A week in Tuscany Italy ! Art Holiday with Trudi Doyle 2025
Saturday 27th September 2025
to Saturday 4th October
I'm 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 never fail to find fresh subject matter for sketching and plein air painting.
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 9th 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 .
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.
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 9th 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 Contact trudidoyleart@gmail.com .
(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 9th 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
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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.)
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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)
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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
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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
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