A Guide to: Modica

Modica is the perfect place for art lovers and foodies alike. With historic architecture and delicious delicacies, there is plenty to discover on a painting holiday or cookery course in Sicily. Want to find out more? Then read our guide here: https://www.flavoursholidays.co.uk/blog/the-best-of-modica/ 

Finding da Vinci in Italy

Leonardo Da Vinci is well known for his great artworks and inventions. It is therefore no surprise that Da Vinci has left a lasting legacy across Italy and the world. So, here is how to discover Da Vinci’s trail on a painting holiday!   
https://www.flavoursholidays.co.uk/blog/davinci-trail/

Must-have items for a painting holiday in Italy!

For all our lovely painters – read our short list of what to bring on your painting holiday in Italy! 

Have you been on a painting holiday? Why not share your tips & tricks with us in our comment section on our new blog? Looking forward to hearing from you! 

New painting holiday venue in Venice

We are excited to introduce Villa Padova to our list of Villa options for our painting holidays in 2015. 

Our new venue in Venice is from the 16th century and is sure to impress guests on their painting break. With historic frescos from some of the most famous artists from the region, we are absolutely delighted to have secured this venue. Want to find out more? Then check here: https://www.flavoursholidays.co.uk/blog/villa-padova-history/ 

Why painting is good for your health

Who knew that painting is not only highly enjoyable but can also have immense benefits on your overall health? We put together our top facts of why a painting holiday in Italy is so good for your well-being... want to find out? Then read more here https://www.flavoursholidays.co.uk/blog/health-benefits-of-painting/ 

Top tips for painting en plein air

With the Venice Biennale in full swing, some of our lovely painters might feel a bit nervous about painting outside amongst hundreds of tourists. We can reassure you; with an experienced painting tutor like Adrian Wiszniewski on your painting holiday, there is really no need to feel nervous. For those who need a little more reassurance or simply would like to know the best tips and tricks for painting outside, we talked to our inspiring tutor and he revealed his top secrets here https://www.flavoursholidays.co.uk/blog/top-5-tips-for-painting-outside/

The white night in Florence

Spring and festival season go hand in hand in Italy. With the sunshine there to stay, Italians are ready to celebrate. One of the first events of the year in Tuscany is "La Notte Bianca" in Florence which took place yesterday. But what is a "Notte Bianca"? And what can you expect from the white night? Click here to find out more https://www.flavoursholidays.co.uk/blog/la-notte-bianca-in-florence/ 

Adrian Wiszniewski - Painting Teacher Interview

Adrian Wiszniewski is our new painting tutor for Venice in June this year. The famous artist reached global status as member of the "New Glasgow Boys" and his paintings can be found all over the world. Today, he tells us a little bit more about himself and his painting background... read more here: https://www.flavoursholidays.co.uk/blog/painting-tutor-adrian-wiszniewski

The best painting spots in Tuscany

Tuscany is the perfect destination for a painting holiday. With so much natural beauty on hands, it can get rather difficult to find the perfect painting vistas - that's why we put together our top five spots for you! To find out more read our new blog here https://www.flavoursholidays.co.uk/blog/painting-courses-tuscany-painting-vistas/ 

Painting Holidays 2013 - the best memories

How much have Flavours painting holidays in Italy inspired our art tutor Michael Gahagan  in 2013? We interviewed him and here's what he has to say about what he enjoyed the most about our unique painting holiday experiences of sketching at places where famous films were shot in Italy!

Tuscany 

The traditional villa was perfectly located with panoramic views  over the newly harvested fields bordered randomly by  cypress trees, and set gainst the stunning backdrop of the distant Tuscan hillside.

Early morning was particularly special as the sun rose above the mist laden valleys to cast a golden haze over the villa and the surrounding fields.Sitting sketching  outside the villa at this quiet time in the morning was a joy with only the noise of the  birds echoing in the distance.Capturing the kalaidoscope of colours on my painting pad  created by the rising sun through the broken mist was both challenging and magical!

