Puglia Villages Painting Holiday with Hazel Soan                 May 11-15, 2027

PLEASE NOTE: THE $200 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT EXPIRES Dec 12, 2026

You are invited to an exciting 5-day painting holiday in the charming and unforgettable Puglian villages featuring art classes taught by renowned UK artist, Hazel Soan. Together our small group of 10-15 participants will discover the food, quirky architecture, culture and art of this region. We are looking forward to making art in good company. 

Meet Hazel Soan

Hazel trained at the Camberwell College of Arts and the Leicester College of Art. She has exhibited worldwide and is remembered well as an Art expert on Channel 4’s popular daytime television programme Watercolour Challenge and for her two series’ of Splash of Colour, made by Anglia TV. Hazel is a bestselling author of numerous highly regarded art tutorial books. Hazel resides in London. Check out Hazel Soan on Wikipedia.

About Puglia

Puglia, the "heel of Italy's boot", is celebrated for its sun-drenched coastlines, ancient olive groves, and whitewashed hill towns. We will explore 6 iconic towns: historic Bari; Martina Franca, a Baroque Jewel; Alberobello,* the Fairytale Village; Matera* and its ancient cave dwellings; and the spectacular coastal towns of Polignano and Monopoli. Our home base will be Bari which is just a short flight from Rome. Average temperatures for that week in May are highs of 20°C (67-69°F) night time lows of 11°C (51-54°F)--perfect for a lovely painting holiday!

*Note that Alberobello and Matera are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.No

When to Arrive?

May 9, 2027

Welcome to Puglia!  Your arrival date is your decision but we suggest you arrive by at least Sunday May 9 so that you have time to settle in and possibly to adjust to a new time zone or the vagaries of travel which, as we know, could include a missed or delayed flight. Better to be relaxed at the start of your vacation workshop. **

Warm Up Sketch + Welcome Reception

May 10, 2027

All workshop participants and nonPainter Companion ticket holders are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm. Below is our proposed itinerary. 

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Day 1--Historic Bari

May 11, 2027

Today we will take a short walk from our hotel to the historic centre of Bari. Bari is famous for its historic walled old town and the Basilica di San Nicola which holds the relics of Saint Nicholas—the inspiration for Santa Claus—and is a famous pilgrimage site. Here Hazel will teach Workshop #1.

In the afternoon we will visit the Archeological Museum now housed in a medieval Benedictine monastery to learn more about the history and culture of the region.

Optional: in the evening participants are invited to meet up in the hotel bar to finish our paintings.

Day 2--Martina Franca, a Baroque Jewel

May 12, 2027

Today we will visit Martina Franca, one of the "white villages" of Puglia. This village flourished in the 18th century, when noble families and master craftsmen transformed it into one of southern Italy’s most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture. Scholars call its distinct, ornate style “Martinese Baroque”.

Here, in the charming streets of Martina Franca, Hazel will teach Workshop #2.

After lunch we will visit a local vineyard for a wine tasting.

Optional: Meet up in the hotel bar in the evening to finish our paintings.

Day 3--Alberobello, the Fairytale Village

May 13, 2027

Today we will visit the "fairytale" village of Alberobello, known for its concentration of limestone "trulli" dwellings. This town boasts over 1,500 of these remarkable cone-shaped buildings and we will enjoy painting them during Workshop #3.

In the afternoon we will enjoy free time to explore the town, shop or paint on our own.

Optional: Meet up in the hotel bar in the evening to finish our paintings.

Day 4--Matera and its Ancient Cave Dwellings

May 14, 2027

Stepping outside of Puglia for the day to the Basilicata region, we will visit Matera and its ancient cave dwellings recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Sassi di Matera are a complex network of ancient cave dwellings carved into the limestone cliffs of a deep ravine and inhabited since the Paleolithic period. Today, the restored caves serve as unique hotels, restaurants, and museums. We will visit a former cave-home and cave-church.

Here on one of the winding pathways in the village Hazel will teach Workshop #4.

Optional: Meet up in the hotel bar in the evening to finish our paintings.

Day 5--Polignano + Monopoli, Breathtaking Coastal Towns

May 15, 2027

Located just 10 km apart on the Adriatic coast, Polignano a Mare is famous for its dramatic cliffside views and romantic coves, while Monopoli is known for its sandy beaches and bustling, historic old town. 

We will start our day in Polignano where Hazel will teach Workshop #5. And after lunch we will visit Monopoli where we will have time to explore, shop or paint on our own before heading back to the hotel.

Departure

May 16, 2027

It's time to say goodbye but you will never forget the friends you made or the skills you learned during this great week! Or you might consider extending your stay so that you can explore on your own some of the nearby towns that we missed!  You're here now--why not enjoy a long, relaxing holiday?

