Painting Holiday in Emilia Romagna

What You'll Do

Come and join this unique 7 night painting holiday in the foothills of Italy near Bologna in the region of Emilia Romagna; you will be spoiled in a lovely art retreat, free to roam the many countryside paths and see what captures your eye to serve as your painting subject each day.

Dates 2023

23-30th May
16-23rd June
23-30th June
12-19th July
19-26th July
23-30th August
5-12th September
12-19th September
3-10th October

This charming rural painting holiday offers a very unique experience with beautiful accommodation that has been designed to relax and inspire you and your creativity. Step away from the hectic pace of daily life to explore all mediums of painting among the foothills of the Apennine mountains of Emilia Romagna, Italy.

This stunning area is lush, green, and tucked into a national park, where you’ll not only be inspired by your natural surroundings, but also by the colourful locals, rustic architecture, and furry friends, farm animals, birds, and butterflies that frequently stop by to visit.

As well as learning the basics of sketching and painting, this holiday is a real opportunity to develop your creative instincts and to take in the captivating Italian landscape, villages, people, animals, and culture.

You will have the chance to sketch and paint at your own pace while mastering new techniques that you want to specifically learn. The possibilities are endless here, and the art teacher is always there for private 1 on 1 sessions, as well as group tutelage and demonstrations.

You’ll dine outside in the lovely gardens with your new like-minded friends, discuss the day, and perhaps plan some excursions for the new day ahead.

Accommodation is set the artistic house with spacious rooms in self-catering apartments, surrounded by art work. Each apartment has a well stocked kitchen so people can have breakfast when they like out on the balcony as they take in the gorgeous views. However, you will most likely be drawn outside to the peaceful gardens and gazebos calling you to paint within.

There is no extra charge for a single supplement on this tour.

Experience
Highlights

Be constantly inspired by the surrounding artworks on display

Includes all tuition, materials, meals and airport transfers from Bologna

Art studio on the grounds which you can access and use at all times

Experience Itinerary

Day 1-8

Typical itinerary

Tutored painting sessions are from about 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm, however, everything is flexible here – the studio is open all day, and Pheona is always around to help you.

Rather than have set courses each week, your painting holiday is tailored to suit you and you choose exactly what you want to learn or do.

When you arrive you’ll have a chat (and perhaps you have brought some photos of your work with you) and then you’ll design an individual but flexible ‘course plan’ for you with your host.

Of course, you can also just take each day as it comes and just enjoy being creative, relax in the gardens or visit some picture perfect Italian towns and villages.

You learn and create best when relaxed and enjoying yourself so you’ll find that the beautiful environment, the personal attention and the company of like minded people all contribute to you being able to be at your most creative.

Every Thursday is market day, so be prepared to head out to get the best of local delicacies, or take some pictures for inspiration.

Excursions will be planned upon arrival by the will of the group, however here are some examples:
– The Bismantova Rock (a grade A World Heritage site)
– Rock pools and waterfalls
– Carpineti Castle
– A trip to the local market
– A local latteria where they make parmesan cheese
– Chairlift ride to the top of the mountain ridge for beautiful views over Tuscany in one direction and Emilia Romagna in the other
– Visits to the towns of Modena and Reggio Emilia

Examples of subjects you might choose to explore:
– Learn how to paint in watercolours
– Learn to paint with acrylics or oils
– Landscape painting
– Portraiture
– Life drawing and painting
– Exploring different techniques in different mediums
– Exploring the styles and techniques of different artists
– Abstract art
– Understanding perspective
– Drawing and painting animals
– Composition
– Sculpture

Accommodation

Accommodation at the house has been thoughtfully planned out to inspire you and each room focuses on a different Italian artist. You will find about 100 different works of art displayed throughout the house and within each room. The apartments within the building are all self serving and spacious, and there are also common areas, such as kitchens and a lounge with a television, if you should decide to come in and lounge with a cup of tea.

– Located in the small hamlet of Bedogno, overlooking vineyards and orchards with breathtaking views of hills and mountains all around
– The house doubles as an art gallery where you will be inspired daily
– Caters for 11 (absolute maximum) guests over three floors
– The two upper floors are self contained apartments; each with two spacious twin or double bedrooms, a large sitting room, kitchen, bathroom and south facing balcony with wonderful views
– The ground floor has a double and a single bedroom, sitting room, bathroom and an area for breakfast, tea coffee etc, and is perfect for those who like to avoid stairs
– Lunch and dinner are taken together in the outdoor dining area or else indoors after September
– No single supplements for solo travellers
– Large gardens filled with art, gazebos, hammocks, and spots for you to work on your art
– Fully equipped art studio ready for you to use any time of day or night

Location Information

Stay in this artistic oasis in the foothills of the Apennine mountains and get inspired during a week learning to paint various subjects in any artistic medium that interests you. There are beautiful gardens with secret corners, a lovely village just a 15 minute walk away, and gorgeous country paths to wander and get lost on during your week of relaxation and channelling creativity.

Please note that prices for the holidays do not include flights. We recommend using www.skyscanner.net to check flights.

Nearest airport:
Bologna (1 hour 20 minutes by car)
Milan (2 and a half hours by car)

Pre-booked transfers:
Transfers are included in the price from Bologna airport to your accommodation.

The included transfers are planned to coincide with flights arriving before noon , and departing after 11:30 am, from Bologna so please bear this in mind when booking your flights.

FAQs

- Suitable for all levels from beginner to advanced painters
- Minimum age 18
- The course is mainly focused on sketching and painting
- Everything you need to create your art is available for you at the studio, all media is catered for

- Courses have a maximum of 8 people in each group, singles are very welcome as you'll meet others with a passion for painting and there are NO single supplements

- Holidays run on selected dates throughout the year
- Painting holidays are for 7 nights / 8 days
- If you wish to stay for extra nights, please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you

Please find below some information regarding the accommodation and location of the holiday which may be useful when deciding if this is the right holiday for you; should you have an further questions, please contact us and we will be happy to help
- The house is on three floors with two rooms on the ground floor which share a spacious bathroom with a normal shower
- The studio and the dining area are also on the ground floor
- The driveway is gravel
- The gardens have rustic winding paths which are not wide enough for a wheelchair and there are areas of the garden which have steps and also flagstones
- The local town has normal paths, although they don't have ramps on the kerb as in the UK
- There are areas for disabled parking at most places
- Should a half day excursion of hiking be too active for some, your host will make sure you spend your time in a comfortable place or pick an activity nearby that may be better suited

Your host aims to get the group together for 11.30am on the day of arrival. You'll head to the airport early on the day of departure, so should look for flights after 11am when you'll arrive at the airport.

For transfers outside of the agreed transfer time (8am departure and around noon arrival) there will be a €100 fee for transfers each way, payable locally.

from £1250 pp