Writing holidays – where you stay and what it costs

The Watermill is a complex of elegant and historic Tuscan buildings, surrounding a sunny courtyard with an adjoining vine verandah, rose pergola and sun-filled walled garden. More gardens lead to walks along the river and the sun-dappled millstream. The Watermill is surrounded by two environmentally protected areas: the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines and the Regional Park of the Apuan Alps. The air and the water are pure and unpolluted, and the area abounds in wildlife.

We are increasingly environmentally aware and as part of our war on plastic, we provide individual stainless steel vacuum flasks instead of plastic water bottles for our guests.

We have undertaken sensitive restoration, seeking where possible to incorporate modern energy-saving construction methods in the upgrading process, from insulated roofs to double-glazed windows. We source all our food locally wherever possible, growing some of our own and using local suppliers and producers.

In our next phase of development, we plan not only to restore the roofs and walls of the water-powered turbine mill (Mill 2), but also to incorporate photovoltaic panels in the restored roof structures, to generate ‘green’ electricity.

And there are (sorry!) no plastic ducks in our bathrooms!

We have created fresh, bright and airy bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, comfy beds and original artwork on the walls. Our apartment suites, with their own sitting rooms and bathrooms, are ideal for couples or friends sharing.

Our graceful communal Sitting Room, with its gallery of paintings by our inspiring tutors, is ideal for post-prandial conversation and digestivi. Our courtyard dining room is the unique setting for leisurely breakfasts and mouth-watering evening meals. There is also a communal kitchen, with chilled water and ice, and facilities for personal tea-/coffee-making. There is Wi-Fi in the communal sitting room.

EVERYTHING is included in the cost of your holiday:

  • all tuition fees and accommodation
  • local transportation (including transfers to and from Pisa airport; including our mid- week excursion by train to a Tuscan beauty spot or historic town).
  • all meals including breakfast, gourmet picnics on location, pre-dinner aperitifs, dinner at the mill or at small and friendly local restaurants with regional Italian dishes and wines.

All you have to do is to get to Pisa and we do the rest!

What it costs

We offer eight beautiful bedrooms with their own en suite bathrooms, plus two self-contained apartment suites, ideal for couples.

Our policy is not to discriminate against people coming on their own by charging a vast supplement for single rooms. So, if you are coming by yourself, you will always have your own individual bedroom.

We would, however, like friends to share if it is at all possible and there will be a saving if you do so. And if you share with a non-participating partner, he or she will enjoy a generous discount of £GBP 250 for the painting holiday week.

The following are the bedrooms and suites on offer, and their all-inclusive price (in £GBP, English pounds) for the week-long creative writing courses:

BOTTICELLI

Superior double; en suite shower room:
Large, dual-aspect bedroom, with balcony, on the first floor of the Tuscan house. En suite shower room. Views over the courtyard and gardens to the mountains beyond. The 'Super Kingsize' bed can be divided into large singles if required.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1850 single occupancy
  • Sharing: £1675 per person sharing (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
BRONZINO

Superior double; en suite bathroom:
Large, dual-aspect bedroom on the second floor of the Tuscan house. En suite bathroom, with bath and shower. Views over the courtyard and gardens to mountains beyond. The 'Super Kingsize' bed can be divided into large singles if required.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1850 single occupancy
  • Sharing: £1675 per person sharing (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
BRUNELLESCHI

Superior double; en suite shower room:
De luxe double bedroom with en suite shower room, on the first floor. Large roof terrace overlooking the courtyard and gardens. Amazing views of the mountains. Double bed.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1850 single occupancy
  • Sharing: £1675 per person sharing (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
FRA ANGELICO

Classic double; en suite shower room:
Double bedroom with en suite shower room, on the first floor of the Tuscan house. Views over the courtyard and gardens. The 'Super Kingsize' bed can be divided into large singles if required..

