Tuscany with Trudi Doyle September 2025

 A week in Tuscany Italy  ! Art Holiday with Trudi Doyle 2025

Saturday 27th September 2025

 to Saturday 4th October  

Maybe this is your year to experience this wonderfully relaxing break in Tuscany where everything is laid on and all trips  included !'i

Im very happy to once again organise this holiday in Montecatini  in the heart of Tuscany and offer a worry free week.  Besides visiting Florence and its artistic wealth in Pitti Palace, I include opportunities to experience hidden gems off the beaten track ,villages steeped in history where you can  absorb the quietude and  forget your worries. 

Non painters enjoy this holiday and artists find an abundance of inspiriation, ancient architecture, terracotta roofs, sweeping landscapes, gnarled olive groves, grapevines, gardens with fig trees and pomegranates.

 I have hosted this annual holiday for over ten years and  look forward to returning to a place where I always find fresh subject matter 

I provide painting sessions to suit all abilities, demonstrations, professional tuition and helpful advice in a friendly non competitive atmosphere. with a small group to ensure that everyone benefits from tuition.

 In Hotel Torretta you will taste delicious food and wine and experience excellent service and 4 star accommodation.

Deposit of €500 or full payment  will secure your place before Friday 16th May 2025. 

 

  Full Balance  must be paid by  Friday July 4th  2025

.  FLY TO PISA -  I have organised the rest - airport transfers, -4 star Hotel, half board , guided tours and day excursions to quiet medieval villages to experience the mystique of rural Tuscany at a leisurely pace, train tickets to Florence and taxi to  Pitti Palace  galleries guided tour and the famous Boboli gardens.  Non painters welcome 

Summary of  what is included in this unique package .

1  Seven nights at 4 star  Hotel Torretta   https://www.hoteltorretta.it/

with half board - 7 breakfasts & 6 dinners with drinks and wine included.  Single en suite room . Twin room or double room  for sharing  and Single in double room if required.  

 

 2. Transfers to and from Pisa airport  arranged for Dublin to Pisa return flights only -( flights are not included)

3. Half day guided tour of Montecatini  and the Tettuccio historical Spa, a world heritage site, with complimentary  welcome drinks and light lunch /snack  in the spa cafe.. 

 

4. Two full day excursions by mini bus taxi to paint/explore in medieval villages  of Buggiani and Massa the charming  and historic fortress town of Montecarlo.

5.  Entrance ticket to explore  Montecarlo fortress Rocca del Cerruglio  .

6.  Return train trip tickets to Florence. and taxi in Florence.

 

7.  Pre-booked  guided tour and entrance ticket for all Palazzo Pitti collections in  Florence ; Gallery of Modern Art,  Palatine Gallery (artists from the Renaissance and the Baroque)  Your ticket will give you the option to  choose to further explore all of  the Galleries  without the guide, plus the  Boboli Gardens. 

https://www.uffizi.it/palazzo-pitti  

 8. Professional guidance and tuition sessions  in watercolour to suit your requirements from  artist Trudi Doyle with demonstrations.  

What it costs for this unique holiday package  ( flights not included )

Deposit€500 or Full payment  to secure your place is required before  Friday  16th  May 2025 please.

 € 1,343 per person in a single ensuite room  (3 singles available )                                                                      {Non painting person in single room €40 reduction =€1,303)

  €1,498  per single person in a double ensuite room (  2 available }                                                                     (Non painting person in a double room €40 reduction  - €1,458 ) 

€1,148  per person sharing twin/double ensuite room- for 2 people sharing  { 2 available }     

                  ( Non painting person  -€40 reduction -€1,108 ) 

  

You don't need to be a painter to enjoy this relaxing holiday  -allTuscany lovers  are welcome- join  us on the trips and events or do your own thing ,  €40 reduction for non-painting people /partners /friends  or artists not requiring tuition..                   

