Art Workshop in Venice, Padua and Parma, Italy with Koosje Koene
Explore authentic Italy and fill your travel sketchbook along the way.
Dates: October 11-18, 2026 SOLD OUT (waiting list available)
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Start: Padua, Italy
End: Parma, Italy
Cost: from $3795 based on double occupancy (non-art participant spaces sold out)
Optional Single Supplement: $695
Max Number of Students: 14
Land only. All prices in US dollars, land only. Solo traveler roomshares available. Program subject to change.
Join artist and illustrator Koosje Koene on a colorful, captivating art workshop in Venice, Padua, and Parma, Italy. Have you dreamed of Venice, with it’s sleepy canals and sleek gondolas? Do you have visions of sharing an abundant meal in the garden of an Italian villa? And each day, learning how to better capture your adventures in your very own art journal? If so, our Sketchbook Art Workshop in Venice, Padua and Parma, Italy is the experience for you.
Join Koosje’s art workshop in Italy for a spontaneous and fun travel experience. You will nurture your creativity through daily sketching and slow down to truly see and experience your journey. You’ll observe more, be present, and capture memories in a personal way.
The energy from Koosje’s Art Walk starts with such positivity, it carries throughout the entire week. By the end, we parted with bittersweet goodbyes and lifelong friendships. I am so grateful to have this as part of my life! Nothing beats traveling and sketching with a mini art tribe.
What to Expect
art workshop in Venice
Art Program
On this 7-night travel sketchbook workshop in Italy you will be immersed in equal parts travel and art program.
Teaching artist Koosje will lead a daily, on-site class inspired by the places we visit. Using drawing, watercolor, and possibly writing and emphemera, your sketchbook journals will capture people, places, and moments experienced along the way. Perhaps more importantly, each page will be rich with vivid memories of your travels.
Koosje believes life is better when you draw it, and her methods will instill fun, approachable techniques. Throughout the tour opportunities to sit and sketch with like-minded artists spur creativity and presence. A week with Koosje can inspire new, or enliven established, daily creativity. The practice is to be present and in the moment.
By the end of the tour, you’ll have filled countless sketchbook pages with lively memories of your trip, capturing moments in a way that all the images in your phone camera roll never could. You’ll return home not only with new skills and techniques but also with the confidence to keep drawing. Each day, you’ll have explored different approaches, adding tools to your creative arsenal. Most importantly, you’ll feel more at ease opening your sketchbook, making your mark, and enjoying the process. And along the way, you’ll have made new art friends, sharing laughs, inspiration, and a love for sketching that will continue long after the trip ends.
art workshop in Venice
Travel and Touring
Our art workshop in Venice, Padua, and Parma, Italy features exclusive itineraries and personal experiences. We will spend 4 nights in Padua and 3 nights in Parma. Every half-day outing will introduce local artisans, traditions and craft.
In Padua and Venice we will travel by foot, rail, and ferry. Then, we will transfer by private transfer to lovely Parma. Once there we will explore on foot and a private van will provide a tour of artisian producers.
Only 30 minutes from Venice, Padua is a beautiful Italian city with historic markets and lively piazzas. Home to one of Italy’s oldest universities, it’s culture is rich and diverse.
In Venice, you’ll leave the cruise ship crowds behind. Walk the most scenic and uncrowded areas. Explore with a local guide to learn the unique history and current issues that have shaped this city of islands.
Parma is UNESCO’s Creative City for Gastronomy. The first Italian city to be given such a recognition. Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, prosciutto de Parma, and traditional balsamic vinegar are but a few. Virtually unknown by mass tourism, Parma is still a beautiful Italian city and an undiscovered gem.
What You’ll Love
1. Planning with Care
We take care of the details. You enjoy your vacation.
2. Small group classes
With a maximum class size of 14, expect quality time during art classes. Additionally, we travel places large tour groups can’t.
3. Movable studio
Develop skills and techniques to use whenever you travel. Specifically, learn to pack light and create as you go.
4. Capture Your Experience
Your sketchbook will evolve into a personal travel journal filled with memories to last a lifetime.
Itinerary
Sketchbook Art Workshop in Venice, Padua and Parma
Program subject to change. Daily schedule may differ.
Day 1 : Arrivals
To begin, our art workshop will gather in the afternoon at our hotel in historic Padua. First we will have introductions to get to know one another, and Koosje will introduce her art workshop program. Then there will be an overview of the week ahead. Next, we will head out for an orientation walk to see our neighborhood. Finally a convivial aperitivo and casual sketching session will get your warmed up for the week ahead.
