An Arts and Culture Adventure for International Kids in Italy –
Umbria – Tuscany
Enriching for kids, relaxing for parents
Arte al Sole is a summer day camp for international children offering week-long sessions based on the art, culture, and natural science of Italy with locations in Panicale, Umbria, near Lake Trasimeno, Citta della Pieve, Perugia, Gubbio and Assisi, with many characteristic hill towns in between; and Tuscany, in the majestic walled city of Lucca, near Florence, the Tuscan coast, and the Western Chianti region. Children ages 6-12 will explore the artistic and natural wonders of these inspiring environments through exciting and engaging activities in art history, fine arts principles, nature walks, sketching and painting, collage, architecture, sculpture, craftsmanship, and science. Each session includes a cooking lesson preparing regional dishes and a fieldtrip to local museums and architectural sites. A teen leadership program is also offered for students ages 13-17. For further information, contact shannon@italiakids.com.

Art in the Countryside
Umbria Program
Session I: Ancient Impressions: Patterns as Expressions of Greatness in Etruscan and Roman Culture June 24-28, 2013

The connections between Etruscan and Roman culture and other Mediterranean influences will be explored thematically as we engage with many facets of the patterns that came together to form enduring legacies in the history of art and architecture. Our critical inquiry approach to visual arts and culture encourages children to draw their own conclusions about the function of these patterns as expressions of the societies that produced them during a week of hands-on fun and wonderment examining the archaeological record, etching and hammering jewelry, drawing vase motifs, creating mosaic floor patterns, designing columns and arches, and planning a commemorative banquet.

Session II: Castles and Country Roads July 1-5, 2013 – Limited space remaining for this session

From our base at the Fontanelle casale, a beautifully restored farmhouse overlooking Lake Trasimeno, children will set out on adventures through time and space on an enchanting olive estate nestled in rolling hills and roads that meander through creeks and oak woods. We will visit the Museum of Glass, an ex-glassblowing factory, where the children will learn about the disappearing art of weaving straw around glass bottles and the architecture and workings of a very ancient factory; a shepherdess will stop by with her flock, a living lesson in pastoral country life; a local cook will teach the children how to prepare local specialties (including chocolates in honor of the Perugina-Nestle chocolate factory nearby); and the children will explore local art, architecture, and legends through our integrative arts curriculum.

Accommodations can be arranged directly with the Colle San Paolo Agriturismo, who can also refer families to a variety of wonderful outings for parents to enjoy while their children are having fun with us!

Art in the City
Tuscany Program
Treasures of the Pilgrimage Road 8-12 July 2013

Set on the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage road, medieval and Renaissance Lucca contained treasures of many forms that together contributed to the city's sophistication and beauty. Children discover how such treasures played a role in the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance as they explore the artistic and natural wonders as well as political and scientific breakthroughs that inspired innovation in painting, drawing, and civic life. Projects in perspective, color, design, sculpture, and various forms of painting engage children in the range of arts that flourished during this era. This session also includes a cooking class and visits to sites throughout this magnificent walled city. For lodging recommendations, please see our Travel Info page.

We are honored to be recommended as an Insider Tip in the 2011 edition of Frommers What To Do with Your Family in Tuscany and Umbria guide