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Creative Sketching in the Dolomites with Marni-SOLD OUT
Marni Maree
September 11, 2025 - September 18, 2025
$3795Unfortunately, this workshop is currently full. Click on the “Sign Up Now” button below to add your name to the waiting list.
We will contact you in the event of a cancellation.
All photos © Lester Lefkowitz
Just when you thought Italy couldn’t be more beautiful, welcome to the Dolomites! Nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps in the Veneto region, the Dolomites are a wonderful mix (3 in 1!) of Italy, Switzerland and Austria. These mountains are a prime destination for skiers in the winter, but in the warmer months, they provide the opportunity for Plein Air painting from unending vistas and to make modest hikes among the hills and valleys, engulfed in the exquisite scenery.
Program Description:
What a great way to record lasting memories. Each day you will go to a new location in this glorious northern landscape for a few hours of sketching and painting with Marni. She will demonstrate and teach you various ways to see, draw, simplify a scene, and creatively collect information so you can fill up your sketchbooks.
There will be daily fun art ‘challenges’ that will help you to think out of the box as you see and draw. You will have time on your own to wander as you find new things to record.
Below is a tentative schedule for activities*:
- Day #1 Verona: we’ll meet the group at our hotel in the romantic town of Verona. After an orientation, we’ll have our first dinner together. We will overnight in Verona.
- Day #2 Bolzano: we’ll spend the morning exploring the sites of Verona (don’t miss the Roman Arena or Juliet’s balcony!) then after lunch we’ll drive to Bolzano, the largest town in the Dolomites area. Check-in, first class followed by dinner, and an evening walk around town.
- Day #3 Bolzano: morning class with optional cable car and train ride into mountains to sketch or photograph scenery. Independent lunch
- Day #4 Bolzano: morning class with opportunities to explore the market, castle, church, artisanal beer and the special museum dedicated to Ötzi, the recently discovered remains of the stone age ice man! Independent dinner in town.
- Day #5 Cortina: After breakfast leave for Cortina d’Ampezzo. Stops along the way for photos and lunch. Check into hotel in Cortina. Late afternoon class.
- Day #6 Cortina: morning lass, cable car up into Dolomites (Moos, Versciaco), landscape, scenery. Picnic lunch in the mountains.
- Day #7 Cortina: full painting day in town
- Day #8 Departure from Verona: After breakfast leave Cortina to return to Verona. A 2-hour ride with stops along the way. Your option to depart from the airport or continue your travels independently.
* Although this trip doesn’t involve strenuous hiking, in this area there will be a fair amount of walking in towns and fields, often along uneven ground; there will be driving and excursions at altitudes of 5,000+ ft. If you have any mobility issues, please contact Il Chiostro or the instructor before registering.
Meals: we will have breakfast in our hotels each morning and 6 dinners together. That leaves 1 night in Bolzano where you can discover restaurants on your own. Since we don’t have our own chef, we’ll be eating in diverse neighborhood trattorie where we can experience a good cross-section of the local cuisine which in the Dolomites has a strong Austrian influence.
Price:
- Shared double room – $3,795 p/p; $3,495 for non-painting partners and friends
Optional single room Supplements: $550
Includes:
- 1 night at hotel in Verona with ensuite bathroom, breakfast
- 3 nights at a hotel in Bolzano with ensuite bathroom, breakfast
- 3 nights at hotel in charming Cortina with ensuite bathroom, breakfast
- 6 dinners together, wine (or beer!) included
- All local transportation for excursions, including 1 cable car ride
- Workshop tuition, daily classes and critiques with Marni
- Fully escorted with driver/facilitator and instructor
- Return to Verona (airport or train station) on final day
Price does not include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Independent meals and sight-seeing
- Museum fees, additional cable car rides
- Workshop materials
- Gratuities – much appreciated by the staff
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 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 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.
On the first day of this program, we will meet in the northern Italian city of Verona. From there we'll drive by van up to the city of Bolzano in the South Tyrol province, known as the gateway to the Dolomites. We will stay at a small traditional hotel, Hotel Figl, in the central piazza of the town.
Our next stop will be the picturesque town of Cortina d'Ampezzo, nestled in the valleys, where we'll spend the next 3 nights at another historic, cozy hotel, Hotel de la Poste.
Rooms are single or double, each with its own private, modern bathroom.
Breakfast is served each morning in the dining room on the main floor. We will use one of their conference rooms as our studio.