A particular highlight of the holiday was the visit to Arezzo where one of my favourite  movies  "Life is Beautiful" was filmed.Life Is Beautiful ( La vita è bella) is a 1997 Italian comedy-drama film directed by and starring Roberto Benigni. To be able to sit in the square,enjoy a beer and sketch the historical buidings where scenes from this moving film were shot was a unique experience and an absolute delight!

Sicily

As an artist, the dramatic change in climate,scenery and culure experienced in my first trip to Sicily made this an exceptional painting holiday for myself and the participants.Landscapes,seascpaes and traditional and historical Italian buidings provied a wealth of reference material for painting and sketching.The luxurious facilities  including a new swimming pool,rooftops to watch the magnificant sunrises and sunsets and outdoor but  shaded venue for the art classes made this a memorable venue for a painting venue.

Memorable  highlights for me, in addition to the above, were the visits to various towns  where true Scilian life was seen in the "raw" and where the markets offered a fantastic richness of colour,smells , and characters. 

If you are tempted to experience one of our inspiring painting holidays in Italy click here.

How a painting holiday inspired me to kickstart my career as an artist!

Today we are delighted to be interviewing Yvonne Jones, a talented artist who got inspired to kickstart her career after joining our painting holidays. Since 2010, Yvonne has been in four painting holidays in Tuscany and Sicily and is now a professional artist. Read what Yvonne has to say about her painting holiday experiences:

I first heard about Flavours through a facebook advert. I have been sketching since I was 3 or 4 years old. I gave up art for many years and only took it up again 5 years ago.  I decided then that I wanted to go on an organised painting holiday. My first trip in 2010 is still the best holiday I have ever had, so I went back again trying to recapture that experience.

My best memory is my first Flavours holiday. It was perfect. A group of 8 painters at Villa Barcarelli, which was a beautiful house and very comfortable.  Everything there was perfect for a group of our size and everything we needed was laid on. The group all bonded immediately and I am still in touch with everyone.

I loved the food and the art classes the most. Marco was a fantastic chef and Catherine was a great art teacher and helped rekindle my love of art.

I am now a professional artist, and first exhibited my artwork at Oxfordshire Artweeks an annual art festival which runs every May for a whole month all over Oxfordshire.  I have exhibited in Oxfordshire where I live, and around the UK at several art exhibitions since May including an international art exhibition in Chelsea 17-19 October 2013, attended by artists from all over the world.

I have an exhibition currently running in Oxford until 25 January 2014 and have appeared in the local press in connection with my art exhibitions. I have a facebook page and a website and am starting to build a following in the art world. I have already got several art exhibitions arranged for next year and hope to start teaching art soon.

Flavours gave me the inspiration to kickstart my career as an artist which has always been my lifelong dream.  I quit my job as a Legal Secretary to focus more time on painting and exhibiting my artwork.

If you would like to know more about Yvonne Jones and her work visit her facebook page and website.

Flavours Considers Why Holidays Can And Should Be Afforded For Mental and Physical Health

The phrases ‘credit crunch’ and ‘belt tightening’ have cropped up so often and inevitably they seep into our sub conscious. Yet according to Travelsupermarket, 96% of respondents surveyed said they planned to get away at least once in a year. I suppose what we need to consider is how we can develop canny habits regarding the way we spend both our money and time to make the most of any holiday investment.

With the UK climate having a change around we can never really predict the weather but in Italy Springtime is still a season of balmy weather and the most spectacular wild flowers. So my plan last year was to have a holiday which combined a number of constituents to make my money stretch that little bit further.

I booked a painting holiday in Sicily and found I could indulge my passion for flora and fauna, enjoy the beautiful Sicilian landscape and also work on a pastime that I rarely have time to pursue. This also meant I made use of the beautiful watercolour paints given as a birthday present, which had lain largely untouched. 

There you see, don’t say I am not savvy with money!

Having booked my holiday early I took advantage of an early bird discount and carefully planned a saving regime, which included my spending money and other expenses I might incur on my travels. It also gave me the impetus to get some painting done so that I had questions to ask my tutor and had an idea of what I wanted from my painting holiday. This was a smart move as I made sure I used the considerable help and advice on offer and returned home full of ideas and new found confidence.

