Immerse yourself in the colours, art, architecture, and food and of the southern Italian coastline with this exciting two-week Art Safari combination in Amalfi and Sicily.

The first week of our painting holiday is spent on the breathtakingly beautiful Amalfi Coast where steep, craggy cliffs plunge into a sparkling Mediterranean, and pastel-coloured villages spill down mountain sides that are terraced with fragrant lemon groves.  We will be based in the relaxed seaside town of Minori from where we will explore Amalfi’s most famous locations including Ravello, Positano, and Capri, as well as lesser known towns and villages that pepper the unique landscape of this rugged peninsular.  Our sketchbooks fill with spectacular vistas, elegant villas, arbours laden with bright bougainvillea, hillside churches in mix of architectural styles, and street scenes among the ancient alleyways and archways…

The second week is spent in Sicily – an island of contrasts – from wild natural landscapes to incredible ancient treasures which offer fresh inspiration for painters around every corner.  We stay in the medieval port town of Castellammare del Golfo to the west of Palermo.  From here we will explore the western side of the island, painting secluded inlets and coves, fishing villages, Greek temples, shimmering slat pans dotted with windmills, and historic towns whose architecture reflects the many cultures that helped shape the island from the Phoenicians, to  Greeks, Romans, Muslims, Normans, Spanish, and finally, the Italians.

You will sketch on the move as you explore and find places en-route to settle into longer painting sessions.  As well as group tuition Vicki will offer one-to-one tutorials.  Amongst other subjects Vicki will help you select a scene and make a good composition from the fabulous views around you, teach you how to capture beautiful colour harmonies in your paintings, and give advice and tips on tackling buildings, and water and reflections…

Italy’s southern tip also has some amazing culinary delights to savour, and what could be better at the end of a blissful day’s painting!  Amalfi’s cuisine is full of fresh flavours, tomatoes, lemons and the sea on your plate…  Further south, Sicilian food is melting pot of flavours from Africa, Arabia and Spain with a vibrant street food scene too.

In between our painting stops, there is time to wander the cool stone streets of these historic towns, stopping at the little boutiques to admire the highly skilled local handicrafts – exquisite ceramics, chic linens, unusual jewellery and handmade paper…  perhaps with a side order of ‘caffé and cannoli’ or a mid-afternoon gelato!