About The Program:

Centered in the small town of Faenza, the program covers a wide array of art forms as we explore the wealth of artistic treasures hidden in our favorite region of Italy.

Immerse yourself in the many enchanting facets of Italian ceramics. Discover the ancient textile printing art prized by many contemporary designers and practiced by local artisans. Dip your toes into the glittering mosaics of imperial Ravenna, steeped in history and fascinating stories. Explore Faenza’s refined neoclassical architecture highlighted by intricate wrought iron lace and get lost in a modern art gallery in a centuries old palazzo. This program will offer exclusive access to artists’ studios, stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites, the world’s most important international ceramics museum, and two days at the biannual international festival of ceramics, Argilla. Along the way, you’ll have an opportunity to meet many artisans, roll up your sleeves and create your own art, along with indelible memories!

Our small groups and slower pace allows our guides, including local artists and museum directors, to reveal to you the hidden stories behind the creation of masterful works. Together we’ll experience the intersection of art and culture, and enjoy discoveries through every doorway.

Interested in learning more? Continue reading, or click the button below to request an itinerary.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Experience a full week of discovery, through an intimate exploration of ceramics, textile printing and mosaics through private visits to museums, behind-the-scenes conversations with modern artists, in-depth interaction with local, English-speaking art curators, and much more.

We’ll stay in Faenza, a welcoming city of ancient ceramic tradition, known throughout the world for the finely decorated majolica that countless generations of local artists and artisans have refined to an international level. We will explore the very heart of Italian ceramics, which is anchored in the work of individual artists and family-run shops and dominates the cultural offerings in the city. Plus we’ll build our own ceramic art piece.

We will also travel to nearby Gambettola, a center of artistic excellence in block printing on linen and hemp, to witness a beautiful local tradition that has been around for centuries. The workshops and artisans we will visit, including Italy’s oldest, proudly owned and maintained by the same family, celebrate the region's creativity and vitality. We’ll also visit a textile artist who will teach us how to make our own hand stamped work.

Next up is Ravenna, a former capital of three empires including the Roman one! Despite being an artistic and cultural treasure, Ravenna is still surprisingly under-the-radar. This very unique seaside city is home to eight (yes, eight) UNESCO World Heritage sites and the most magnificent mosaics you may ever see, including those of modern mosaic artists. We’ll sample all this and more, including a mini-class where we’ll create our own mosaics.

To fully immerse yourself in this remarkable week of artistic discovery, we encourage all to embrace a spirit of adventure, for the occasional experience of serendipity and surprise. You’ll also need to be comfortable being on your feet and on the move each day, sometimes for an extended period of time, as we may visit sites only accessible by walking.