Tag Archives: art and writing holidays

Villa Pia: Looking Back, Looking Ahead + a Christmas Giveaway

Villa Pia Flowers week

Looking Back, Looking Ahead + a Christmas Giveaway     What a year it has been at Villa Pia. Indeed, what an exciting few years. As we approach a brand new decade, we’ve taken time to reflect on some highlights. We are proud to have welcomed hundreds of lovely families, new and returning, to our […]

Escape Painting Holidays at Villa Pia in Italy

Escape Painting Holidays at Villa Pia workshop group outdoors

Escape Painting Holidays at Villa Pia in Italy     Escape Painting Holidays is a magical art retreat led by contemporary artists Rachael Reeves and Gareth Edwards, hosted here at Villa Pia, on the borders of Umbria and Tuscany. Rachael and Gareth are committed to helping artists at whatever stage to fully explore and discover […]

Drawing Breath at Villa Pia (Drawing and Meditation Workshop May 2020)

Drawing Breath - Dynamic life drawing workshop at Villa Pia

Drawing Breath at Villa Pia (Drawing and Meditation Workshop May 2020)   (Dynamic life drawing at Villa Pia)   Tania Kovats and Jane Sassienie will be running their week-long program combining the two life-enhancing practices of Drawing and Meditation to generate focus, well being, and creativity. Folk are invited to come and explore drawing and […]

The Idler Retreat at Villa Pia

Tom Hodgkinson hosts the Idler Retreat at Villa Pia

The Idler Retreat at Villa Pia! We’re delighted to be welcoming renowned magazine and online academy, The Idler, to their first retreat here in October — billed as ‘a week of idling, thinking and making things in Umbria’. The week-long retreat will be hosted by editor/founder Tom Hodgkinson and academy director Victoria Hull. Idler head […]

Meet the Villa Pia Family: Gina and Francesca

Meet the Villa Pia family team

Meet the Villa Pia Family: Gina and Francesca Continuing our popular series on the blog, we introduce you to the ‘Villa Pia family’ — the amazing team that helps make your holiday in Italy so special. We asked the staff questions** about work and what they do in their spare time. We hope you, our […]

Arts Holiday Italy (Painting Retreats in Tuscany)

Arts Holidays Italy painting with Villa Pia views

Arts Holiday Italy (Painting Retreats in Tuscany) Here at Villa Pia, we’re delighted to have carved out a reputation as an award-winning, family friendly holiday that’s especially loved by parents with babies and small children. We’re also happy to host arts and cultural retreats at the villa during the quieter season, appealing to a somewhat […]

Villa Pia’s Day Trip to Siena

Siena toscana

Villa Pia’s Day Trip to Siena Should you come to visit us at Villa Pia, consider taking the family on a day trip to Siena. While we appreciate that it might be difficult to pull yourself away from the grounds, the chef, the pool, and the wine… taking the kids to this picturesque medieval hill […]

Author Hazel Gaynor on Writing, Kids and Deadlines!

The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor

Author Hazel Gaynor on Writing, Kids and Deadlines! At Villa Pia we’re known not only for our exceptional family friendly service, but also for our Italian writing holidays through Ways with Words, attracting dozens of aspiring and published novelists each year. Today on the blog we’re delighted to host author and freelance writer Hazel Gaynor […]