Today, we speak to our fantastic painting tutor, Hugh Tuckerman, to discuss his favourite spots painting groups visited in Italy this year. With wonderful painting holidays to Tuscany, Venice and Sicily there are so many stunning landscapes, scenes and locations to inspire our guests – it was no small task to narrow it down! We asked Hugh to pick his top painting locations that have inspired him and our guests.
The Varramista Estate
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 that is quintessentially Italian.
Villa Borgoluce
The area surrounding this villa was absolutely stunning. The estate is over 1,000 hectares of woodland, vineyards and farmlands in the province of Treviso. This villa was situated in the hills with brilliant views in all directions and the enchanting San Salvatore Castle in the far distance. So beautiful!
The Quiet Streets of Venice
While Venice is undoubtedly beautiful and has some magnificent architecture – it can get quite busy. So, when in Venice I like to find quiet spots for painting; it is great to get away from the hustle of the busy streets and to sit down beside the smaller canals, away from the tourists, and paint. It was fun for our guests as they got to see more of the city than the usual tourist trails.
Castelletto di Montebenichi
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 miles of olive groves, winding roads, medieval villages and Chianti vineyards. It is really stunning.
Siena
This year we had a fantastic day in Siena with my painters working in the Piazza del Campo and at the Duomo di Siena. The medieval city is an UNESCO world heritage site and there are so many incredible monuments, buildings, churches, squares and bridges - so it is a great place to visit for us artists! While in Siena it is worth having a look in local galleries to see Siena’s Renaissance art tradition, known as Sienese School, which was inspired by French Gothic and Byzantine art.
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 2015 brochure! We have many fantastic painting tutors, like Hugh, who will be taking guests to stunning locations on our painting holidays in Tuscany, Venice and Sicily in 2015.
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