Day 2 : Venice
In the morning, a short train ride will carry us to Venice. There, our local guide will take us on a private walking tour of Venice. Avoiding the crowds and touristy streets, we will discover hidden corners and charming atelier shops. Along the way she will reveal the rich culture and history of Venice. We will hear about everyday life, its complexities, and what it is like to live in this extraordinary city.
After a canal-side welcome lunch, Koosje will lead a sketchbook class inspired by the magic of Venice. Then, the remainder of the day and evening is free to explore on your own or with fellow artists. You may cruise the Grand Canal, visit the Rialto Bridge, and tour Piazza San Marco. Alternatively, simply enjoy being in Venice by wandering, sketching the many alleyways, and watching the sun set over a sleepy canal.
Day 3 : Murano and Venice
The day begins with a vaporetto (ferry) to Venice’s outer island of Murano. There, you’ll discover Murano’s centuries-old glass tradition. In an open workshop, you’ll meet master artisans and see how the glass is fired, pulled and shaped.
Your included vaporetto pass is good for the remainder of the day. At your leisure you may wander through Murano, visit nearby Burano with its colorful houses by the sea, or explore more of Venice. In the early evening our art workshop will reconvene in Venice for a sketchbook class and to share the day’s discoveries.
Day 4 : Padua
Your final day in Padua will begin with a visit to the stunning Scrovegni Chapel, where Giotto’s colorful frescoes will provide artistic inspiration. After soaking in the beauty, we will stroll through historic streets and gather at a lively piazza for a sketchbook class. Koosje will guide you in capturing Padua’s people and places with expressive techniques and playful lines.
The afternoon will be filled with creative energy. You will have time to explore Padua’s vibrant streets, uncovering hidden gems and local treasures. Immerse yourself in Padua’s rich culture, savoring its unique charm and atmosphere. As golden light bathes the city, your sketchbooks will tell the story of a remarkable stay.
Day 5 : Parma
After breakfast, we will transfer to the city of Parma. Besides having amazing cuisine, it is also has a wonderfully preserved historic center, many theaters, galleries, and a university. It is an inspired setting for our art workshop in Italy.
After checking into our hotel, we will set off for an orientation walk to get to know the neighborhood. Next, Koosje will teach another sketchbook art class.
Parma’s historic center is car-free and a world away from a tourist town. Its cobbled streets are filled with handsome architecture, boutique shops, and, of course, wonderful restaurants. Here you will eat very, very well.
Day 6 : Parma Countryside
In Parma, our art workshop will take a culinary focus. (Although we will be eating well everywhere we go.) Here, we will venture into the countryside to visit artisan producers and learn about their rich culinary traditions.
First, we will visit a family-owned and run Parmigiano-Reggiano cheesemaker. Afterwards, we will meet one of the few makers of true Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena. We know it as balsamic vinegar, but you’ve never had it like this. Of course, you will have to taste a little of everything along the way. You are invited to be filling your sketchbooks as we go. Finally, we will return to Parma for art class with Koosje.
Day 7 : Cooking Class & Farewell Dinner
The day begins with a final art workshop class. The afternoon is yours to relax and enjoy Parma in your own time. In the evening we will take a scenic walk through the neighborhoods and parks of Parma to our friend Antonia’s home – a historic family villa set on a beautiful property.
First, we start with a welcome aperitivo. Then Antonia will teach a fun, hands-on cooking class of local specialties. (The class is optional if cooking is not your thing.)
Lastly, the evening concludes with a final dinner feast. This is a meal like no other – set in her beautiful garden surrounded by friends and laughter. As abundant platters are passed and wine is poured, you will feel a part of the family. Antonia is a consummate host, and this dinner is always a highlight of the trip.
Day 8 : Departures
After breakfast, our art workshop in Venice, Padua and Parma, Italy comes to a close. We bid farewell to our fellow artists and traveling companions until the next time. No group events are scheduled for this day. You may depart at your leisure. Our hotel will hold your luggage if you plan to leave after checkout time.
Quiet canals, local insight, and culinary tradition
What’s Included
Sketchbook Art Workshop in Venice, Padua and Parma, Italy
- Koosje Koene’s daily sketchbook journal art classes
- Assistance of your hosts throughout
- Four-star hotel in Padua, Italy (4 nights)
- Four-star hotel in Parma, Italy (3 nights)
- Daily full buffet breakfast
- Gelato!