    To check availability  and secure a place Contact  trudidoyleart@gmail.com   or to make inquiries.  Or text 087 6658500 

To Book your place   -Contact  Trudi at  trudidoyleart@gmail.com   and make  your payment by direct bank transfer.   I will send you  my bank details to make the transfer 

(Alternatively pay by credit card via PayPal. If you decide on this method  I will email an invoice to you with a link to make a secure payment ( you don’t need a pay pal account- just a credit card ) However there is an extra 3.5% charge incurred on PayPal card  transactions but it is a very safe method of payment.)

Deposit of €500 or full payment  will secure your place before Friday 16th May 2025

   Full Balance  must be paid by  Friday 4th July 2025

Hotel cancellation policy

 Penality of 50% for cancellation  30 to 15 days before the arrival

Penality of 100% for cancellation from 14 days before the arrival

Please take out your personal travel insurance .

Full Holiday Itinerary - 2025

Saturday 27th September   Arrival on the flight from Dublin to Pisa airport at 22.40.Transfer to Hotel Torretta https://www.hoteltorretta.it/  in Montecatini Terme in the center of Tuscany. ( If organising your own journey,travelling from other destinations please inform Trudi so that the Hotel will expect you  )   Hotel Torretta is a 4 star hotel located in the green setting of a park with private swimming pool and hydro massage tub.

Sunday. 28th September.  Morning -A guided tour of Montecatini ending with a visit to magnificent Tettuccio spa building  ( a world heritage site ) and a complimentary  welcome drink and light repast inside the historical Café in the Spa.   Sunday afternoon free to settle in and explore Montecatini. A short introductary watercolour lesson  before dinner with Trudi at the Hotel for those who wish to avail of it.  

Monday 29th September  -  A glorious day out and the perfect way to experience rural and medieval Tuscany ! We will travel by taxi bus through Olive groves and vineyards to visit two beautiful villages Buggiano and Medieval Massa. Spend the morning in Buggiana, wander undisturbed through the cobbled streets and lanes limd with flower gardens  and pots of aromatic citrus fruits. At the highest point of the village in the quiet ancient square is Palazzo Pretorio which was once a seat of power and still bears the carved crests of past rulers on its exterior walls  next to the Church of the  Madonna Della Salute. There , wonderful paintable landscape views spread across the valleys and hillsides of Tuscany with convenient places to sit and place your painting gear. Advice and tuition for painting outdoors will be available when required. 

Then on by taxi to Medieval Massa ,one of the oldest villages in Tuscany for an Italien lunch at the only local café, spend the afternoon as you like, watch the world go by or wander the charming lanes or up to a viewing point to draw or paint the rooftops or vistas en plein air.     "Massa  has a population of about 300 people. It is a stone stronghold that dates back to the third century, is surrounded by chestnut groves, olive trees, vineyards, and fields of grain. This medieval village retains the charm and mystery of the old world . The old city gates which once were closed at night and in times of peril for protection, are still intact - Porta ai Campi and Porta Fontanta -once the only routes in and out the village". The taxi will pick us up in the afternoon and take us back to Hotel Torretta. Dinner at the hotel.

Tuesday 30th September.  Florence   Departure by train from Montecatini for Florence.  at the train station in Florence a taxi will take us  to the Palazzo Pitti; where a guide will meet us   https://www.florence-museum.com/pitti-palace.phpto view the chosen collections. The Pitti Palace houses collections of sculptures, paintings, art objects, costumes and porcelain, in a monumental complex that includes several museums:

I have chosen  the Modern Art Gallery: and the Palatine Gallery for a guided tour .

 Modern Art Gallery: is a  magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures from the 18th century until the World War I, also Italian artists of the 19th and the 20th century. Palatine Gallery: is a spectacular gallery that exhibits works by Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Correggio and other artists from the Renaissance and the Baroque.        

Afternoon will be guide free to spend  however you choose; explore Florence or remain in the Pitti for lunch and perhaps view more collections or the famous Boboli Gardens.Your ticket will include all Galleries in the Pitti Palace including the newly restored Royal Apartments .

