Art Retreat Lake Como, Italy

Join us for a magical Art Retreat, inspired by the Villas and Gardens of Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como Retreat

Peaceful, tranquil, elegant Lake Como, an idyllic spot for an Art Retreat in the shadow of Villas and Gardens.

Based in Bellagio at our lakefront hotel, we'll explore so many perfect backdrops for Janet's painting, sketching, and calligraphy classes: the stunning Villa Carlotta, the flower fields and winding paths of Villa Melzi's gardens, from our rooftop terrace overlooking the lake and mountains, and even a "Paint your Pasta" full day Italian cooking class.

In between our schedule of our classes, we'll pass our time with wine tastings, seaside promenade strolls, and you'll love Bellagio's great shopping (especially the leather), fantastic pizza, and gelato!

Meet Janet

Travel sketchbook journaling is one of my passions. Everything is an inspiration and I’m always eager to capture whatever is before me, with my sketchbook and paintbox in tow. I’m an avid journal keeper, urban sketcher and calligrapher.

Journaling is my passion and I’ve written a book on the subject, Artful Journals.

To learn more about Janet and her work, go to: www.janettakahashi.com

Getting Around:

The Ferry System

You'll love our principal mode of transportation for our mid-lake excursions, the ferries. With beautiful views wherever you look, they'll crisscross us between Bellagio, Menaggio, Varenna and Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo

Paint your Pasta

Cooking Class!

A fun and delicious day, from morning coffee & snacks, to afternoon lunch with wine, learning to make Italian pasta while sketching in Janet's class.

Menaggio Visit

Villa Carlotta

This stunning lakefront villa is a treat to visit. It's now a museum, filled with sculptures and paintings from famous Italian artists, and the gardens are a perfect backdrop for a painting class.

Villa Melzi Gardens

A botanical paradise, we'll stroll though Villa Melzi's lovely gardens, stopping for one of Janet's inspired painting class.

What's Included

Seven nights at our lakefront hotel in Bellagio on Lake Como, Italy - all rooms with at least partial lake view
A full programs of Janet's Art Classes in several inspiring locations in town and around the lake
Daily hot and cold buffet breakfast
Full day Italian cooking class including lunch and wine
Traditional wine tasting and aperitif afternoon
Farewell waterfront dinner
Mid lake ferries to all our destinations
Admission to Villa Carlotta Museum and Gardens
Admission to the Villa Melzi Botanical Garden
Visit to the charming lakefront town of Menaggio
The assistance of your English-speaking guide/host
All taxes and service fees

Non-Participation Option

For those who'd like to accompany a guest on the Art Retreat but not participate in the classes, we offer a reduced price Non-Participant option. It's a full program of the hotel and all activities listed above with the exception of the art and cooking classes.

Janet's Fall 2023 program to be announced this September

We'll have the dates, room options, and prices.

In the meantime as it is likely to sell out, we are starting a no-obligation, no deposit Interest List.

If you like to be added to the list just send an email to viaggiotours@yahoo.com and let us know how many in your party, and if any are Non-Participants.

Before we offer space to the public, we will contact everyone on the list, in the order they contacted us.

Thank you so much, and Janet and I hope to see you up on the lake next year!

ALL PROGRAMS SUBJECT TO CHANGE