Margaret Cowling Arts

Now this "classic" tour is further enriched by a cruise up the Brenta Canal from Venice to the famous Villa Pisani.

We live and dine in the very heart of each of the three Italian cities which contain over sixty percent of Europe’s art. We find ourselves surrounded by Italian life, with galleries, museums, monuments, restaurants, and markets at our doorstep.

The tour includes smaller, picturesque and artistically important cities and towns, and many opportunities to paint, view and explore the Italian countryside. We linger long enough at all our destinations to really appreciate them.

Participants are welcome to rest at any point of the itinerary, and we encourage people to make their special interests known to us. This tour is most appropriate for non-painters and photographers who appreciate the time to absorb the atmosphere and character of Italy.

There is one tour leader and itinerary for painters and another for the 'lookers' and photographers.

The Itinerary

Venice (6 nights)

Upon arrival at Venice airport we board water taxis which take us across the Lagoon to our hotel doorstep on the Grand Canal. Our days will be spent exploring and painting the magical light and colours of Venice, the reflections and the textures.

A three day ferry ticket enables us to travel easily to many intriguing painting sites, including the islands of Burano, Murano and Torcello. Other sites are within walking distance of the hotel.

As a quick test of the quality of our planning for your enjoyment, consider, does any other tour offer six breakfasts on a deck on the Grand Canal as you watch the barges go by? Our deck is reserved exclusively for us – only 5 other hotels have such an amenity. In Florence, our breakfast room and two roof decks all boast superb views of the Piazza del Duomo only 51 paces away. In Rome, our hotel is on Pompey's theatre, around the corner from Campo dei Fiori and Piazza Navona – just walking distance to all the major attractions of Rome.

We live and dine in the very heart of each of the three Italian cities which contain over sixty percent of Europe’s art. We find ourselves surrounded by Italian life, with galleries, museums, monuments, restaurants, and markets at our doorstep.

Non-painters will usually be accompanied to the painting venues and then on to other points of interest. The wealth of magnificent galleries and monuments guarantees a busy time for "lookers".

Our painting subjects vary from the well known and irresistible to scenes of a Venice tucked away from the tourist path.

While in Venice, we have a special evening meal for the whole group, enjoying authentic Venetian cuisine.

Padua - Padova in Italian (4 nights)

It includes many fine frescoes including a massive ceiling fresco by Giovanni Tiepolo, impressive architectural features and a garden enriched with the fantasy of several imaginative follies.

Then we continue by a comfortable private coach to Padova.

Padova contrasts with our other bases in terms of colour, style and historical perspective.

It boasts superb medieval frescoes - above all Giotto's in the Scrovegni Chapel and the Senatorial hall ("Il Palazzo della Ragione"), but also those of Menabuoi in the Baptistery and Altichieri in the impressive Basilica of Sant'Antonio (the "Santo").