***  Return at leisure to Montecatini by train ( ticket included)   Dinner at Hotel Torretta

Wednesday 1st October.  Free day .  A basic lesson in painting outdoors using watercolour will be arranged at a time to suit . Dinner at Hotel Torretta.

 ( )Perhaps may I suggest this is the day for an excursion via cable car to Montecatini Alto hill town. for lunch -the old town  red cable car is  a few minutes from the hotel -The  cable car up the hill  runs every 20 minutes - an experience not to be missed. ! )    Dinner at Hotel Torretta.

Thursday 2nd October.  Montecarlo fortress and town.

Departure by taxi  in the morning to Montecarlo  not known to many and delightful to visit.  (about 15 km from Montecatini).  

Entrance to the fortress at 10:30 am. The Rocca del Cerruglio  fortress belongs to a private family who open to the public between May and October. Tickets are included ( We may meet the owner as we gain access –a very affable gentleman ) We can remain  inside until 1 o clock.  The fortress takes it’s name from the hill on which it is located, and which was once the site of much older fortifications representing an important strategic garrison between two valleys both visible from the fortress; – The Plain of Lucca and the poetically named Valley of the Clouds ( Valdinievole) -   Oppertunities to paint the vistas from the vantage of the fort .  Then enjoy lunch in one of the many excellent cafes in the town.  In the afternoon you have free time to explore, relax and people watch or sketch or paint . The taxi will pick us up and take us back to Hotel Torretta.  Dinner at the hotel

Friday 3rd October   Free day.  Morning painting session, optional. Dinner at the hotel

 

 Saturday 4th October Departure for Pisa airport in the afternoon.

TUITION Over the week I will provide demonstrations and basic lessons in painting outdoors using watercolour.The amount of time you spend painting is up to you, there are oppertunities on our many trips and excursions.Sketching using pencils / pen and ink / water soluble crayons or Watercolours is the norm - Pieces can be competed back at the hotel or later at your leisure. Using a sketchbook to record your holiday is a lovely way to remember Tuscany.

N.B.Oil Paints are NOT allowed on flights. even in checked luggage,-They are considered as flammable liquid in the dangerous goods regulations.Breaching the regulation carries serious penalties!

( When you book this holiday and include  tuition  I will provide a short  list and suggestions /advice on basic painting equipment suitable for travelling and for working outdoors.)

                                           *** ********- - - - - - - -*************

Suggested flights - will be facilitated by a transfer taxi both ways .

Flight from Dublin with Ryanair  Sat 27th  departing at 19.15  arriving at Pisa airport 22.55 

Flight from Pisa with Ryanair  Sat 4th Oct at 17.00 arriving at Dublin airport at  18.15

This return flight suggestion is currently costing €171.18 ( Basic travel light fare)

More about Tuscany  -Average weather in September 

26 °C max day temperature

12 Hours of Daylight    7 Hours of sunshine 

14°C min night temperature

_-___-___-_

REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK

 Comment from a happy painter 2019  "I am looking forward to joining Trudi Doyle on her Art Holiday to Tuscany - my fourth time in 7 years. It's a wonderful experience each time. I find inspiration in watching Trudi produce exquisite paintings "en plein air" and in the variety of the Tuscan scenery, mountains and villages with their timeless charm.     Trudi adapts her tuition and coaching to meet the needs of each student. The pace is relaxed and outings are well organised. The locals are friendly and welcoming. A nice camaraderie develops in the group, enhanced by sharing the gorgeous food ."  Pauline Jones,Dublin, Ireland 

"I had a wonderful art holiday in Tuscany with Trudi -it  was fab -- well recommend to anybody interested in going". Susan M. Ireland 

"I have been with Trudi at La Pia Hotel  Tuscany on four trips so far and have enjoyed every minute - would return in a heartbeat -  Fabulous food -  - great company - a relaxed and efficient holiday  . J.B.D. Ireland 

