Connect With Your Inner Artist – A Journey of Self-Discovery on the Amalfi Coast – SOLD OUT
Pat Fiorello
May 14 - May 21
$3995Unfortunately, this workshop is currently full. Click on the “Sign Up Now” button below to add your name to the waiting list.
If you want to study with Pat outside of this program, please consider her next class:
ONLINE CLASS: How to Paint a Sunset: October 21st.
Inspiration and Beauty on Italy’s Coast
This week-long painting retreat with artist Pat Fiorello is more than an art workshop; it’s an invitation to reconnect with your creative soul. Set against the stunning backdrop of Italy’s Amalfi Coast, this experience offers a rare opportunity to step away from the distractions of daily life and turn inward, exploring what truly fuels your passion for art. Of course, there will be time for painting, but we are also including an additional opportunity to explore your own personal artistic expression.
As you immerse yourself in the colors, textures, and scenery of Southern Italy, from the serene vistas and gardens of Ravello to the sunlit shores of Capri, you’ll be encouraged to reflect deeply on your artistic identity. What themes, moods, or visual elements draw you in? What subjects move you to create? Through thoughtful exercises, you’ll begin to uncover the unique language of your inner artist.
Each day will offer fresh inspiration. Through sketches, photos, and small painting studies, you’ll learn to tune into your own emotional responses to the landscape. What makes you pause and say, “I need to paint this”? We’ll explore how to capture that moment of connection, distill it to its essence, and translate it into powerful compositions that reflect your personal vision.
To support a flexible, intuitive process, especially when traveling, you’ll be encouraged to work in water media (watercolor, acrylics, or gouache). Whether you’re new to these materials or experienced in other mediums, Pat will guide you with personalized instruction grounded in her 30 years of expertise in both oils and watercolor.
With over 22 international workshops under her belt, including 16 with Il Chiostro, Pat brings not only artistic skill but a deep understanding of how to support each participant’s creative journey, whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting.
This is more than a painting trip—it’s a chance to slow down, go inward, and emerge with a clearer, more authentic voice in your art.
Join us for a week of reflection, inspiration, and self-expression—and rediscover the joy of creating from the heart.
Program Highlights:
- Time to paint at our elegant villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
- Daily breakfast provided at the villa
- Dinners with wine together each evening:
- 3 dinners at local trattorie
- 4 dinners prepared by a private chef at the villa
- Excursion to the exquisite hilltop town of Ravello
- Excursion to the town of Amalfi
- Boat trip to the enchanting Isle of Capri
- Wine tasting presentation with our own sommelier
- Plenty of time to explore on your own
Accommodations and Meals:
Villa Elena, in the small town of Conca dei Marini, will be our exclusive home for the week. Click the Accommodations tab above for more details.
A leisurely breakfast will be prepared at the villa each day for us by our program manager. Dinners will be a mix of eating in local restaurants and at home, always with the emphasis on exploring and appreciating the food of the area. Local wine will be served with each dinner.
Lunches are independent, with plenty of options either on excursions or near the villa.
Please note: The Villa can only be reached via a set of 65 steps! The Amalfi Coast is built entirely on hillsides, so there is no avoiding steps in each town. We recommend this program only for participants who can climb up and down at least once per day. Yes, there is a handrail. (We guarantee you’ll be stronger by the end of the program!)
Price: $3,995 p/p based on double occupancy
PLEASE NOTE: At this location, double beds can not be separated into twin beds. Please keep this in mind when selecting this category.
Options:
- Single Room – Supplement of $495 (limited number available)
- Non-Painters – Discount of $300
Please note – This program is limited to 8 participants. Additionally, while non-painters can attend, this is a painting-focused program where we will dive into the true self-discovery of our work. Please ensure that any non-painters who wish to attend will provide you with the space to enjoy this transformative experience!
Includes:
- Shared double room with modern, en-suite bathroom
- Daily traditional breakfast
- 7 dinners, including wine
- Daily classes with Pat
- Excursions to nearby towns like Ravello, Amalfi, and Capri
- All local transportation is provided by taxis or chauffeured vans
- Guides/escorts are included throughout the program and for every excursion
- Transfer from/to Naples on the first and last days
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Art materials
- Independent meals and sightseeing
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. Final Balance is due by April 1st. Any time before 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.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
The Amalfi Coast is notorious for its crowds in every season. For that reason, we have chosen an elegant villa above the crowds in the smaller town of Conca dei Marini. This is between Positano and the town of Amalfi, just below Ravello.
It is called Villa Elena, a prestigious and exclusive villa with incredible sea views, surrounded by verdant, manicured gardens. There are 7 bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, gardens surrounding the property, and a fabulous swimming pool overlooking the sea. There are several terraces with panoramic views, with plenty of private spaces to relax, enjoy your coffee, or meditate. The swimming pool is perched on the side of the hill with views up and down the coast, plus a jacuzzi with hydromassage.
