Welcome to Painting and Cooking in Italy

We run fully organised painting and cooking holidays in which everything is taken care of.
We arrange airport transfers, high standard of accommodation, excellent painting and cooking tuition, delicious food with wine and excursions to magical Italian towns.  We also think about the needs of partners/friends who don't want to do either painting or cooking.  There is a wine tasting experience included in most of our programmes and all venues offer facilities to make sure every client is satisfied. 

We have a really good experience with our groups.  At the end of each week guests say"
we have been so lucky with our group".  We bring together a group of like-minded people who share an activity in an atmosphere of warmth and friendship.  We will try to
make this an experience you will want to repeat.  Over 80% of our guests this year had been on one of our holidays before which is proof of satisfaction with the formula of our holidays.

To contact us or submit a booking form, please click here.

Cooking Tuition

We offer cooking tuition on programmes A, B & C. This enables friends/partners to come on the holiday together, do separate activities in the morning and then join together for the rest
of the day.

Non Painting Partners and Friends

Non-painting partners are very welcome, and receive a 10% discount. Partners are invited to join in all the excursions, wine tasting, meals, etc. When painting or cooking tuition takes place in the morning we can organise other activities such as golf, guided walks, language tuition, or horse riding - see hotels for further information.  However, we have found that non-participating friends/partners are very happy with the facilities our venues have to offer.

Programmes

Programme A to Montefalco:  click here for full programme

Programme B to Cortona:  click here for full programme 

Programme C to Pontasieve: click here for full programme

Programme D to Pienza: click here for full programme

Programme E to Spello: click here for full programme 

Programme F to Venice: click here for full programme 

Hotels

We have carefully selected our locations. The hotels are chosen because of their charm and the way they add to the atmosphere we wish to create for our groups.

Hotel Villa Pambuffetti - 4 stars, is situated just outside the medieval walls of Montefalco, Umbria.  Montefalco is called the Balcony of Umbria because of its wonderful views over the surrounding countryside.  Hotel Villa Pambuffetti is a stylish family run hotel situated in its own park with a lovely large pool.  Click here for more information

Hotel Fattoria Lavacchio is situated in Pontasieve just outside of Florence. The hotel is based on a family run estate in the Montefiesole hills comprising an organic farm, a vineyard, an olive mill, a restored windmill and working stables. This charming hotel has a lovely pool and has a stunning 360 degree view over the surrounding hills.  The area is popular for walkers. Click here for more information

Villa Laura , Cortona - The house used in the filming of "Under the Tuscan Sun".  This luxury Villa is situated in its own beautiful gardens just outside of the town of Cortona.  
The Villa was renovated to a very high standard in 2010.  All rooms have marble onsuite bathrooms, there is a travertine lined swimming pool, a jacuzzi, games room, private chapel, lake, air conditioning, wireless internet and plenty of places to relax.  
Click here for more information

Hotel Palazzo Bocci - 4 stars, is situated in the centre of the walled town of Spello.  The hotel offers classical comfort but modern facilities.  There are a couple of beautiful sitting rooms decorated with trompe l'oeil.  There is a quite inner garden with beautiful views over the valley.  Click here for more information

Relais il Chiostro di Pienza - 4 stars, is situated in the centre of the Renaissance town of Pienza.  The hotel was built as a Monastary in the 16th century.  It is now a very comfortable 4 star hotel with a lovely terrace overlooking the beautiful Val d'Orcia.  The hotel has a swimming pool and has a lovely feeling of the being in the countryside because of its views but the busy town is on its door step.  Click here for more information

Hotel Atlanta Augustus, Lido, Venice - 3 stars,  the hotel is housed in an Art Nouveau villa dating from the 1920s that was fully renovated in 2008, and overlooks one of the few inner canals existing on the Lido of Venice (the island facing St. Mark's square).  Click here for more information

The painting courses are taught by very experienced and successful artist/tutors, and cater for all levels of ability.

The tutors include:

Excursions

After painting or cooking in the morning and an al fresco lunch, our excursions take place in the afternoon. They include visits to some of the most important and memorable sites of Etruscan and Renaissance art in Italy, including Florence, Assisi, Spello, Perugia, Montepulciano etc.  Some of our programmes include a visit to a vineyard with a winetasting.  Please note that the organisers reserve the right to change an excursion if they feel it is necessary.

For more information about places we visit on the holidays, please click here, and for full details of the different programmes we offer in Umbria and Tuscany, click here

To contact us or submit a booking form, please click here.

The appeal of our painting holidays is attested to by the number of returning guests we have, and the positive feedback we've received. A selection of comments from our visitors' book can be viewed here.

H&G ITALY is a small family business owned by Eddy and Sheila de Vries. From the moment you make contact with their office you will be treated like a welcome guest
and looked after personally.  Eddy and Sheila will be in Italy throughout the summer, along with the painting and cooking tutors, to ensure this level of service is continued.