Blog - Slow Travel Tours

Vence 8-Day 2023 Painting Workshop: Our Incredible Painting Day

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Ginny FergusNovember 26, 2023

A highlight of the Vence 8-Day 2023 Painting Workshop was our incredible painting day at the Villa et Jardin Ephrussi de Rothschild in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Villa et Jardin Ephrussi de Rothschild

The Villa is Part of the Academie des Beaux-Arts

Vence 8 Day Painters at Villa Ephrussi

This experience was a long time coming as I had planned it way back in 2019 for an anticipated 2020 workshop. My kind contact, Angela, helped me make it special and was able to re-activate the plan for Our Incredible Painting Day at Villa et Jardin Ephrussi de Rothschild.

Having personal contacts does make such a difference in the quality of my painting workshops and provides a personal touch for all who participate. People and Canines made the Vence 8-Day 2023 Painting Workshop extra warm and welcoming to my group!

Cashe welcomed us all so sweetly!

Our Lovely Hosts in Vence and Workshop Participants Made a Strong Connection

The day began in the rain! We departed from our home base in Vence and made our way to the Villa. We were thrilled that the rain stopped upon our arrival at the parking area and we entered the Villa, met Angela in person, and at her recommendation proceeded to the Spanish Garden for painting.

Painters in the Spanish Garden

It was gorgeous and afforded an incredible view though the lush vegetation out to the Bay and across to Villefranche sur Mer. It was a great privilege to paint a classic Mediterranean view from this peaceful and private vantage point.

My view while painting at the Villa

My Painting

Several gorgeous paintings were made that morning.
Here are some of them with the artists that created them.

Jane with her painting from Villa Ephrussi

Mary Beth and Her Very First Painting!

Ellie Painting in the Spanish Garden

Participant at the Vence 8-Day 2023 Painting Workshop

Ellie with her painting from Villa Ephrussi

After our sustained painting time, we broke for a delicious lunch at the best table at the lovely Beatrice Tea Room, the restaurant housed in the original dining room of the Villa.

View of the Lovely Beatrice Tea Room

Afterwards the sun came out just in time for our private guided tour of the Villa and the entire garden. It is famous for a reason and we enjoyed it so much in person and were able to gather photographs for use in making future studio paintings.

View of the Garden from the Villa

View from the Villa Ephrussi

We gathered our painting gear, visited the gift shop, and were shocked to emerge into another rain storm. Our painting and touring time was sandwiched by the rain.

We were so lucky that the weather cooperated for our Incredible Painting Day at Villa et Jardin Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild during our Vence 8-Day 2023 Painting Workshop!

Please Visit My Website to learn about my 2024 Painting Workshops:

https://www.vsfergus.com/workshops

Three Tuscany Workshops and Two France Workshops are planned for May and September 2024. Dates, Descriptions, and Registrations are available on my Websites or by messaging me directly at vsfergus@gmail.com.

Please follow me on:

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VSFergus

• Instagram http://www.instagram.com/vsfergus

• YouTube https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCpIzCGe8yqw_lkI4l2ncUZQ

• And on my Website (https://www.vsfergus.com) for more about Painting, Watercolor Painting, Plein Air Painting Trips, Traveling to Paint, and to view and purchase my Paintings.

Virginia Fergus leads small group Plein Air Painting Workshops in Italy and France that are unique opportunities for creative immersion and personal transformation.

Each workshop includes plein air painting experiences in curated locations, sensitive and personal instruction, experienced and empathetic guidance, artistic immersion, beautiful accommodations and delicious meals in authentic and particular locations, and new friends for the journey.

Ginny's personal motto is “Authentic, Intimate, Beautiful” and is the creative and experiential goal of each workshop. To learn more, visit www.enpleinairwithverginiafergus.com

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

Made in Italy Tours

Posted on November 19, 2023 by Nedra BottieriNovember 19, 2023

Village Vacations Made in Italy Tours

Imagine going on a trip to Italy…Now imagine that you are there on a small group tour, the only difference is you are enjoying your days going to different villages and towns your way, The Slow Travel Way, with Village Vacations in Italy!

Our Made in Italy Tours ….experience Italy like a local

Avoid the hustle and bustle of the big cities and crowds. No need to rent a car, we pick you up and drop you off at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport in Rome. Days trips each day, still no need to rent a car because you will be driven each day by our private driver and small group of 8 to 12 people. No need to cook, you start your day with a bountiful breakfast each morning and dinner prepared each evening by our chefs. Are you there yet? You can be with Village Vacations in Italy.