PLEASE NOTE: THE ORDER OF EVENTS AND SUBJECTS PROPOSED IN THIS ITINERARY MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Recommended Workshop Supply List

Click HERE.

FAQs

Q: What will my spouse/travelling buddy do while I'm in my art class?

A: Your art class is your time and your spouse/buddy can take this time to explore each village on their own. They will see parts of the village, museums and cafes that you will not have time to see because you will be in your art class. At lunch you can share what you learned in your class and your spouse can tell you about what they discovered during their adventures.

Click HERE for more FAQs.

For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray at Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.

Tour Includes

• A welcome reception
• All art classes
• Ground transportation to the villages and to the museums and sites mentioned
• A farewell dinner 

Tour Excludes

• Flights to/from the area
• Hotel
• Airport pick-up and drop-off
• Meals (except those listed above)
• Painting supplies
• City taxes payable by guest at check out
• Tips and gratuities
• Porterage/luggage handling
• Travel insurance
• Expenses of a personal nature
• Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list

Ticket Prices in USD

Save money by taking advantage of the $200 Early Bird discount until Dec 12, 2026!    

*NonPainter Companion tickets include the same attractions and meals as the Workshop Participants with the exception of the art classes.

VIP Members get an additional $100 off their ticket price!

This Studio 56 VIP Rewards Program is a loyalty incentive for participants who have previously taken part in a Studio 56 Vacation Workshop. Click HERE to learn more.

How to Register for this Workshop

To reserve your spot in this workshop, a $500USD nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300USD nonrefundable deposit is required for nonSketcher Companions 150 days prior to the start of the workshop, that is, by Dec 12, 2026. The remaining balance is due 120 days prior to the start of the workshop, that is, Jan 11, 2027.

To make a deposit, please scroll to the bottom and click BOOK NOW.

PLEASE READ OUR  REFUND POLICY.

Bring a Friend and Get a $50 Rebate

Click HERE to learn more.

Greenlighting a workshop

Workshops are greenlighted when the minimum number of tickets (10) has been sold. All ticket holders will be notified by email when this happens. Please do not book non-refundable flights or accommodation until we have given the go-ahead for the workshop.

Accommodations

Hotel accommodation is not included in this package. The Tour Manager and the Workshop Instructor will be staying in a 4-star hotel that is a 5 minute walk from the train station. This 135-room hotel preserves the memory of a noble residence dating back to 1885, set in a lush park with a designer swimming pool.  The hotel features a gym, spa, and terrace bar. Room rates start at 166€/night incl tax and breakfast for a single room with free cancellation up to 24 hours prior to arrival. 

How to Make a Hotel Reservation

Before you make a hotel reservation, click the blue BOOK NOW button below to make your deposit that will ensure that you have a spot in this workshop.

After you have secured your spot in this workshop, you will be sent information about the hotel with instructions for how to book a room. Please do not make nonrefundable flight or hotel reservations before the workshop has been greenlighted.

Participants can stay in this hotel or book into another nearby hotel or Airbnb if they prefer. 

Travel + Medical Insurance

Last minute cancellations in this workshop for any reason are nonrefundable therefore protect your investment in this vacation by purchasing trip cancellation insurance. Click HERE for a list of US trip cancellation insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip using that credit card. Be sure to get medical insurance as well.

Insider Tips

• Clean, modern trains from Bari Airport (BRI) to Bari Centrale (city centre) run approximately hourly, with extra services often operating during peak times. The direct trip takes about 20 minutes, costs €5, and drops you straight into the main station. The walk to the hotel from Bari Centrale Train Station is 5 blocks and takes 11 minutes.
• There is a 4€ tourist tax/night on all hotel rooms in Italy that you will need to pay the hotel at checkout.

Travel Tips

 Please check HERE for Studio 56 Travel Tips.

Pedestrian Friendly?

Participants must be fully mobile and able to walk for up to 35 minutes. If you are not fully mobile and able to walk up to 35 minutes, we recommend you consider a different Studio 56 workshop that is less physically demanding. 

Your Tour Manager

Participants will be accompanied by Studio 56 owner, Brenda Murray. Brenda is a Canadian artist and arts advocate, the founder of Urban Sketchers Waterloo Region and a former Urban Sketchers Board member. A seasoned traveler, Brenda has traveled to Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, England, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea (resident for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and the USA (35 states). Brenda will be on hand to assist the instructor, to lead the cultural activities and to ensure that everything runs smoothly.  She has completed the St. John's Ambulance Emergency First Aid - CPR C - AED training. Learn more about Brenda HERE. 

For More Information

Email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com or call Brenda Murray at 519-572-1757.

Book Now

To guarantee your spot in this exciting vacation workshop, participants must pay a $500 deposit by clicking the BOOK NOW button below.

Interested but you have questions? Email Brenda at info@Studio56Boutique.com