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Italy En Plein Air! – Oil Painting in Verona & Lake Garda – SOLD OUT
Mary Pettis
September 23, 2025 - September 30, 2025
$2950We will contact you in the event of a cancellation.
An Il Chiostro Painting Workshop
With Mary Pettis, ARC Living Master™
Join us as we immerse ourselves in the beauty of glistening waters, lovely coastal docks, Roman ruins, and the charming towns along Lake Garda in this romantic northern region of Italy! As artists, we seek to express our love for the beauty we see in the world, and this inspiring workshop is designed to show exactly how to do just that.
We will paint or sketch each day on location, and there will be many demos where you can watch or choose to paint alongside Mary. Throughout her demonstrations, Mary seamlessly covers the fundamentals of creating great paintings. More importantly, whatever your level, you will find this workshop designed to gently and joyously lead you, one-on-one, to a greater understanding of what is inside waiting to be expressed on the canvas!
You will leave as a better painter, guaranteed!
As an added feature of this workshop, special instruction will be given on artistically using your additional photo reference to recreate your experiences or quick views (from a boat, for example) later, away from the scene.
You are invited to use minimal gear, small panels, and a simple palette of colors, for ease and comfort in traveling. In a balanced itinerary, we will be given tours, wined and dined, and nurtured in the great tradition of Il Chiostro workshops.
SPECIAL BONUS!
An hour before dinner each evening, in the manner of the European salon, we will gather with those attending the Dream Building Workshop of Dr. Gretchen Stein, for a happy hour of friendship-building, relaxation, and inspiring discussion of topics to do with the creative process and the power of the imagination. (After all, we must imagine the finished creation on our blank canvas before we lay our first stroke!) This hour will be co-led by workshop leaders, Gretchen and Mary.
After this hour, we will go together with new friends to enjoy excellent Italian cuisine and the joy of interesting conversation.
The Location
We begin our week by meeting at 3pm at the train station in the famed, romantic city of Verona, home to the tale of Romeo and Juliet. Our coach will pick us up there and take us directly to Lake Garda (1 hour away). In the charming village of Villa di Gargnano we’ll check into our home for the first 6 nights – Hotel Gardenia al Lago.
We will finish our program with a final night in Verona. After breakfast at the lake, the coach will take us back to Verona where we will check into the Hotel Indigo des Artes . We’ll have the day to explore museums and perhaps some shopping along the main artery (paved in pink marble!) and an independent lunch. From the hotel that evening we will walk to the town center for a farewell dinner a few steps away from the Roman arena. The next day will be departure after breakfast. From the hotel you can get a taxi to the airport if you are flying directly home, or to the train station if you are continuing your journey.
Everyone knows Lake Como because of George Clooney, but Lake Garda is the real hidden treasure coming down from the foothills of the Alps and plunging into the Veneto area. It is surrounded by dramatic layers of mountains, colorful towns and olive and lemon groves.
General Activities: in addition to the activities of the workshop, we will also see and explore this area of Lake Garda with various excursions selected from:
- A breath-taking ferry across the lake to the town of Malcesine
- Painting in various locations along the lake in towns, gardens and hilltops
- Full day excursion to the lovely Renaissance town of Mantua or Sirmione or other lake town
- Overnight and dinner in the romantic city of Verona
- Optional museum visits and site seeing in Verona, like visiting the fabled setting of Juliet’s house
Price: $2,950 ($2,650 for non-painting partners)
Single room supplement: $485
All rooms with ensuite bathrooms. (Click the Accommodations tab above for more about our hotels.)
What is Included:
- Shared double room in lakeside hotel (single rooms available for supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast and dinner, including wine
- Daily workshop classes and critiques with Mary
- Dinner and hotel stay in Verona on final day
- All local transportation (transfers by coach to/from Lake Garda)
- Fully escorted excursions
- ½ day excursion to nearby lake town Malcesine
- Full day excursion to Mantua or other lake town
- Return transfer to Verona for our final day/evening
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Daily spritz (if you don’t know what this is, you need to come)
- Gratuities
- Independent meals and 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 on line with a credit card, or you can 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 August 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:
$500 deposit is non-refundable. For cancellation:
- 60 days prior to workshop, full refund due less non-refundable deposit.
- 30-60 days prior to workshop, 50% refund of balance paid allowed, less non-refundable deposit.
Less than 30 days prior to workshop, no refund due.
Il Chiostro recommends personal travel insurance to cover the possibility of unexpected or last-minute cancellation.
Contact us for more information: info@ilchiostro.com or speak to us live at 800-990-3506.
We will start our adventure by meeting at the train station in Verona at 3pm on the first day. From there we will meet our coach that will take us to Lake Garda (approximately 75 minutes).
We'll spend the next 6 days at the small, family-owned Hotel Gardenia al Lago, right on the shores of Lake Garda.
