Art & Gourmet Escape
06th - 12th September 2025
Join us on this fantastic art & gourmet sea-side retreat at the Riviera delle Palme, in the heart of Italy. We will spend six days creating beautiful watercolour paintings, capturing the infinite beauty of classic Italian scenes that surrounds us. We will be indulging in Italy’s delicious flavours & wines. Get hands on with truffle hunting and cooking and paint & sip in hill-side vineyards. Of course, we will savour a big helping of the all-important, La Dolce Vita also, when relaxing in style at our fabulous sea-side location, which oozing the timeless charm of the grand Liberty period era of the Italian Art Nouveau.
Daily art classes with take place in our studio, and there will be opportunities to make studies and paint on our excursions along the seaside, and to the countryside- and charming hill-top villages and towns.
The location for this retreat is a stylish sea-side hotel in the charming Liberty style town of San Benedetto del Tronto, on the Adriatic coast. Known for its ‘thousand palms’ sea-side promenade adorning the beautiful grand villas of the 19th century, it has all the riviera flair of the classic eras of times gone by. A dream location where to step outside, soak up the atmosphere and take a walk along the quaint, sandy beaches or taking a dip in the warm sea to jumpstart your creative energy for the day’s artistic, culinary and cultural explorations.
THE ART
Our carefully curated painting program, is designed to suit complete beginners to experienced art practitioners alike. Your expert tutor John, professional artist and tutor of 30 years, will guide you through the artistic processes to capture the ‘scorpios’ and panoramas surrounding us, and offer new challenges to the more experienced in the group. He has guided many former and returning participants, on their path from complete beginner to exhibiting and selling artist. He also runs an on-line program, allowing participants to continue their art practice after attending an in-person retreat.
All materials are provided, so there is no need to bring anything. Beginners get an understanding and insight into the media and learn about the materials. Experienced artists, may wish to bring materials out of personal preference, such as specific brushes, etc.
MEET YOUR TUTOR
CUISINE & WINE
Of course, no holiday is complete without delicious food and excellent local wine. We will sample the fresh local cuisine known for its variety of fresh seasonal ingredients. Le Marche is one of few Italian regions, with a coast-line and mountain chain stretching the full length on either side of the region. With both only a stone’s throw away from each other, we will be enjoying the rich flavours of superbly fresh sea-food and fish at the coast, as well as traditional meat and vegetarian dishes in local trattorias.
Along with refreshments and ‘aperitivi’ (small selections of beautifully presented culinary treats), which we will take in historic cafès and bars, some famous for featuring in classic film scences, such as Bellini’s masterpiece La Dolce Vità.
Cooking & Truffle Experience
As we learn about the local cuisine and its history, which saw the creation of dishes for emperor’s visits, we will get hands on experience cooking traditonal local cuisine using fresh, local ingredients and pasta making tools specific to this area. Your truffle guide and cooking instructor Jana, has many years experience cooking delicious meals for our retreat guests. She also runs her own cooking school and teaches Italian and health-focused mediterranean cooking classes. She is a passionate truffle hunter and runs truffle experiences also.
VINEYARD PAINT & SIP
On our vineyard visit, we will sample the exquisite local wines produced at the very vineyard where we paint! John will demonstrate a vineyard scene, making it approachable even for beginners! We will try local wines that include Pecorino, Passerina and Montepulciano, some have inherited wine making customs and processes going back to Roman times!
With glorious vines and wines, we’ll be making memories to cherish long after the glass of celebration is raised, after yet another perfect day!
PRICE/DETAILS
7 days / 6 nights
€ 2.400 twin/double* p.p. based on two people sharing standard room with bathroom
€ 2.500 single occupancy p.p. single room in standard room with bathroom
Deluxe room up-grade: € 120
Deluxe room up-grade: € 240
Extra nights on request.
Deposit: €600 p.p. non-refundable booking deposit it required to confirm your booking
Final course fee due 40 days prior to retreat start
Full details and cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions
INCLUDED
- 6 nights Hotel accommodation (standard with own bathroom, deluxe room available for supplement)
- Daily breakfast and daily lunch or dinner
- All art materials and equipment
- Daily art demonstration and classes
- Plein-Air sketchbooking
- Truffle Hunt
- Cooking class
- Paint and Sip in Vineyard
- Wine tasting
- Apericena with sunset panorama or historic cafe
- Guided tours and excursions to historic and inspiring locations around the area
- Beach bed and umbrella, use of pool and hotel beach facilities
- Minibus transportation throughout the course
- Pick-up/drop-off at local coach/trainstation at specified times
*outdoor activities will take place indoors or be replaced by an alternative activity in case of adverse weather conditions. Alternative activities are carefully selected for your optimum experience
**airfare not included
*** travel insurance not included. Purchase option available
Maximum number of participants: 8
COURSE LOCATION
- Nearest international airports, Ancona (AOI), Pescara (PSR), Bologna (BLQ) Rome Fumicino (FCO) and Rome (CIA)
- Main trainline arrivals to San Benedetto del Tronto on FrecciaRossa or InterCity from Florence, Bologna, Bariand all other mainlines.
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/RJxHFVB1nLyntt7m8
RECOMMENDED PACKING
We recommend packing light and focusing on essentials… so you have space for all those Italian goodies… but make sure, you have
- Comfortable, casual clothing
- Comfortable Walking or sport shoes, sandals
- layered clothing
- digital camera and/or smart phone for image capture
- travel adaptor and chargers for 220V
- sunscreen, hat, long sleeves for sun-protection are recommended. Adequate clothing for painting, clothes may get stained. Aprons will be provided.
- All art materials are supplied, but you may want to bring specific materials, etc out of personal preference
- a fun-loving attitude … after all you’re heading for some La Dolce Vita
THE AREA
Steeped in Roman and medieval history, it is nestled next to Tuscany and Umbria and easily reached from all of Italy. Home to world-heritage sites, here you will find Italy’s finest and most beautiful Travertine Renaissance squares, undisturbed panoramic views with olive-groves, vineyards and bright yellow sun flower fields which all adorn the rolling hillsides that run between the sea and the mystic mountains of the Le Marche region, known as ‘all of Italy in one region.’
Traditionally, a region popular with mainly Italian holiday-makers seeking to escape the busy towns and regions of Umbria and Tuscany during the sweltering heat and busy tourist season, foreigners from around the world have settled here to find a more exclusive and quaint part of Italy to call their home. It is for that reason, Marche is known amongst Italians and the discerned traveller as ‘Italy’s best-kept secret’.
Maybe, you’ve done Italy’s bucket and tick-list and seen all the ‘must do’ locations and are done with the crowds? Then you are definitely ready to enjoy the real Italy on this exclusive art and culinary retreat.
From delicious and super-fresh sea-food to earthy, more traditional truffle and meat-dishes, the choice of classic and modern Italian foods has made this area popular with fans of culinary delights alike. Traditional pasta and cheese makers, wine and olive oil producers are only ever a stones throw away and invite guests to come and sample their exquisite produce.
Does this retreat suit me?
No prior experience of any of the included activities is required. A fun, have-a-go attitude is all you need. An average degree of mobility and the ability to walk short distances is essential. All activieties are optional.
This retreat is perfect, for anyone who wants to explore the ‘real’ Italy throught he eye of an artist and the taste-buds of a food connoisseur. A treat for all the senses, you will paint in the most inspiring places and experience honest and traditional foods to tickle your taste-buds.
Maybe, you’ve done Italy’s bucket and tick-list and seen all the ‘must do’ locations and are done with the crowds? Then you are definitely ready to enjoy the real Italy on this exclusive art and culinary retreat.