The program encourages a personalized discovery of the uniquely Italian way of life by introducing you to professional artists and individuals who are passionate about their life, culture, history and work and, of course, great food and wine. They have been running each year now for 9 years and cover the development of form and ceramic art from the Etruscans through to the Renaissance with lots of great, additional distractions.

The program begins with hands-on drawing sessions in Rome (which continue in Orvieto) led by Victor Greenaway where you will be gently led through the process of “seeing through line and form”, helping you to create your own “Grand Tour” diary of drawings and sketches from life. More than two thousand years of history in Rome provide an incredible array of subject matter to draw from in creating your own “Grand Tour” diary of drawings and sketches from life. The basic premise is that, “if you can see, you can draw” and with Victor’s well-practised guidance you will be able to develop your drawing skills along with a whole new perspective.

In Orvieto we have included hands-on maiolica painting classes led by Master Italian maiolica artist Marino Moretti where you will learn about the traditions & development of Italian ceramic design and come away with your own amazing creations under the expert and friendly direction of both Marino and Victor.

Please note: these “hands-on sessions” are for all comers, no previous experience is necessary. But also, for those with only a passing interest in hands-on activities each session lends itself as well to great photographic opportunities and great personal experiences.

From Orvieto, we move onto Florence and our very special theme of: The World of Michelangelo and the rise of the Renaissance.

While Dante was roaming about in the countryside outside the medieval walls of his beloved Florence, enraged at his exile, inside the walls Giotto was tranquilly working out the plans of his great campanile (bell tower) and Fra Angelico was on his knees in his cell painting those heavenly angels who earned him his name, and this, all happening at a time of great strife in the history of this amazing city. Indeed, through all its long history, Florence somehow managed an incredulous balance between the violent political struggles and the impenetrable depths of brilliance it engendered in the arts and in literature. You will experience from these beginnings and through Michelangelo’s first attempts at fresco painting under the direction of another great Master Ghirlandaio, through Massaccio’s Trinity and the Giotto Crucifix, and many others, an amazing, visual representation of the rise of humanism and development of perspective. A focal point, naturally, will be on those amazingly conceived and brilliantly executed figures of Florence’s greatest son, Michelangelo with examples conceived and executed through all periods of his life, up to his death. It is a fitting finale to the theme we began in Rome.

This is a very full program with lots of great inclusions:

• All accommodation (x2 ROME, X8 ORVIETO, X2 FLORENCE)
• 6 lunches, breakfasts as part of the hotel package in Rome & Florence (note, no other meals are included in Florence though we will make recommendations and may decide to eat together)
• Wine, specialist beer, oil and other gourmet food tastings
• Many guided excursions within the region of Orvieto
• All entrances and guides to venues as listed, as well as entrances to all monuments and sites in Orvieto
• All guided sessions and information – in English
• All transport listed as part of the itinerary
• All classes - hands-on sketchbook and maiolica painting on ceramics
• All tuition and materials for the ceramic decorating classes
• 24 hour assistance

All materials required for the ceramic classes are included and you will receive your finished pieces before the end of the program.

For the sketching classes we supply a recommended list of materials for you to bring with you, or you can purchase what you need when we are in Rome. We will provide a list of suppliers close to the hotel. We also supply a light-weight "tote" bag for carrying your art materials.

Accommodation for these group programs in Rome and Florence is in a centrally-located 4 star hotel with breakfast included while, in Orvieto, we offer small, independent apartments with private bathrooms and individual cooking facilities.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF ITINERARY
(Note: may change to accommodate alternative services but inclusions will remain essentially the same)

DAY 1:
ARRIVAL / INTRODUCTIONS / PRESENTATIONS (SKETCHBOOK 1 – “materials/objectives/making a start”)
EXCURSION: VATICAN MUSEUMS (Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, Etruscan Collection) (SKETCHBOOK 2 – “shape & form”)
Dinner 1

DAY 2:
EXCURSION: CAMPO DEI FIORI & GALLERIA SPADA - (SKETCHBOOK 3 – “perspective”)
FREE AFTERNOON – with guidance from us if you like
Dinner 2

