# Medieval Illustrations in Metallic Watercolor Retreat with Artist Ana Victoria Calderon in Tuscany

Join the wonderful artist Ana Victoria Calderón for an extraordinary painting retreat in the warm, sunlit hills of Tuscany. Working with metallic and iridescent watercolors on black watercolor paper, you will explore the visual language of the Middle Ages, painting medieval iconography, fantastical animals, and intricate monograms with gold leaf and shimmering pigments. You will create and grow alongside 15 other like-minded artists under Ana's warm and generous guidance.Take part in daily classes with Ana, with plenty of hands-on feedback and personalized advice, as well as insightful demonstrations. Beyond the studio, you will venture to San Gimignano, a UNESCO-listed medieval hilltop town whose Romanesque churches and towers bring the very iconography of the retreat to life, and to Frantoio Pasquini, a four-generation olive oil mill in the nearby hills of Reggello.The retreat welcomes all levels of experience, though some familiarity with watercolor and an enthusiasm for medieval art and design will serve you well.Stay at a gorgeous Tuscan estate with medieval charm, featuring elegant accommodation, lush gardens, a private lake, a spacious art studio, an outdoor pool, and scenic views of Tuscany. Indulge in authentic Italian cuisine, take part in a wine tasting experience on the venue grounds, and enjoy the lovely company of 15 fellow creatives.

## Details

- **Dates:** May 12 - 19, 2027
- **Location:** Vaggio, Tuscany, Italy
- **Starting Price:** $4,850
- **Category:** Painting

## Program

### Medieval Illustrations in Metallic Watercolor Retreat
Step into a world of gold and medieval wonder with artist Ana Victoria Calderón on a weeklong painting retreat in the heart of Tuscany. Working with metallic and iridescent watercolors on black watercolor paper, you will explore the visual language of the Middle Ages, from Romanesque iconography and illuminated manuscript traditions to fantastical animals and the ancient art of the monogram.The retreat welcomes all levels of experience. Ana's teaching is as generous as it is inspiring, guiding you from your very first warm-up strokes all the way through to large-scale compositions that carry real confidence, meeting you exactly where you are and helping you go further than you expected.Beyond the studio, the week takes you to San Gimignano, a UNESCO-listed medieval hilltop town whose Romanesque churches and towers are a living treasury of the very iconography at the heart of your work. A morning visit to Frantoio Pasquini, a four-generation olive oil mill in the hills of Reggello, adds another layer of Tuscan texture to your sketchbook. The week also includes a group meditation, a wine tasting on the venue grounds, and a Secret Friend Exchange on the final day, where each artist creates a handmade postcard for a fellow participant!Some of the topics covered in your classes include:Learning to observe your environment and extract color palettes and textures from your surroundings How to pick up the energy of what you’re looking at Applying gold leaf with confidenceScaling observational sketches from location into larger studio paintingsCreating a handmade postcard for the Secret Friend ExchangeDrawing fantastical animals and mythical figures inspired by illuminated manuscript traditionsConstructing and integrating monograms into your paintingsUnderstanding the properties of metallic and iridescent pigments and how they behave on black watercolor paperPainting backgrounds and building luminous layers from the ground upTaking reference pictures and sketching on location...and many more!Your home for the week will be a stunning Tuscan estate, dating back to medieval times, which blends modern elegance with historic charm and offers beautiful gardens, a private lake, an outdoor swimming pool, scenic views, and a spacious art studio. Savor delicious chef-prepared meals featuring regional Italian cuisine, take part in a delightful wine-tasting experience on the venue grounds, and enjoy the company of 15 other like-minded creatives, making bonds that will last a lifetime!

### Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR), at 4:00 PM and get transferred to the venue, reaching it by 5:00 PM.After settling into your spacious and elegantly designed room, explore the cozy common areas, the well-equipped workshop space, the peaceful pool, and the expansive gardens, all surrounded by serene vineyards and olive groves. Meet the lovely artist Ana Victoria Calderón, your instructor for the retreat, and gather for a welcome ceremony before sitting down to a delightful dinner with welcome cocktails, sharing your excitement for the week ahead.

