The Fresco Painting Course combines applied Art classes held by experts and Art Tours in Central Italy (Marche, Umbria and Tuscany). The ancient art of fresco painting dates back to Roman times and was brought to perfection during the Italian Renaissance. This luminous, clear, earthy technique challenges the artist with its spontaneity and transparency. There is plenty of time to paint and draw, but Italian food and culture are an integral part of these unforgettable 2 weeks holiday. There will be talks given on art history as a preparation for the excursions to magnificent fresco cycles that you will visit under the guidance of your hosts Ennio Barbieri and Phaedra de Zeeuw.
Italy Tours
Italy Art Excursions with Phaedra
Art Tour Italy Course Price: Currency Converter
- 3000,00 € per person for two weeks holiday
- 10% discount on bookings before the 15th of March 2008!
Dates: 20 Sept - 3 Oct '08 ; 23 May - 6 June 2009
Visits to magnificent fresco cycles
Tours Italy
Highlights of the Italy Tour:
- Guided visits to Urbino, Ascoli Piceno, the exhibition 'Osvaldo Licini' in Ascoli Piceno, Florence, Assisi, Perugia, Macerata, Tolentino, San Severino and the Abbey of Fiastra. Under the guidance of a number of experts including the Italian artists Lisa Tomassini (restorer of old paintings), Elisa Gianfelici(teaches at the Accademia di Belle Arti at Macerata Italy), and your host Ennio Barbieri you will create a fresco mural, from the preparation of the underground to the actual painting 'al fresco'.
- Art classes
- Trips to the private studios of a number of local artists and viewings of their work.
- Art tours with Phaedra de Zeeuw, graduated art historian.
- Accommodation at the beautiful Caravanserraglio agriturismo with swimming pool, in comfortable self-catering apartments.
- Dinners based on regional recipes at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
Art Tours Italy with graduated Art Historian
Italy Tours
Fresco Painting Course Includes:
- 14 nights' full-board accommodation: 10 nights accommodation with breakfasts at the Caravanserraglio agriturismo in Marche, 2 nights accommodation with breakfasts at Perugia, 2 nights accommodation with breakfasts in Tuscany
- 26 Meals & Wine at the Caravanserraglio agriturismo or carefully selected Italian restaurants (wine, soft drinks and coffee included).
- 8 full-day excursions with lunch (art towns, exhibitions, medieval villages, monuments, open markets).
- 5 half-day excursions with lunch (art towns, exhibitions, medieval villages, monuments, open markets).
- 5 Italian painting classes.
- Colours, materials, pure ground pigments and all the ingredients for the fresco applied art course.
- All tuition and excursions.
- All land travel in Italy included in the itinerary by private air-conditioned 8 person coach.
- Use of swimming pool at the Caravanserraglio agriturismo
- Final cleaning.
- Weekly change of linen.
- Water, electricity and gas.
What is not Included?
- Airfares
- Travel insurance
- Entry fees to museums, art galleries and monuments.
- An optional excursion may be offered which is not included in the tour price.
- Personal transport costs, phone calls or tips.
Detailed Itinerary - Fresco Painting Course Italy
Provisional program of the 2 weeks holiday
This is a preliminary itinerary and will be altered to accommodate seasonal activities or local festivals. However the essential content of the itinerary will remain the same.
Day 1
- In the afternoon arrival at the Caravanserraglio agriturismo, aperitif and introduction.
- 8.00 pm Welcome dinner at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
Day 2
Excursion to the Basilica of Saint Nicolas at Tolentino and the Abbey
of Chiaravalle di Fiastra,
- Tranquil awakening at the peacefull agriturismo. The accommodation with breakfast at the Caravanserraglio agriturismo is in an independent apartment with kitchen. You'll find in the fridge milk, fresh bread, butter, home made marmelate, coffee and tea, for your breakfasts.
- 10.00 am Excursion to the Basilica and convent of Saint Nicolas at Tolentino and to the Abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra, surrounded by woods and Roman remains. Romanesque and Gothic architecture; Early 14th Century fresco's of Pietro da Rimini (school of Giotto)
- 1.00 pm Lunch at the Abbey of Fiastra.
- 6.00 pm Salotto (lecture in a warm atmosphere with a glass of wine) about Italian Art History and in particular about the theory of fresco technique.
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
Day 3
Loreto
- 9.30 am Excursion to Loreto.
- 1.00 pm Lunch at Loreto.
- 6.00 pm Salotto (lecture in a warm atmosphere with a glass of wine) about Italian Art History and in particular Italian Drawing during the Renaissance. about the theory of drawing with applied art lesson.