I also made the decision to travel off peak and the Spring really was a glorious time to visit Sicily where the hills roll onto the horizon uninterrupted. By booking in advance there was no last minute panic and additional spending as a consequence of having to sort things quickly. Silly things like pre-ordering my currency and actually shopping around for the best deal helped. As part of my new year’s resolution, having been given one of those insulated cups for Christmas, I took my own coffee on the bus in the morning and stopped visiting a certain coffee shop for muffin and Macchiato. It’s absolutely amazing how much I saved. Each day I put the equivalent in a piggy bank and to my shame it added up to around £30 a week and went a long way to paying for my flight.

Having booked my holiday, with meals included, I was able to budget and I didn’t have to pay that annoying single supplement either which was a real bonus! Also as I was out in the landscape most of the day painting there was little inclination, or in fact ready temptation to spend. It was glorious just concentrating on the flowers and my representation of them. It cleared my mind and made me realise how much I missed looking closely at the countryside and doing something so totally different from my everyday life in London.

A Painting holiday was actually worth every penny, not only was I able to indulge a passion and learn something new but I experienced this process far away from the stresses and strains of home and came back feeling both relaxed and enriched.

It does appear to be increasingly difficult to take breaks from the ceaseless round of social media, emails, meetings, calls and the 24/7 nature of contemporary work practises. Yet these breaks are probably more important than they ever have been.

So if you are considering taking a painting, Pilates or Cooking course with Flavours this year, do not dismiss it as an idle dream, make a plan, consider what it would actually do for you and contemplate having some fun. Life really is too short to forgo every treat and Spring in Italy really is a tremendous tonic.

I intend to have a few days away in Venice this year in April and look forward to painting both at the Flavours villa and on the canals; I may well see you there. Click here to see what’s on offer.

Around Venice: Best day trips and excursions

If you're on a painting holiday in Venice, you may be tempted to let the city detain you forever, but the region around it is full of fabulous places to visit too.

Vicenza is a good base for exploring the region – it’s under an hour by train from Venice – and many of its historic buildings will seem familiar.

Why? Because the16th-century architect Andre Palladio made this place his home, and his take on Roman and Greek aesthetics didn’t just transform Vicenza, it influenced all western design too. Visit his iconic La Rotonda and Villa Valmarana – and afterwards, explore the town’s unpretentious cafes and restaurants to enjoy fine local food and drink.

Verona, two hours’ train ride west from Venice, is known for its remarkable open-air opera house, seating 30,000 – a Roman construction in pink marble from the first century.

The city’s historic centre is full of Romanesque churches, too, but its most famous location is one that existed only in Shakespeare’s brilliant imagination: Juliet’s balcony. Its fictional origins haven’t stopped Romeo and Juliet fans flocking to the Casa di Giulietta, a 14th-century house in the town. Afterwards, head to the old Roman forum, the Piazza del Erbe, for buzzing cafe life.

Padova (Padua) is only an hour away from Venice – you can even get between the two (though not as quickly) by boat, up the Brenta Canal.

In its glory days, a few centuries ago, it rivalled Venice, though industry now pays the bills. Art history fans will drool over Giotto’s frescoes in the Capella degli Scrovegni, which were a vibrant new world of colour and realism for churchgoers in the 1300s. It’s five minutes’ walk from the train station – but booking ahead is a must.

The old town is full of beautiful historic buildings, also a stroll from the train station, and even quicker by the new tram.

Veneto wine country, an hour or two west of Venice, caters for all tastes.

Crisp whites? Visit the vineyards of Soave, the beautiful medieval walled town.

Full-blooded reds? Drop into Valpolicella, northwest of Verona. It’s the home of those big Amarones enjoyed fictitiously by Hannibal Lecter (though the film Silence of the Lambs had him referring to the more audience-friendly Chianti).

Champagne-style bubbly? Explore Conegliano, home of Venice’s trademark prosecco.