### Day 2: Classes at the venue & wine tasting experience
Greet the morning with a nourishing breakfast and a steaming cup of coffee before a quick check-in with the venue hosts. Prepare for your first full day with Ana and your fellow artists, ready to step into a world of gilded wonder and medieval magic!Your adventure into metallic and iridescent watercolor begins in the studio. Start with warm-up exercises to get your brushes moving and your imagination fully awake. Explore the fundamentals of watercolor, revealing the extraordinary qualities of metallic and iridescent pigments as they shimmer and glow on black watercolor paper. With your senses newly tuned, learn how to observe your surroundings and extract color palettes and textures from the world around you. Ana will be right by your side throughout, offering encouragement and tailored support whenever you need it.Pause midday for a relaxed and satisfying lunch, then head out to the terraces for an afternoon inspiration-gathering exercise. With sketchbook in hand, soak in the scenery and capture the shapes and patterns that speak to you. Back in the studio, you will begin transferring your drawings onto paper, guided by Ana each step of the way. She will also introduce a set of templates she has designed especially for the group, drawing from medieval iconography and Romanesque tradition and featuring mythical animals and fantastical icons, your gateway into a world of monograms and gold leaf.As the class draws to a close, take some time to reset and refresh before the evening begins. The group will head out to explore the vineyard paths and the wine cellar, tasting authentic Italian wines as the golden Tuscan hour settles in. Dinner follows, with a delicious three-course meal by the private chef, full of lively conversation and the warm glow of a day very well spent.

### Day 3: Art trip to San Gimignano
Tuck into a lively breakfast as the morning buzzes with anticipation, then set off with Ana and the group for one of the most enchanting detours of the week.Your destination is San Gimignano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site perched in the hills of Tuscany and known the world over as the "Medieval Manhattan." Once a thriving stopover on the ancient Via Francigena pilgrimage route connecting France to Rome, this walled hilltop town has preserved its medieval skyline almost entirely intact, with 14 soaring tower houses still rising above its rooftops and stone-paved streets. As you pass through the town gates, the medieval world opens up around you in the most vivid possible way, and for a retreat devoted to the art and iconography of the Middle Ages, it is nothing short of a revelation.Wander the cobblestone lanes with Ana and take in the extraordinary richness of Romanesque and Gothic architecture around every corner. Keep your eyes wide open as you move through the town: the carved stone details and ornate decorations on doorways and facades are a treasure trove of patterns and medieval motifs just waiting to be translated into your sketchbook. Ana will share her reflections along the way, drawing connections between the town's visual language and the themes at the heart of the retreat, from Romanesque iconography to the monogram traditions that will soon appear in your own paintings.Pause midday for a relaxed lunch at a welcoming trattoria, where you can sample the flavors of San Gimignano and raise a glass of Vernaccia, the town's celebrated local white wine.The afternoon is yours to keep exploring and sketching. With sketchbook in hand, seek out the symbols and decorative details that catch your eye and draw freely, gathering visual ideas that will feed directly into your work back in the studio. Ana will be close by to reflect with you on what you find, encouraging you to see the town as a living archive of medieval design, full of inspiration for your paintings in metallic and iridescent watercolor on black paper.Return to the venue in the late afternoon with sketchbooks brimming and imaginations fully alight. The evening is a gentle and delicious one: gather with the group around a three-course dinner by the private chef, share the sketches and stories of the day over glasses of wine.

### Day 4: Classes at the venue
Enjoy a generous breakfast and a steaming cup of coffee, followed by a quick check-in with the venue hosts.The morning picks up right where the magic left off. Ana will guide you back into your paintings, introducing new watercolor techniques that will deepen and enrich everything on your paper so far. Watch as she demonstrates how to coax even more luminosity from your metallic and iridescent pigments on black watercolor paper, unlocking the kind of shimmer that feels almost otherworldly.Then comes one of the most spellbinding elements of the week: monograms. Ana will show you how to weave these beautifully intricate medieval letterforms into your compositions, drawing on centuries of illuminated manuscript tradition and Romanesque design. If you're feeling bold, scale up and go bigger!Recharge over a satisfying lunch, then head back into the studio for an afternoon of continued painting and discovery. As the afternoon drifts toward evening, Ana will gather the group for a guided meditation, a beautiful pause to breathe, arrive fully in the present moment, and absorb everything the week has offered so far.Take some time to rest and reset before a flavorful three-course dinner prepared by the private chef and accompanied by a glass of fragrant local wine.

