The Quick Sketch: Exploring the Cinque Terre with Amy Wynne
Amy Wynne
September 12 - September 19
$3895Liberate Your Artistic Practice on the Ligurian Coast!
Sketch and explore the five picturesque villages of Cinque Terre, nestled in a mountainous coastline sloping down to the Ligurian Sea! Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola & Riomaggiore, known for their multi-colored pastel houses dramatically nestled into rock cliffs and terraced slopes lined with vineyards and olive trees, will be our muses for a week of sketching and painting in this breathtaking part of the Italian coast. The five villages of Cinque Terre, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, are connected by a 19th-century railway and network of paths and ancient stairways offering fabulous hiking options with incredible vistas to paint.
Our historic accommodations, La Cabana, perched high above the Ligurian Sea, will offer us epic views and a space for studio demonstrations before heading out to work on location. Artists will travel light, experimenting on paper with portable media such as pen & ink, pencil, conte, watercolor & gouache. Emphasis will be on creating multiple, simplified studies, organically integrating the fleeting light and evolving color of each location. In the studio, visual data collected outdoors can inspire further work in a choice of media. Supportive, creative dialogue at the end of each session will help strengthen practice and provide an authentic direction for your work.
Initial emphasis will be put on drawing the inner structure of the landscape, its compositional dynamics, as well as the clean, successful use of value and color in portable water-based media. Accumulating quick sketches and visual data will allow us to react to the ever-changing colors and atmosphere of these coastal villages. Journaling and simple meditation exercises on location will open us to the possibilities of deepening our ability to see and connect to nature, liberating artistic practice.
Our creative practice will allow us to explore and interpret some of the most dramatic coastal vistas on the planet. In addition, we will enjoy all that the local Ligurian culture has to offer with our local guides. This rich region is known for its delicious seafood, like the Anchovies of Monterosso, fresh pesto, and focaccia. Swimming, hiking, and “Dolce far niente”, the sweetness of doing nothing, will make this an unforgettable, rejuvenating week of reconnecting to adventure, joy, and reigniting creative spirit.
Where we’ll stay: Our home away from home for the week, La Cabana, is a typical Ligurian farmhouse that has belonged to one family for generations. The vines and the olive trees 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 and finishes intended to frame the unparalleled panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea. It is an oasis of relaxation surrounded by greenery and silence, with wonderful vistas and gardens to paint. Our group will take over the entire hotel for the week.
Additional Activities: Our daily painting will be combined with other adventures, such as:
- A train pass to visit other towns
- Market day in Vernazza
- Boat trip to Porto Venere to sketch, shop, have lunch or a 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
The Cinque Terre is a rugged portion of the 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 – We will have 5 dinners organized together at local restaurants and trattorie. We’ll sample the pastas, 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 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 savory and crunchy pancake made from a base of chickpea flour.
Price: $3,895 p/p based on double occupancy; non-painting partners $3,595
Optional Supplements:
- $485 for single room – limited availability
- $285 p/p for suite with terrace and jacuzzi, minimum 2 persons
Includes:
- Shared double room in Hotel La Cabana in Monterosso (singles available for a supplement)
- Daily traditional breakfast
- 5 dinners with wine
- Daily painting classes, creativity exercises, and critiques with Amy
- Train passes for exploring other towns
- Boat trip to Porto Venere
- Pick up from Florence train station on arrival day (on the departure day, you can either go back to Florence with the group, or board a train from the local station to reach your next destination).
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Lunch
- Art supplies
- Independent meals and sightseeing
- Gratuities for staff, which are always appreciated
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 before 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 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.
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 the 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.
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 chickpea flour. Epic porcini mushrooms are presented in a wooden box for you to choose for grilling with olive oil and garlic.
Weather: Fall is a lovely time to visit the Cinque Terre, especially in September and October. September can still feel like summer, with warm, sunny days, pleasant sea temperatures, and fewer crowds around the villages. As October approaches, the days are often bright and clear, while nights cool down and feel noticeably crisper. As we know, however, the weather is always unpredictable, with the occasional sudden shower. As much as we can predict the weather, it’s always best to be prepared: bring layers for the cooler evenings, and maybe keep an umbrella handy, just in case.
Artist, Explorer, & Catalyst
Amy Wynne is an artist currently living and working in a historic lace mill in New England. She holds an MFA in Classical Painting from The New York Academy of Art in New York City and a dual BA in Art History & Cultural Anthropology from Smith College.
Amy exhibits in galleries nationally and has work in private and corporate collections, including Brown University, Fidelity Investments, and Meditech Corporation. She has been awarded grants from the Rhode Island Cultural Council and a fellowship from the Vermont Studio Center. Her work is strongly influenced by her deep connection to the natural world, living in Southeast Asia, and Ecofeminist philosophy. She is a long-time yoga practitioner, student of Tibetan Buddhism, and certified meditation and yoga instructor.
She has been passionate about teaching painting and drawing for 30 years, integrating mindfulness and creative practice. Formerly full-time at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, she currently teaches workshops online, across New England, and in Italy. She received the 2015 CE Teacher of Excellence Award from the Rhode Island School of Design. She is the author of many popular online classes with LinkedInLearning.com and CreativeLive.com, which make creativity accessible to all.
"Only when the head and heart work in harmony can we attain our true human potential." - Jane Goodall
Website: www.amywynne.com