DAY 3:
EXCURSION: GUIDED VISIT TO THE GALLERIA BORGHESE – “The Renaissance & Beyond, in Rome”.
TRANSFER TO ORVIETO – INTRODUCTION TO SERVICES etc, APERITIVI OF LOCAL ORVIETANI WINES
Dinner 3

DAY 4:
GUIDED WALK: “Orvieto in Context”. PAINTING ON CERAMIC FORMS 1 & 2 WITH OUR MAIOLICA MASTER
Lunch 1

DAY 5:
Fresh food market. PAINTING ON CERAMIC FORMS 3 & 4 WITH OUR MAIOLICA MASTER. GUIDED VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL IN ORVIETO
Lunch 2
Dinner 4

DAY 6:
EXCURSION: THE LAKE AT BOLSENA AND THE DYING CITY OF CIVITA DI BAGNOREGIO (SKETCHBOOK 4 – “cityscapes-from eye to hand& & SKETCHBOOK 5 – “diminishing values/depth of field”)
Lunch 3

DAY 7:
EXCURSION: DERUTA CERAMIC MUSEUM – “The Renaissance in Umbria” AND VISIT TO A MASTER ARTISAN
Lunch 4
Dinner 5

DAY 8:
EXCURSION: AN OIL MUSEUM AND TASTING. VISIT TO A WONDERFUL, FANTASY RENAISSANCE GARDEN/PARK
Lunch 5

DAY 9:
EXCURSION: GUIDED VISIT TO ASSISI – WITH A SPECIAL BEER TASTING
Lunch 6

DAY 10:
FREE DAY IN ORVIETO. FAREWELL DINNER. COMPLETED CERAMIC WORKS WILL BE HANDED BACK
Dinner 6

DAY 11:
EARLY MORNING TRANSFER TO FLORENCE
GUIDED EXCURSIONS WITHIN THE CITY – FOLLOWING OUR THEME: “The World of Michelangelo & the Rise of the Renaissance in Florence”
This day includes guided visits to: the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Museum of San Marco, the Academia

DAY 12:
GUIDED EXCURSIONS WITHIN THE CITY - includes the Medici Chapels and the Bargello
– with lots of assisted shopping time

DAY 13: DEPARTURE FROM FLORENCE - OR - OPTIONAL MORNING, PRE-BOOKED VISIT TO THE UFIZZI

What does it cost?
Costs for the 2010 programs are available on request.

Program costs are based on a minumum of 4 people and a maximum of 7. They cover 12 nights / 13 days, land costs only.

Costs are given in euros to be transferred directly to our Italian bank.

A 20%, non-refundable deposit is due to confirm a booking with a final payment deadline of July 21st.

If you book with a partner or friend and elect to share accommodation, you may be eligible for a discount. Share accommodation usually means either a double bed or 2 single beds alongside each other, sharing bathroom and all other facilities.

Other optional services to note for the time of the program:

• A car pickup service from Fiumicino airport to the hotel in Rome may be booked in advance
• Some people prefer to arrive in Rome 1 or 2 days prior to commencement of the program. If you would like to book for the same hotel, please advise at the time of booking the program
• a guided visit to the UFFIZI in Florence (on the last day of the tour) is an OPTIONAL EXTRA
• The program finishes in Florence. It is up to each individual to arrange their continuing program from Florence, however, we will be happy to advise and assist where possible. Forward bookings may be made in Orvieto for further train travel
• It is also possible to arrange for a private hire bus (if there are several people travelling together) to return to Roma Fiumicino (the international airport) for departure

There are lots of great inclusions in this program and many more options for a whole range of activities should you want to extend your stay.

We can suggest (and facilitate) an itinerary of 3 or 4 days (or more) of additional activities and visits that may include more detailed wine and oil tastings with visits to a specialist vineyard, beer making courses, cooking or language classes, as well as other guided excursions to places not included in this itinerary such as Todi, Carlsulae (ancient Roman ruins), the Villa Lante or Caprarole (Renaissance gardens), Tarquinia and the painted tombs, and even further afield to Venice, and much more.