A Creative Excursion in Cinque Terre: Painting & The Art of Presence – SOLD OUT
Andrea Gianchiglia
May 23 - May 30
$3550We will contact you in the event of a cancellation.
Cinque Terre Through an Artist’s Eyes
Join Andrea for an unforgettable artistic retreat in Cinque Terre, Italy, where the sea’s rhythm, Mediterranean light, and colorful villages inspire every brushstroke. This is more than just painting—it’s about immersing yourself in the moment, simplifying what you see, and capturing the essence of a place through your art.
Multi-Medium Exploration & Artistic Growth
With demos in pastel, oil, and watercolor, Andrea will guide you through techniques to bring your vision to life, including:
- Blocking in large shapes for strong compositions.
- Color theory & value relationships to enhance depth and light.
- Simplifying landscapes by focusing on key elements rather than details.
- Directing the viewer’s eye using contrast and focal points.
Plein Air, Studio Time & Creative Inspiration
You’ll paint en plein air, embracing the light and movement of the landscape, then refine your work in the studio, deepening your understanding of color, atmosphere, and expression. Along the way, you’ll gather inspiration from the villages, sea, and winding alleyways, learning how to transform overwhelming scenes into compelling compositions.
Additional Activities: Our daily painting will be combined with other adventures such as –
- train pass to visit other towns
- market day in Vernazza
- boat trip to Porto Venere to sketch, shop, have lunch or cappuccino in the cafes
- free shuttle service from the hotel to the main town
- pick up in Florence on the first day; optional return to Florence on the final day
- optional bring your swimsuit and jump into the blue Mediterranean!
The Food: We will have 5 dinners organized together at local restaurants and trattories. We’ll sample the pasta, seafood, and specialties of the area. Wine is included in all meals. Lunches and 2 dinners will be independent for you to explore the local cuisine on your own.
Given its location in the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts, and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common locally baked bread product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias — essentially it is a savory and crunchy pancake made from a base of chickpea flour.
A Community of Creativity & Connection
Evenings will be spent enjoying fresh seafood, and authentic Italian cuisine, and engaging in conversations with a supportive group of artists. We’ll close the retreat with a celebratory art showcase, reflecting on our growth and the unforgettable experiences shared.
All levels and mediums are welcome. Come as you are, and leave with new skills, fresh inspiration, and a heart full of memories.
We hope you will join Andrea in the Cinque Terre!
Price: $3,550 p/p based on double occupancy; non-painting partners $3,250
Optional Supplements:
- $485 for a single room
- $285 p/p for a shared suite with Jacuzzi and terrace (minimum 2 people)
$500 deposit due upon registration. Balance due by April 15.
Includes:
- Shared double room in Hotel La Cabana in Monterosso (singles or suite with terrace and jacuzzi available for a supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast
- 5 dinners with wine
- Train passes for exploring other towns
- One boat trip on the Mediterranean
- Transfers from and return to Florence
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Independent meals and additional sight-seeing
To Register: Just click on the Sign Up Now button. A non-refundable deposit of $500 is required to secure your spot in the workshop. Payment can be made online with a credit card, or you can follow the instructions to send in your registration and payment by mail. Once we receive your deposit we will send you a formal Registration Confirmation with further information about the program. You will receive 2-3 other correspondences by email prior to the workshop with information about Italy, a supplies list, and an electronic invoice for the balance. The final Balance is due by April 15th. Any time prior to your arrival, if you have questions about anything regarding the trip or the program, you can contact us by email or phone and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Cancellation policy:
A $500 deposit is non-refundable. For cancellation:
- 60 days prior to the workshop, full refund due less non-refundable deposit.
- 30-60 days prior to the workshop, 50% refund of balance paid allowed, less non-refundable deposit.
Less than 30 days prior to the workshop, no refund is due.
Il Chiostro recommends personal travel insurance to cover the possibility of unexpected or last-minute cancellations.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
Our small hotel, La Cabana, sits on a small hill that divides the historic center of Monterosso from the new part, Fegina. It is a typical Ligurian farmhouse that has belonged to one family for generations. The vines and the olive trees that they have cultivated form the backdrop to the rooms that have been recently refurbished with the utmost respect for the environment and the traditions of the Cinque Terre, but without forgetting modern comforts.
