Courses

A writing and painting workshop with Marcia Meier and Helena Hill

With Karolina Lenart

At Lucca, Tuscany

25 September - 02 October, 2026

We are excited to be returning to Lucca and the hospitality of Chef Karolina and her husband, Dawid, for a women’s writing and painting retreat Sept. 25-Oct. 2, 2026! We are Marcia Meier, award-winning memoirist and longtime book editor and publisher, and Helena Hill, writer and exceptional watercolorist and teacher. We have led similar workshops in Italy, Spain, Mexico and Peru over the past six years. We love Karolina and Dawid and their awesome hospitality, and can’t wait to return.

Course Highlights

  1. Eight days in a gorgeous villa nestled among the luscious Tuscan landscape surrounding the romantic village of Lucca, Italy.
  2. Four days of writing and painting sessions at the villa, interspersed with time to explore Lucca; a Tuscan cooking class with Karolina; optional massage and/or yoga; wine tasting at a local wine producer; dinner at a 5-star restaurant in Lucca; and time for hiking and shopping.
  3. A day trip to Portovenere, the beautiful ocean gateway town to Cinque Terre, with optional boat tour.
  4. A day tour of a beautiful hill town with time for shopping and lunch.
  5. A visit to Villa Reale di Marlia, Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister’s villa in Lucca, with its spectacular history and surrounding gardens.

Day by Day Workshop Schedule

  1. Day 1: The arrival day! Group will be picked up from Pisa/Florence airport or Lucca Station at 3-5 pm. Arrival, unpack, settle in Villa , time to rest. Around 6:00pm , Welcome gathering with Marcia and Helena including day-to-day schedule and workshop plan, goals, and challenges. Dinner by Follow Tuscany team.
  2. Day 2: Home day! Morning recovery…breakfast 8:30-9:30am. Time to relax and enjoy surrounds - first session with Helena and Marcia . 12.45pm Arancello - introduction(secret recipe for orange liquor) Lunch at 1:00pm under pergola prepared by our Chef. Post lunch (3.30pm) it’s time to explore Lucca! Individual exploration and shopping time (You will have Lucca map ) Meeting 7.30pm at Main square for Dinner-5 star feast with our friend at his beautiful restaurant.Arrival home around 10:30pm
  3. Day 3: Breakfast at 8:30-9:30am , session with Marcia & Helena at home , Lunch 1:00pm under pergola , time to rest,take a walk . Meeting Karolina at 4:30pm for fun Tuscan cooking class -You will learn how to make Ravioli and Tiramisu, Dinner 7:00pm
  4. Day 4: Breakfast at 7:30am – 8:30am, Departure to Portovenere -The famous bay of Poets- most of the beautiful costal town in Liguria-gate to Cinque terre. Individual exploration , Lunch on Your own.Optional boat tour.Back home around 5:30pm home, welcome aperitivo and Pizza party for dinner.
  5. Day 5: Home day! Breakfast at 8:30-9:30am followed by session with Marcia and Helena around the villa gardens or in the studio . Lunch at 1:00pm. After lunch we will depart for fantastic wine tasting at our local wine producer and afterwards visit in Villa Reale -Napoleon Bonaparte sister villa – unique cultural experience ! Back home for dinner with private chef.
  6. Day 6: Breakfast at 8:30-9:30am. San Gimignano day. Guided walking tour upon arrival , free time for Lunch and Shopping . Back home around 5:00pm, Time to rest , dinner served at 7:00pm .
  7. Day 7: 1st Full day at the villa . Breakfast 8.30:9.30am , session with Marcia and Helena , Lunch at 1:00pm , afternoon closing session , time to pack , we have a masusse available for massages if anyone need one ☺ , Gala aperitivo with Aperol Spritz and aperitivo followed by dinner with chef Karolina.
  8. Day 8: Breakfast home and departure 8:00am -10:00am .

Course Cost: 4100 Euro

Cost:

4,100 Euros double occupancy or 4,300 Euros single occupancy

Price is inclusive of everything except travel to and from Italy (shuttle to the villa from the Pisa/Florence airport and/or train station included) and two day trip lunches.

Our bios:

Marcia Meier, MFA, is an award-winning memoirist and author of seven books, including Face, A Memoir. (See her full bio atwww.marciameier.com.) She writes a weekly column atmarciameier.substack.com. Marcia has taught writing for more than twenty years, including writing workshops in Spain, Mexico and Italy. Her publishing company, Weeping Willow Books, has published more than a dozen books over the past 15 years. She is an adventurous spirit who loves to travel and inspire and encourage other writers.


Helena Hill is a writer, watercolorist, and world traveler who lived with her family in Peru during her childhood. (See her bio atwww.helenahillart.com.) She has returned to Peru four times to rediscover her childhood home while writing her memoir. As a Spanish teacher, she led groups of students to Mexico, and most recently has led groups to Peru, Italy and Spain for watercolor and writing retreats. She has traveled extensively in Italy, and has studied and painted the landscapes of Tuscany and Umbria. Helena's passion is teaching and inspiring beginning watercolorists. She speaks fluent Spanish, is a student of Italian, and is an exceptional guide and teacher.

To see photos from our most recent visit to Lucca in 2019, seehttps://marciameier.com/​2026-writing-italy