"Don't hesitate to book - I had a stimulating and fun week  in Tuscany  with Trudi - food, trips, Hotel la Pia, company  and wine -all superb.."   J.E. California .USA 

I've been with Trudi for her holiday in Tuscany twice and have enjoyed each trip. One of my favourite aspects of the holiday is that I have no worries about arrangments as it's all taken care of.  I had great painting tips from Trudi and help with my watercolour technique.. I loved the food too. I hope to go back  again ..Jenny D. Ireland

 

A week in Tuscany Italy  ! Wednesday 18th to 25th September 2024

Art Holiday with Trudi Doyle 

I'm happy to once again offer this  holiday in the heart of Tuscany  and share my enthusiasm -besides Florence and its  artistic wealth  and  excellence I offer you ancient architecture , azure skies, terracotta roof tiles,  historic villages, gnarled grapevines, ancient olive groves, fig trees and pomegranites, the scent of flowers , the taste of delicious food and wine and days out in the sun  !Deposit of €500 or full payment  will secure your place before Wednesday 5th June 2024. 

  Full Balance  must be paid by  Wednesday August 7th 2024.

.  FLY TO PISA -  I have organised the rest - airport transfers, -4 star Hotel, half board , guided tours and day excursions to quiet medieval villages to experience the mystique of rural Tuscany at a leisurely pace, train tickets to Florence and tour of the Pitti Palace  galleries and the famous Boboli gardens.  Non painters welcome ; come along and enjoy the company or join in the optional painting sessions with expert tuition and helpful advice in a friendly non competitive atmosphere. 

What is included 

1  Seven nights at 4 star  Hotel Torretta   https://www.hoteltorretta.it/

with half board - 7 breakfasts & 6 dinners with drinks and wine included.  Single en suite room . Twin room or double room for sharing if required.  

 

 2. Transfers to and from Pisa airport  arranged for Dublin to Pisa return flights only -( flights are not included)

3. Half day guided tour of Montecatini Tettuccio historical Spa with complimentary  welcome drinks and snack. 

 

4. Two full day excursions by mini bus taxi to paint/explore in medieval villages  of Buggiani and Massa including  a day in the charming  and historic fortress town of Montecarlo.

5.  Entrance ticket to Montecarlo fortress

6.  Return train trip tickets to Florence.

 

7.  Pre-booked  guided tour and entrance ticket for all Palazzo Pitti collections in  Florence ; Gallery of Modern Art,  Palatine Gallery (artists from the Renaissance and the Baroque)  Your ticket will give you the option to  choose to further explore all of  the Galleries  without the guide, plus the  Boboli Gardens. 

https://www.uffizi.it/palazzo-pitti  

 8. Professional guidance and tuition sessions  in watercolour to suit your requirements from  artist Trudi Doyle with demonstrations.  

What it costs  ( flights not included )

Deposit€500 or Full payment  to secure your place is required before  Friday  5th June 2024 please.

€1,165.00 per person in a single ensuite room  BOOKED OUT

(Cost  per Non painting person €40 reduction €1,125,00 -)

                                                        

€1, 220   per single person in a double ensuite room ( no sharing )- 1 room still available                               (Cost  per Non painting person €40 reduction  - €1,180 ) 

€1,025.00 per person sharing twin/double ensuite room-1 room still available for 2 people sharing ( cost per Non painting person  -€40 reduction -€985 )   

You don't need to be a painter to enjoy this relaxing holiday  -allTuscany lovers  are welcome- join  us on the trips and events or do your own thing which is why I offer  €40 reduction for non-painting people /partners /friends  or artists not requiring tuition..                   

    To check availability  and secure a place Contact  trudidoyleart@gmail.com   or to make inquiries.  Or text 087 6658500 

To Book your place   -Contact  trudi at  trudidoyleart@gmail.com   and make  your payment by direct bank transfer.   I will send you  my bank details to make the transaction. Contact trudidoyleart@gmail.com .

