included in this art holiday?

• Tutoring with a qualified tutor who knows the area.

• Art equipment (Paints, brushes, paper…)

• Art Materials (Stool, board, optional easel)

• 7 nights SINGLE ROOM accommodation in a lovely villa in the Tuscan countryside.

• All Meals with wine at dinner included (except on the free day). Meals are cooked by our chef at the villa + restaurant meals.

• Our chauffeured van with a private driver for painting excursions and restaurant outings.

• Wine Tasting at a local Valdichiana winery with a tour of the winery with a professional, accompanied by delicious local olives, cheese, prosciutto.

• Painting excursions for this art retreat holiday: Gargonza Castello (castle), Castiglion Fiorentino, Castello di Modanella (castle where Galileo was imprisoned), Civitella ruins, Monte San Savino Gioarni Pensili/painting session at a the winery.

• Free day where you’ll be able to sightsee and shop in Florence or Siena depending on yearly schedule.

• Free group pick-up and drop off to/from Florence airport on Day 1 and Day 8.

2024:

AUG 31 - 7 SEPT 2024 - Fulfilled

2025:

JUNE 9 - 16 2025 - AVAILABILITY

AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 7 2025 - 1 ENSUITE LEFT + 2 ROOMS with a shared bathroom in an apartment at the villa.

PRICES:

£175 at booking. The remainder 4 months prior to the holiday or within 4 days after booking if less than 4 months to the holiday.

Please note: A knee surgery or a son’s wedding could pop up after you book! This is why our booking payments are transferrable for a period of 24 months after the date of purchase under our Terms.

EVERYTHING LISTED INCLUDED IN THE HOLIDAY.

You are coming on your own (like most participants). STANDARD PRIVATE ROOM + PRIVATE BATHROOM in Single Occupancy AT OUR VILLA:

• £175 Booking Payment + £1990 for the week. ALL MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day).

You are coming on your own (like most participants). DELUXE ENSUITE ROOM in Single Occupancy AT OUR VILLA:

• £175 Booking Payment + £2090 for the week. ALL MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day).

You are coming on your own (like most participants). STANDARD ROOM + SHARED BATHROOM (shared with one other room) AT OUR VILLA:

• £175 Booking Payment + £1690 for the week. ALL MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day).

You are coming with a PAINTING FRIEND and wish to share A ROOM + PRIVATE BATHROOM.

• Per person £175 Booking Payment + per person £1590 for the week. ALL MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day).

You are coming with a PAINTING FRIEND and wish to have your own apartment AT OUR VILLA with TWO STANDARD PRIVATE ROOMS + 1 BATHROOM:

• Per person £175 Booking Payment + per person £1790 for the week. ALL MEALS INCLUDED (except on the free day).

We are sorry but we cannot accommodate NON-PAINTERS on this holiday.

Not included: Getting to Florence airport. Personal travel insurance. City tax (£2/n).

TYPICAL TUSCANY ART HOLIDAY SCHEDULE | PAINTING HOLIDAY TUSCANY

DAY 1: Group pick-up at Florence airport. Relaxation at the villa, introduction to the painting holiday, dinner. Let the fun begin!!!

DAY 2: Breakfast. At mid morning, your tutor will give a fun participative demo for beginners in watercolours. More advanced participants or those using other mediums not wishing to join the demo will be able to test their paints out (provided) in our art room, in the garden or by the pool. Lunch at the villa cooked by our Italian cook. Then we will have a lovely afternoon painting session at close-by authentic Monte San Savino village. Evening dinner outing at a local restaurant.

Monte San Savino is a medieval town situated in the province of Arezzo. It originated in 1110 and was one of the first urban settlements in Tuscany. Its main sites are the Palazzo di Monte, Logge dei Mercanti, Palazzo Pretorio, Cassero, the churches of Santi Tiburzio and Susanna (13th century) in Gargonza with Renaissance paintings, Misericordia church (first built in the 12th century), and the convent of Sant’Agostino (early 14th century). These house paintings by Paolo Schiavo and an Assumption painting by Giorgio Vasari.

DAY 3: Breakfast. Time to enjoy the pool or paint. Late morning visit of our local Tuscan winery for some WINE TASTING and food (cheese, olives, tramezzini) followed by an afternoon PAINTING SESSION at the winery OR a painting session at the peaceful CIVITELLA ruins. Dinner cooked by our chef at the villa in the evening.

DAY 4: Breakfast. Free morning to paint or enjoy the surroundings. After lunch at the villa, the group will be taken to the lovely village of Castiglion Fiorentino, where they will have a relaxing painting session with the breathtaking view from the arches of Castiglion or the Cassero Fortress Tower (if breezy at the arches). Dinner at the villa in the evening.

About Castiglion Fiorentino and the Cassero fortress: The Perugians built the Cassero fortress around 1350. The Cassero along with a larger sister fortress now destroyed, were the last defensive bulwark of the town, both truly imposing structures with high walls, now partly collapsed, which surrounded the towers. The tower unit initially had a well which made it self-sufficient in water in the event of long sieges. The Cassero is believed to have served as a prison in the Middle Ages. But also, a large number of ceramic finds and kiln scraps found in the area suggest a major majolica pottery production at some point.

DAY 5: Breakfast. Free day in world renown SIENA (2024) / FLORENCE (2025) for a day of sightseeing or shopping in our private van. You are also welcome to stay at the villa to rest or paint. Group pick-up by our private driver at 10.00 AM. Return in the evening. Please note: If preferring to visit Florence on the 2024 holiday, you will be able to take a train from Monte San Savino to Florence (optional).