And for the hard stuff, try Bassano del Grappa in the Alpine foothills. Yes: grappa, the hard-liquor offshoot of winemaking, originates here.

The Dolomites, a couple of hours north of Venice, with all those astoundingly needle-sharp peaks, are among the most dramatic mountainscapes in the world.

It’s a wonderful place for hiking in summer and skiing in winter, with Belluno as your base – a historic town balanced high above the River Piave. 

The Legacy of a Flavours Painting Holiday Remains

Italian art; a subject so vast it’s hard to begin to get the measure of it, well, certainly not here. Where do you start: Etruscans, the Roman Republic, Renaissance, Futurism or Transavantgarde?

If you stop to consider Italy’s achievements in this field it is enough to make you put the paints back into a cupboard and do something else instead.

Sometimes our own expectations can actually prevent us from trying something. How familiar is, ‘I’d like to, but I don’t have the confidence.’ or ‘I’ve always enjoyed painting but was never much good at it.’ I’m a firm believer in the philosophy: if you enjoy something, why not just do it?’

Also, if you are serious about taking up painting, developing a talent or simply working in a different environment, why not treat yourself to a Flavours painting holiday in Umbria, Tuscany or Sicily? Inspiration really is all around and there is no excuse not to put something down on paper.

For years I would browse art supply shops, fascinated by all the colours and possibilities contained within the empty sketch boxes and the highly textured papers. I would buy flat tins of crayons, oil pastels and drawing pencils. When I arrived home I would draw, immediately feel dissatisfied with the results and so the art materials would end up in the drawers of my desk.

One fateful day a famous art shop on the Charing Cross Road had a sale to celebrate the watercolour exhibition held at the Tate. ‘OK’, I thought, ‘this is it’ and I bought the smallest box of watercolour pans that came with the tiniest brush and a block of 300 gsm watercolour paper 148 x 100mm – postcard size.

I put colour on paper, added water; tried adding water first then paint, experimented with line and tone and pattern. As each piece dried I pinned it on the fridge and started my own exhibition. They were tentative, crazy things.

I then copied a book cover and there was potential in what I had done. Suddenly I couldn’t stop and ever since I have been painting most days and my work has evolved through practise not raw talent.

Most of my work has a strange perspective but it adds to the quirkiness. I have my own style. I can’t draw hands and have two wooden models which I gaze at regularly in the hope some divine inspiration will be forthcoming, sadly not yet!

I have a desire to paint; it’s always been with me hidden in my art history post graduate qualifications. It was only this year, that I thought, ‘No, this is my opportunity’ and booked a Flavours painting course. I am so very glad I did.

My tutor, Penelope Anstice, was a delight and knew instinctively what tiny tweak would lift my work. It’s funny how a professional who understands and practises their subject knows the road and can offer a map with clear directions.

I found that throughout the course and the whole holiday filled me with excitement and that sense of possibility which also comes from being around like-minded people.

My fellow painters were so talented but I wasn’t weighed down by this as we were all there for the same reason: to develop work at whatever level and it was a privilege to see what was going on around.

To sound almost effusive, I found my painting holiday such an inspiration I think of it each time I put brush to paper and I know that I will return. Why not join me next year? As Henry Miller once said, ‘One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing the world.’ Recreate the dramatic landscape of Tuscany, Umbria and Sicily on a Flavours Painting holiday next year.

How to pick the perfect painting holiday

First timer or professional painter, the right painting holiday can give a huge boost to your artistic abilities and can send you back home with bags of confidence and a renewed passion for painting.

But if all you wanted to do was perfect your painting, you would have booked a class back at home.

Painting holidays are an opportunity to discover a new country, taste new foods, make new friends and let your creative juices find inspiration in new cultures, colours and landscapes. Yet, with so many places and possible approaches on offer, picking the ideal painting holiday is about deciding what you want to achieve and then finding one that suits you best.

Questions, questions. 
No website will be able to answer all your queries, so it’s perfectly reasonable to ask individual questions. Any decent tutor or holiday company will be more than happy to help you out and, here at Flavours Holidays, we welcome your questions – understanding what you want before you book can also help us to make sure our painting holidays appeal to a wide range of guests. So, whether you want to find out more about the mediums we work with, the size of the classes, the materials that will be available, or even the timings of the day, just ask. 