The 9 rooms are furnished with antiques, parquet floors, curtains, and finishes intended to frame the unparalleled panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea. It is an oasis of relaxation completely surrounded by greenery and silence, with wonderful vistas and gardens to paint. Our group will take over the entire hotel for the week.
To get down to Monterosso you can take advantage of their free shuttle service or, if you are up for it, walking down is not difficult and takes less than ten minutes. It's a nice walk down that offers beautiful panoramic views. On the descent, you will pass the ancient 11th-century castle (today houses the cemetery of the village) and wind through olive trees until you reach the historical center of town. Coming back up, the shuttle might be a good idea!
For more information, visit their web site: lacabanacinqueterre.com/en
The Cinque Terre are in the section of Italy known as Liguria on the western coast. The main city of Liguria is Genova. These 5 towns were traditional fishing villages, cut off from the mainland by a steep range of mountains. For centuries, they were only accessible by sea.
For our program, we will meet the group in Florence on the first day. From there, a private bus will take the group to our hotel in Monterosso-al-Mare.
To visit the town from our hotel, there is a regular shuttle bus. The towns are small with narrow roads, so the shuttle will leave us off in the newer section, then we will walk through a short tunnel to the historic center of town, where most of the shops and restaurants are located.
To go between towns (Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, or Rio Maggiore), there are local trains connecting all of them.
Travel Agents & Insurance: Over the last few years, the way we travel has undergone significant changes. For that reason, we now encourage everyone to use a professional travel agent when arranging their trips. Travel agents save you time and stress by handling all the details and tailoring your itinerary to your needs. One of the most important services they offer today is helping you choose and enroll in the right travel insurance program. With COVID and the continued possibility of schedule changes or postponements, travel insurance has become essential, and selecting the right plan on your own can be overwhelming.
If you encounter any issues during your travels, your agent can provide quick support and solutions, taking the pressure off your shoulders. While booking through online sites like Expedia or Hotels.com may seem more convenient or less expensive, they offer little help if you need to modify your plans. A travel professional, on the other hand, is there to assist you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and worry-free travel experience.
If you choose to Go It Alone, we highly recommend taking out travel insurance for the trip in the event of any unforeseen obstacles to your travel. We recommend Travelex (800) 504-7883 or Travel Guard International (877) 901-7599.
The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera. "The Five Lands" comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Paths, trains, and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach them from the outside.
For more about the Cinque Terre, the Lonely Planet gives a nice description with photos: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/cinque-terre
The Food: Given its location on the Mediterranean, seafood is plentiful in the local cuisine. Anchovies of Monterosso are a local specialty designated with a Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Union. The mountainsides of the Cinque Terre are heavily terraced and are used to cultivate grapes and olives. This area, and the region of Liguria, as a whole, is known for pesto — a sauce made from basil leaves, garlic, salt, olive oil, pine nuts, and pecorino cheese. Focaccia is a particularly common locally baked bread product. Farinata is also a typical snack found in bakeries and pizzerias — essentially it is a savoury and crunchy pancake made from a base of chick-pea flour. Epic porcini mushrooms are presented in a wooden box for you to choose for grilling with olive oil and garlic.
Andrea Gianchiglia, local artist of Califon, NJ, graduated from the Hartford Art School, receiving her BFA in illustration with a minor in art history. Andrea works as a full-time artist with private commissions, as well as being an art instructor for the past twenty years.
She teaches at the Visual Art Center of New Jersey, the Center for Contemporary Art, the Hunterdon Art Museum, and others, while also conducting private lessons and workshops both in person and virtually. Andrea works in a variety of media, but as pastel and oils are her favorites, she will also bring watercolor into the mix with this workshop as well.
She enjoys being able to spread the love of art that teaching has allowed her to do. She gains inspiration from teaching all ages and is always taking in what all her students have to offer. Her drive is to provide a safe and educational environment for her students to feel comfortable exploring and evolving within their art journey.
Website: www.agillustration.com