DAY 6: Breakfast. Free morning at the villa where guests will be able to paint by the pool, relax, swim, read... After lunch, group and tutor will visit and paint at the fabulous Castello di Modanella where Galileo was imprisoned by the pope! Evening dinner at the villa.

About Castello Modanella: This fortress was built in the mid-1100s by the Sienese noble Cacciaconti family. It it traced back to the times of King Porsenna. Past residents of the castle include Pope Pius II, Pope Pius III and Galileo Galilei. In 1663 he was accused of heresy and after the abjuration of 22 July 1633 due to the intervention of Pope Urban VIII Barberini, he obtained that the prison was commuted to confinement. The archbishop of Siena, Ascanio Piccolomini, obtained its custody in one of his possessions where Galilei could continue his astronomical studies, well hidden and completely isolated, for the good and tranquility of all, including friends and adversaries. It is believed that the tower, on the north side of the castle, with access to the panoramic terrace above it, was his residence during his period of confinement before returning to Florence. In 1676, Modanella had over 1000 hectares of land and sixteen farmhouses. It produced wheat and fodder as well as wine and oil.

DAY 7: Breakfast. Free morning at the villa where guests will be able to enjoy the pool, paint, take a walk etc. Chauffeur pick-up for lunch outing at Gargonza Castle’s delicious restaurant. Afternoon painting at the charming Castello di Garzonza. Dinner at the villa.

About Gargonza: It is a small fortified village built in the 12th century, believed to have been where Dante exiled. In 1444 it became an agricultural community dedicated to its surrounding forest, and in the 18th century was turned into a farm used for wool production. The village had a parish, a house of canons, stables, an oil mill and bread ovens. Enclosed in its medieval walls, this peaceful castello now holds authentic yet well restored houses and a discrete luxury hotel. You’ll love its authenticity and fantastic Tuscan views!

Last evening dinner party at the villa. Always lots of fun!

DAY 8: Departure at 9 AM for morning group transfer from the villa to Florence airport (arrival around 10.30 AM).

The villas we choose are based a few kilometres from a Tuscan village called Monte San Savino. Our villas are very typical of what one imagines when thinking of Tuscan scenery. Most villas have a large terrace or terraces, a nice swimming pool with a sun deck, clothes washer etc. and more for our guests’ comfort.

2024 VILLA

Book your painting holiday today for £175 (transferable 24 months under our Terms).

Where do guests stay on this Italian art holiday in Tuscany ?

On this painting trip, the group stays at a lovely 220 M2 Tuscan villa near Monte San Savino where guests will have a SINGLE ROOM. This beautiful villa has en-suite bedrooms and private apartments. Holiday prices are calculated accordingly. The villa, in the heart of Tuscany, is extremely peaceful.

Getting around:

IMPORTANT: Not much walking at the villa or at surroundings sites but you will be asked to be able to walk without strain at a normal when out of the vehicle to get to painting sites (roughly from 5 to 15 minutes each way). A chauffeured vehicle is available for outings.

About the tutor:

Marie Remond is the tutor on this art holiday in Tuscany. Not only is Marie a talented people-lover, she is also funny and up-lifting. She makes her students feel at ease as early as the first painting session, and encourages them to apply easy techniques. Confirmed artists that are somewhat artistically set in their ways will enjoy great freedom to pursue painting Tuscany the way they had planned to, all the while picking up a few helpful techniques.

What will I learn?

First and foremost, as days go by, you will learn self confidence as an artist. You (like the other guests) have your own style which is to be praised for its individuality and originality or simplicity. Your tutor will never compare anyone’s painting styles. You will be encouraged to develop your own approach to painting (or drawing). The tutor will be there to help you develop your artistic individuality and also to help you with new techniques without deterring your artistic uniqueness. Tutoring will always be inspiring, full of positive vibes, and in a relaxed environment.

Whichever medium you have chosen, you will learn or improve composition, value, colours (mixing), brushwork and perspective in fun and easy ways. If you are doing watercolours you will learn or improve all of the above, plus how to do different washes (glazed, flat, graded, wet-on-wet) and also dry brush and splattering. You will also learn different colour-lifting effects, and much more. If you’d like to read more about tutoring, you can visit our Tutoring Section.

Which medium can I use?

This art holiday in Tuscany is a multi-media art vacation where painting guests can choose from watercolours (recommended medium), any drawing medium, gouache. Then pastels, acrylic or oil* for artists with experience with these mediums.

*(We do however wish to inform our guests that painting with oil on painting holidays can be impractical and complicated because of long drying times and portability.)

Will there be excursions during this art holiday in Tuscany?

Yes! When at the villa, we will visit and paint beautiful Monte San Savino, Gargonza Castello, Castello Modanello (depending on yearly schedule), Castiglion Fiorentino, Civitella ruins. Places where we paint are subject to change from one year onto the next, but equally exciting places are also found in replacement.

You have been looking for a painting holiday in Tuscany where you can paint or draw in Tuscan rolling hills? We at Azenart have the perfect painting trip for you. In addition to having your own single room at a Tuscany villa, full of charm, with a swimming pool and a view on a picturesque village, you will also have some time to sight-see and discover the heart of SIENA or FLORENCE (depending on the week’s schedule). Join us and do art in relaxing Tuscany on our unforgettable art retreat in Italy.

If you were looking for a watercolour painting holiday in Italy, or prefer working with other mediums, you will be pleased to know that on our Tuscany painting holiday, you will be able to choose from the following mediums: Watercolours, drawing, acrylic, pastel, gouache, oil. Our art holidays are generally called multi-media art holidays.

You’ll love our painting holiday in Tuscany (Italy) where you can paint or draw.