Alternatively pay by credit card via PayPal. If you decide on this method  I will email an invoice  you with a link to make a secure payment ( you don’t need a pay pal account- just a credit card ) However there is an extra 3.5% charge incurred on PayPal card  transactions but it is a very safe method of payment.

Deposit of €500 or full payment  will secure your place before Wednesday 5th June 2024.   Full Balance  must be paid by  Wednesday August 7th 2024.

Hotel cancellation policy

 Penality of 50% for cancellation  30 to 15 days before the arrival

Penality of 100% for cancellation from 14 days before the arrival

Please take out your personal travel insurance .

 A full daily itinerary  for the  holiday week  FOLLOWS BELOW 

 For  painting participants I will email a brief list of art materials needed for painting sessions .

TUITION Over the week I will provide basic lessons in painting outdoors using watercolour - the principles also apply to other mediums .eg.Pastels or Acrylics. I will demonstrate techniques. The amount of time you spend painting is largely up to you as there are many trips and excursions.

Sketching on the go using pencils / pen and ink / water soluble crayons or pencils is advised- Pieces can be competed back at the hotel or later at your leisure.

N.B.Oil Paints are NOT allowed on flights. even in checked luggage,-They are considered as flammable liquid in the dangerous goods regulations.Breaching the regulation carries serious penalties!

Suggested return flights from Ireland- ( transfers will  be provided for these flights ) 

Dublin to Pisa  18th September   Ryanair flights departing at 20.05 arr. Pisa at 23.45  FR5308

Pisa to Dublin on 25th September  Ryanair flight departing 17.05 arr Dublin 19.40   FR5309

. . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . .. . . . ..  . .. . . . .

Full Holiday Itinerary - 2024

Wednesday 18th September   Arrival on the flight from Dublin to Pisa airport at 23.45.Transfer to Hotel Torretta https://www.hoteltorretta.it/  in Montecatini Terme in the center of Tuscany. ( If travelling from other destinations please inform Trudi  so that the Hotel will expect you  )   Hotel Torretta is a 4 star hotel  known for its family hospitality, located a few steps from Terme Tettuccio, the green setting of the magnificent thermal park, an ideal location to relax with private swimming pool and hydro massage tub.

Thurday. 19th September.  Morning -A guided tour of Montecatini with visit of Tettuccio spa building  ( a world heritage site ) and a welcome drink inside the historical Café of the spa.

Afternoon free to settle in and explore Montecatini. A short watercolour lesson  before dinner with Trudi at the Hotel for those who wish to avail of it.  

 Friday 20th September  -  A glorious day out and the perfect way to experience rural and medieval Tuscany ! We will travel by taxi through Olive groves and vineyards to visit two beautiful villages Buggiano and Medieval Massa. Spend the morning in Buggiana, wander undisturbed through the unique cobbled narrow streets and lanes, view private gardens with flowers and pots of aromatic citrus fruits. At the highest point of the village see the Palazzo Pretorio which was once a seat of power and still bears the crests of past rulers on its exterior walls and the Madonna Della Salute Church.. 

There in the quiet ancient square and by the church, wonderful paintable landscape views spread across the valleys and hillsides of Tuscany with convenient places to sit and place your painting gear. Advice and tuition  for painting outdoors will be available whenever required. 

Then on by taxi to Medieval Massa ,one of the oldest villages in Tuscany for a lunch time snack at the only local café, spend the afternoon as you like, watch the world go by or wander the charming lanes or up to a viewing point to paint. 

  Massa e Cozzile has a population of about 300 people. It is a stone stronghold that dates back to the third century, is surrounded by chestnut groves, olive trees, vineyards, and fields of grain. This medieval village retains the charm and mystery of the old world in its narrow lanes and stone buildings.  The old city gates which once were closed at night and in times of peril for protection, are still intact - Porta ai Campi and Porta Fontanta were once the only routes in and out the town  

 The taxi will pick us up in the afternoon and take us back to Hotel Torretta. Dinner at the hotel.