Lunch in Perugia after shopping and exploring the capital of Umbria

Imagine meeting local artisans, drinking wines from local vineyards, taking a cooking class where you will learn the secrets of Italian cuisine and make fresh pasta, with a savory, mouthwatering ragu, and of course a decadent desert….enjoying what you have prepared on a terrace overlooking the hills of Umbria. How about going to an open-air market on the outskirts of Lago Trasimeno shopping and mingling with the locals. Are you there yet? You will be with Village Vacations in Italy.

Olive Oil Tasting….your taste buds will thank you!

Cooking lesson at a local vineyard

A pit stop for Cappuccino & a Cornetta

Come in the spring and you will see the fields turning green, poppies line the roads with their brilliant red color and fields of sunflowers are starting to pop their heads out bowing to the sun as the fields turn yellow. I get excited just thinking about it! Easter is huge in Italy; everything is new again.

Fields of Sunflowers

Join us in September and become “Lucille Ball” for a day as you stomp grapes, in costume, until your heart is content at a local vineyard. Enjoy a lunch afterward with a wine tasting as well. There are many festivals going on during this month celebrating the crop and the weather is gorgeous this time of year.

You will visit Assisi, Deruta known for handmade, hand painted ceramics bursting with gorgeous colors and patterns, Cortona known for the book and movie, “Under the Tuscan Sun”, Perugia the capital of Umbria rich in history from thousands of years ago.

Hand Painted Pottery in Deruta

A visit to Cortona “Under The Tuscan Sun”

Saint Frances of Assisi Basilica

Future Travelers (-:

Your “Home Away From Home” for the week

Weeks Available Spring & Fall 2024

April 28-May 5

May 12-19

May 26-June 2

September 21-28 (Grape Squishing Week)

October 27-November 3 (Olive Harvest Week)

Contact Nedra@VillageVacationsInItaly.com

954-661-4622

Former flight attendant Nedra Bottieri made a life-changing trip to Italy twenty years ago to re-discover her family heritage. Now with dual citizenship, she has a second home in Umbria.

Through her company, Village Vacations in Italy, she organizes and hosts small group tours based in small villages in Umbria and Tuscany, normally customized tours for private groups. Groups have included yoga workshops, writing workshops, and groups of family and friends. Nedra draws on her extensive experience and relationships to plan special accommodations and activities to meet each group’s needs and dreams. Experience “La Dolce Vita” in Italy!

To learn more about her tours, see www.villagevacationsinitaly.com

Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.

Elemental Art

Posted on November 12, 2023 by Michelle LogueNovember 8, 2023 1

During your week with Adventures in Italy, you will have designated art time, designated cultural activities, and free time to explore. One place we don’t always get to, but is definitely worth a visit is, oddly enough, the public library.

In 2013 the public library in Orvieto developed the idea of a Readers’ Garden to fill the space in the back of the library. They wanted to feature work of a local artist, and held a competition to determine who would design the space. The winner was Marino Moretti, a well-established ceramic artist. He looked at the space and the idea of “four” came to him. The idea of four turned into the Four Elements, earth, water, air and fire.

In designing the garden, Marino researched the properties of each of the four elements. Their corresponding zodiac signs, tarot suits and cards, personality traits, animals, trees and plants, and even metals associated with each element are all part of the makeup of the garden. Each element has a bench, and then in the larger area, tiles related to the element. Here’s a snippet of information on each element, see which element speaks to you!

Earth: female. Zodiac signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn. Personality traits: trust, patience, punctuality, responsibility. Animals: snakes, spiders. Trees: ash, hawthorn.

Water: female. Zodiac signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. Personality traits: love, compassion, devotion, modesty. Animals: aquatic animals. Trees: poplar, willow

Air: male. Zodiac signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Personality traits: awareness, cheerfulness, diligence, kindness. Animals: birds, insects. Trees: alder. birch.

Fire: male. Zodiac signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius. Personality traits: action, courage, curiosity, determination. Animals: reptiles, lizards, bear, lion. Trees: oak, plum, holly, ivy

The Readers’ Garden is a great place to sit and read, to sketch and paint. And if you want more of Marino Moretti’s art, he has a shop in town right by the Duomo.