August 27 - September 8, 2010
Charlotte Severin is a signature member of CWA and her paintings hang in the Oakland Museum and the Riverside Art Museum. She has taught art for 15 years for the city of Pleasanton and over 30 years in Bay Area schools. Charlotte has videotaped a series of five lessons, “Art Made Easy,” (now also on DVD). She specializes in watercolors painted en plein air. She has led art tours in Europe, Turkey, China, Tibet, Mexico and the United States.
What's included in this workshop:
- Pick up at Florence Airport
- 7 nights lodgings in Tuscany, 5 nights lodging in Cinque Terre
- Breakfast every morning
- Dinners in Tuscany
- Field trips in Tuscany
- Drop off at Florence train station/airport
- Painting instruction, demonstrations & critiques
TUSCANY, ITALY
Independent Arrival in Florence
Depart U.S.A. on overnight flight to any European gateway city. Catch a connecting flight to Florence.
Day 1
3:00 p.m. Meet our Private Coach in Florence for the short drive into the scenic Chianti countryside to our Tuscan Villa, home for a week. Welcome Dinner.
Villa Borgo di Cortefreda
Ideally located in the Tuscan countryside – just south of Florence – the Villa Borgo di Cortefreda combines the charming ambience of a scenic country estate with contemporary comfort. Situated atop a hill, it features marvelous views of the Chianti valley below. The Villa provides many opportunities for painting, sketching & relaxing – in the gardens, on the terraces, by the pool.
Tavernelle Val di Pesa
Our Tuscan ‘hometown’ has Roman origins. Its name refers to the ancient taverns (taberna in Latin) offering accommodation and refreshment along the road linking Florence to Siena and to Rome. The territory of Tavernelle, like the entire Chianti region, has a rich heritage of sacred and secular buildings. The church of Santa Lucia al Borghetto offers a rare example of local Gothic architecture and the Museo di Arte Sacra is also worth a visit.
A sampling of our Destinations
Volterra is encircled by impressive walls and topped with a grand fortress. An important town 2000 years ago, Volterra’s most famous site is its Etruscan Gate, built in the fourth century BCE. Its well-preserved Roman Theater, with its excellent acoustics, was rediscovered in the 1950s. Among its medieval remains is the Palazzo dei Priori, or City Hall, the probable inspiration for Florence’s own Palazzo Vecchio.
San Gimignano is the epitome of a Tuscan hill town, with 14 of its original 60 medieval towers still proudly erect. The towers were intended to keep marauders and rivals out before town walls were built. There will be time to paint and sketch and explore as well as taste the wine of San Gimignano – the white, light, fruity Vernaccia de San Gimignano.
Lucca's most remarkable feature is its
ramparts, actually its 3 sets of them – from
Roman, Medieval and Renaissance times.Throughout its history, Lucca remained
independent and proud. Its wealth came from
the silk industry. With numerous Romanesque
churches and welcoming well-shaded piazzas
you’ll find much to paint and admire in Lucca.
Florence - The birthplace of the Renaissance. Paintings by Botticelli and Leonardo, sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo, masterpieces set in a city filled with buildings and piazzas of equal renown like the Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. We’re close enough to visit a few times - maybe the Uffizi on your first visit, Ghiberti’s bronze Baptistry doors and Giotto’s Campanile on your next; don’t forget to cross the Ponte Vecchio and explore the Oltro Arno, too. And leave some time for shopping and eating and strolling with a gelato in hand.
Siena's beauty is visible no matter what direction you look. Wander from the Campo (Siena’s main square) with its Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia to the Duomo. Stray off the beaten path to catch a view that inspires you and do so with ease, since Siena is mostly a pedestrian’s delight. You may decide to stand in line to visit a monument or two, but if not, just relax and enjoy Italy’s best medieval city experience.
Day 8
We travel from Tuscany to Vernazza, our home in the Cinque Terre.
CINQUE TERRE
Everyone who visits the Cinque Terre falls in love with it and everyone wishes they had planned to spend more than a couple days there. Well, we will. We’ll call Vernazza, the jewel in this string of beautiful villages, our home for 6 days. We’ll meet at breakfast every morning and decide where to paint – should we stay in Vernazza or take the train or a boat to one of the other villages – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia or Monterossa al Mare – it’s a beautiful life and it’s ours!
Final Day
After breakfast, depart for Florence. Onward travel after 4:00 p.m. is advised.
