Where you stay &
what it costs
Typical itinerary &
what you need to bring
The following is a typical painting course itinerary but it will all depend on the weather and other unpredictable factors. According to the weather, we'll pick the best places for each day's painting excursion.
Saturday
- Pick-up at Pisa airport late morning/lunch time
- Light lunch/afternoon snack
- Settling in at mill; explore gardens, grounds, riverbank etc.
- Tea at the mill.
- Dinner at a local restaurant
Sunday
- Breakfast at the mill.
- Painting around the Mill, with individual tuition.
- Light buffet lunch.
- Painting around the Mill, with individual tuition.
- Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
- Dinner at a local restaurant.
Monday
- Breakfast at the Mill.
- Transport to Verrucola.
- Painting at Verrucola, with individual tuition: impressive castle with village nestling around it.
- Lunch in local restaurant.
- Painting at Verrucola, with individual tuition.
- Pick up Verrucola late afternoon, option of drop-off Fivizzano, stroll back to Posara.
- Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
- Dinner at the watermill.
Tuesday
- Breakfast at the Mill.
- Transport to Fivizzano.
- Painting in and around Fivizzano with individual tuition: market day in Piazza Medicea, views over valley and Posara from Piazza Belvedere, town walls.
- Packed lunch, including wine etc.
- Painting in Fivizzano, with individual tuition.
- Pick up late afternoon, or afternoon shopping, ice cream parlour, aperitifs, stroll back to Posara.
- Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
- Dinner at a local restaurant.
Wednesday - (No formal tuition this day)
- Breakfast at the Mill.
- Excursion to Lucca.
- Early train to Lucca: single track skirting the National Park of the Appuan Alps, mountains, streams, villages etc.
- Free day for walking/sketching etc around Lucca: cathedral, complete city walls, churches, squares, amphitheatre, shops. (You pay for your own lunch so it's up to you whether you want to grab a snack or indulge in something more formal!)
- Early afternoon train back.
- Dinner at a local restaurant.
Thursday
- Breakfast at the Mill.
- Painting at the mill or on location with individual tuition.
- Lunch at mill or packed lunch, including wine etc.
- Painting at at the mill or on loctaion with individual tuition.
- Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
- Dinner at a local restaurant.
Friday
- Breakfast at the Mill.
- Transport to Monte dei Bianchi.
- Painting in and around the grounds of the Vecchio Tino restaurant with individual tuition: spectacular mountain views, olive groves, etc.
- Special lunch at the gourmet Vecchio Tino restaurant (local specialities), including wines.
- Painting in Monte dei Bianchi with individual tuition.
- Pick up late afternoon.
- Facilities for making tea and coffee at the mill.
- Farewell dinner at the mill.
Saturday
- Breakfast at the Mill.
- Morning transport to Pisa airport.
- Those with late flights may leave their bags at the airport and take a (very short) taxi ride to Pisa for sight-seeing.
Your tutor will be in touch well before the course with a suggested list of materials, but we are generally very relaxed and there's no obligatin to bring anything specific. To save you being overloaded on your flight we can provide:
- portable chairs
- drawing boards
- water bottles
- white spirit
- rags
As for clothing the days are usually warm to hot, but it can rain, sometimes for a day or two at a time. So we recommend a lightweight waterproof coat and perhaps an umbrella to protect your work. The evenings might be a little cooler, especially in May and September, so warm pullovers or tops are a good idea. Sensible shoes for walking are also recommended.
