Daily Itinerary
Pricing

Highlights

• 18 hours of en plein air painting instruction with artist, Giovanni Casadei including landscapes of:

- Civita di Bagnoregio a UNESCO protected world heritage site.  Civita is a stunning storybook town seemingly floating over a  deep canyon and only accessible by footbridge

 - Lake Bolsena, a unique lake resting in the crater of a dormant  volcano, and the enchanting town of Bolsena enveloped in  lakeside beauty and medieval mystery

• Walking Tours of Orvieto and Pienza
• Visit to the Orvieto Duomo, perhaps the most beautiful in Italy
• Visit to a renowned local winery and producer of Orvieto Classico
• Private visits to workshops and studios of local ceramic and leather artisans
• Morning yoga sessions

Overview

The Heart of Italy “En Plein Air” is an extraordinary specialty tour offering both novice and experienced artists the chance to learn and paint in the most inspiring environment for art in the world…Italia. The landscape emphasis takes our student/guests to the stunning and geographically unique countryside where the three ancient regions of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio converge. There you’ll stay at a beautifully restored traditional Italian farmhouse where for the next six days highly respected landscape painter Giovanni Casadei will be your instructor. As an artist and teacher the Italian-born and now Philadelphia-based Giovanni has a long and impressive resume. Wholly devoted to his discipline, Giovanni will introduce you to the joy and techniques of “en plein air”. In addition to our country retreat you’ll also have the opportunity to paint at other marvelous select locations. There will also be plenty of time just devoted to fun, food and touring featuring multiple offerings hosted by Giovanna Chiti…founder and owner of Discover my Italy.

Giovanni Casadei is an accomplished Italian painter and art teacher, specializing “en plein air”. His approach to landscape painting is to communicate his love for life through the expression of emotions and passions inspired by the visual world around him. He tries to capture meaningful moments of experience with the light, color, and visual abstractions of nature. Giovanni’s works have been shown and sold in his adopted home of Philadelphia and around the world for the last 20 years.

Giovanni Casedei Biography

• Born and raised in Rome, Italy
• Studied at Scuola Libera del Nudo (Free School for Drawing and Painting) and the Academy of Fine Art in Rome
• Studied under Armenian artist Alfonso Avanessian experimenting with drawing, oil pastels, dry pastels tempera, watercolor, acrylic, and oil paintings
• Moved to America and enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
• Mentored by American artist Seymour Remenick with a contagious love for art, painting, and people.

2021 The Heart of Italy In Plein Air - Day by Day Itinerary

Departure from the United States

Saturday, June 5

Day 1 - Roma - Acquapendente

Sunday, June 6

Morning:

• Welcome to Italy!
• Arrival at the Rome, Fiumicino airport
• Transfer from the Rome airport, Rome Center or the Orvieto train station to our country residence (If interested, we will coordinate transfers so you can share with other travelers)

 Afternoon:

• Check in for 6 nights at our country residence. A beautiful property, traditionally restored Italian farmhouse set in an unspoiled stretch of countryside where the regions of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio meet. Meet Giovanni Casadei, the Italian-born, Philadelphia-based still life and plein air landscape painter who will be your painting instructor for the next 6 days.
• Free time to relax and take in the serene environment
• Meet Giovanna Chiti, owner and founder of Discover my Italy and Giovanni Casadei, the Italian-born, Philadelphia-based still life and plein air landscape painter who will your painting instructor for the next 6 days. Giovanni will introduce Alla Prima class with a demonstration on how to start a landscape painting

Evening:

• Welcome “Aperitivo” (Italian happy hour)
• Dinner at the residence

Day 2 - Civita di Bagnoregio

Monday, June 7

Morning:

• Optional yoga session
• Breakfast
• Departure for the stunning tiny medieval town of Civita di Bagnoregio, a UNESCO protected site. Perched atop of a canyon, Civita di Bagnoregio is accessible only through a pedestrian bridge
• 3-hour painting session with artist/instructor, Giovanni Casadei

Afternoon:

• Stroll through Civita with local guide
• Lunch at a local restaurant (not included)
• Return to our country residence with an en-route visit to an artisanal pottery and ceramic factory where your senses will continue to be indulged

Evening:

• Dinner at our country residence

Day 3 - Orvieto

Tuesday, June 8

Morning:

• Breakfast
• Departure for Orvieto
• Walking Tour of Orvieto.  Tour will include the stunning Duomo (cathedral), a symbol of the city itself, the Duomo is one of the most beautiful in Italy
• Free time for shopping

Afternoon:

• Departure for a local producer of Orvieto Classico wine
• Light lunch and wine tasting at the winery
• 3-hour painting session with artist/instructor, Giovanni Casadei

Evening:

• Dinner at our country residence

Day 4 - Acquapendente

Wednesday, June 9

Morning:

• Optional yoga session
• Breakfast
• 3-hour painting session with Giovanni Casadei near the residence

Afternoon:

• Lunch at our country residence
• 3-hour painting session with artist/instructor, Giovanni Casadei

Evening:

• Dinner at a local trattoria in Acquapendente

Day 5 - Lake of Bolsena

Thursday, June 10

Morning:

• Optional yoga session
• Breakfast
• Departure for a visit to an artisan leather smith with an eye for beauty and a tradition of craftsmanship

Afternoon:

• Return to our country residence for lunch
• Departure for Lake Bolsena
• Arrival on Lake Bolsena
• 3-hour painting session with artist/instructor, Giovanni Casadei
• This unique lake rests in the crater of a dormant volcano and is sustained by aquifer, rainfall, and runoff
• Be enchanted by the town of Bolsena for its lakeside charm and medieval mystery
• Beach time

Evening:

• Casual Dinner at the lake restaurant

Day 6 - Pienza

Friday, June 11

Morning:

• Breakfast
• Departure for charming town of Pienza in Southern Tuscany
• Walking Tour of Pienza

Afternoon:

• Free time for lunch and shopping in Pienza on your own
• Return to our country residence
• 2-hour Show & Tell and Review of all the work done with suggestions from instructor, Giovanni CasadeiShow

Evening:

• Farewell dinner

Day 7: End of tour

Saturday, June 12

Morning:

• Transfer to the Rome airport or to the Orvieto train station (If interested, we will coordinate transfers so you can share with other travelers)
• Arrivederci Italia!

Itinerary specifics subject to change.

The Heart of Italy In Plein Air 2021 - Pricing

Your tour price includes:

• 6 nights in charming country residence in double occupancy with private bathroom
• Meals:
• Breakfast daily (6)
  – 1 Welcome aperitivo
  – 3 Lunches
  – 6 Dinners
  – 1 Wine tasting
• 3 yoga morning sessions
• Private transportation throughout the itinerary - not including airport transfers
• 18 hours painting instructions with artist, Giovanni Casadei
• Walking Tours with licensed guide:
  Orvieto
  Pienza
• Private visit to workshops and studios of local artisans:
  Ceramic
  Leather
• Entrance fees
• All local taxes
• Gratuities at restaurants and wineries

Not Included:

• Flights
• Airport or rail station transfers – If interested, we will coordinate transfers so you can share with other travelers
• Meals unless specified
• Gratuities to driver & guides
• Travel Insurance (strongly recommended)

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Price per person.....................................................$3,100

Single Supplement...................................................+$600

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All aspects of the tour will be coordinated by Giovanna Chiti of Discover my Italy.

Giovanni Casedei