A typical itinerary for a painting holiday to Abruzzo

Absolutely everything mentioned in the following itinerary is included in the price of the holiday. Many of our guests do not spend any money while away!

Day 1

Welcome drinks & check into Villa Danilo

After landing in Pescara we drive into the heart of the Majella National Park to our hotel, Villa Danilo. Here you will be given a warm Abruzzo welcome by father and son owners Pesquale and Gino. To celebrate your arrival they will serve you a delicious selection of local amuse–bouch, antipasti, wine and Prosecco. Afterwards you can freshen up in your own room and take advantage of the hotel’s spa. At around 6pm we meet by the pool for an aperitif and an introduction to the painting holiday, before sitting down to an exquisite dinner accompanied by a selection of the region’s finest wine.

Day 2

Mixed media class in the Abruzzo landscape

This morning we travel up into the hills near the hotel and to the picturesque village of Gamberale. Here you will be introduced to some basic mark making techniques, as well as take part in a fun workshop designed to help you see the world through more artistic eyes.

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

We then continue into the heart of the Majella National Park. It is here, by a picturesque mountain stream, that we enjoy an unforgettable picnic lunch, courtesy of Villa Danilo’s head chef, Jon Franco, who only uses the very best local ingredients.

Leisurely afternoon, truffle hunting and dinner

After a slow drive down the hill, where we stop off along the way at some of the most stunning vistas to practice making quick, intuitive sketches and paintings, we arrive back at the hotel. As the shadows lengthen, we put on our walking boots and wander into the hills to go truffle hunting with a local hunter and his dogs. After finding some truffles (hopefully!) we can sit in the long grass and watch the sunset over the Abruzzese landscape.

This evening, following a look at the paintings and drawings made today, we have an exquisite dinner consisting of various truffle dishes.

Day 3

Experimental drawing and our next hotel

After breakfast there will be a fun experimental drawing exercise. This session is designed to encourage you to overcome your creative inhibitions, loosen up and work more intuitively. We then check out of Villa Danilo and drive through some stunning Italian landscape, stopping to paint some of the impressive vistas along the way.

Soon we arrive at our next hotel in Torricella, where the owner, Nicola, will give us a warm welcome. After settling into our rooms, Nicola will be eager for us to sit down to a hearty Italian lunch, which he will have prepared with his mother, Rosanna.

Afternoon painting class in the hilltop town of Gessopalena and dinner

After a leisurely lunch we visit to the ruined hilltop town of Gessopalena, the ideal location to make studies of textures tone and light. From here we drive to one of the region’s most celebrated agriturismos to feast on some exquisite local food and wine, followed by a look at everyone’s paintings from the day.

Day 4

Roccacalegna castle, wine tasting and lunch

This morning we drive to Roccacalegna, a medieval castle perilously perched on a rocky outcrop. The contrast between the angular castle walls and natural rock formations offer the perfect opportunity to practice line drawing and the chance to use a variety of mixed media techniques. After exploring the castle, we have a wine and cheese tasting session before sitting down to lunch.

Leisurely afternoon and gala dinner

This afternoon is spent back at our hotel where you have the chance to sit individually with a tutor and go through all your painting and drawings from the holiday. This evening we will be eating at another of Abruzzo’s highly regarded agriturismos, where we will feast on a mouth watering array of locally grown food and wine while looking at everyone’s work. If we are lucky, before we leave, we will also be treated to the beautiful operatic singing voice of Anton, the farmer and agriturismo owner.

Day 5

Pasta making and goodbyes

After a leisurely breakfast, Nicola’s mother, Rosanna, kindly shows us how to make fresh pasta the Italian way! While Rosanna prepares a beautiful farewell lunch for us, there is just time for a final trouble shooting session, before we sit down to eat the fruits of our morning’s labour. But soon it’s time to check out of the hotel and say our farewells to Nicola and Rosanna, as we head back to Rome and arrivederci!