Day by day itinerary

Day 1: Sunday 24 September

You'll be met at Florence railway station and accompanied to your accommodation. Relax over welcome drinks and meet other participants, before meeting for dinner and a night walk of the Duormo.

Day 2: Monday 25 September

After breakfast we will take a walk around Florence to orientate ourselves.  At the “Plaza de la Senoria”, Pilar de la Torre will demonstrate some drawing strategies as we are surrounded by the magnificent sculptures. . Lunch will be at your leisure.  Applying the strategies, you will immerse yourself as Pilar provides individual assistance. Relaxed feedback sessions will be held at the hostel at the end of each day.

Day 3: Tuesday 26 September

After breakfast you will enjoy a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery. You have the choice to sketch as we go, or simply enjoy the most important art collection and interesting information presented by our knowledgeable guide.  Lunch will be at your leisure.  In the afternoon we will observe a lithography demonstration by a Florentine artisan.

Day 4: Wednesday 27 September - Sienna

After breakfast we will travel in our own mini van to Sienna, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Italy. Orientation of this magnificent city which was built on three red-clay hills, and then it’s time to sketch the city and landscape.  Lunch will be taken at leisure and there will be time for you to explore, sightseeing and shop before heading back to Florence. More application is available in the evening, as you have a life drawing session at the Angel Drawing Academy.

Day 5: Thursday 28 September

After breakfast you will enjoy the breathtaking sight of Michelangelo’s “David” at the Galleria dell’ Accademia.  Once inside the gallery, we take the opportunity to be able to explore through drawing the unfinished sculptures of Michelangelo, as well as the great David.  We will take a late lunch and some time to relax and explore Florence at your leisure.

Day 6: Friday 29 September – San Gimignano

Today we visit in the Tuscan countryside. After breakfast you'll travel in our own mini van to nearby San Gimignano for a full day of exploring. The stone towers, rocketing above its two squares, have made this town famous.  The towers were built by feuding families and are the central landmark of this delightful Tuscan town.  The town is a jewel that needs to be explored through drawings as is the surrounding landscape. Pilar will demonstrate and assist as required.  Lunch will be taken at leisure and there will be time for you to explore, and shop before heading back to Florence. Another life drawing session is available in the evening at the Angel Drawing Academy.

Day 7: Saturday 30 September

After breakfast we will explore the hundreds of sculptures large and small housed in the Bargello Museum.  Everywhere that you turn there is something to draw and record in your personal sketch book.  Lunch will be at your leisure.  In the afternoon we will observe an etching demonstration by a Florentine artisan.

Day 8: Sunday 1 October

After breakfast we will meet at San Lorenzo and the Medici chapel.  This is the last and perhaps the greatest example of Michelangelo’s work for the Medici.  In most of the galleries and museums there are no photographs allowed, whereas we are privileged to draw in the presence of these magnificent works of art.  Lunch at your leisure and spend the rest of the day exploring the Sunday afternoon and evening activities. There is so much to discover.

Day 9: Monday 2 October - Lucca

After breakfast we will travel in our own mini van to yet another important Tuscan town.  Lucca is a magical and quite unspoiled town.  Antiquity is everywhere and the buildings are beautifully maintained.  Today explore the hidden treasures of this delightful Tuscan town and time to gather as much visual information in your sketch book or paint a picture.  There is the opportunity to visit a local art gallery where they have Picasso etchings for sale. Bring your Visa Gold!!!  Lunch at your leisure and enjoy the afternoon before we return to Florence. Another life drawing session is available in the evening at the Cecil Drawing Academy.

Day 10: Tuesday 3 October

After breakfast you will enjoy a walk by the Arno river to the Ponte Vecchio, literally “old bridge”.  Built in it’s present form in 1345 and the only one in the city that did not get blown up in 1944.  The old bridge is lined with jewellery shops and it a wonderful spot to take photos.  Making the best of this busy and bustling part of the city, we sketch water views framed by the old bridge.  Individual assistance is given by Pilar.  Lunch is at your leisure and with an afternoon to do your last minute souvenir shopping in Florence.  Dinner is on us…. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant where we enjoy each others company and congratulate our efforts.