Top Italy Art & Culture Classes

Bring home the ultimate souvenir of your Venetian sojourn—your own papier-mâché carnival mask, handmade to your own design. A local master artisan works with you and your small group to unleash your creativity, as well as sharing stories of craftsmanship and carnival. Work with a whirlwind of materials—not just paint, but feathers, glitter, and trimmings—to create something that’s truly and uniquely yours.

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.

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.

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.

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 course on mask-making from a master artisan 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.

Immerse yourself in the ancient art of Roman mosaics in a hands-on workshop. Learn traditional techniques, use natural marble, and create your own mosaic masterpiece to take home from an authentic mosaic studio.

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.

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.

Explore the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel without spending hours waiting in line on this comprehensive tour that includes entry to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Navigate the vast halls, artwork, and history with a guide who gives special insights into the collections that you would likely miss if alone. Go beyond the guidebook and enjoy commentary that enlivens highlights such as the Gallery of the Maps and the Pineyard Courtyard.

Take a break from sightseeing and get hands-on in this small-group, wallet-making workshop in Florence. Join a local designer who guides you through the process of crafting a wallet from scratch, with a choice of leather, colors, and details to make it your own. Perfect for friends, couples, or solo adventurers seeking a unique, interactive activity.

Change up your sightseeing routine in Rome with this hands-on pottery class in the historic center, steps from the main sights. Roll up your sleeves and get to work molding and shaping your clay and tapping your creative vein by painting the finished work under the guidance of your ceramics instructor. Take your creation home with you for a unique souvenir of your time in the Eternal City.

Murano glass is one of Venice's most famous crafts, but most tourists never go beyond a glassblowing demonstration. With this hands-on class, take a deeper dive into the city's glass-making traditions by creating colorful beads under the guidance of a seasoned artisan. Discover the historic Venetian art of lampworking using techniques passed down through the centuries, and take away your handcrafted beads as a unique souvenir of your time in the Floating City.

Having to decide what to see in Syracuse, this cannot be missing. It was 2008 when UNESCO registered the Opera dei Pupi among the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It was the first Italian heritage to be included on this list. For this reason, if you are wondering what to do in Sicily, one of the simplest answers is to attend such a show: an experience not to be missed. And thanks to SiciLife you can take a real journey into the art of puppeteers.

A unique experience that combines art and local wines paired with quality food in beautiful settings.You will spend three hours in a natural setting, in the heart of the Bardolino Wine area, tasting wines and local food, being able to express your creativity in painting on canvas, completely detaching from everyday life.

Rome is so full of art and culture that many travelers feel inspired to create their own masterpieces. Leave all the logistics and planning to someone else, and enjoy a one-of-a-kind night out, with this paint-and-sip experience. Held in a studio in the centrally located Piazza Navona, this class includes all art supplies, plus bottomless soft and alcoholic beverages and Roman-style pizza. The only thing you need to bring is artistic flair.

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.

Make the most of your time in Florence and avoid missing key highlights with a guided tour that includes convenient timed entry to the Accademia Gallery and covers the historic center on a walking tour, with local history and insider tips. For the ultimate cultural experience, upgrade to include a tour of the Uffizi Gallery (admission included)

A unique tour at Villa Borghese in Rome The meeting place is in Piazza Scipione Borghese, at the Venus fountain. First point of interest of the Tour, we will take the material for drawing and for the first lesson. Second point of interest of the Tour: "Aviary of the secret gardens", immediately followed by "La Meridiana" Third point of interest of the Tour: The Sea Horse Fountain, here we will stop to draw and color the wonderful fountain with the four sea horses Fourth point of interest: Piazza di Siena. Here you can stop to draw the many subjects available, Raphael's house, the clock house, the fountain of the three puppets or even just the beautiful pine trees of Rome. Fifth point of interest is the temple of Diana, surrounded by stone seats where you can comfortably sit and draw. The garden of the lake offers us as subjects, the temple of Aesculapius, in the center of the lake and La Fonte Gaia, or of the satyrs, a beautiful fountain from the Art Nouveau period.

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.

Zip around Rome in a classic Fiat Cinquecento with a private local guide and photographer. Cruise through the charming neighborhood of Trastevere, stop at landmarks from the Colosseum to the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola and strike a pose at each stop. Along the way, hear stories about the city’s rich history and leave with photos worthy of a postcard.

Florence is famous for its art and architecture, but even the most ardent culture lover needs a break. Delve into the city's cuisine and learn how to make authentic pizza and gelato during this hands-on cooking class. Led by a chef, sample a variety of pizzas before getting to work on your own creations, then watch the step-by-step demonstration of how gelato is made. Afterward, feast on your creations with unlimited wine.

Join an Italian artist to create your own watercolor painting of Lake Como, in a setting that’s inspired painters for centuries. Amid the historical gardens of Villa Melzi in Bellagio, you’ll create your own work using little-known techniques under the supervision of Abele Vadacca, a prestigious sculptor and painter. No experience is necessary, and all equipment for the private experience is provided.