Immerse Yourself in Puglia Italy: A Retreat to Inspire Your Creativity

Join professional watercolour artists Sarah Stokes and Jane Davies in Puglia where a whole raft of experiences await you. Relax and paint in the authentic surroundings of the lovingly restored Masseria, a venue with the message of sustainability at its core. On this retreat you’ll get the chance to soak up the ambience of towns filled with baroque inspired architecture, delight in traditionally cooked, responsibly sourced food at the Masseria, stroll along the stunning white sands and through the crystal clear waters of the nearby Salento beaches and dine out at some charming local restaurants serving up traditional
Italian cuisine.

This experience is a feast for the eyes as well as for the palette. With opportunities to stroll through olive groves, observe and paint flamingos in their natural habitat and ride horses along the shore line of some of Italy’s most beautiful beaches, you won’t be short of inspiration for your paintings. I will be there every step of the way to guide you steadily through the process of getting you visions painted in watercolour.

On this Italian Art Retreat we will explore the natural surroundings and stunning architecture of the area to create some fabulous artwork in an expressive watercolour style.
Hosted at the stunning Masseria Specula, this unique experience will show you how to translate your ideas into stunning pieces of artwork, whether you are painting wildlife,  seascapes or architecture. Whether you’re an established artist or just beginning your journey, all levels of expertise are welcome.

In terms of artistic practice, Jane Davies and Sarah Stokes will help you harness better control over this liquid medium, focusing on a diverse range of subjects. Building your knowledge up steadily, we will start our journey by depicting foraged objects using loose freehand drawing techniques to bring them to life.

Once confident we will dive into watercolour exploring its magical qualities of translucency and fluidity to depict subjects in a loose and expressive manner. The Olive trees, weathered patina of medieval stonework and ancient doors will be our inspiration for a whole range of exciting and exhilarating techniques. Midway through the retreat we will turn our attention to the stunning shorelines that surround the venue and we will guide you through layering techniques to help you recreate the distant waves and rocky coastline of the Ionian Sea. And of course a painting retreat wouldn’t be complete without the opportunity to paint the beautiful animals that abound in this region; wild flamingos, migratory birds, chickens, geckos, horses and cats will give us abundant
opportunities to practice advanced techniques in depicting feathers, fur and texture.

In addition to painting with us, you’ll dive deep into the culture and warmth of this beautiful area. You will have the opportunity to visit the most beautiful baroque towns of Nardò and Lecce, to swim in the crystal clear waters of the renowned Punta Prosciutto beach, to ride horses along the Salento coastline and to learn essential Italian cooking skills from the wonderful chefs at the Masseria.

 This "Expressive Watercolour" art retreat takes place at the Masseria Specula, which is a traditional farmhouse & nearby villas located in Puglia, Southern Italy. It is ideally located in beautiful countryside, close to the long white sandy Specchiarica Beach.  

Stay at the Masseria

The Masseria is the main building where meals & workshops will take place. 

Relax and unwind in one of the Masseria’s beautifully furnished bedrooms. Each room is tastefully decorated and generous in proportion, whether you are sharing or having the room to yourself.

Masseria Room information

Relax and unwind in one of the Masseria’s beautifully furnished bedrooms. Each room is tastefully decorated and generous in proportion, whether you are sharing or having the room to yourself.

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Room Layout:

• First Floor Rooms: Feature roof terraces.
• Ground Floor Rooms: Most have individual garden spaces.
• Accessibility Note: Guests with mobility issues should book a ground floor room.

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Twin Rooms:

• Priced per person, based on double occupancy.
• You can share with a guest of your choice (if available) or be paired with another guest (by us) of the same gender.
• The en-suite bathroom is shared between both room occupants.

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Double Rooms (Single Occupancy):

• Designed for single occupancy only, with a double bed.
• You may bring a non-participating artist to share the double room for an additional charge of £1,800. Non-participating artists can join excursions, but will not be able to attend the art workshops.
• Double rooms have a private ensuite

Stay in a Villa, next to the Masseria

If you’re looking for contemporary lines and access to a swimming pool on your stay, then overlooking the Masseria are 4 villas that will offer you just that. Set across the road from the Masseria, they offer the perfect space to unwind and relax.

Contemporary Villas with Pool Access:

• Located across the road from the Masseria, 4 villas offer modern design; each with access to a swimming pool and outdoor space
• These villas provide a relaxing space to unwind during your stay.

Villa Sizes:

• Villas 1 and 4: Larger in size compared to the others.
• Villas 2 and 3: Slightly smaller in comparison.