Find out about your tutor. 

It’s certainly inspiring if your tutor is a celebrated artist, and encouraging if you love their style, but fantastic artists don’t necessarily make fantastic teachers. Find out who your tutor will be by looking for feedback from previous guests or ask if they have a history of teaching. At Flavours Holidays, many of our tutors are award winning artists who also have proven teaching abilities, and we always look for compassion and patience in the tutors we work with. Decide who you’d most like to learn from, by reading their profiles on our website. 


Studio-based or touring? 
Decide what your priorities are. If you want to experience as much of a country as possible, with a bit of painting thrown in, then a painting holiday that prioritises lots of travel may be for you. However, all that travel and sightseeing can be hugely tiring – so much so that you may just want to flop at the end of the day, rather than pick up a paint brush. Yet a center-based holiday that’s too restrictive may mean that you don’t get to see much of the country you’ve travelled to. At Flavours Holidays, we think we’ve got the balance right by combining painting tuition with cultural experiences and day trips. That way, you get to indulge in your passion for painting whilst also experiencing the very best of Italy’s regions. 

Location, Location, Location 
If you want to paint rolling hills and neat, green vineyards, Tuscany could be ideal. For rich blue seascapes and classic lemon groves, try Sicily. Or head to Umbria to capture the historic landscapes. If you have particular objectives in mind, take the time to find out a bit more about the destinations on offer, or ask for recommendations before you book.

Why Singles Holidays Can Improve Your Health

‘You need a holiday,’ my doctor informed me. ‘Do you want me to write out a prescription?’ he joked.

Whether a personal crisis is weighing you down, the strain of everyday life is taking its toll or pressures at work are reaching boiling point, one of the first things to suffer is your health. You notice this immediately in your dull skin, bloodshot eyes and limp hair but, according to the NHS and international news site, Science Daily, stress can lead to far more serious impacts, including digestive problems and cardiovascular disease.

Stress is increasingly recognised as one of the major causes of illness in the UK and recognising this is the first step to minimising the risks. Rather than wait for stress symptoms to reach breaking point, taking a few days or weeks away from it all when times start to get tough, can be a far better solution than slouching on the couch, popping pills or drowning your sorrows with wine and junk food.

But when your doctor signs you off from work, or you decide it’s time to take a break, what sort of holiday should you plan for?

If you’re feeling low on energy and self-esteem you’re unlikely to be in the right frame of mind to plan an independent adventure; hotels are often swarming with couples, which can make you feel lonely; taking a close friend or family member along isn’t always an option and the temptation to talk endlessly about your concerns can make matters worse.

A singles cooking, painting or Pilates holiday however, could prove to be the perfect medicine.

Debbie Mandel, author of Addicted to Stress hails the positive effects of cooking as a ‘destresser’. “Cooking is a creative outlet,” says Debbie, the smells, tastes and textures create a sensory experience that activates your senses, providing an antidote to the numbing effect that stress can have. And you don’t have to be a practiced chef to get involved; small group cooking holidays are designed to meet your level of expertise, whether it’s a helping hand with the basics or expert advice on authentic seasoning.

Art-therapy is also well known for its positive impact on stress levels, so much so that painting is often used as a therapeutic concept to treat psychiatric patients; the work of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT) was recently commended by UK Minister, Huw Lewis, who agreed that “the Arts and art psychotherapy can play an important role in a person's wellbeing.” Just like cookery, the expressive and sensory experience of creating something can help to raise self-esteem and induce positive emotions, but painting also allows you to express your feelings on paper and undergo an element of self-exploration that can lead to a better understanding of who you are and what makes you tick.

If cooking and painting don’t appeal, then Pilates is another good option for managing stress. Founded on relaxation, breath, concentration, heightened body awareness and mindfulness, Pilates is one of the best restorative therapies for combating stress. It teaches you how to relax and activate your muscles more affectively; control and optimise your breathing; concentrate and still the mind; and use guided imagery to induce calm – a perfect recipe for stress-busting success.

