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Painting the Romance of Verona and Lake Garda – SOLD OUT
Pat Fiorello
September 16, 2025 - September 23, 2025
$3195We will contact you in the event of a cancellation.
Capture the Romance of Verona and the Magic of the Lake with Pat.
Class size is limited. Reserve your spot soon.
Be immersed in beauty and painting in this new, weeklong, workshop offered by instructor Pat Fiorello and Il Chiostro. Our focus for the week will be painting scenes of villages, harbor boats, gardens and flowers as well as the ever-changing surface of Italy’s largest lake. You will learn how to simplify the landscape, improve your compositions and keep your color fresh working in an alla prima approach en plein air. Workshop is open to artists of all levels and mediums.
In these settings of northern Italy, we don’t need to go very far to find inspiring scenes to paint. There are manicured gardens, small village life and the water, which could keep us busy painting for a month. Just a pot of red geraniums in an urn overlooking the lake from above can be as beautiful as the mountains capes across the water. This area is famous for its stunning scenery.
This workshop is open to artists of all skill levels painting in all mediums. If you’re a painter who has not painted in Italy yet, you owe it to yourself to join us and if you’ve been to Italy before we know you’ll want to be back for more memorable times in an all new location.
The Location
We begin our week in the famed, romantic city of Verona, home to the tale of Romeo and Juliet. We’ll check into the Hotel Indigo des Artes, have our first orientation, followed by dinner together. The next day is not a painting day, but free to explore this elegant city of Shakespeare until 2pm when our coach will pick us up to take us to Lake Garda (1+ hour away). In the charming village of Villa di Gargnano we’ll check into our home for the next 6 nights – Hotel Gardenia al Lago.
After our final breakfast at the lake, the coach will take us back to Verona where we can make connections to return home or continue traveling in Italy.
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 lakeside town of Limone
- 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
We’ll return each evening to relax in the comfort of our lakeside hotel, enjoy a delicious dinner with wine, and share about our painting and the day.
Price: $3,195, ($2,895 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:
- First night in Hotel Indigo des Artes in the center of Verona
- 6 nights shared double room in lakeside hotel (single rooms available for supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast and dinner, including wine
- Dinner at local trattoria in Verona and at the hotel in Garda
- Daily workshop classes and critiques with Pat
- All local transportation including transfers by coach between Verona and 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 airport or central train station on last day.
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- 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 1st. 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 spend the first night of our week together in Verona at the four star Grand Hotel des Arts. For anyone wishing to arrive early and spend your extra nights at this hotel, please contact them directly through their web site.
We'll have our first dinner together in Verona, and the next day after an independent lunch, transfer to the lake (75 min) where 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!
We will meet the group at the main train station in Verona on the first day and then proceed to Lake Garda together (approximately 1 hour drive).
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 main train station in Verona. 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.
On the final day of the program, a coach will take participants back to Verona to catch their flight home - or to continue their travel. If you are flying out that day, please try to book a flight for noon or later.
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.
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