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1810 single occupancy
  • Sharing: £1640 per person sharing (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
GHIBERTI

Classic double; en suite shower room:
Double bedroom with en suite shower room, on the second floor of the Tuscan house. Views over the courtyard and gardens. The 'Kingsize' bed can be divided into singles if required.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1810 single occupancy
  • Sharing: £1640 per person sharing (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
GHIRLANDAIO

Classic double; en suite shower room:
Double bedroom with en suite shower room, on the ground floor of the 17th Century watermill, with views over the millstream cascades and the river. The 'Super Kingsize' bed can be divided into singles if required.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1810 single occupancy
  • Sharing: £1640 per person sharing (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
UCCELLO

Classic double; en suite shower room:
Double bedroom with en suite shower room, on the ground floor of the 17th Century watermill, with views over the millstream cascades and the river. The 'Super Kingsize' bed can be divided into singles if required.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1810 single occupancy
  • Sharing: £1640 per person sharing (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
DONATELLO

Superior single; en suite shower room:

Superior single bedroom with en suite shower room, on the first floor. Large roof terrace overlooking the courtyard and gardens. Amazing views of the mountains. Queen-size bed.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1780 single occupancy
GENTILESCHI

Classic double; en suite shower room:
Double bedroom with en suite shower room, on the second floor of the Tuscan house. Views over the courtyard and gardens. The 'Kingsize' bed can be divided into singles if required.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Single: £1810 single occupancy
  • Sharing: £1640 per person sharing (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
THE VASARI SUITE

Self-contained apartment suite:
Exclusive use of a self-contained apartment in the newly restored 17th Century watermill, with views over the millstream cascades and the river. Double bedroom with 'Super Kingsize' bed*, en suite shower room, large living room: all on the ground floor.

*If you prefer to have separate beds, the sitting room can be made up into another bedroom.

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Sharing 'Super Kingsize' double bed: £3350 for whole apartment suite for two people (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)
THE LIPPI SUITE

Self-contained apartment suite:
Exclusive use of a self-contained apartment overlooking the riverside gardens and the river. Double bedroom with King-size bed*, dressing room and en suite shower room all on the first floor; large living room on the ground floor.

*If you prefer to have separate beds, the dressing room can be made up into another bedroom (with either single or twin beds).

All-inclusive Price (including writing course):

  • Sharing king-size double bed: £3350 for whole apartment suite for two people. (there is a £GBP 250 discount for a non-participating partner)

Deposit and balance

A deposit of £250 per person is required to confirm your booking.

The balance for your holiday is due eight weeks before arrival.

Please note our cancellation conditions set out below. (We recommend that you take out normal holiday insurance, including cancellation insurance.)

How to make your payment

We ask you to make your payment by direct bank transfer and we will give you our bank details for you to make this transaction.

If you are paying from outside the UK you might like to use Transferwise. In our regular transactions within Europe, to the USA and Australia, this company has transferred our money efficiently and speedily, and we have enjoyed excellent exchange rates and paid very low fees. Our guests say: “Wow! What a great way to send money inexpensively.” “I'm amazed and impressed with how speedy it all happened.” “Totally impressed!” Just ask us for the link.

If you prefer to pay by credit card via PayPal, we can send you an invoice, with a link for you to make a secure payment. You will find, however, that your exchange rate is less favourable (you will spend more in your own currency for the same amount in GBP) and, in addition, we charge an extra 3.5% on your payment as a contribution to the card transaction fees incurred at our end.

Cancellations

A handling charge of £75 per person per course will be levied on all cancellations. In addition, if you have to cancel four to eight weeks before departure, a charge of 40% of the total price is payable; at two to four weeks, 60%; at one to two weeks, 80%; at less than one week, 90%. Once the course has started, 100% is payable.

We reserve the right to cancel any course at two months' notice and, where possible, provide you with an alternative.

Getting there


For our UK guests:

You can book your own flights to Pisa (there are good connections from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, East Midlands, Birmingham, Leeds/Bradford, Manchester and Bristol and an increasing number of other UK airports).

Or, to make life easier, you can use the services of our Personal Travel Adviser, Jan Handley, who will fix everything for you at very competitive prices. There is absolutely no obligation to use her, but if you would like her help, her UK phone number is + 44 (0)1964 626 360 and her email address is jan.handley31@icloud.com. We have found that many travel agents these days are not very helpful and are often tied to big tour operators. Jan will give you personal service.


We pick you up at Pisa airport on the first day between 10 am and 1 pm. Our departure times from Posara on the last Saturday are after breakfast, usually between 8.00 am and 9.00 am. (It takes between an hour-and-a-quarter and an hour-and-a-half to get to Pisa airport.) If you arrive or leave outside these times we can arrange transportation for you but you will have to pay for it.

You may decide to come by car. You can park at the mill and we'll give you full instructions on how to get here.