FAQ

We are a small but dedicated group of artists, historians and cultural travelers with a passion for sharing, teaching and creativity. The discoveries that we have made from years of living and studying in abroad would be wasted, if not shared with others. The instructors who lead our workshops are carefully chosen because they are dedicated and inspiring teachers recognized in their fields. Our idyllic rural retreat in the hills of Umbria offers our guests an opportunity to experience the region up-close, engaging the culture instead of passing through as a tourist.

There is a paid laundry service in our abbey and the nearby town of Perugia has coin operated Laundromats where art students line up to wash clothes and sketch.

To protect their collections from damage, Museums have very strict policies about bringing paints, ink, easels and other art supplies into their galleries, and special permission is required for artists and schools to bring their basic supplies inside. During our excursions to museums, we will often apply for permission in advance if the workshop itinerary requires creative time in to study masterworks.

The Workshop Handbook is basically your survival guide to this secret corner of Italy. You can save the handbook on your laptop, or print it and bring the pages with you. Inside you will find a table of contents where you can quickly reference every subject like; locating us at the airport, a list of area art stores, what to do if your flight is delayed, how do you get bottles of wine home, as well as regional museum and food suggestions.

We want your time with us to be original, memorable and steeped in experiential and kinesthetic learning. This can only happen if you are in a small intimate group where you can effectively share and exchange with others and the instructors. Most of our workshops are limited in size, between 8 and 12 guests. However, you should read the Workshop Descriptions carefully for an exact size limit on the workshops that you want to attend.

In contrast to of the multitude of warnings by guidebook publishers, in our opinion the countryside of Umbria and Tuscany is one of the safest places we have ever lived. Like any large city, Rome and Florence have their share of criminal elements, but this is mostly pick pocketing. It is very rare to hear of muggings, and violent crimes in the historic center of these cities that we like to explore.

In general it is always good to avoid train stations during late hours, and remember to use your common sense, money belt, and to keep your bag in front of you at all times.

Once you escape into the countryside of Italy, prices are often lower than you would find in the US, even with the stronger Euro exchange rate. This happens for one simple reason, the beautifully simple life of rural Italians does not demand much interest in high-ticket items that they can’t afford.  As a result, there are plenty of elegant restaurants, boutique shops and services where locals and visitors can enjoy prices much lower than the tourist towns. The secret is stepping into the local life stream, vegetable markets and shops where the residents are happy to share their time and Language.

Yes, we encourage you to bring someone who supports your adventurous spirit and desire to learn. There are a rich variety of activities and cultural events in the area that can engage visitors for months.

Within 30 minutes from our location we have at least six natural hot springs, dozens of archeological sites, golf courses, concerts, water sports and major historic villages to explore. Please understand that non-participants are restricted from the instruction areas, but we welcome them to join us for meals and excursions.

Depending on the workshop and the materials that you prefer to use, you may not have to bring that much. We supply all of the major equipment that would be too cumbersome to bring from home. When you complete your reservation, we will forward a Workshop Handbook by email. The Handbook includes everything you need to know about transporting your supplies through international airports and TSA's regulations. We also provide instructions for using International couriers, or instructing us to purchase a Creativity Pack, so that your supplies are waiting for you when you arrive here in Umbria. We even assist with waybills and suggest options for shipping your items home at the end of the workshop.

We are diligent about checking and responding to email during weekdays. If you have not received a reply from us, and it has been more that 48 hours, there is a good chance that your email message was not delivered. AOL (America Online), email messages are often undeliverable due to incompatibilities with some European servers. If this happens to you, please call us on our US phone number at the top of the page. This number forwards to our abbey here in Italy, and you only pay US interstate calling rates to New York.

As a matter of fair practice, we have a firm policy of not allowing our staff to engage in accepting commissions from restaurants and shops. We will never divert our guests into a souvenir shop, or restaurant where they feel obligated to buy something.

Many of our staff members are as passionate about food, wine, and fashion as they are about Art and History. We are always on the lookout for new discoveries, bargain prices, and great food. We are happy to recommend truly great places to explore, shop and eat, away from the tourist traps. These are the places we visit in our free time, and enjoy as a part of daily life in Italy.