Top Italy Art & Culture Classes in 2026

Find your inner Renaissance artist in the historic heart of Florence. This outdoor class takes inspiration from the sights and sounds of the city, and offers seasoned pros and beginners alike the chance to put paintbrush to paper. Perch amongst the buildings and get a helping hand from your instructor on composition, perspective, and color, and walk away with a pencil drawing and watercolor painting to remember the trip.

Many tours visit the ancient ruins of Pompeii but only a few include the first-hand expertise of an archaeologist guide. Explore the ancient Roman city and discover what life was like before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the company of a guide who brings history to life while leading you to important buildings and structures such as the Basilica, the Forum, and the thermal baths.

Experience a side of Rome rare to visitors with a mosaic-making workshop in the heart of the city—all materials and a silver frame included. Get hands-on instruction in techniques used by 19th-century artisans. Workshops are limited to only seven participants, ensuring each jewelry-maker will get personalized attention. Bottled water is provided, plus a complimentary tea or coffee.

The contact with clay: transforming the material with your own hands and creating a shape is fun and exciting. To experience one of the most ancient techniques is to immerse yourself in the very history of our town, a town with an ancient ceramic tradition.

Take a break from the usual sightseeing and snapping photos in Venice with this special experience that allows you to be an artist for the day. Learn how to capture the sky, lagoon, and historic palaces through the time-honored medium of watercolor. A local Venetian artist takes you to find the ideal corner of the city to paint, where you can create your own artwork.

Take a course on mask-making from a local instructor in Venice, and learn about the history of this ancient tradition. See the traditional art of decorating a mask and see what goes into the preparation for the Venetian Carnival. Then create your own masterpiece to create a special memory from your time in Venice.

Head to one of the few remaining artisan mask studios still active in Venice for this mask-making workshop, a wonderful way to unleash your creativity—and craft a unique and expressive souvenir. Learn the history of Venetian masks and the artisans who make them, then paint and decorate your own mask using traditional techniques such as painting and gilding. Your tutor is on hand throughout to help realize your vision.

Discover the secrets of Tuscan cooking during this full-day experience, including a market visit and cooking class. Shop for fresh ingredients at a Florentine market before venturing to a Tuscan farmhouse in the countryside. Take your cue from a chef as you create Italian dishes from scratch including bruschetta, pasta, roast pork, and tiramisù. Complement the fruits of your labor with complimentary Tuscan wine.

Partake in one of Italy’s most time-honored art forms during this two-and-a-half-hour small-group glass-blowing workshop on the island of Murano. Suitable for beginners, workshops include a live demonstration and hands-on instruction in shaping molten glass. Make an original art object to take back home as a souvenir, ready for pickup the next day. Your glass piece can also be shipped worldwide at an additional cost.

Create your own signature scent in the heart of Florence during a perfume masterclass with a master perfumer at the historic Antica Erboristeria San Simone. Step into a centuries-old apothecary and discover the art of fragrance-making, inspired by the Renaissance alchemists. Craft your personalized 30ml perfume using rare essences, and take home both your custom blend and a certificate to commemorate the experience. A unique and sensory journey awaits.

Get hands-on experience with one-to-one guidance during a private glassmaking lesson. Discover the secrets of Murano glassmaking techniques from one of the most renowned craftsmen of Venice. The 90-minute workshop includes all materials—including your own marvelous glass artwork to take home—plus a 10 percent discount on glassworks from the artist.

Put pen to paper in a 17th-century art studio in Rome while enjoying unlimited Italian wine and snacks during this private life drawing class. Traditional art classes can be intimidating; this experience lets you learn how to draw the human form with guidance from an experienced artist in a relaxed setting. Enjoy pizza and wine while creating your artwork in a small group of up to 14 people.

Knowing where to start when visiting Rome's archaeological sites can be daunting, especially for first-time visitors. This group tour handles the planning, with an itinerary that includes the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Step onto the amphitheater's restricted Arena Floor, something the majority of travelers aren't able to access. Gain deeper insights through your guide's commentary, which goes beyond what you'll find on the information panels.

The Doge's Palace prison near St. Mark's Square is where Casanova was held before his famous escape—a specific and unusual piece of Venetian history that standard walking tours rarely cover. This experience combines a guided visit to the historic prison with a hands-on Carnival mask-making workshop led by a local artisan, with a completed mask to take home at the end.

Explore the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel without spending hours in line on this comprehensive tour, which includes skip-the-line entry and visits to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Navigate the vast halls, artwork, and history with a guide who offers special insights into collections you would likely miss on your own.

Tuscany has been known for its pottery since ancient times, and with this hands-on class you’ll enjoy an introduction to traditional Tuscan “majolica” in just a few hours. Head to a family-run workshop in Montelupo, a village known for its pottery production since the Renaissance. Visit a real pottery factory and learn about Italian techniques then create your own masterpiece that you can take home alongside a master potter.

After a great stay in Rome, arrange for a stress-free ride to Rome Fiumicino Airport with a private, customizable transfer service. Meet your driver at your Rome city hotel and relax on the journey to the airport without worrying about rental car drop-off or hauling luggage onto public transport. Receive personalized attention in a private vehicle for up to eight passengers.

Sample food from spots that locals love, and few tourists know about, on this small-group food tour. Head off the tourist trail to visit eateries in Campo de Fiori, the Jewish Ghetto, and Trastevere—including hidden locations you'd otherwise miss out on. As you explore, learn how food shapes Roman culture and sample food and wine from vendors across the city.

Get an inside peek into the world-famous glassblowing factories of Murano with this small-group tour. From central Venice, ride a water taxi across the Venetian Lagoon to the colorful island of Murano. Watch a glassmaking demonstration by a master craftsman, and enjoy time to browse the factory showroom featuring finished works of art. Finally, attend your choice of hands-on workshop to create a take-home piece of jewelry or mosaic using authentic Murano glass.

Take a break from sightseeing in Florence, and spend some time inside cooling off from the daytime heat, with this gelato and pizza cookery class. Under the guidance of a chef, learn how to make these Italian dishes whilst getting insight into the country's culinary traditions along the way. Feast on what you have made after the class has wrapped up and celebrate with unlimited wine and soft drinks.

Discover the famous beauty of one of Italy’s most iconic shorelines with this full-day tour of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento. Travel in an air-conditioned mini-coach along spectacular coastal roads, stopping to visit the region’s three most popular and beautiful villages—Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. With tips from your knowledgeable guide, enjoy leisure time in each town to stroll narrow cobblestone streets and shop for unique handmade goods.

Most Colosseum tours take you only into the stands and don't offer a second perspective of the amphitheater. Step onto the Arena Floor with a guide, then head up to the first and second levels for views across the ancient structure. The tour finishes at Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, with stories of Rome’s games and battles throughout.

Sip Italian aperitivi—and indulge your creative spirit—during this unique small-group activity in Rome. This two-in-one painting class includes unlimited pre-dinner drinks, all hosted within the setting of a historic palazzo. Get the chance to create your own masterpiece during this beginner-friendly workshop, and enjoy a fun and social way to begin a night out in the Eternal City.