Rooms in the Villas

• Villa bedrooms are all based on solo occupancy of the room
• Villas will be shared with other participants of the same gender, with shared kitchen, seating area, pool and outdoor space
• All rooms in the villas (except one room in Villa 1) share a villa bathroom

- 7 nights, 8 days of accommodation at the beautiful Masseria & neighbouring villas 

- Exclusive use of the property including all common areas, workshop spaces and gardens 

- Daily Art workshops with Jane Davies & Sarah Stokes as outlined in the itinerary 

- Daily freshly prepared meals cooked by a private chef at The Masseria on most days 

- Two evening meals at local restaurants 

- Wine and non-alcoholic beverages during dinner service

- Unlimited supply of tea/coffee/water during Art Workshops at The Masseria

-  Roundtrip airport transfers from Brindisi airport if you adhere to our flight parameters. These will be emailed to you once the retreat is guaranteed. 

- 5 Excursions including: trip to Nardo town, trip to a local flamingo lake, trip to Lecce & optional trip to local equestrian centre with gentle horse ride along the Salento beach  (please advise your travel insurance provider of this activity in advance of your holiday to ensure you have appropriate cover) 

- Private transportation for all planned trips/English speaking interpreter 

- Spice cocktails and local traditional band on the evening of day 7 

-  Access to a private WhatsApp group with Sarah Stokes, Jane Davies and the other retreat participants four months before the retreat

- Roundtrip airfare to Brindisi airport 

- Airport transfers outside of our flight parameters (which will be sent to you when the retreat is guaranteed) 

- Required Travel Insurance- this is compulsory

-  Art materials — you will receive a detailed list of art materials recommended by artist Sarah Stokes & Jane Davies two months before the retreat. Tables, chairs, glass jars and paper towels are included. A printer will be on-site to print off any photo references. 

- Alcoholic beverages outside of the evening dinner service

- Additional excursions or taxi journeys you may wish to take outside of the itinerary 

- Tips — tipping isn't the norm but it's appreciated by the local service providers 

 - Other expenses guests might incur on their own

-  ETIAS travel authorisation fees  

Important information - Retreat Guarantee and Flight Bookings (IMPORTANT)  

We’re looking forward to having you on board & to secure your spot a £1,000 deposit is required! Just a quick note: a retreat will only be guaranteed once we’ve reached the minimum number of participants needed for it to go ahead. We promise to keep you updated and will notify you as soon as the retreat is confirmed.  

To ensure a smooth experience, we kindly ask that you hold off on booking any flights or making additional travel arrangements until we confirm that the retreat is guaranteed. Unfortunately, Olive & Plum Limited cannot take responsibility for any costs or losses from flight bookings made before we send out that confirmation email.  

As soon as your retreat is guaranteed, we’ll let you know in writing, and you’ll be all set to proceed with your travel plans.  If, for any reason, we can’t guarantee the retreat, you’ll have the option to transfer to a guaranteed retreat or receive a full refund, including your £1,000 deposit.  Thank you for your understanding, and we can’t wait to welcome you!  

Travel insurance is required for all participants attending the art retreat. 

Your policy must ensure that you are covered in the event of unforeseen circumstances such as illness, travel disruptions, or cancellations. Your insurance should cover both the cost of the retreat and any associated expenses, including travel, itinerary excursions and accommodation. Proof of insurance will be required prior to the retreat, and we recommend securing a policy that offers comprehensive protection for your peace of mind. 

We’re thrilled that you’re considering a retreat with Olive & Plum Retreats! 

To secure your reservation, a non-refundable deposit of £1,000 is required. 

The final balance will be automatically charged to your card 180 days before your departure, and you’ll receive a friendly email reminder two days before that charge.  

Here are a few important details to keep in mind:

 • Deposit: Your £1,000 deposit is non-refundable, except in the rare case that we need to cancel your booking. 

• Final Balance: The final balance payment is due no later than 180 days before your departure. Once this payment is made, it becomes non-refundable if you need to cancel within 180 days of the trip. 

• Exceptions: There may be exceptions to these terms as outlined in the Package Travel Regulations (EU law). These regulations provide for refunds or compensation in certain circumstances, such as significant changes to the trip or unavoidable and extraordinary situations. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more information.  

• Transfer: If you’re unable to attend, our cancellation terms apply. However, you can transfer your booking to someone else. There will be an administration charge for this, which we’ll let you know about when you request the transfer.  

Lastly, we highly recommend that all guests consider getting travel insurance at the point of booking. This will help protect you against any unforeseen events that might impact your ability to attend.  Thank you for your understanding, and we can’t wait to create an amazing experience for you!