This hotel was built on what was once a lemon and olive garden on the shores of the lake. Because this is an original villa refurbished into a hotel, each room is different with some of the decor dating from the original 1925 family home. Rooms are either doubles or singles (with a supplement).
Dinner will be served each evening, weather permitting, in the garden adjacent to the villa.
The charming village of Villa, with it's small harbor and cafes, is just a few steps away. The larger town of Gargnano is a short 10 minute walk where you will find shops, restaurants, another harbor and fantastic artisanal gelato!
Verona
We will spend the final night of our week in the magical city of Verona at the four star Grand Indigo Hotel des Arts. For anyone wishing to extend your stay at this hotel, please contact them directly through their web site.We’ll have time to walk around the city, enjoy lunch at a cafe, then have our our final dinner together in an old Verona restaurant. The next day after breakfast is departure. The train station is not far, if you want to continue your exploration in Venice, Bologna or Florence. Or you can get a taxi directly to the airport if your flight home leaves that day.
The group will meet at the train station in the center of Verona, from where we’ll board our coach that will take us to Lake Garda.
Unless you will be traveling around before the workshop, we recommend you fly to Verona's Villafranca airport. There are no direct flights from the US, but you can change in the European city associated with your airline. Then it is a quick taxi ride to the hotel. Other options include flying into Venice, Brescia, Florence, Bologna, or Milan’s Malpensa airport and traveling around on your own prior to our first meeting in Verona.
We’ll spend 6 nights in Lake Garda, then transfer back to Verona for our final night in this romantic, northern Italian city. After breakfast the next day, you can taxi back to the train station to continue our travels or to the airport for your flight home.
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.
"Those who are sensitive to all that is sublime. You are invited to look at the map of Lake Garda. The shores of this lake with its beautiful forests and calm waters constitute perhaps the most beautiful landscape in the world." - Stendhal
The Province of Lombardy: Both Milan and Lake Garda are located in Lombardy, a northern Italian region bordered by Switzerland to the north and Veneto to the east. Lombardy is the most populous region of Italy and has a rich, layered history. Over the centuries, it was ruled by Germanic tribes, the Spanish, the French, and the Austrians, before finally becoming part of unified Italy in 1861. As a result, Lombardy’s distinctive character—reflected in its art, cuisine, wine, and architecture—bears the influence of these past inhabitants.
Geologically, the Alpine rivers in the north have spread into a chain of stunning lakes, creating the famous Italian Lakes District. Nestled among the gentle slopes of the pre-Alpine hills, these sparkling waters and lush landscapes have earned this part of Lombardy the nickname “The Garden of Italy.”
Lake Garda: Also known as Lake Benaco, Lake Garda is not only the largest of the pre-Alpine lakes but also the biggest lake in all of Italy. Carved by glaciers during the last Ice Age, it stretches across three regions—Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige—and offers an astonishing variety of landscapes. Thanks to its mild, Mediterranean-style climate, the lake supports lush vegetation unusual for northern Italy: vineyards, olive groves, and citrus orchards thrive here, giving the shores a distinctly southern feel.
Lake Garda has been a crossroads of civilizations for millennia. From Bronze Age settlements and Gallic tribes to the Romans—who built villas, roads, and thermal baths along its shores—the area’s long history is still visible in ruins, castles, and charming medieval towns. The lake’s name is thought to come from the mighty castle of Torri del Benaco, which once “guarded” the waters against pestilence and invasion.
Today, the only “invaders” are happy travelers. Lake Garda is a favorite holiday spot for German and Austrian visitors and a popular weekend escape for Milanese city-dwellers. The lake offers something for everyone: sailing and windsurfing in the breezy north, cycling and hiking trails along the hills, and relaxing spa towns and gardens on the southern and western shores.
One of the most celebrated stretches is the Brescian Riviera, between Salò and Gargnano. This area is renowned for its elegant villas, lush parks, lemon houses, and historic health resorts. Beyond that, visitors can explore Limone sul Garda with its cliffside lemon groves, Sirmione with its fairytale Scaliger Castle and Roman ruins, or Riva del Garda, where Alpine peaks tumble dramatically into the water.
From medieval castles and pastel-colored harbors to award-winning gelaterie and lakeside promenades, Lake Garda is a place where history, culture, and leisure come together in one unforgettable setting.
Gargnano: Midway up Lake Garda’s western shore, Gargnano is a picture-perfect town with a small harbor where yachts and sailboats drift against a promenade shaded by orange trees and dotted with lakeside cafés. Despite its laid-back charm, the town has a rich past—most famously as Mussolini’s wartime headquarters at Villa Feltrinelli, now a luxury hotel.
Stroll through its medieval churches, explore the cloisters of San Francesco, or wander the narrow streets lined with citrus-scented gardens and traditional limonaie. Surrounded by the Alto Garda Bresciano Park, Gargnano is also a gateway to hiking, cycling, and sailing. It’s a place where history, nature, and lakeside leisure flow effortlessly together.
