Call us: (910) 742-5324
Call us: (910) 742-5324
Are you ready to embark on the ultimate creative escape? We invite you to step into the world of Italian art, gourmet cuisine, and friendship—set against the breathtaking backdrop of Tuscany’s countryside. Imagine staying in stunning private villas, where every detail has been thoughtfully curated to offer luxury and tranquility. Enjoy gourmet meals crafted by private chefs, paired with exquisite local wines, all while surrounded by inspiring landscapes that artists have adored for centuries.
But the magic of this journey doesn’t stop at indulgence. You’ll have the rare opportunity to work alongside some of Italy’s most talented artisans, from painting and marble paper workshops to creating your own handcrafted jewelry. These hands-on experiences, led by acclaimed local artists, allow you to learn time-honored techniques while creating one-of-a-kind pieces to bring home. Picture yourself painting a watercolor landscape in the Tuscan hills, crafting your own marbled paper designs, or making a personalized silver ring in the heart of Florence. And yes, you’ll get to keep all these beautiful creations along with certificates marking your achievements.
This journey isn’t just about art and food—it’s about building connections with like-minded women who share your passion for creativity. There’s a special camaraderie that grows when you spend your days learning, laughing, and creating with new friends. Whether it’s over a delicious meal at our villa, while exploring historic Florence, or crafting together in the countryside, you’ll form lifelong bonds with fellow artisans just like yourself.
Every moment of this experience has been meticulously planned to ensure an unforgettable journey, blending the richness of Italian culture with your personal artistic growth. Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, where you’ll be inspired not only by Italy’s beauty but by the incredible women alongside you. Let’s create, connect, and make memories in one of the most stunning destinations in the world!
Created during a plein air painting class in Florence with artist Francesca Vannini.
Use traditional marbling techniques, along with a marbled pencil and bookmark to create 10 pieces of marbled paper.
Paint the letter of your name in Gothic style using egg tempera and gold leaf on parchment paper.
Create using a sand-casting technique in a jewelry-making course with artist Cristiano Pierazzuoli.
Draw in the Italian Garden of Villa Cattani Stuart under the guidance of Professor David Papi.
Create a print using the intaglio technique with copper plates, transforming the pencil landscape drawing from the previous day.
Join Professor David Papi on a tour of Villa Cattani Stuart to discover fresco restoration methods.
Originally a large country house that accommodated up to a hundred guests and staff, Villa le Mozzete has welcomed families and friends for generations. Built as an extension of a 6th century Lombard tower, originally part of the Ubaldini country, the tower was subsequently “cut-off” (Mozzata in Italian) in the late Middle Ages. It was purchased by the Medici family in the early 1500’s and then passed by marriage to the Marchesi Rinuccini and subsequently to the Corsini Princes.
The gardens provide 40,000 square meters of pristine peace and solitude. The park, transformed into a romantic English garden in the first half of the 19th century and further embellished at the time of Italy’s unification, has a large heart-shaped central lawn, accessed by passing under two magnificent weeping beach trees.
Experience a magnificent hotel featuring a beautifully restored late seventeenth-century villa located in the picturesque region of Pesaro, nestled in the enchanting Marche region. Villa Cattani Stuart majestically overlooks an entire lush valley surrounded by rolling hills, providing breathtaking views of the stunning Adriatic Riviera of Pesaro, which is conveniently situated just 2 km away from the sparkling sea.
The grounds of the Villa are adorned with three splendidly designed Italian gardens, each filled with enchanting romantic paths that wrap around the hotel, creating a natural atmosphere infused with immense charm and tranquility. Visitors will discover elegant fountains, delightful small temples, and exquisite statues that guide them towards the awe-inspiring panoramic terrace, complete with a luxurious swimming pool, promising a serene escape into nature.
Francesca Vannini holds a bachelor’s degree in decoration from the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence. An all-around artist, her studio attracts students of all ages and backgrounds year-round, inspired by the rich tradition of Florentine art workshops from the Renaissance.
Valeria David has been in the textile field for 35 years. After transforming her vintage shop into a workshop, she focuses on creating decor fabrics: curtains, tablecloths, tapestries, pillows, and bedspreads, often revitalizing old pieces with passion and expertise.
Cristiano Pierazzuoli is a renowned Italian goldsmith and artist dedicated to the craft of goldsmithing. Using traditional techniques, he creates exquisite pieces that embody Italian craftsmanship and his artistic vision. Each creation tells a unique story.