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
Day 4
Excursion to San Severino and Applied Art Course
- 9.30 am In San Severino we visit Villa Manuzzini with frescoes of the Salimbeni brothers (late 14th Century), major fresco artists, contemporaries of Gentile di Fabriano. In the crypt of the Romanesque church of Saint laurence we behold other frescoes of the Salimbeni.
- 1.00 pm Lunch at San Severino.
- Afternoon at leisure.
- 4.00 pm Fresco painting course at the Caravanserraglio agriturismo, preparation of the ground. Lezione prattica presso the Caravanserraglio agriturismo, su preparazione fondo arricio, calcie etc
- 8.00 pm Dinner at Caravanserraglio.
Day 5
Urbino
- 9.30 am Excursion to the Renaissance city of Urbino. In the morning we visit the Ducal Palace, with masterpieces of Titian, Raphael and Piero della Francesca.
- Lunch at Urbino
- 3.30 pm Visit to the family house of the famous Renaissance painter Raphael and to the Oratory of Saint John with late Gothic fresco's of the Salimbeni brothers from San Severino.
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
Day 6
Applied Art Courses and guided tour to San Ginesio
- 10 .00 am Fresco painting lesson at the Caravanserraglio agriturismo.
- 1.00 pm Light lunch at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
- In the afternoon the fresco painting lesson continues.
- 5.00 pm Guided visit to San Ginesio. Chiesa e ex convento San Francesco.
- 8.00 pm Dinner at San Ginesio.
Day 7
Macereto and Visso
- 9.30 am Excursion to Macereto and Visso. Per unire arte e natura.
- Lunch at Visso.
- 5.00 pm Rientro e salotto, con conclusione e riflesioni. Degustazione vini.
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
Day 8
Civitanova Marche
- 9.00 am Excursion to the market at Civitanova Marche. Visit to the Galleria Centofiorini at Civitanova Alta.
- Lunch at Civitanova.
- 5.00 pm Incontro con l'artista nel laboratorio/bel locale o gallerista o al mare passeggiata.
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
Day 9
Ascoli Piceno, Art Exhibition 'Osvaldo Licini'
- 9.30 am Excursion to Ascoli Piceno. Visit to the exhibition 'Osvaldo Licini' at the Modern Art gallery.
- Lunch at Ascoli Piceno.
- 5.00 pm An artist' workshop, nice bar, or Art gallery. Incontro con l'artista nel laboratorio/bel locale o gallerista.
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the Caravanserraglio restaurant.
- Dinner at the accommodation is followed by a talk with slides on the fresco cycle by Giotto.
Day 10
Assisi
- 9.30 am Excursion to Assisi, the city of Saint Francis, the Saint protector of all living things. A visit to the world City of Peace brings you along the famous frescoes of Giotto, depicting the Saints' life. The best Gothic painters from Pisa, Siena and Rome decorated the basilica, it is one of Italy's most important Gothic Monuments. Frescoes by Cimabue, Simone Martini and The Lorenzetti brothers. Wandering about the streets of Assisi makes you feel like a real pilgrim....a pilgrim of art. Optional: Saint Francis' Hermitage Trail, Assisi Transport is provided to St. Francis' Hermitage on Monte Subasio from where we walk down to the town of Assisi following the legendary trail of Saint Francis, Italy’s favourite saint. Walking at a good pace, one can see almost all the sights of Assisi in one day. In the afternoon there is free time in the town. Walking Time: 2 hours. Some steep downhill plus town walking on cobbled stones and asphalt.
- Lunch at Assisi.
- 6.00 pm arrival and check-in at Perugia.
- 8.00 pm Dinner and night at Perugia.
Day 11
Perugia
- 9.30 am Guided visit at Perugia, an important city since Etruscan times and the capital of the Umbrian region. Our itinerary includes the extraordinary medieval ghost town under the Renaissance Rocca Paolina, the National Gallery with works by Perugino and other great artists of the Umbrian and Tuscan Renaissance. There will also be free time for exploring the shops and backstreets of Umbria's largest town.
- Lunch at Perugia
- 6.00 pm Check-in at the accommodation for 3 nights
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the accommodation.
Day 12
Florence
- 9.30 am Guided visit at Florence.
- Lunch at Florence.
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the accommodation.
Day 13
Siena
- 9.30 am Excursion to Siena.
- Lunch at Siena
- 8.00 pm Dinner at the accommodation.
Day 14
Siena and return to Caravanserraglio
- 9.30 am Excursion to Siena.
- Lunch at Siena
- 8.00 pm Dinner and night at Caravanaserraglio.
Day 15
- After preparations farewell and departure...