My Painting Holiday with Flavours

I am not an artist but have loved watercolour painting for as long as I can remember and have been rehearsing to take a painting holiday for as many years. In my mind I wanted to find a landscape which would be inspirational but I also wanted to be around people who would be good to discuss technique with. Most of all I wanted a week where I could devote my time to painting alongside a teacher who could really push my technique along. I had no idea where all those criteria could be fulfilled and dismissed it as a fantasy.

It’s funny how life is often about seeing to the needs of others: partners, children, extended family, friends and the odd Golden Retriever. Yet when I come to thinking about myself, my dreams have often been pushed to the back burner. Go on a painting holiday? With my responsibilities? You have got to be joking.

Still, sometimes a break, doing something which is the antithesis of the everyday, can work wonders in terms of re-energising the mind and also re-acquainting oneself with the real you, which get ignored so often. I had been given some money for my birthday and wanted it to count, somehow a meal out didn’t really tick the boxes. Having been a subscriber to Flavours for a while I thought I would take advantage of a discount voucher, make good use of my money and take the plunge. Before I had a chance to change my mind I booked a week’s painting holiday in Umbria. I remember the overwhelming feeling of excitement and mischief when I finally clicked ‘send’.

I packed my set of watercolour pans, a couple of sketchbooks and my Watercolour Bible, so that at least I had an inkling what everyone else might be discussing. Let me tell you, I have never painted in public before and I was scared to death at the thought of showing my work to accomplished artists. Still, it was booked, no going back and my husband joked that maybe I might paint something we could auction to bolster our pension fund – hilarious!

Can I say that when I arrived at the villa and tasted the delicious dinner prepared for us by the chef Marco I knew that, if nothing else I was in culinary heaven and was tempted not to unpack my paints and make some ravioli instead!

Still, on the following morning, which just happened to be a Sunday, I had my very first painting lesson ever, so different from reading a book let me tell you. I had a fine time experimenting with different techniques, papers and brushes and the time simply vanished. After a short lunch stop I decided I would try out my newfound knowledge and instead of collapsing in a heap by the pool (which was very tempting I must say) I took advantage of the trip organised and did my best to do justice to the location where we spent the afternoon.

I was so very wrong thinking working with accomplished artists would be intimidating. It was wonderful asking questions and looking at how they accomplished different techniques. There are some brilliant plus points to mixed ability teaching and I felt the lowest was pulled up by her boot straps to reach a higher level.

To round off a magnificent day and a real feeling of achievement we had dinner once again in the villa. Conversation flowed as everyone had something to say about the topic of painting; it was invigorating and stimulating there are no other words for it!

I would never have had the confidence to paint on location but with a group of others I felt anonymous and really loved visiting Norcia and the Castellucio di Norcia. I was beginning to feel quite accomplished (in my own way) and my tutor was so encouraging and seemed to know just what to suggest to make me want to improve further. I probably made more progress in 24 hours as part of that group than I had alone. I will always remember the medieval town of Spoleto and I have my own paintings as a memento.

The following day I sat engrossed in the landscape painting tutorial, exploring the use of watercolour and mixed media such as pencil or pastel colours and this opened up a completely different world for me. I just couldn’t wait to put some of these lessons into practise, I felt like I was 16 all week! Even the critique session scheduled didn’t faze me and I really enjoyed what everyone contributed. As the week progressed we learned about composition and the use of colour then a visit to the incredible Orvieto and the Duomo which was a highlight.

Let me tell you dear reader, I did participate in the group show and I loved every moment. That birthday money had been transformed into a truly memorable experience; I think I changed as an artist and in effect the Umbrian painting holiday has never ended, as I feel its influence even now. I paint regularly and make time for it and one of my pictures hangs in the hall – not Bonhams this year, alas!

If you are hesitating to book a painting holiday then my advice is ‘don’t’. You will not regret this really exciting experience and let me say, the food was so delicious I would recommend loose fitting trousers for the journey home!