NOTE: The Villa can only be reached via a set of 65 steps! The Amalfi Coast is built entirely on hillsides, so there is no avoiding steps in each town. We recommend this program only for participants who can climb up and down at least once per day. Yes, there is a handrail. (We guarantee you'll be stronger by the end of the program!)
The dining room can comfortably accommodate our group on the evenings when we will have dinner at home. A full kitchen and laundry room add to the comfort and conveniences of our home for the week.
All seven bedrooms have a private, en-suite bathroom and are furnished in an elegant Baroque style.
It will be hard to leave Villa Elena when we go out on our excursions, but you will be delighted to come back "home" in the evenings.
Our villa on the Amalfi Coast is in the small town of Conca dei Marini, between the towns of Amalfi and Positano. One of our guides will meet the group at a central hotel in Naples, from where we'll have a van to transfer us directly to the villa.
If you would prefer to find your own way to the villa, no problem. We'll send you directions and plan to meet you there the afternoon of our arrival.
On the final day, we'll arrange another transfer back to Naples. Again, participants are free to make their own arrangements if they will be traveling independently.
Full details will be supplied in the correspondence closer to the dates of the program.
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 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 Costiera Amalfitana in Italian is more informally known by most Americans as simply "Amalfi". The peninsula, across from the metropolis of Naples and under the shadow of the volcano Vesuvius, consists of Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello, and Capri, among many other small towns and villages.
Magically suspended between the blue sky and the iridescent colored sea, the Amalfi Coast enchants the visitor who, at first glance, may doubt that it is even real. Lemon blossoms harmonize with the Mediterranean vegetation and the saltiness of the sea. It is visually stunning with tiny villages on top of cliffs that plunge dramatically into the sea. On closer inspection, the whole area is a labyrinth of stairways and narrow alleys, connecting towns, the mountains, and the sea. We can see the history of survival in the mountainsides that, over centuries, were terraced with human labor to create arable land.
All the towns of the Amalfi coast are connected by the scenic yet diabolical winding road carved into the hillside that follows the natural course of the coastline. Before the construction of the coastal road, locals reached all the towns via still-existing mule tracks and footpaths.
Conca dei Marini, where our villa is located, is a coastal village with a centuries-old maritime tradition. It is a natural "balcony" overlooking the sea, surrounded by the Mediterranean vegetation and terraced gardens planted with lemon groves.
Historically, the inhabitants of Conca dei Marini were skilled sailors and experienced traders. Its houses are the typical Mediterranean style with whitewashed walls, balconies with beautiful flowers tumbling into a spectacular view over the sea. Conca dei Marini was a preferred resort of important writers, artists, and chiefs of state, such as Princess Margaret of England, Gianni Agnelli, Jacqueline Kennedy, the Queen of the Netherlands, Carlo Ponti, and Moet & Chandon.
Click here for a look around the Amalfi Coast with Rick Steves.
Pat Fiorello is an award-winning fine artist, instructor, and author of the book Bella Italia, Italy Through the Eyes of an Artist. She has been painting for 30 years and works in both oil and watercolor. Her work has been featured in 20 one-woman shows and has been included in over 100 juried exhibitions, including the American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, and NOAPS. She is a Signature Member and Past President of the Georgia Watercolor Society. As a finalist in the Florals and Gardens challenge, Pat’s work appeared in International Artists magazine and has also been published in The Richeson International Still Life and Floral competition book (2021, 2023, 2025.) Pat’s painting was selected as Best Floral (April 2023) and Best Oil Painting in the 13th Annual( 2024) PleinAir Salon competition sponsored by PleinAir® Magazine.
Inspired to devote her life to creating and sharing beauty, Pat made a radical career shift following a 20-year career in Marketing. After attending the Harvard Business School and serving as Vice President of Marketing of The Coca-Cola Company, in 2002 she followed her calling and dedicated her life to creating art on a full-time basis.
Pat teaches workshops both in person and on-line, and has led over 20 international workshops in Italy, Spain, New Zealand, and France, including private workshops at Monet’s Gardens in Giverny. Pat was on the faculty of the 2023 Realism Live painting conference, reaching participants in all 50 states and 19 countries worldwide.
Streamline Publishing produces and distributes two full-length instructional videos, “Vibrant Florals, Paint Your Garden” and “Elegant Still Lifes, Fresh and Fearless Painting”, featuring Pat’s painting methods. Both are available as a DVD or digitally/streaming on PaintTubeTV.
See more at patfiorello.com, @patfiorello on Instagram, PatFiorelloArtist on Facebook, and Pat’s online gallery
Website: www.patfiorello.com
