Italy’s Tuscany Landscapes Photography Workshop

April 27, 2028: Arrival in Florence

Arrive at Florence Airport, Peretola (FLR), Florence, Tuscany before 2:00 PM today. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.

Welcome to Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check into your centrally located hotel and settle in amid centuries of art and history. As evening falls, we gather for dinner, then head to the Ponte Vecchio to photograph the Arno River at blue hour. The bridge’s soft reflections and warm stone arches are the perfect introduction to Tuscany’s timeless beauty.

April 28, 2028: Sunrise Over Florence, Towering Sights of San Gimignano, Sunset in Val d’Orcia

Dawn finds us at Piazzale Michelangelo, where Florence glows beneath the rising sun, Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome commanding the skyline. After breakfast, we drive to San Gimignano, often called “the medieval Manhattan” for its 14 surviving towers — once symbols of rival noble families’ power. We enjoy a leisurely lunch before continuing through Tuscany’s vine-covered hills to our exclusive farmhouse in the Val d’Orcia. Evening light spills across the countryside as we photograph near Pienza, capturing the iconic harmony of cypress trees, farmhouses, and golden fields.

April 29, 2028: Sunrise at Podere Belvedere, Evening Photography in Pienza

At sunrise, we’ll photograph Podere Belvedere, one of Tuscany’s most recognizable farmhouses, surrounded by early-morning fog and rolling hills that stretch toward the horizon. 

The late afternoon brings us to Pienza, a masterpiece of Renaissance town planning envisioned by Pope Pius II. Here, we’ll capture glowing wheat fields and cypress lanes—some of which featured in the film Gladiator—as the warm Tuscan light fades.

April 30, 2028: Morning Light at Church of San Biagio, Wine Tasting in Montepulciano

We’ll begin the day at sunrise at the graceful Church of San Biagio, a Renaissance masterpiece set below the walls of Montepulciano, photographing its symmetry against soft morning light. Following a leisurely breakfast, we’ll reconvene for an image review, diving into composition, use of light, and creative intent. These sessions are collaborative and encouraging, offering constructive feedback and tailored tips to help you refine your vision and polish your post-processing workflow.

Later in the morning, we’ll head back to Montepulciano, a noble hilltown renowned for its 16th-century architecture and world-class Vino Nobile wines, where we’ll enjoy a private tour and lunch at a family-run winery. In the golden evening light, we’ll return to the Val d’Orcia to photograph Madonna di Vitaleta, a small chapel set among fields and cypress trees that perfectly captures Tuscany’s poetic stillness.

May 1, 2028: Castelmuzio Sunrise and Signature Image Review

We’ll begin at sunrise on the quiet stone streets of Castelmuzio, a small hilltop village that offers an authentic glimpse into rural Tuscany. The warm light filtering through narrow lanes and over terracotta rooftops creates endless opportunities for thoughtful compositions. After returning to our hotel, we’ll enjoy a relaxed breakfast followed by a midday image review. 

In the late afternoon, we’ll head back into the countryside to photograph the rolling hills at sundown—where long shadows, soft color, and layered ridgelines bring the Tuscan landscape to life.

May 2, 2028: Final Full-day Shoot

Today is intentionally left open as a creative, exploratory buffer, offering an opportunity to revisit locations and capture any scenes we may have missed earlier in the journey.

May 3, 2028: Final Tuscan Sunrise in Pienza, Gothic Splendors of Siena

Our final sunrise shoot captures Pienza’s stone terraces and morning haze, a fitting farewell to this landscape. After breakfast and checkout, we’ll drive north to Siena, a city frozen in the Gothic era. We’ll wander its brick lanes, photograph the grand Piazza del Campo, and pause at the ornate Duomo di Siena, whose black-and-white marble façade speaks to a time when art and devotion intertwined. After lunch, we’ll return to Florence mid-afternoon for departures or onward travel.

Flights out can be made after 3:00 PM on May 3, 2028.