Bellagio Painting Workshop

Instructor: Jerry Fresia, AIS Master Artist

Bellagio Painting Workshop

Lake Como, Italy
September 2025

We once asked a friend who was visiting us, “Is the lake as beautiful as all the promotional material suggests it is?” He responded, “It’s way more beautiful. Actually, quite indescribable.”

For this reason perhaps many well known writers, musicians and painters have, for centuries passed, made Lake Como their home or, if not their home, certainly as a destination where they could work, create, and be inspired. Dante, Liszt, Puccini, Da Vinci, Corot, and Sargent all did important work here. Churchill, as a painter, worked here and visited many times. Napoleon, too. And of course, Mussolini – who was executed along with his mistress in the little village of Mezzegra, which is in the central part of the lake.

Nowadays, royalty – both those by blood and those who have reached the pinnacles of success – own villas here. Major villas such as Versace’s Villa Fontanelle have been snatched up by billionaires of various stripes. George Clooney lives here a good part of the year, of course, and brings his Hollywood friends to share in the beauty and serenity.

Lake Como is dramatic because the surrounding mountains are very tall and steep. It was created by retreating glaciers with the highest peaks above 8,200 feet. The depth of the lake is 1,300 feet and its length is nearly 30 miles long. The shoreline is dotted with quaint little towns, villas and gardens that one can admire from the busy ferries that make having a car virtually unnecessary.

What Lake Como offers most is a chance to relax and enjoy what most people would call “un paradiso.” And for painters it offers a kaleidoscope of colors and endless painting possibilities. That is why, since 2004, our small workshop school continues to draw painters from around the world. We hope you, too, can join us.

Course Description

In this 6-day painting workshop, you will learn an authentic method of painting handed down directly from the French Impressionists to various Americans such as John Singer Sargent and Robert Henri. This method is valid for all visual art media. You will learn not only the craft side of painting but also the history and philosophy behind the method.

In the demonstrations, Fresia will explain how and why the painting process is broken down into 5 distinct separate stages: Composition, Construction, Underpainting, Reconstruction, and Painting.

Fresia will walk you through the stages, with individual instruction at your easel, throughout the week. The Bellagio painting workshop offers you an opportunity to paint both in the studio and en plein-air with great views of the lake.

Schedule 2025

Dates: Sept 15-20 (Monday-Saturday); we will open up Sept 8-13 if we can get 4 students
Recommended Arrival/Departure: Sunday
Main Demo: Monday, 1:30-4:30pm (welcome reception to follow)
Instruction: Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30-12:00/1:30-4:30
Group Dinner: 7:00pm Wednesday
Farewell Get-Together: 7:00pm Saturday

Workshop Fee

Each 6-day painting workshop in Bellagio costs €1450 per person. Non-painters are welcome to attend the demo and join any of the social functions for €100/week.

The workshop fee covers tuition with 30 hours of instruction, a welcome reception, 1 dinner at a first-rate restaurant, a farewell get-together, and some art supplies. It does not include airfare, lodging or ground transportation.

We will provide easels, safe paint thinner, paper towels, and canvas boards. Students will be responsible for bringing correct paint brushes, their own paints, and charcoal. A detailed description of the art materials can be found here.

Location

The painting classes are held in the artist’s home and studio in Bellagio, a few minutes walk from the center of town. Away from the tourist crowds, it is situated in a quiet neighborhood, on top of a hill, overlooking the harbor of Pescallo. Bellagio, known as the “Pearl of the Lake”, is the most visited town on Lake Como.

Below is a map of Bellagio (click to enlarge) that shows where the 3 recommended hotels are, the artist’s studio and our gallery. If you haven’t been to Bellagio, know that it is a hilly town. The town center has a lower and upper level with about 100 steps in between. The steps are called “salita” as shown in the photo below. To get to the artist’s studio from the center of town, the shortest way is to walk up one of these salita’s. There are no taxis.

Accommodation

We recommend four places to stay in Bellagio, which we have personally inspected for cleanliness and tastefulness. The first two listed below are located in the center of town, close to restaurants, shops and the ferry dock. The other two are closer to the artist’s studio where the painting workshops are held. Please contact the hotel directly to make a reservation and, to get a discount, tell them you’re taking a FRESIA workshop.

RESIDENCE LA LIMONERA
Via Bellosio, 2 – 22021 Bellagio (CO) – Italy
Daniela at info@residencelalimonera.com

Located right next to 2 food shops, Residence La Limonera consists of 11 impeccably clean holiday apartments. A 10% discount on the published rates (ranges from €115-180 per night) has been extended to workshop participants.

A deposit equivalent to 1 night stay is required to get a confirmed booking. The discount will be applied when you pay the balance, which is due upon arrival. If reservation is canceled or modified more than 15 days before arrival date, no penalty will be charged.

HOTEL BELLAGIO
Salita Grandi, 6 – 22021 Bellagio (CO) – Italy
Graziano at info@hotelbellagio.it

This boutique hotel has 29 double rooms with and without lakeviews. A €10 discount on the published rates (ranges from €130-200 per night including breakfast) has been offered to workshop participants.

