Top Italy Art & Culture Classes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Venetian masks have a long and storied history: during the republic’s heyday, they were used to conceal the identities of residents who engaged in decadent activities. In their masks, peasants and noblemen were equal. Make your own Venetian mask (yours to keep), adorned with sequins, ribbons, and other fineries, under the tutelage of a local artist. All materials are provided.

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.

Take your crafting skills to the next level and have a special souvenir to remember your trip with this pottery-making class in Ragusa. As it’s a small-group experience, you can guarantee great access to your instructor for questions and demonstrations along the way. As well as learning how to shape the clay, the experience also allows you to get creative and try out painting too.

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.

Take a break from the crowded sightseeing spots in Florence and relax in a quiet studio to learn the secrets behind painting or sculpting on this small-group art lesson. Enjoy hands-on instruction from a professional sculptor or a classically trained painter in an inspiring, sun-filled workshop. Learn ancient and modern techniques, and work on your own creation, painting with oils or sculpting with clay. Classes are suitable for beginners and experts alike.

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.

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.

Arts and crafts lovers can join this mosaic-making workshop in Trastevere. Enter a mosaic laboratory near the Botanical Garden and meet the talented artist who will lead you through creating your very own mosaic masterpiece to treasure. Select your design, grab the tools, and let your creativity flow under Nadia's expert guidance. Your finished mosaic will be carefully set in a box for you to take home after curing.

Take a break from sightseeing and tap into your artistic side with this paper marbling workshop in Florence. Held in a centrally located art studio, this creative class introduces you to a Renaissance-era craft still alive today. In a small group setting with more personal attention, learn about traditional materials, color mixing, and swirling techniques before creating your own one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

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.

Design your own jewelry in a small-group class in Florence’s historic center. Use metalsmithing tools, silver- or gold-plated wire, and gemstones to weave an intricate design with an ancient wire-knitting technique once worn by Renaissance nobility. Choose to make a necklace, earrings, or bracelet, and leave with a piece that reflects Renaissance craftsmanship and your own inspiration.

Rome is home to countless artisan ateliers, and you can experience the city's craftsperson culture with this hands-on leather workshop. Learn techniques and tools for creating a wallet, pouch, keychain, or other leather item with guidance from a seasoned artisan, customizing the design and color to suit your taste. Bring home your personalized creation for a unique souvenir of your time in Rome.

You will learn the steps and the history of the dances of Naples, Campania and Southern Italy: tammurriata, tarantella, pizzica. Connoisseurs and experts in the sector will guide you on this unique journey, which will make you discover the cultural fabric of the south from an unusual perspective.

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.

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.

It is fun to work together and share tools. Working with clay there will be a way to tell the production cycle of majolica and, for the little ones, to put into practice some notion of geometry and basic physics.

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.

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.