We spoke to one of our painting tutors, to discuss his favourite spots in Italy for painting inspiration. With wonderful painting holidays in Italy, Spain, and Morocco there are so many stunning landscapes, scenes, and locations to inspire our guests – so it was no small task to narrow it down.
1. The Gelsi Estate, Tuscany
With spectacular views that change dramatically with the seasons, this naturally beautiful estate is located in the ancient heart of Tuscany. The timeless estate is perfect for our guests who come to Tuscany looking for the classic landscape with its rolling hills for their painting inspiration.
2. Castelletto di Montebenichi, Tuscany
Our trip to Montebenichi really was the icing on the cake, dramatic views in all directions. At the top of the hill is the Castelletto, and surrounding it is the charming little hamlet of Montebenichi. From Montebenichi you can see miles of olive groves, winding roads, medieval villages, and Chianti vineyards. It is really stunning and sure to inspire!
3. Siena, Tuscany
This year, we had a fantastic day in Siena working in the Piazza del Campo and the Duomo di Siena. The medieval city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with incredible monuments, churches, squares, and bridges. It is a great place to visit for artists to be inspired! It’s worth having a look in local galleries to see Siena’s Renaissance art tradition, inspired by French Gothic and Byzantine art.
4. Villa Torre, Amalfi
This villa in Amalfi is really one of a kind as it’s a refurbished medieval Saracen tower. With its location, it provides the most stunning views over the surrounding coast and sea. There’s definitely painting inspiration a-plenty here! The grounds descend through pine woods, lemon trellises, and beautifully tended gardens all the way to the sea. Even better, each guest’s room has its own private terrace – the perfect spot to paint your own view of the coast!
5. Marzamemi, Sicily
This quintessentially Sicilian seaside village is the perfect place to capture authentic Sicilian life. Famous for catching and processing tuna, you can sketch the lines of fishing boats at the harbour. Another great subject is the locals socialising in the Piazza Regina Margherita. The best thing about this painting spot is that you won’t find any tourists in this hidden gem. This means my groups can paint and sketch all day!
If the thought of sitting in the Italian sun, paintbrush in hand, taking in the idyllic Tuscan countryside or the elegant streets of Venice, sounds tempting – get in touch or order our brochure! We have many fantastic painting tutors, who will be taking guests to stunning locations on our painting holidays.
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