No deposit is required at time of booking, but credit card info is needed to hold the room. Full payment is due at departure. There is no penalty if cancelled more than 31 days or if modified more than 15 days from date of arrival.

HOTEL BELVEDERE
Via Valassina, 31 – 22021 Bellagio (CO) – Italy
Manuela at info@belvederebellagio.com

This exquisite hotel, about 150 steps below the Fresia’s studio, overlooks the hamlet of Pescallo and offers an amazing view of the Lecco side of Lake Como. If you’re seeking a luxurious experience and an oasis of tranquility you should look no farther.

It has several different types of rooms as well as holiday apartments with access to hotel services. A 10% discount on the published rates (starts at €275 per night for single occupancy) has been extended to workshop participants.

No deposit is required at time of booking, but credit card info is needed to hold the room. Approximately 30 days before arrival, 30% of the total amount will be charged on your credit card. The balance is due upon departure. There is no penalty if cancelled more than 30 days from date of arrival.

ZINNIA APARTMENT
Aureggio – 22021 Bellagio (CO) – Italy
Conchitina at cfmiguel7@gmail.com

If you wish for a more private, quiet place to stay with lakeviews to die for, where you can enjoy lunch or dinner al fresco, this 1-bedroom apartment fits the bill. It is located in the same property as Fresia’s studio. It has its own separate entrance/gate for complete privacy. It also has access to a plunge pool and a large terrace. Only a 10-minute walk from the center of town, it affords travelers a feeling of being close to nature. Delight in the sound of birds and crickets; the scent of fresh flowers and herbs; and much more.

This apartment rents for €150/night for single occupancy or €175/night for double occupancy. The minimum stay is 7 nights.

Transportation

PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER

A private transfer from the airport is highly recommended especially if you’re taking a long-haul flight. You can book it by sending an email to Bianca (my contact) at info@bca-italia.it. They charge €140 each way from/to Milan Malpensa, €120 from/to Linate and €110 from/to Bergamo. Let her know you’re our client; otherwise she might quote you a corporate rate. You can pay cash or by credit card at destination.

You can also book a private transfer at http://milan.airports-shuttle.com/. They charge €138 one-way and €266 roundtrip from Milan Malpensa to Bellagio, which is the cheapest I found. If you wish to pay by credit card, say so on the booking form. Entering your credit card info does not automatically give you that option; it simply holds your reservation. Otherwise, you will have to pay cash at destination.

The nearest airport to Bellagio is Milan Malpensa and it takes about 1 1/2 hours by car. Other nearby airports are Milan Linate and Bergamo Orio Al Serio.

RENTAL CAR

A rental car is not needed once you arrive in Bellagio as you can visit other towns by ferry/bus. However, if you wish to explore a little farther, you can contact these agencies:

AutoEurope – provides car rental service in Milan and Como
Rent A Car F.lli Sala – located in Varenna

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Getting here by public transportation is not only cheap but also easy. From Malpensa airport or Milan city center, for example, you can take a train all the way to Varenna and then a 10-minute ferry ride to Bellagio. Another option is a train to Como and a ferry/bus to Bellagio. Send us your flight arrival info and we’ll provide you with the best way to get here.

TAXI CABS

Taxi cabs are almost non-existent in Bellagio during the day, so if you need to walk up the steps to get to your hotel/apartment, it’s best to bring luggage that you can carry.

Before you leave home, please check the location of your hotel/apartment, and if you think you will need assistance at arrival, please arrange it directly with the hotel concierge/apartment manager.

In the off chance that you need a cab, you can contact these numbers:

+39 347-484-5905 / lampo412@hotmail.com (Marco*)
+39 329-7032-702 / info@bellagiotaxi.it (Nik)
+39 339 83 26 447 / info@taxiservicebellagio.com

*We know Marco personally so you can mention my name or Jerry’s; he also provides airport transfer.

Registration

HOW TO REGISTER

To sign up for the class, a non-refundable deposit of €250/week is required.

Please send an email to Conchitina at painting-at-fresia.com and let her know which week(s) you wish to attend. She will then send you a Paypal Money Request and then an invoice with the workshop confirmation as soon as she receives your deposit.

Class size is limited to 6 students per week and so we advice you to book early.

PAYMENT OF BALANCE

The balance is due on June 15. You will receive a Paypal Money Request a week before the due date. If you fail to pay the balance by the due date, your space will no longer be guaranteed.

AFTER JUNE 15

Full payment is due if you are registering after June 15. Please contact Conchitina to check if there is any space available and, if there is, she will send you a Paypal Money Request for the full amount.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Refunds on balance paid are given only if we’re able to resell your space to our waitlist.

Travel insurance is highly recommended. You may compare travel insurance thru an online broker such as insuremytrip.com or squaremouth.com, and best to go with a well-known provider such as MH Ross, Travelex, Travel Guard, or Travel Insured Intl.

We reserve the right to cancel a workshop for emergency reasons, in which case you will receive a full refund (€1450/€2900)

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