LAKE COMO, ITALY
PLEIN AIR ART RETREAT
with Linda Coulter
-an ENCORE journey-
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Lake Como is a destination of pure beauty—marvelous nature and breath-taking views—from where you can create, walk, relax, discover the peace and enjoy the calm of authentic Italy.
With views of snowcapped Alps, lakeside villages, and a microclimate suitable to palm trees and silk production, it’s famous around the world for elegant villas, breathtaking scenery, fantastical gardens, quaint alleyways, and dramatic vistas. No wonder George Clooney has famously chosen a home on the shores of elegant Lake Como. For the price of a coffee, you can sit at an outdoor café and watch beautiful people coming and going. Many of the historic palaces open their rooms and gardens for viewing at a small cost, and so you can experience their history up close. Itinerary detail & pricing tabs below |
One exclusive departure in 2022
Plein Air Art Retreat with Linda Coulter
Lake Como, Italy
September 11-18, 2022
All mediums welcome
Please inquire for pricing & availability
Lake Como, Italy
September 11-18, 2022
All mediums welcome
Please inquire for pricing & availability
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PLEIN AIR ART RETREAT
with Linda Coulter
LAKE COMO, ITALY
September 11-18, 2022
All mediums welcome!
Accompanying non-artists welcome
with Linda Coulter
LAKE COMO, ITALY
September 11-18, 2022
All mediums welcome!
Accompanying non-artists welcome
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8 Days/7 nights
Meals: 7 (Rich buffet breakfast included daily plus a light welcome reception) Maximum 10 guests (6 minimum required) Includes Techniques of Plein Air retreat leader AND a dedicated, professional tour manager Non-artists welcome to participate. No reduction in cost as this is solely a retreat. Free time to be spent as you wish. We can assist you with your plans at extra cost. Optionals: Pre- & Post-retreat nights or travel extensions and optional activities are available at additional cost and can be arranged independently through Soirée Travel Specialists. |
Retreat Leader Linda Coulter
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Linda Coulter, as the retreat leader, has worked with Soirée Travel Specialists to create this customized artist retreat in Lake Como, Italy.
She will serve as a mentor and encourager to participating artists on the techniques of Plein Air. No classes will be offered by Linda
She will serve as a mentor and encourager to participating artists on the techniques of Plein Air. No classes will be offered by Linda
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Day 1, September 11: Milan to hotel arrival
Upon arrival at Milan Airport, your private driver will meet you outside the secure area and whisk you away to your hotel on Lake Como, about 1.5 hours from the airport. The town has ample shops, restaurants, cafés, and a promenade. Your dedicated tour manager (we call them Travel Liaisons) will be on hand to greet you upon arrival to your hotel and provide you with suggestions for your afternoon. Join the group later for a light reception, brief orientation, and introduction to your retreat leader, Linda Coulter. TIP: Our Travel Liaison makes sure the trip goes smoothly on the ground, helps guests with special needs, offers cultural insight and travel tips, recommends favorite restaurants, and helps travelers arrange free time plans. |
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Day 2, September 12: Lake Como Private Boat Tour
This morning we’ll enjoy an exclusive private one-hour boat tour of Lake Como. This is Lake Como as it’s meant to be experienced! You’ll see from the water some of the locations you might want to return to on your own as the week progresses: the most remarkable villas of the central Lake Como area – Villa Carlotta (entrance included on Day 3), Villa Melzi and the breathtaking Villa Balbianello (famous for being the backdrop of several Star Wars scenes as well as James Bond – Casino Royale). During the cruise, you will also see the most beautiful and enchanting towns from the lake such as Cadenabbia, Tremezzo, Lenno, Bellagio, Fiumelatte, Varenna. The balance of the day is yours to paint, shop, stroll, explore, or dine as you wish. Your tour manager can assist with suggestions. |
Day 3, September 13: Villa Carlotta & Varenna
This morning we’ll visit two nearby destinations that are sure to impress and inspire!
Our first stop is Villa Carlotta. Here, art walks side by side with nature in breath-taking landscape scenes. Overlooking the shores of Lake Como, the villa home was built in the late seventeenth century. The extensive botanical gardens were started at that time, and now include an Italian garden, rose, hydrangea, & azalea gardens, citrus tunnels, a fern valley, tropical plants, a rock garden with succulents, a Japanese garden, and monumental trees. Access and free movement throughout the villa and gardens are included during our visit together. Bring your camera!
Together we’ll make our way onward just another few minutes by ferry across the lake to picturesque Varenna. One of the most typical, scenic, and quiet of the lake villages. You can return to your hotel when you want today, so explore Varenna for a while or head back to our base with your Travel Liaison. The balance of your day is at leisure.
You can easily return on your own to either of our sightseeing stops today at any time during the week. And now you’ll know how to manage the ferries! (Hint: it’s a breeze!)
This morning we’ll visit two nearby destinations that are sure to impress and inspire!
Our first stop is Villa Carlotta. Here, art walks side by side with nature in breath-taking landscape scenes. Overlooking the shores of Lake Como, the villa home was built in the late seventeenth century. The extensive botanical gardens were started at that time, and now include an Italian garden, rose, hydrangea, & azalea gardens, citrus tunnels, a fern valley, tropical plants, a rock garden with succulents, a Japanese garden, and monumental trees. Access and free movement throughout the villa and gardens are included during our visit together. Bring your camera!
