CLICK HERE: Slow Art Retreat / Venice, Italy / April 29 - May 4, 2018
CLICK HERE: Slow Art Retreat / Venice, Italy / April 29 - May 4, 2018
A Slow Art Retreat - Venezia!
A 6-day creative retreat in one of the most magical cities in the world, Venice, Italy!! And let me introduce you to my Secret Venice, something few tourists ever experience. When I lived in the north of Italy I visited Venice many times, and the most enchanting moments were off-season, or late-night wanderings through empty streets & along the canals, or discovering a local dive with the best 'Spritz' ever... This retreat will encompass everything and more I love about the real Venice. We will stay in a 4-star historic palazzo, explore the city like locals, all the while making time to connect to our creativity, to each other, and to follow our inspiration!
Our mornings will begin with a luxurious breakfast, followed by a meditation, a short Italian lesson, and a slow art workshop. The workshops will be led by myself (calligraphy, sketch-booking, & photography for Instagram), and I've invited Leslie Rosa of @ladolcevigna (wine & culture tours in California & Italy) to co-host! In the afternoons you're welcome to take time for yourself gelato-tasting & getting lost along the canals, or to join the group for excursions exploring the city -- tasting its delicacies, hunting the most photo-worthy views, and shopping the oldest stationery stores of Europe. We'll find hidden gardens, meet local artisans in their workshops, and go for cichetti & bacari tours (the tastiest Venetian tapas & drinks!).
Leslie lived in Venice for several years (where she became a Sommelier!) and we'll meet some of her talented friends who have built their lives around sustaining the rich Venetian heritage, including an afternoon rowing traditional Voga boats through the canals of the city (& a great way to see this fairytale place)! Wine tasting 101 lessons with Leslie, of course. And visiting a family glass blowing studio on the island of Murano! It will be a truly special week, whether or not you've been to Venice before -- you've never seen it like this. {Scroll down for our full itinerary}.
To reserve your place you can pay the total amount (non-refundable), see below for room options.
9 participants max.
Venice images above from Coco at @travellur
What's included:
- Shared accommodations, 6 days/5 nights (I will pair you up unless you request to room with someone in particular)
- Most meals (all breakfasts, 2 lunches & 4 dinners)
- 4 Slow Art Workshops
- Daily meditation & daily Italian
- Group transportation
- Rowing tour of canals
- Calligraphy & Art supplies
What's not included:
- Airfare
- Some meals (2 lunches & 1 dinner - during free time, tho we will give wonderful suggestions)
PROSPECTIVE ITINERARY - Slow Art Venice - April 29 - May 4, 2018
DAY 1, April 29 - Sunday
Travel Day (Please arrive by 4pm for group transport from the airport to our accommodations)
6:00 Welcome Drinks – Aperativo! Meet & Greet.
8:00 Dinner out at Estro, a chic restaurant in Dorsoduro you’ll love!
DAY 2, April 30 - Monday
7-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-12:30 Slow Art Workshop! Guided Meditation, short Italian lesson, Modern Calligraphy with Diva. With traditional dip pen and metal nib we’ll warm up with the basics, getting comfortable with our tools, and practicing our ABC’s (well, Diva’s ABC’s !). Using your Linea Carta custom workbook and Diva’s favorite calligraphy supplies.
12:30 Group lunch with Leslie for tramezzini (typical Venetian sandwiches!)
Free time to rest or explore on your own - or- Follow our Hidden Gems of Venice Scavenger Hunt! Pair up and ‘choose your own adventure’: Shop calligraphy supplies at our favorite stationery store, stop for amazing gelato, take a #ihavethisthingwithfloors photo with gorgeously intricate mosaic floors, people watch at a famous cafe, climb to great heights for spectacular city views… Our list of Secret Venice goes on!
7:00 Meet for a Cichetti stroll (Venetian tapas/small bites & drinks) and roving wine lesson with our local host & sommelier Leslie. We'll stop along the Fondamente Misericordia, joining locals at beloved and lively favorite wine bars, starting at Alla Vedova and finishing at Paradiso Perduto - where the evening turns into a bohemian dance party with live music!
DAY 3, May 1 - Tuesday
7-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-12:30 Slow Art Workshop! Meditation, Daily Italian, and Travel Sketching & Watercolors with Diva. Let's get out of our left brain and get into the flow of sketching and playing with color! With Diva's mentorship we’ll fill up our sketchbooks throughout the week.
12:30 Free time & lunch - try Arte della Pizza for an unbelievably good pizza :)
3:30 Meet at hotel garden to leave for Voga /traditional Venetian rowing lesson and tour of the canals. The absolute best way to see the city— and have fun doing it! (Don’t worry, you don’t have to row if you don’t want to, you can still join us on the boats & enjoy the ride).
8:00 Dinner at Antiche Carampane, a delightful and traditional trattoria.
DAY 4, May 2 - Wednesday
7-9:30 Breakfast
9:30-12:30 Slow Art Workshop! Meditation, daily Italian, Modern Calligraphy II with Diva. We’ll play with flourishes, practice phrases and putting our letters together, and design our own monograms. We’ll also experiment with handmade paper and our other Venetian stationery & ink finds!
1:00 Lunch & Day trip to Murano & Burano - such lovely & colorful islands!! We’ll lunch on Murano, visit a traditional family glass blowing studio (friends of Leslie’s), where we’ll see the craftsmanship of these Venetian glass artists upclose. And then to the colorful island of Burano! Free time to wander & photograph.
6:00 Free Time & Dinner (Refer to our map of recommendations!)
DAY 5, May 3 - Thursday
7-9:00 Breakfast
9:00-12:00 Slow Art Workshop! Meditation, daily Italian, Photography for Instagram with Diva. We will talk about what works for the screen regarding composition, color, and editing. Diva will share her approach to a successful post, and with one-on-one feedback.
12:00 Rialto Market + Bacaro tour with Leslie, lunch included. Love a good farmers market? ME TOO! Now add the Grand Canal, Italian grandmas, and the prettiest piles of seasonal produce— its a treat for the senses! We’ll visit nearby lunch spots beloved by market vendors and taste creative cichetti like All'Arco's addictive crostini with creamy whipped codfish - & many more.
2:00 Continue the Secret Venice Scavenger Hunt, following our map for our favorite museums, a visit to a 16th century artists studio, the prettiest stroll with water views, very Venetian shopping, incredible city views, the list goes on...
6:30 Optional Aperitivo (happy hour)!
7:30 Farewell Dinner (formal attire encouraged) at CoVino, “Venice’s most enjoyable place to dine at the moment”. It’s a splurge but we’re worth it!!
DAY 6, May 4 - Friday
7-10:00 Breakfast
Travel Day (Check out is 11:00, join group transport to airport)
Note: We suggest you purchase travel insurance in case of any unforseen happenings. Also, there are no cars in Venice, we will be on foot and taking water taxis, and have stairs only at our accommodations.