### Day 5: Trip to a traditional olive oil mill
Fuel up with a warm breakfast as the morning light pours in, then climb aboard for a short drive to Frantoio Pasquini, a family-owned olive oil mill nestled among the hills and groves of Reggello, just ten minutes from the venue.Walk through the groves and tour the mill, where four generations have shaped olive oil using both traditional methods and modern techniques. Learn about the process from tree to table, explore the production spaces, and taste freshly pressed olive oil alongside local specialties at their eno-oleoteca. Ana will be right there with you, and as the group moves through the mill and its sun-dappled surroundings, she will share her own reflections on the visit. Pull yours out before you leave and capture whatever catches your eye, be it a gnarled branch or the geometry of the press.Return to the venue for a leisurely lunch, then head back into the studio for an afternoon of painting. Pick up your pieces where you left them and keep building with fresh eyes. Ana will be on hand throughout, offering guidance and encouragement as your medieval compositions grow richer and more assured.Take some time to yourself in the early evening to rest and recharge. Dinner brings the group back together around a three-course meal by the private chef, with good wine and even better conversation flowing as everyone shares the day's discoveries.

### Day 6: Classes at the venue
Greet the morning with a nourishing breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee, then check in briefly with the venue hosts before making your way to the studio.Return to your paintings, asking questions and enjoying moments of uninterrupted creation. Ana will be moving through the room, offering tailored guidance. Whether you are finessing a monogram, pressing gold leaf into place, or deepening the atmosphere of a medieval composition, lean in and trust where the work is taking you.Pause for a relaxed lunch, then return to the studio for the afternoon. Ana will kick things off with drawing names for the Secret Friend Exchange. Afterwards, head back to your paper with a clear mission: bring your metallic artwork to its dazzling conclusion, or get a head start on the postcard destined for your secret friend.As the studio wraps up, take some time to unwind before the evening begins. The private chef has another beautiful three-course dinner ready, paired with flavorful wine.

### Day 7: Classes at the venue
Head into your final day with a wholesome breakfast and a warm cup of coffee, then check in briefly with the venue hosts before making your way to the studio one last time.Start by selecting your favorite piece from the week and sharing it with the group, a chance to look back at everything you have painted on black watercolor paper and truly feel how far you have come. Then, with your secret friend's name in mind, settle in and pour that same creative energy into a handmade postcard, a gilded little farewell made with all the skill and magic you have gathered this week.Enjoy a nourishing lunch, then step into an afternoon of pure celebration. Postcards are swapped, and the room erupts with the joy of discovering what your secret friend made just for you. Gather to share feedback on each other's work, and hear Ana's own reflections as she honors each artist's journey and the luminous medieval world you have all brought to life together.A closing ceremony brings the week to its rightful conclusion, marking everything that has unfolded in this studio and in this wonderfully spirited group.Take some leisure time in the late afternoon, then raise a glass at a spectacular three-course farewell dinner accompanied by cocktails, toasting to the art you have made and the people you are taking home with you.

### Day 8: Departure
Enjoy one last breakfast with Ana and your fellow artists, exchange any last contact details, and get ready for your transfer to Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR). Check-out is at 10:00 AM, and you'll arrive at the airport at around 11:00 AM.As you make your way back home, take with you the lessons that Ana has taught you, as well as a heart brimming with inspiration, unforgettable memories, and cherished new friendships that will last long after the retreat ends. Embrace this newfound energy and sense of community as your retreat experience comes to an end, ready to spread positivity and creativity all around you!

## Instructors

- **Ana Victoria Calderón** - Watercolor artist, author and teacher

## Accommodation

### Tuscan Vineyard Estate

### Shared ensuite room

### Single standard room with adjacent bathroom

### Single standard ensuite room

### Single superior ensuite room

### Single deluxe apartment

## Book This Retreat

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