Raffaele Nobile will be our host for the trip to Tuscany! This is a wonderful way to see Tuscany through painting. The great part is we will be staying at Villa Nobile and all we need to do is paint, see the sights, relax, and enjoy. A fun adventure.
For more information go to www.tuscanyintheframe.com
or email Raffaele at: Email: raffaele.villanobile@gmail.com OR info@tuscanyintheframe.com
Tuscany
We will be based at Villa Nobile near Cortona,now well-known from the film‘Under the Tuscan Sun’and the book of the same name; perched high on the hillside of Mount Egidio, surrounded by olive groves and age old cypresses, this beautiful walled town dates back to Etruscan times. Getting to know this timeless city is a close encounter with art, with history and with spirituality. As well as its amazing historic gems, Cortona offers enchanting views out across the Valdichiana to Lake Trasimeno and the Appenine mountains. Cortona is not just about the past, life here is vibrant – there always seems to be something going on, and there are plenty of outdoor bars and cafes, as well as some great restaurants and shops to enjoy along the way.
The workshopswill include a variety of breath taking locations chosen to inspire your creative work. Subjects will include architecture, perspective, landscape, and most particularly texture, tone, and colour, working with the clarity of light that is so much a part of Tuscany’s natural beauty. We will provide the bulk of your equipment, ie boards, chairs, and easels, but you will need to bring some materials e.g. sketchbooks, pencils and brushes. A selection of materials and stretched canvasses are available at cost price, and at the end of your holiday we can arrange framing and shipping of your finished paintings should you wish.
On a typical day we will paint for most of the morning, either in the grounds or out on location. At various times during the workshops there will be demonstrations by the tutor. The afternoon will provide more opportunities to continue our morning’s work, working on into the early evening to take full advantage of the wonderful clarity and warmth of the Tuscan light. There will also be a free day during the week to do as you please - transport into Cortona will be on offer for those who would like to explore or shop.
All your meals are provided,either making use of the best local produce and specialities at the villa, or out and about at good quality restaurants. Each morning we will offer a healthy breakfast including fresh croissants, cereals, yoghurts and a selection of seasonal fruits. Lunch will be a relaxed affair – perhaps a picnic lunch at the villa or on location, or at a local trattoria. Evening meals will be a mix of barbecues or dinners at the villa, and there will be some evening meals at quality restaurants in Cortona.
There will be a variety of excursionson offer in our Tuscany in the Frameminibus to medieval hill top towns.We will often be travelling through the fabulous countryside of the ValdiChiana, with its classic Tuscan views, so always have your sketchbook and camera handy as there will be lots of opportunity to collect information and material to work on back at the studio. Our trips will include two beautiful hill towns - Pienza, with its famed local Pecorino cheeses; and also Montepulciano, known for its wonderful wines. Here we will have the opportunity to visit La Cantina for wine tasting in one of the oldest wineries in Tuscany, where you may sample the famous Vino Nobile – sadly no relation!
Itinerary. Although we have an itinerary we always make a point of saying that “the itinerary is subject to change” This will obviously be something that we will communicate to the group in advance or on arrival. It is very rare when we have had to change part of the itinerary.
General itinerary for Tuscany
Day 1. Arrival . Pick up point Rome Fiumicino Airport no later than 2pm if possible. Arrive at Villa Nobile (2.5 hr journey) Settle into your accommodation , then meet for pre evening dinner, meet the Tutor & have a lovely dinner with wine & talk about the week ahead & our expectations.
Day 2. Easy start to our first day painting around the grounds of Villa Nobile. Lunch & continue into the evening
Day 3. Travel to Montepulciano for sketching, photographing& wine tasting. Break for lunch; 15 minute journey for Afternoon painting in Pienza. Return to Villa Nobile for dinner
Day4; Depending on your arrival day…(Thursday is market day in the town of Camucia) something that most people enjoy….only 5 minute from the Villa. We then make our way up the hill to our town of Cortona known for the film “Under the Tuscan Sun” for our painting location. We may stay in Cortona for our dinner so that we can work on our painting well into the evening.
Day 5. Trip to SantAntimo. A beautiful 11thC Abbey immersed in a valley surrounded by olive groves & hillsides. SantAntimo is near Montalcino .
Day 6; Trip to Orvieto. Painting alongside the “Duomo” with views of the Piazza & typical Tuscan streets. Lunch in Orvieto & continue into the afternoon. Return to Villa Nobile for Dinner.
Day 7. One of the days will be a free day, Usually mid-week. We suggest trips to Florence, or Arezzo which are on the direct rail line. I will take & pick up anyone from the train station who wishes to go off for the day. Alternatively you can stay at the Villa & paint on some of your work or walk to another location just 10 minute from the Villa.
We have some new location that we may visit & paint, Trequanda, Montefollonico, Monticchiello, local Countryside surrounding Villa Nobile
Although the itinerary looks very busy, I do stress that anyone wanting to take time out to relax, use the pool, or even stay at the Villa & paint rather than coming on the location of that day….please feel free to do so.
We will have time to paint back at the Villa some evenings & the Tutor will give demonstrations from during the week.
Please ask if there is anything at all that is not clear & I will do my best to answer all you questions.
Pick up Point is Rome Fiumicino Airport . If possible no later than 2pm arrivals. Usually for most flight the Terminal 3 Arrival area is a good place to meet. To the right of the arrival up a gentle slope is acafé bar with seats & tables. If you arrive early & need to wait for later arrivals this would be a good place to wait. I will have a Tuscany in the Frame board with me to Identify me. I will advise everyone once I have all the arrival times as to what time \I will arrive to meet you all
Thank you so much & safe Journey
Raffaele Nobile
Look forward to meeting you all soon
Raffaele Nobile