Welcome to Florence, Italy! After you pass through immigration and customs, your driver will meet you in the Arrivals Hall to transfer you to our beautiful 6th-century countryside villa. If you arrive early enough today, lunch will be waiting for you and the rest of the day is yours to rest and rejuvenate until you join your Group Leader and new Sisters for our Welcome Dinner this evening. (Lunch and Dinner included today)
Hotel: Villa le Mozzete
This morning, enjoy some free time with your Sisters to explore our villa and gardens, known for being countryside chic with a refined Renaissance touch. After a delicious lunch at the villa, we’ll transfer to Florence for our first course of painting and plein air with artist Francesca Vannini for the afternoon. For our outdoor painting class, we will each be provided with all of the equipment we need including an easel, small chair, palette and everything needed for creating our small watercolor landscape paintings on a special paper. Upon completion, you’ll have your own painting as well as a certificate of participation in a special folder to take home. This evening, we’ll enjoy a magnificent dinner prepared at our villa by the resident chef. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa le Mozzete
After a luxurious breakfast, take some time to relax and enjoy our countryside surroundings with your Sisters. After lunch, Francesca will guide us through a marble paper workshop surrounded by the beauty of our villa. We’ll each make 10 papers (21×21 cm) with marbling technique and will cover both a pencil and a bookmarker. Upon completion, each of these items are yours to keep as well as a certificate of participation. Later this afternoon, we’ll welcome a local vintner who will introduce us to the fine wines of the region. During our tasting, we’ll learn about each varietal from the expert and maker. This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner together at our villa. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa le Mozzete
Today, we’ll begin with a workshop to learn the unique, ancient technique of Egg Tempera painting with Francesca. We’ll each paint the letter of our name in a Gothic style with egg and pigments and gold leaf, on a special parchment paper that will be suitable for framing. After lunch together, we’ll welcome another local vintner to taste their unique and locally grown and produced wine. Dinner this evening will be a delicious creation of our resident chef. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa le Mozzete
After breakfast, we’ll head to Florence for a jewelry-making course with artist Cristiano Pierazzuoli at his studio. We’ll learn sand casting which allows us to create a ring or pendant with our own individual flare. The jewelry is made of silver, and you’ll create your own wax model using the sand-casting technique. Note: our group will be split in two so that in the morning, one group will participate in the course while the second group will enjoy some shopping time in Florence. After lunch together in a local Florence restaurant, the second group will participate in the course while the first course enjoys some shopping time. This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner together at the villa. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa le Mozzete
This morning, after breakfast, we’ll travel back to Florence for the opportunity to learn some of the rich history of Italian art with expert, Rima Amalo. We’ll primary learn about Michelangelo, the painter, sculptor, architect, and poet as well as his great works for the Medici. Additionally, we’ll get to know Raffaello from the beginnings in Perugino’s workshop to his stay in Florence. Next, we’ll enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon and evening is for independent exploration and dining with your Sisters before we return to our villa. (Breakfast and Lunch included)
Hotel: Villa le Mozzete
Today, we’ll be making our way to Pesaro to check into our next villa, the beautiful Villa Cattani Stuart. On our way, we’ll stop in Perugia where we’ll take a one-hour guided tour within the Artisans Ateliers which are studios where local artisans work and create their masterpieces. Perugia is the capital of the Umbria region, known for its defensive walls around the historic center. The medieval Priori Palace exhibits regional art from the 13th century onward. Looking onto Piazza IV Novembre, the Gothic cathedral houses Renaissance paintings and frescoes. In the square’s center, Fontana Maggiore is a marble fountain with carvings of biblical scenes and zodiac signs. Did you know that Perugia is also famous for its chocolate? We’ll enjoy a local lunch together before returning to our villa where our private chef will be preparing a dinner of delightful Italian cuisine. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa Cattani Stuart
This morning, after breakfast, we’ll meet Professor David Papi and with his guidance, we’ll create a landscape painting in the Italian Garden of the villa. This special workshop will be focused on teaching us how to create landscape works using pencils. This involves learning techniques for rendering natural scenery such as mountains, trees, rivers, and skies, by utilizing the versality of pencils to achieve various tones, textures, and details. After lunch together, the Professor will take us around the main Villa where he will explain how the beautiful frescoes painted throughout the villa were restored and which techniques were used. This evening, he will join us for dinner at the the Main Villa. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa Cattani Stuart
Today, we’ll transfer to Urbino for a calcografia workshop, learning the intaglio technique from Professor Papi. This technique is a traditional printmaking process where the image is incised (engraved, etched or scratched) into a surface, typically a metal plate, and the recessed areas hold the ink. The calcografia happens when copper is used for the metal plate. When paper is pressed onto the plate, the ink in the incised lines is transferred to the paper. Here, we will be transforming the landscape pencil drawing we did yesterday. After lunch, the rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy independently with your Sisters. Tonight, we’ll enjoy dinner together at our villa. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa Cattani Stuart
After breakfast, we’ll participate in the first day of our embroidery workshop with Valeria David and Emanuela from the Congrega. After a brief introduction to the symbolic value of textile handicraft work, and the tradition of our host territory, our handicrafts will be started (you’ll be able to choose your project) such as a small tapestry or a decoration that can later be applied to an item of clothing or a pillow. Our experts will bring some of their own creations to inspire us. We’ll be assembling old fabrics with lace and embroidery that will be supplied and then decorated with basic embroidery stitches. We’ll enjoy lunch together at our villa with the artisans before participating in our afternoon workshop. Dinner this evening will be at the villa. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa Cattani Stuart
Today, we’ll continue with our embroidery laboratory with Valeria and Emanuela. This afternoon, we’ll finish our pieces that we’ve created and leave with something wonderful to bring home. Our lunch and dinner will be served at the villa. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Hotel: Villa Cattani Stuart
This morning, we’ll say Arrivederci to our villa and make our way to Rome. On our way, we’ll be stopping in the beautiful city of Civita di Bagnoregio, perched atop a hillside in central Italy. It is accessed by a pedestrian bridge. After some time exploring, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch in a local restaurant, before continuing our journey for our overnight in Rome. This evening, we’ll be enjoying a very special, exclusive Farewell Dinner at The Apartment Roma, which is the private winery of Feudi di San Gregoria winery. (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)
Sadly, our journey together ends today with our transfers to the Rome (FCO) airport for our return flights home. (Breakfast included)
All required deposit amounts and schedules are based on the requirements of our private villas
PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY
This is a moderately paced itinerary that involves some longer days and more activities. Expect some early hotel departures, and limited time for day time rest and rejuvenation as the itineraries are designed to ensure that you see as much as possible in these wonderful destinations. This may include longer coach journeys and guests should be able to join a walking tour lasting 1-2 hours with stops possibly over uneven terrain. Guests should have reasonable health and mobility and be comfortable with standing for longer periods of time with no difficulty.
