30th of September

Arrive in Florence and check in to your hotel, which is centrally located in Florence and will be your base for the next four nights.

We’ll meet in the evening for a welcome get together.

Overnight : Hotel Art Atelier, Florence

1st October

You will meet with an expert local guide and art historian for a short walk through Florence to the Uffizi Gallery. There, you will see pieces from one of the most important collections in Europe. After the tour ends, you can choose to stay in the Uffizi Gallery for the afternoon. We can start our sketching with some tuition in the heart of Florence.

Overnight: Hotel Art Atelier, Florence

2 October. A private minibus and local guide will pick you up from the hotel for a full-day excursion to explore two of the gems of Tuscany: Siena and San Gimignano. Siena was a significant rival to Florence during the early Middle Ages and features a rich historic centre with stunning architecture. Your guide will take you on a walking tour of Siena.

We’ll visit a winery for wine tasting and lunch. In the afternoon, you will drive to San Gimignano, passing through the picturesque Tuscan countryside. In San Gimignano, a local guide will lead you through the medieval town, explaining its origins and architecture.

Afterwards, you'll have some time to enjoy a gelato and explore the town before returning to Florence in the late afternoon.

Overnight : Hotel Art Atelier, Florence

3 October. Let’s have an early morning sketching session by the beautiful Arno River and The Ponte Vecchio. Then the rest of the day can be a free day to explore Florence. There are several museums you could visit (prior booking is highly recommended).

Overnight: Hotel Art Atelier, Florence

On Day 5, you'll leave Florence and head to Lucca, a charming town in northern Tuscany. You can walk or take a taxi to Florence's train station, from where you'll take a direct train to Lucca. The train journey takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Once you arrive in Lucca, you can head to your hotel, which is located in the historic centre and will be your base for the next two nights. Free time for the rest of the day.

Overnight : Hotel Tuscanian, Lucca

On Day 6, you'll have free time to leisurely explore Lucca. Lucca is a charming small Tuscan town with a very quaint streetscape, interesting churches and shops to explore. The more active travellers can take a walk around Lucca’s ancient walls, now converted into a walking track.

Let’s explore and sketch the old centre of Lucca.

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Overnight : Hotel Tuscanian, Lucca

Today, you will depart Lucca and travel to the Italian Riviera by train, arriving in the early afternoon. The train trip from Lucca to Monterosso (one of the villages of the Cinque Terre) takes approximately 2 hours and includes a change of train at Pisa Centrale.

Arrive in Monterosso and make your way to your hotel, which is located in the centre of Monterosso and close to the train station. Monterosso will be your base for the next three nights.

Overnight : Hotel Villa Adriana, Monterosso

Today, you’ll have the chance to appreciate the Cinque Terre from its best vantage point - the sea. Join a small group boat tour of the Cinque Terre, departing Monterosso at about 11 am and admiring each village from the water. The skipper will provide a commentary on the villages, there will be a chance to stop for a swim (weather permitting), and a lunch of local products will be served on board. The boat returns to Monterosso at around 3.30pm.

Overnight: Hotel Villa Adriana, Monterosso

Another day of opportunities to sketch and explore. You can choose to take the local trains to visit each of the villages of the Cinque Terre, walk between some of the villages, or take the train further north to visit the pretty and perhaps less touristy towns like Levanto, Moenglio and Sestri Levante.

Overnight : Hotel Villa Adriana, Monterosso

Today, you'll leave behind the beautiful blue hues of the Riviera and head to the stunning sparkling waters of Lake Como. Begin by checking out of your hotel and heading to the train station. From here, you'll take a direct train to Milano Centrale station. Upon arrival, your mini-bus and driver will be waiting to take you on a short drive to Menaggio, a town located on the western shore of Lake Como. Once you arrive, check in to your lake-front hotel and take some time to enjoy a leisurely walk along the lakeside promenade.

Overnight: Hotel Garni Corona, Menaggio

This morning, you will enjoy a private boat tour of the central lake, observing some of the most beautiful towns and villas from the lake. The boat will drop you back in Menaggio before lunchtime; the rest of the day is yours to spend as you please.

Some options to explore on Lake Como include visiting the pretty towns of Varenna and Bellagio, the Gardens of Villa Melzi at Bellagio, Villa Carlotta and Villa Balbainello, or taking the fast ferry to the town of Como.

Overnight: Hotel Garni Corona, Menaggio

Today we can explore, sketch and paint at Lake Como..

Afterwards, you can explore as you wish.

**Optional Extra - Guided visit to one or two of the villas on Lake Como. Villa Carlotta at Cadennabia has a beautiful interior and stunning gardens. Villa Balbianello is located on a peninsula at Lenno and is one of the most spectacular spots on the whole lake.

Overnight: Hotel Garni Corona, Menaggio

This morning, you will be travelling to Verona. Your bus will pick you up for a short drive to Milano Centrale station, where you will board the fast train to Verona. After arriving in Verona, you will need to arrange taxis to reach the hotel which is located in the centre. The hotel is just a few moments' walk away from Piazza Bra and the Roan Arena. Once you arrive at the hotel, you can check-in and start exploring the city.

Overnight: Hotel Colomba d’Oro, Verona

Your local guide will meet you at the hotel for a morning walking tour of Verona, providing a good introduction to the city's history and culture. Some of the must-see places include the Arena, a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre; the Piazza delle Erbe, a lively square with beautiful buildings and lively markets; and Juliet's House, a popular tourist spot that is said to be the home of Shakespeare's fictional character. Additionally, Verona is also known for its beautiful architecture, rich history and elegant city scape.

The afternoon is available for sketching and exploring the city further.

Overnight: Hotel Colomba d’Oro, Verona

Today is a free day in Verona. Some travellers might feel like a quiet day exploring the town further. For the more adventurous, towns like Vicenza (birthplace of Palladio and home to some of his most famous works), Padua and Mantua are all easily reachable by train.

Overnight: Hotel Colomba d’Oro, Verona

Today, you will depart from Verona and head towards your final destination for the tour, which is Venice. First, make your way to Verona Porta Nuova train station, where you'll board the fast train to Venice. Once you arrive at Venice Santa Lucia station, step out onto the Grand Canal and take a water taxi to your hotel in the quiet Dorsoduro area of Venice. The afternoon is free time for you to explore Venice. The hotel is located in a quieter area of Venice near the Ca Rezzonico and an easy walk to the Ponte dell’ Accademia and the Galleria dell’Accademia.

Overnight: Hotel Pausania, Venice

This morning, a local guide will meet you at the hotel for a walking tour of Venice. If there are many first-time visitors in the group, the walking tour will cover the main sites of Venice, such as San Marco and the Doge's Palace.

However, if the group prefers to avoid the sometimes overcrowded areas around San Marco, the guide can create an alternative tour of Venice that explores key sites in the Dorsoduro and San Polo neighbourhoods.

The afternoon is a great time to sketch and paint.

Overnight: Hotel Pausania, Venice

Today, you will visit the Venetian lagoon, taking the vaporetto to the islands of Murano and Burano. Once in Murano, you can witness local artisans blowing glass at a traditional glass factory. The skilful artisans create remarkable pieces that are unique to the island. Afterwards, you will take the ferry to Burano and explore the charming island. Be sure to stroll around the brightly coloured houses and enjoy the picturesque scenery. Return to Venice in the afternoon.

Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening.

Overnight: Hotel Pausania, Venice

The tour finished this morning. Check out of your hotel and continue with your trip.

Ciao, arrivederci and buon viaggio!!