Views of Italy All Budding Artists Must Paint: Tuscany & Umbria

With its breath-taking landscapes, beautiful monuments and stunning light, Italy has inspired artists for thousands of years. Whether sketching or painting, budding artists will find inspiration everywhere. Italian food and wine adds to the enjoyment.

Leave the city crowds and head for Tuscany and Umbria, Italy's greenest regions of rolling hills and valleys and stunning light. Take your time as you paint the landscape of the hill towns, castles and villages. This is the birthplace of Italian Renaissance painting and some of its most famous masters, such as Giotto and Fra Angelico.

Continue to Florence to see Giotto's masterpieces in the Santa Croce church. Paint or sketch this marble-clad church from the piazza outside. Remember to take some time to enjoy the Florentine speciality, a T-bone steak, in the restaurants nearby.

Florence is an easy city to walk around but also crowded. Start early in the morning if you would like to paint the Duomo, Medici Palace and other famous monuments in the centre. One of the most beautiful night-time views of Florence is from the Ponte alle Grazie looking down the Arno river to the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's landmark bridge.

If you are feeling energetic, cross the river to the Oltrarno district and climb the stairs – lots of them – to the Piazzale Michaelangelo. Here you will see a panorama of Florence that embraces Santa Croce, the Duomo, Forte Belvedere, Palazzo Vecchio and the Ponte Vecchio. The hills of Fiesole and Settignano are in the background. There's lots of room here to sit and paint at leisure.

If the rolling greens of Tuscany and Umbria inspires you to come on an art holiday with us, Flavours of Italy offer painting holidays in Tuscany, Sicily, and Umbria. For the best prices on your airfares, visit TravelSupermarket.com for great deals on cheap flights. 

Italian painting holidays: How Florence makes people swoon – literally

Western art all goes back to Florence. The Tuscan city’s Piazza del Duomo, still the biggest and probably grandest of its type in the world, is where the Renaissance began in the 14th century – that remarkable flowering of art, architecture and sculpture, whose results surround you today as you walk the city’s galleries, cathedrals, churches and squares.

No wonder it’s a magnet for art lovers of all kinds – from those taking painting lessons or courses, copying great masters in galleries, or sketching streetscape watercolours, to those simply immersing themselves in the atmosphere.

It wasn’t just Giotto, Donatello, Michelangelo, Botticelli and countless other artists, who learned to paint here. The city’s lavishly booming economy through the Renaissance was also the birthplace of the piano, opera, paved city centres, spectacles, modern table manners and telescope astronomy (via Galileo) – as well as bank-based capitalism, and modern politics (thanks to Machiavelli).
The most famous square is Piazza della Signoria. The heart of the city since the middle ages, it’s also a miniature sculpture park, lined with cafes. The Loggia della Signoria holds many important statues, including a copy of ‘the’ Florentine renaissance sculpture, Michelangelo’s David (the original is in the Galleria dell’Accademia).

For breathtaking aerial views of the Florence, climb the steps in the Duomo, or its Campanile (bell tower). Just as stunning is the sight of the River Arno from the medieval, shop-lined Ponte Vecchio, the only historic bridge to survive Nazi bombing.

Gallery-goers have some of the world’s greatest collections of art within an olive-stone’s throw of each other. Two of the must-visits are the Uffizi, full of Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo, Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo and Raphael – and of tourists, so book ahead; and the Accademia, with early Renaissance paintings and sculptures, including the original David. The spirit of Michelangelo, as well as his work, can be found everywhere – especially in his house on Via Ghibellini, Casa Buonarrotti.

Florence is full of palaces too, most notably the Pitti – once home of the notorious Medici family, whose banking and political dynasty ruled the city during and after its Renaissance heyday, and who managed to contribute four Popes as they did so.

In fact, the city is so saturated with beautiful buildings and artworks, it’s too much for some people, who literally faint from sensory overload – a recognised medical condition known as ‘Florence Syndrome’. So be aware: that dizzy and disoriented tourist on an Italian painting holiday, stumbling round the square, might not have been overdoing the Frascati, only the frescoes.