- Welcome Lunch
- Venice walking tour with local guide
- Vaporetto day pass for free travel throughout Venice and surrounds
- Live demonstration at a Murano glass factory
- Admission to Scrovigni Chapel
- Italian apertivo
- Private culinary tour into the countryside to meet artisan producers of Parmigiano-Reggiano and Aceto Balsamico di Modena
- Fun hands-on cooking class of regional specialties
- Farewell dinner at a family villa
- All tram, train, and ferry transfers per the itinerary
- All hotel taxes and service charges
Where in the World?
Sketchbook Art Workshop in Venice and Parma, Italy
Padua is a city in Northern Italy’s Veneto region. It’s known for the frescoes by Giotto in its Scrovegni Chapel and the vast, domed Basilica of St. Anthony. In Padua’s old town are arcaded streets and stylish cafes frequented by students of the University of Padua, established in 1222.
Venice, the capital of Northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no car roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces.
Parma is a university city in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region famed for Parmesan cheese and Parma ham. Romanesque buildings, including the frescoed Parma Cathedral and the pink marble Baptistery, grace the city center.
Travel Planning
Arrivals
For arrivals, the most convenient airport to fly into for our art workshop in Venice, Padua and Parma, Italy is the Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). From the airport our Padua hotel may be reached by car in about 45 minutes or by bus / train in about 75 minutes.
Alternatively, Milan’s Malpensa Airport (MXP) can serve as a good entry point. From MXP, Padua may be reached by train with one transfer at the Milano Centrale train station in 3-3.5 hours.
Our program begins at 4 pm on the first day at our hotel in Padua. We recommend arriving at least 2 hours before then to allow time for travel delay and some time to catch your breath. If you are able, arriving a day or two early makes for a more relaxed entry.
Departures
On the last day breakfast is included, and no formal group events are planned. You may depart at any time. Our hotel will hold your luggage if you are staying in Parma after check-out.
You can get from Parma to any major airport in Italy by train. Parma has a small airport, but it serves a limited number of aircraft and does not host large international flights. If you can find a good flight out of Bologna, that is the closest departure airport with about 1.5 hours travel time from hotel to airport.
The next best options are Milan (~2.5 hrs), Venice (~3.5 hrs) or Rome (~4.5 hrs). In every instance there is at least one transfer to reach the airport from Parma. Of course there is always an option to hire a private car to take you directly from the hotel to the airport.
For destinations outside of the EU we recommend getting to the airport at least 3 hours in advance.
Important Notes
Sketchbook Art Workshop in Venice and Parma, Italy
Deposits
Your place on a tour is secured once we have received and confirmed your deposit payment. Before the final payment date, a non-refundable deposit of $500 for walking vacations and $750 for art vacation workshops is required. After the final payment date, the entire tour amount must be received to hold a space on a program.
You may cancel for any reason up to 90 days prior to departure and your non-refundable deposit may be forwarded to a future tour. Any balance on your account will be returned. For complete details please see our Terms and Conditions.
Solo travelers and single supplements
For our guests who are traveling solo... for your comfort we offer private rooms. Whenever possible singles will be placed in the same room category as our double or twin rooms.
Twin / Double Rooms
Please be aware twin beds in Europe may have very little or no space between beds. Also, for double beds, instead of a king or queen mattress, double beds are often two adjoining twin mattresses secured together and made with double bedding.
Fitness
Walking is a part of this program. It is both a means of visiting locations and a way to immerse yourself in a place. Our scheduled walks are usually 1-2 hours long at a casual pace. Participants should be able to comfortably walk 2 miles in an hour. We provide a general description of our walks here. It is your responsibility to know your own physical and medical condition with respect to the advisability of participating in a chosen trip. Please be realistic about your physical abilities when booking an active walking vacation. We suggest you prepare by doing at least 1 hour of walking several times per week, and a longer walk at least once per week. Ideally, include walks with elevation change and stairs. (There are always stairs.) If you have compromised knees, hips, back this tour will be challenging and perhaps not appropriate.
As with any exercise program, we recommend you consult with your physician prior to your arrival regarding the suitability of a walking tour.
Some of our guests find trekking poles helpful on steep or uneven terrain. In Europe they are quite common. Before using them on a vacation, please practice at home. We strongly advise you get comfortable using trekking poles on familiar paths first.
For additional information on these topics and more, please see our FAQ page.
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