Saturday 21st September.  Florence

Departure by train from Montecatini for Florence. A guide will meet us at the train station in Florence and walk us through Florence to the Palazzo Pitti;  https://www.florence-museum.com/pitti-palace.php  to view the chosen collections. The Pitti Palace houses collections of sculptures, paintings, art objects, costumes and porcelain, in a monumental complex that includes several museums:

I have chosen  the Modern Art Gallery: and the Palatine Gallery for a guided tour .

 Modern Art Gallery: is a  magnificent collection of paintings and sculptures from the 18th century until the World War I, also Italian artists of the 19th and the 20th century. Palatine Gallery: is a spectacular gallery that exhibits works by Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Correggio and other artists from the Renaissance and the Baroque.

Afternoon will be guide free to spend  however you choose; explore Florence or remain in the Pitti for lunch and perhaps view more collections or the famous Boboli Gardens.Your ticket will include all Galleries in the Pitti Palace 

***

Return to Montecatini by train.   Dinner at Hotel Torretta

Sunday. 22nd September Free day .  A basic lesson in painting outdoors using watercolour will be arranged to suit . Dinner at Hotel Torretta. 

Monday 23rd September.  Montecarlo fortress and town.

Departure by taxi  in the morning. Montecarlo is about 15 km from Montecatini.

Entrance to the fortress at 10:30 am. We may remain  inside until 13:00 – There are plenty of visual treats for the discerning eye !

 Tuscany is a treasure trove of perfectly preserved villages, and Montecarlo is one of these, not known to many and delightful to visit. The fortress Rocca del Cerruglio belongs to a private family who open to the public between May and October. Tickets are included ( We may meet the owner as we gain access –a very affable gentleman ) It takes it’s name from the hill on which it is located, and which was once the site of much older fortifications. This castle fortress represented an important strategic garrison between two valleys both visible from the fortress; The Plain of Lucca and the poetically named Valley of the Clouds ( Valdinievole) - very beautiful !      

Then enjoy lunch in one of the many excellent cafes in the village.

 Free time to explore, sketch or paint in the afternoon. The taxi will pick us up and take us back to Hotel Torretta. Dinner at the hotel

 

Tuesday. 24th September   Free day.  Morning painting session, optional.

   Perhaps may I suggest this is the day for  an excursion via cable car to Montecatini Alto hill town. for lunch -the old town is  a few minutes from the hotel -take the red cable car up the hill - an experience not to be missed. !     Dinner at Hotel Torretta.

 

Wednesday. 25th September Departure for Pisa airport in the afternoon at 3 p.m.

REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK

 Comment from a happy painter 2019  "I am looking forward to joining Trudi Doyle on her Art Holiday to Tuscany - my fourth time in 7 years. It's a wonderful experience each time. I find inspiration in watching Trudi produce exquisite paintings "en plein air" and in the variety of the Tuscan scenery, mountains and villages with their timeless charm.     Trudi adapts her tuition and coaching to meet the needs of each student. The pace is relaxed and outings are well organised. The locals are friendly and welcoming. A nice camaraderie develops in the group, enhanced by sharing the gorgeous food ."  Pauline Jones,Dublin, Ireland 

"I had a wonderful art holiday in Tuscany with Trudi -it  was fab -- well recommend to anybody interested in going". Susan M. Ireland 

"I have been with Trudi at La Pia Hotel  Tuscany on four trips so far and have enjoyed every minute - would return in a heartbeat -  Fabulous food -  - great company - a relaxed and efficient holiday  . J.B.D. Ireland 

"Don't hesitate to book - I had a stimulating and fun week  in Tuscany  with Trudi - food, trips, Hotel la Pia, company  and wine -all superb.."   J,E California .USA