ITINERARY| HIGHLIGHTS| WEATHER| ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFO Roman Holiday
Painting and Walking in the Roman Countryside 2009
One definition of paradise: A beautifully restored villa set in luxuriant gardens close to a shimmering lake in the Roman countryside. Seven individually designed, luxurious rooms. One of Italy's finest painters and his colleagues to help you learn or perfect your painting skills. Excellent food including fish from the lake or pizza cooked in an authentic wood oven. Enchanting walks in the afternoon. Tennis or swimming, cycling or bowls when you feel like it.
If this matches your definition, then this is the holiday for you. A week's constructive immersion in intimate and relaxing surroundings. Your host is Dimitri Bonetti, son of the restorer of the Sistine Chapel from whom Dimitri has learnt the art of the 'fresco'. But his true passion has been the watercolour, the technique of which he perfected under the tutelage of Nino La Barbera. He has exhibited in Lyon, Cannes and Paris and completed a fresco in the oratoryof Monticello, near Modena. He has also fulfilled portrait commissions in France and England. Exhibitions in Italy have meant several appearances on Italian television. Since 1998 he has also become interested in the art of the goldsmith, producing his own designs according to the 'lost wax' method.
To book this holiday, you do not need to be experienced in painting and complete beginners are also welcome. This holiday can operate from any Sunday April to October
PRICE
£995 per person.
INCLUDED
6 nights accommodation at the Villa Clementina, all meals, transportation throughout your stay, visits, painting lessons, use of private swimming pool.
NOT INCLUDED
Transfers to/from the airport are not included but can easily be arranged
Departure dates 2009:
April to October
To book email:
walking@star.co.uk T: (44) (0)1242 254353
This is a possible itinerary - it can be altered to suit your tastes and according to local conditions.
Day 1: Arrive Rome, transfer to Villa Clementina. Depending on time of arrival, light lunch, first watercolour lesson in the atelier concentrating on technique and expression. You will also have free time for swimming, tennis, bowls and billiards which will be followed by dinner.
Day 2: Breakfast. Morning departure for walking to the ruins of Canale Monterano, a XVI century abandoned town with the famous Bernini fountain and palace (2 hrs walking). Open air water colour lesson. Delicious picnic lunch. Back to the Villa, free time for tennis etc. Dinner.
Day 3: Breakfast. At 10 departure for walking around the lake of Bracciano and Martignano (4-5 hrs) with a stop to make watercolour sketches, lakeside picnic. Lesson in preparing home-made Fettuccine. Dinner with fresh pasta of course!
Day 4: Breakfast. Departure for walking to the magnificent 100 ft waterfalls at Castel Giuliano (4-5 hrs) and open air lesson learning to paint 'water'. Picnic. Free time for tennis, etc. Dinner
Day 5: After Breakfast a more advanced drawing lesson in the atelier. After lunch walking in the environs of Etruscan Cerveteri or the castle of S. Severa, and sketching. Dinner
Day 6: After breakfast walking in the Manziana wood (where Robin Hood films were made), painting and picnic. By train to Rome for free time in the city. Dinner and music.
Day 7: Breakfast. Comments and discussions about the week's painting. Departure.
DIFFICULTY OF WALK
Easy
GROUP SIZE
2 or more
If you have done this walk previously we would like to hear of your personal highlights.
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ACCOMMODATION
The Villa is 30 kms from Rome, a half-hour train journey from the city. The town of Bracciano has Etruscan and Roman origins. By the Middle Ages it had become a fiefdom before falling under the rule of Rome and the Orsini family - the Orsini castle still overlooks the town on the shores of Lake Bracciano. There are still in evidence many relics of the towns past, including the old walled town but above all it is its unspoilt lakeside character that gives it a special charm.
GETTING THERE
Both Rome Fiumicino and Rome Ciampino are served by a variety of international flights including budget airlines.
WHAT TO TAKE:
All necessary items for walking and sitting in the heat. Any walking is not strenuous, but walking boots are always recommended.
WHEN TO GO
Any time from April to October. Note that of course July and August are very hot.
INSURANCE
We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for any reason.
To book, contact
worldwalks at:
email:
walking@star.co.uk T: (44) (0)1242 254353