Together we’ll make our way onward just another few minutes by ferry across the lake to picturesque Varenna. One of the most typical, scenic, and quiet of the lake villages. You can return to your hotel when you want today, so explore Varenna for a while or head back to our base with your Travel Liaison. The balance of your day is at leisure.
You can easily return on your own to either of our sightseeing stops today at any time during the week. And now you’ll know how to manage the ferries! (Hint: it’s a breeze!)
You know the town. You’ve spied the vantage points and scenes you want to put to canvas. You know where you want to return on your own by ferry. The balance of the week is yours to spend however and wherever you want. Your Travel Liaison is available daily for suggestions and assistance.
Day 4, September 14: Day at leisure Sleep in, create, relax, stroll, shop, or keep exploring on foot or by local ferry
Day 5: September 15: Day at leisure Spend the day however you want. Bellagio and Lake Como will continue to delight!
Day 6, September 16: Day at leisure This afternoon, take advantage of an optional critique of your work. With an expert eye, retreat leader Linda Coulter will offer suggestions on how to improve your creation(s)
Day 4, September 14: Day at leisure Sleep in, create, relax, stroll, shop, or keep exploring on foot or by local ferry
Day 5: September 15: Day at leisure Spend the day however you want. Bellagio and Lake Como will continue to delight!
Day 6, September 16: Day at leisure This afternoon, take advantage of an optional critique of your work. With an expert eye, retreat leader Linda Coulter will offer suggestions on how to improve your creation(s)
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Day 7, September 17: Day at leisure You will be invited to gather together with your Travel Liaison and retreat leader for dinner at your own expense tonight.
Share your wow moments. Your fun and funny experiences. Your meaningful encounters For you have been in a place most only dream about Day 8, September 18: Departure Your private sedan departure transfer to Milan’s airports or central train station is included today. A $200+ value! Thank you for retreating with us in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations! |
Plein Air Art Retreat with Linda Coulter
Trip Price PER PERSON
Trip Price PER PERSON
Please inquire for pricing & availability
Non-artists welcome to participate. No reduction in cost as this is solely a retreat. Activities included as per itinerary. Free time to be spent as you wish. We can assist with your plans at extra cost.
Cancellation Charges
Book with peace of mind, assured that in the event Soirée Travel Services is unable to operate your journey’s departure, we’ll give you flexible options to apply these funds to other travel experiences through 2023 – or, if you wish, we’ll refund your full tour cost.*
*Please note: Certain travel arrangements cannot be changed once they have been confirmed. Any cancellation or alteration may incur an additional cancellation charge of up to 100% of the price for any of these arrangements, beyond the cancellation charges above.
Cancellation Charges
- 100 days prior to departure or more: total deposit amount*
- 90-61 days prior: 25% of trip price*
- 60-31 days prior: 50% of trip price*
- 30 days prior to departure (or less): 100% of trip price
Book with peace of mind, assured that in the event Soirée Travel Services is unable to operate your journey’s departure, we’ll give you flexible options to apply these funds to other travel experiences through 2023 – or, if you wish, we’ll refund your full tour cost.*
*Please note: Certain travel arrangements cannot be changed once they have been confirmed. Any cancellation or alteration may incur an additional cancellation charge of up to 100% of the price for any of these arrangements, beyond the cancellation charges above.
AIRFARE NOT INCLUDED
Please book your flight to arrive Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy (MXP) Sunday, September 11, 2022
and to depart Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy (MXP) Sunday, September 18, 2022
TRIP INSURANCE NOT INCLUDED
Strongly Urged
Click here for assistance with Trip Insurance options
Please refer to our full Payment Agreement document (Terms & Conditions) which can be found here or in the Client Zone of our website
Please book your flight to arrive Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy (MXP) Sunday, September 11, 2022
and to depart Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy (MXP) Sunday, September 18, 2022
TRIP INSURANCE NOT INCLUDED
Strongly Urged
Click here for assistance with Trip Insurance options
Please refer to our full Payment Agreement document (Terms & Conditions) which can be found here or in the Client Zone of our website
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INCLUSIONS
EXCLUSIONS
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Linda Coulter has recently moved to East Tennessee from the Jersey Shore.
She’s worked with pastels for the past 20+ years after having been introduced to them during a life class – it was a natural progression from pencil and charcoal. Pastels lend themselves beautifully to any subject in any style – with texture and color layering, both complimentary and local. Landscapes are her favorite subject to paint, often on location, but she also enjoys still lifes and portraits. She’s excited by what she sees, and her goal is to interpret it in a way that touches the viewers’ emotion. She uses color, value and light, to tell a story, often using underpaintings in watercolor, acrylic ink, pastel/alcohol and artgraf/water. Linda taught weekly for 18 years in two art associations in New Jersey, along with private individuals and groups. She has taught plein air workshops, in locations including Cozumel, Taos, Italy, and Rhode Island. She takes at least one workshop a year with a master pastelist, both on location and in studio. |
Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America
Member of the Southeastern Pastel Society, Georgia Awards and Juried Show Exhibitions
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