Arts Sojourn : Plein Air Painting in Italy
Our Next Sojourn

Upcoming Sojourns:

Arts Sojourn on the Italian Riviera 2007
Trip Info At a Glance:
July 1 - July 8, 2007
Cost: $1875.00
$350.00 non-refundable deposit due with application. Balance must be received no later than April 1, 2007.
Hotel: Grand Hotel Portovenere
Sign up Form
Click here for
Important Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight info.)
Additional Links:
 

Click here for
Important Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight info.)

Our second Arts Sojourn for 2007 takes us to Portovenere along the Mediterranean coast in Liguria. Portovenere was first brought to our attention by an Italian tour bus driver quite a few years ago. He said it was even more beautiful than the more famous and touristed towns of the Cinque Terre. We finally got to visit Portovenere in 2006 and we certainly won't argue with him. To say that Portovenere is beautiful is truly an understatement. It seems to combine all of our favorite visual elements of the Italian Riviera into one gorgeous site: curving peninsulas, rugged cliffs, turquoise seas, offshore islands, and a sheltered harbor fronted by tall, brightly colored houses. At the tip of the rocky promontory is the rustic thirteenth century church of San Pietro. A spider web of narrow alleys ascends the mountainside to a twelfth century Genovese castle and the fascinating town cemetery that has served Portovenere since medieval times. All in all, Portovenere is one of the most scenically beautiful places that we have visited in Italy.

This part of the Italian Riviera is known as Il Golfo dei Poeti - The Gulf of the Poets, because it so captured the imagination of romantics such as Byron, Shelley, D. H. Lawrence, and the painter Arnold Bocklin. There is a navigation company that provides regular boat service to all of the towns of the Cinque Terre as well as the coastal resort of Lerici and the bustling port city of La Spezia. Connections can take you as far up the coast as Portofino. It will be possible to make many side trips, if that is your desire, but you may be content just to paint or soak up the sun on a beach or café along the seafront promenade in little Portovenere.

We have a reservation at Grand Hotel Portovenere, right on the sea overlooking the harbor and the island of Palmaria. We have reserved all sea view rooms for our Sojourners. We also have a very limited number of sea view suites and double rooms for single use available at extra cost. The hotel is air conditioned and the rooms have every modern convenience. There is also a wellness center that offers spa treatments, such as massage, whirlpool baths and exercise equipment. As an added value we have made special arrangements with the hotel management to allow every person in our group to order individually off the regular hotel menu - a feature not afforded to most groups and something we think you will greatly appreciate. The kitchen and dining service at Grand Hotel Portovenere are excellent, with a menu specializing in fresh fish from the gulf, but you will always have options. The outdoor dining terrace is also a very pleasant spot for your morning breakfast; a very extensive continental buffet of fruits, juices, pastries, breads, jams and spreads, as well as Italian cured meats and cheese. You can have a cappuccino or espresso brought right to your table above the Mediterranean. All breakfasts and dinners are included in our price of $1875 per person sharing a double room. This includes seven night accommodations, airport - hotel transfers to and from Galileo Galilei airport in Pisa, in addition to all art activities and our pre-trip and in-country orientation services.

The painting workshop will be conducted in an informal manner, as a group of friends, painting and sharing experiences in a supportive environment. There is no regimentation. You may paint when, where, and as little, or as much as you like. We will meet together regularly as a group to discuss our artwork and experiences. Matthew Daub is always available for those desiring to participate in a painting demonstration or for a one-on-one consultation. Participants may work in any medium of their choosing; however careful consideration should be given to the material's portability and its practicality for international travel. Arts Sojourn is neither a guided tour nor a traditional artists' workshop. As such it should not be expected that participants will be escorted at all times while in Italy. The Sojourn is a unique vacation experience, enjoyed by artists and non-artists alike. It combines the substantial advantages of group travel with the freedom of a self-directed vacation. Adventurous, though not necessarily experienced travelers of diverse ages and backgrounds are invited to apply. We will be sending an extensive information packet to all participants. If your goal is to share in a rich and rewarding cultural experience in Italy with soon-to-be good friends we welcome you to join us. For complete trip details please click here.

Click here for
Important Trip Information
(including dates, cost and flight info.)