A typical itinerary for a painting holiday to Abruzzo

Day 1 (Dependent on flight times)

Welcome drinks at La Locanda sul Lago

As soon as you land you will be given a warm Abruzzese welcome by your tutors and guides at the airport. From here we drive to our beautiful rural lakeside hotel in the stunning Italian hilltop village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio.

On arrival we'll enjoy a glass of Prosecco and have a brief introduction to the holiday. For those who want to, there’ll be time for an evening stroll around the lake before sitting down to a delicious dinner.

Day 2

Art class and short drive into the hills

This morning we’ll have our first art class before visiting Rocca Calascio, an imposing hilltop castle with awe-inspiring views of the surrounding landscape and the Gran Sasso Mountains. This secluded spot offers the perfect opportunity to put into practice all that we have covered in this morning’s class.

For lunch it’s a short stroll down the hill to a picturesque local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon is spent in Santo Sefano where we can explore and sketch the village.

Sunset on Campo Imperatore, dinner in a mountain Rifugio and a look at the day’s drawings

Tonight will be an evening that you’ll never forget! As the sun starts to go down we travel up to the high mountainous plateau, Campo Imperatore, which offers some of the most spectacular landscape in Italy. Here we'll enjoy a few glasses of Prosecco while capturing the epic landscape at sunset.

Dinner tonight will be in a cosy mountain rifugio located right on the plateau. Here we’ll have a look at some of the day’s pictures and feast on a variety of local dishes carefully prepared by our hosts Gianni & Teresa.

Day 3

Painting in the town of Sulmona

This morning we bid farewell to Santo Stefano and drive to the classically beautiful Italian town of Sulmona, situated in the foothills of the Majella Mountains. Here we'll set up camp in the main square and paint the stunning architecture against a backdrop of towering mountains. Lunch will be in a café opposite the town's imposing cathedral.

Onwards to our second hotel, Villa Danilo, and truffle hunting!

After lunch we continue onwards to our second hotel, Villa Danilo, located in the Majella National Park. After checking in we have the chance to freshen up before putting on our walking boots to go truffle hunting with a local hunter and his dogs (and our sketch pads, of course!). After sniffing out some truffles we can sit in the long grass and paint and the sunset over the breathtaking Abruzzese landscape.

Dinner tonight will be hosted by Villa Danilo’s head chef, who will serve up a few of his signature dishes!

Day 4

Painting in the village of Pizzoferrato

This morning we’ll head to the village of Pizzoferrato for a painting class. Here you’ll find locals living a traditional Italian way of life surrounded by the most spectacular landscape – the ideal spot to immerse yourself in your painting.

Picnic lunch in the hills of the Majella National Park (May-September)

By lunchtime we’ll find ourselves in the heart of the Majella National Park where there are countless opportunities to make quick sketches and colour studies.

While we conclude a morning’s painting, an unforgettable lunch will be prepared for us in the nearby woods. A truly magical experience, as we wander into the woods we’ll come across bottles of wine, beer and Prosecco being cooled in a mountain stream and Villa Danilo’s head chef busily cooking pasta and meats on an open fire. Bellissimo!

Relaxing afternoon by the pool and tutorials

After lunch we’ll amble back down the hillside, stopping along the way to paint the various villages and vistas that we pass. On reaching our hotel the rest of the afternoon can be spent relaxing by the pool and taking part in one on one tutorials with your tutor.

Pizza lesson and dinner

Tonight, before dinner, we’ll gather around the pizza oven and try our hand at tossing a few pizzas. With the guidance of Villa Danilo’s head chef, you can choose your topping and bake your pizza to perfection!

Day 5

Painting the village of Pennadomo and Roccascalegna castle

This morning we pack our bags and bid farewell to everyone at Villa Danilo and head to the lovely village of Pennadomo. Here we’ll focus our attention on capturing the unique charm of this village on canvas. It’s then on to visit Roccascalegna, a stunning castle perched perilously on a rocky outcrop.

Lunch at a local Agriturismo and final presentation of images

After a morning of painting, we’ll visit a local farm known as an ‘agriturismo’. Here, everything served will have been grown and reared in the surrounding fields. After lunch we’ll have a final presentation of some of the best drawings and paintings made on the holiday

The Abruzzo coast and visit to medieval Basilica (XII century Abbey of San Giovanni in Venere)

From here it’s a leisurely drive to the coast where we’ll pay a visit to an imposing basilica overlooking the Bay of Venus, before heading to the airport and arrivederci!

Please note: This itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions and unexpected delays. We ask that you put your faith in the experience of our guides and tutors, who occasionally choose to slightly alter the programme to ensure you have the best possible experience.