Live, paint and explore Tuscany with insiders. Stay in a farmhouse apartment, with your own rental car, and a local host to get you oriented. (This way of traveling is called an Untour - learn more here.) Paint with renowned artist Kim Weiland, sharing his knowledge and experience of inspiring Tuscany. Relax, reassured in the fact that you are dealing with a world-renowned travel company.

Untours will smooth all the bumps of travel out for you, leaving you to all the glories of Tuscany. This is the only art workshop offered that combines the expertise of an artist and a nationally recognized travel company: Untours has been featured on The Today Show, in The Philadelphia Inquirer and was winner of the Most Generous Business in the US.

Kim looks forward to joining you in Tuscany as your artist and part-time guide. He is an experienced traveler and teacher, and a graduate of the Tyler College of Art in Philadelphia. He studied painting three years domestically and one year abroad. He served as president of the American Society of Marine Artists, and has taught painting courses and workshops for many years. He was featured artist in the Artist’s Magazine in May of 2006 and has lived, studied and painted in Italy and throughout Europe. To learn more, please visit his website at www.kimweiland.com.

"Qualities of a good teacher are demonstrated in Kim Weiland's approach to teaching art. Among the more salient characteristic of his style are mastery of his subject, patience and skill in guiding the beginning student, expert evaluations in helping the more experienced artist. Kim makes the classes fun! Students enjoy learning! Kim makes a point of giving each student individual attention during class. He also gives time to whole class demonstrations. His manner invites questions and his expertise answers them beautifully." -Pat Garza

During your stay in Tuscany, Kim Weiland, your artist/guide, will offer 6 painting workshops. These workshops will be 4-5 hours in length and staggered throughout your two-week stay. Please see our workshop schedule below for more information. Each session is unique. We travel the vineyards, towns and countryside of Tuscany, immersing you in the color and inspiration of the landscape. With your instructor as a guide, we will paint Plein Air, a term derived from the French for “open air” that refers to the joy of painting outside and working from the landscape, in the natural light.

• Can anyone paint in these workshops or must I be an accomplished artist? Your workshop is tailored to meet the needs of all artists from novice to expert. Kim Weiland’s gentle teaching style and individual guidance and experience as a teacher qualifies him to work at all levels. He will also paint with you and incorporate demonstrations and critiques into your sessions.
• What if I don’t want to paint today? You are always free to join in or just observe if you wish. There is no pressure and if you feel that painting a peaceful vista by yourself is enough, the choice is totally up to you.
• Can I come along even if I don't paint? Of course! If you come along without painting, you are following in the footsteps of thousands of happy Untourists. More than five thousand Americans have come to this location with Untours, and you will receive all the written guides, and support services that every Untourist receives. Using the rental car included with this package, you can drop the painter at the day’s painting site, while you hightail it off to shop in Siena, see the David in Florence, or cruise the open markets of Pienza! Not only will you have a wonderful time, your painting spouse/friend/companions may just get jealous!
  
  

Some mornings you will paint. On others, you can set out to discover Tuscany on your own with your own rental car. An orientation on your first day with our Untours local expert will equip you with all the best advice on how to see Tuscany the Untourist way. Carefully researched on-site guidebooks are mailed ahead of time, so that you can make plans to see the parts of Tuscany that interest you most, when you are not painting.

• Wednesday: arrival day.
• Thursday: orientation and visit Siena to purchase supplies.
• Friday: painting workshop.
• Saturday: painting workshop.
• Sunday: your day.
• Monday: painting workshop.
• Tuesday: painting workshop.
• Wednesday: your day.
• Thursday: painting workshop.
• Friday: painting workshop.
• Saturday through Tuesday: travel and explore Italy on your own.
• Wednesday: departure home.

Workshops average 4 to 5 hours in length and will be scheduled in the mornings and afternoons.

We have carefully chosen some great locations for our six painting workshops that will range across a variety of painting sites. The famous walled towns of Tuscany will be one site, the iconic cypress trees and vineyards another and a third will be chosen by the class. If weather permits, we hope to encompass a full range of morning and evening light. Your workshop sessions will also be staggered so as to allow you plenty of time to paint and explore on your own. See your workshop schedule for a detailed breakdown. We will be in Tuscany in the high summer, so come prepared for sun. (Bring your hats & water bottles; each site will have shade spots, and nearby restroom facilities.)

Where will you be staying? In heaven, or nearly so...each apartment is set on the Le Chiuse farm and vineyard.

Tucked in among the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, Le Chiuse is a working vineyard that houses a range of lovely farmhouse apartments. An appealing combination of modern furniture and family antiques give each apartment a distinctive look, while wood-beamed ceilings, terra cotta floors and fireplaces add to the rustic charm. Your Untours advisor can give you more details about each apartment. The living room, dining room and kitchen are combined in one large room, many with views of the vineyards. Bedrooms are well appointed and the bathrooms modern and bright.

The site is surrounded by vineyards and the rolling hills of Tuscany. Next to the swimming pool is a comfortable outdoor seating area that is a favorite spot for guests to gather and relax before dinner, even if they aren't swimming.

Bicycles are on site for guests to use, along with a bocce court and ping-pong table. Guests may also use the old pizza and bread oven. The owners live off site but stop in to check on their guests, and the farm foreman is present on weekdays. Guests can buy wine, grappa and olive oil on site, including the farm’s own Brunello wine. And an informal gathering is held each term for guests.

The farm is a 15-minute drive or a 25-minute hike (on a steep trail) up to Montalcino, one of the fabled and picturesque hill towns of Tuscany; the walking trail follows a section of the ancient Via Francigena used in the Middle Ages by pilgrims coming from Northern Europe to Rome. Siena and the Chianti Valley are among many easy day trips.

APARTMENTS IN THE LE CHIUSE FARM AND VINEYARD
To find out more about each Le Chiuse apartment, visit the links below for photos and details
Le Chiuse 1   Le Chiuse 2   Le Chiuse 3   Le Chiuse 4   Le Chiuse 5

Check out the scenery and surrounding of your Tuscan art adventure with this video, made entirely with the photos from the participants of the Tuscany Untour:

Here is what guests have said about the location of your ArtTour with Untours:

Untour with Painting Workshop: $3909* per person with air. $2559* per person ground only. Non-painters welcome! $3239 per person with air $1889 ground only YOUR UNTOUR ARTTOUR INCLUDES: Two weeks in a private farmhouse apartment at Le Chiuse, a working Tuscan vineyard Air & ground transportation (ground only excludes airfare) Support services from knowledgeable, experienced staff, stateside and overseas Our own carefully researched On-Site Guides Painting tuition, art instruction and materials as described at right. Freedom! Experience Tuscany your way, knowing that a local expert is always nearby to help. *Airfare is round trip from New York or Newark. Air taxes, security fees and fuel surcharges from New York/Newark known at the time of printing are included in the prices above. Additional charges at the time of booking may apply. Flights connecting to the departure cities, New York and Newark, can be arranged at additional costs. These prices are based on double occupancy, for shared apartment and car. Larger groups will pay at a lower per person price.

PAINTING WORKSHOP Your cost for six days of workshops in Italy is actually less that you would expect to pay for a similar workshop in the states. Your workshop premium is $670 (included in the fees at left) and includes not only the experience of painting and working with our artist but also includes your basic supplies. Each artist will be supplied with their own personal French Easel, stool and a supply credit at the local art store for use during their stay. No need to hassle carrying all the extra luggage through the airport, in addition we will be purchasing supplies locally only twenty minutes from our location. So pack your favorite brushes and a few of your must have paints or supplies and the rest will be waiting for you.