This area is in northern Italy in the Veneto, which is very well connected by train, plane, and bus transportation. If you plan to arrive early and travel around a bit before you meet the group, you could fly into Milan, Florence, or Venice and take the train to Verona. Otherwise, we recommend flying into Verona, where there is also a small, easy-to-navigate airport. We'll meet the group at a hotel in the center of town, where we will spend the night. The next morning, we'll begin our drive up to Bolzano at the beginning of the Dolomite mountains. Specific details about where to meet will be available closer to the date of the program.
At the end of the program, we'll come back to Verona. From there, you can continue your travels or arrange an afternoon flight from the airport there.
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 Dolomites are a mountain range in the Veneto area of northern Italy, not far from Venice. These are technically the foothills of the Alps and approach the borders of Italy, Switzerland, and Austria.
This area has politically gone back and forth among these 3 countries for centuries until the present borders were set after the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I.
It is a unique amalgam of all three cultures in language, food, wine, and beer! and traditions.
The Dolomites are a popular destination for skiers in the winter, but in the warmer months, they provide stunning pathways for hiking between the towns. Our hikes will be kind and gentle, since the focus will be on photography.
The main town in the area is Bolzano, with smaller towns and villages like Vipiteno scattered all about.
There are gondola cable car lifts open year-round all over the place, for great trips up into the mountains.
A Little History:
The South Tyrol province in Northern Italy is where German is the mother tongue of most inhabitants, and every town, river, hill, and street has a different name in both languages.
Part of Austria for centuries, South Tyrol and neighboring Trentino became part of Italy as part of the spoils of World War I, making German and Ladin (a Romance language spoken by several thousand people) speakers Italian citizens overnight without their consent.
"In the 1920s, Mussolini deputized the ardent fascist Ettore Tolomei to 'Italianize' South Tyrol,"
Every place was given an Italian name … using German in public places was forbidden, secret 'catacomb' schools were set up because the German-speaking schools had been banned, and some people were even forced to change their names to Italian ones. German speakers wouldn't be hired for most jobs."
World War II was followed by decades of continued discrimination and sporadic acts of nationalist terrorism, which cost 21 lives overall. And though the immediate problems seemingly ended in 1972, when a second comprehensive autonomy agreement gave South Tyrol powers of self-rule far greater than anywhere else in Italy, tensions still linger in the form of fascist-inspired monuments and some of the invented Italian place names.
Watercolor Artist & Instructor
Marni Maree’s vibrant watercolors are a joyful reflection of her love for drawing, her desire to create beauty, and the inner happiness she finds through artistic expression. Known for her rich use of color and dynamic compositions, Marni is especially inspired by flowers, camels, and the diverse scenes she encounters during her travels around the world. She never ventures far without her sketchbook and compact painting supplies—always ready to capture the unique spirit of the people and places she visits.
A graduate of Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, PA, Marni holds a BFA and began her career as a freelance graphic artist. Over time, her creative journey led her from colored pencils to watercolor, now her primary medium. She enjoys experimenting with different surfaces, including traditional watercolor paper, Yupo (a smooth synthetic material), masa (rice paper), and canvas. Because watercolor reacts differently on each, Marni finds the process refreshingly unpredictable, with each piece offering a new and exciting artistic challenge.
Marni is also a dedicated and passionate teacher. Since 2014, she has led annual international watercolor workshops (with IlChiostro since 2017), which begin with plein air sessions in Virginia and continue with immersive painting experiences in inspiring destinations abroad. When students return home, the creative journey continues through group gatherings and shared painting sessions, evolving into lasting friendships.
Locally, Marni teaches watercolor and drawing throughout Northern Virginia at the Workhouse Arts Center, Green Spring Gardens, various retirement communities, on cruise ships, and in her private studio. Her popular workshops are known for being encouraging, inspiring, and accessible to all levels. With an emphasis on playfulness, spontaneity, and discovery, Marni helps students tap into their creativity in a supportive and joyful environment.
Marni exhibits her work year-round at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA, where she maintains a beautiful studio. She regularly participates in regional group exhibitions and has held solo shows annually for over 25 years. Her award-winning watercolors are widely recognized for their vibrancy and emotional resonance.
She is an active member of the Springfield Art Guild, the Virginia Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, and the Potomac Valley Watercolorists, a juried organization of professional watercolor artists.
Website: www.marnimaree.com
