Alta Valle del Tevere · Umbria, Italy

Your own private room in the Umbrian hills. Just you, the hills, and a paintbrush.

A small-group art retreat hosted by watercolour artist Zakia Khan. Five nights of painting, food, wine and total privacy. Every guest has their own private room.

Request to Book → See the Retreat
2027 Retreats

Two weeks apart. Two different ways to spend them.

Umbria · Italy

Art as Poetry

26–31 March 2027 · 5 nights · Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria

Five days of painting outdoors: hillside terraces, olive groves, medieval piazzas close to where you sleep. Zax paints with you, teaches if you want it, and leaves you be if you don't. No experience required. Every guest has their own private room, so there's always somewhere quiet to go.

per person, private room included
Early bird: save €300, book before 31 Dec 2026
€2,700€2,400
One price per person, whatever the group size, from 3 guests up to 7. €2,400pp if booked and deposited before 31 December 2026, €2,700pp after. Deposit €300, fully refundable up to 8 weeks before arrival.
Umbria · Italy

Dolce far Niente

9–14 April 2027 · 5 nights · Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, Umbria

The sweetness of doing nothing. A terrace, good food and wine, a chair in the shade if you'd rather not paint. No programme, no schedule, nothing required of you. Basic materials are on hand if the mood strikes. Every guest has their own private room, so rest is real rest.

per person, private room included
Early bird: save €300, book before 31 Dec 2026
€2,700€2,400
One price per person, whatever the group size, from 3 guests up to 7. €2,400pp if booked and deposited before 31 December 2026, €2,700pp after. Deposit €300, fully refundable up to 8 weeks before arrival.
Why Guests Choose Labarotta

Small groups. Every guest, their own space.

2027 Retreat Venue

A private stay in the hills

Monte Santa Maria Tiberina hilltop village seen through oak branches

The 2027 retreat is based in the hills around Monte Santa Maria Tiberina, on the border of Umbria and Tuscany. Zax has painted this corner of the Alta Valle del Tevere for years. Every guest has their own private room, a shared table, and a garden or terrace to paint from.

The exact property depends on group size: a smaller farmhouse for smaller groups, a larger one as the group grows. Every guest still gets their own room.

  • Private room per guest, up to 7 guests
  • Swimming pool (open May–September) and garden
  • Remote, quiet, and family-run
The exact property for your dates is confirmed once your group size is set. Get in touch and we'll walk you through the options.
View of Monte, the hills above the retreat A cherry tree in blossom near the property View toward Santangese in the Alta Valle del Tevere
A Typical Day on Art as Poetry

Painting, food, and room to breathe

Red poppies in the Umbrian hills in spring
Morning

Breakfast together, then painting outdoors almost always: a hillside, an olive grove, a terrace with a view worth capturing.

A medieval castle in a nearby hill town
Afternoon

An excursion most days to a nearby hill town or market, or stay in, paint from the terrace, and retreat to your own room.

Sunset behind cypress trees
Evening

Aperitivo at sunset, dinner together with local wine, and a painting made that day, whatever it turned out like.

Your Host

The economist who paints.

Zakia Khan (Zax)

Zax is a watercolourist. She has painted the Umbrian hills for years: in solitude, in her garden, in the mountains above Monte Santa Maria Tiberina. She grew up in the United Kingdom with Norwegian and Indian parents and moved to Sweden in the 1980s. Curiosity, art and family have taken her to Asia, Central America and across Europe.

Her paintings rarely aim for accuracy. She is more interested in feeling: the weight of a bird sitting in a hand, the texture of an elephant's trunk, the mood of a hillside at dusk.

She'll take you to her favourite viewpoint and make sure you leave with at least one painting you're proud of, whether you've painted before or not. For larger groups, a retreat assistant joins on-site to handle transfers and logistics. Meals are cooked locally, using produce from the area.

You can see her watercolours at artbyzax.com.

When she isn't painting, Zax is a feminist organiser, an economist, and a bookkeeper for artists who hate admin.

Getting Here

From Stockholm or Oslo to Umbria in a day

1

Fly to Rome

Direct flights from Stockholm Arlanda to Rome Fiumicino run daily with Norwegian and SAS. Rome is also easy to reach from most other European capitals (Oslo, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and more). Book early for the best fares.

2

Train toward the Alta Valle del Tevere

Leonardo Express to Roma Termini, then a regional connection. Send us your arrival time and we'll recommend the best train and confirm your exact station once the venue is set.

3

We collect you

We meet you at the station and drive you to the retreat in one of our two 4x4 vehicles, through the Umbrian hills. Included in the retreat price.

From London direct to Umbria

1

Fly direct to Perugia

Ryanair flies regularly and direct from London Stansted to Perugia (PEG), Umbria's own small airport. We're happy to check current times for your dates.

2

We collect you

We meet you at Perugia airport and drive you to the retreat, through the Umbrian countryside. No trains, no connections in Rome. Included in the retreat price.

By train, all the way

1

Train to Firenze

If you'd rather not fly the whole way, or you're already travelling in Europe, take the train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, well connected to most major European rail routes.

2

Train to Castiglion Fiorentino

From Firenze, a regional train south toward Arezzo/Roma stops at Castiglion Fiorentino, around an hour away. Send us your arrival time and we'll recommend the best connection.

3

We collect you

We meet you at Castiglion Fiorentino station and drive you to the retreat in one of our two 4x4 vehicles. Included in the retreat price.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need painting experience?

No. Complete beginners are warmly welcomed. Zax will guide you from the very beginning.

Can I come alone?

Absolutely. Every guest has their own private room, so solo travellers fit right in. You'll always have your own space to come back to.

What is included in the price?

Five nights in your own private room, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), local wine, and station or airport transfers. Art as Poetry also includes all activities, excursions and professional-grade art supplies. Dolce far Niente includes basic materials on request.

Does the price change with group size?

No. It's the same price per person whether there are 3 of you or 7. The retreat runs from 3 to 7 guests, and everyone gets their own private room.

Is there an early bird discount?

Yes. Book and pay your €300 deposit before 31 December 2026 and the price drops to €2,400 per person, for either retreat. From 1 January 2027 it's €2,700 per person.

How do I get there?

Fly to Rome, or, if you're coming from the UK, direct to Perugia. Full travel instructions are above. We collect every guest personally and the transfer is included.

Is the retreat suitable for guests with limited mobility?

Our venues are working rural properties, often with some uneven ground and steps between rooms and shared spaces. Please get in touch before booking and we'll give you detailed information about that year's property.

Request to Book

Reserve your place in Umbria

Send us a message and we'll confirm availability, answer any questions, and send you payment details. A €300 deposit secures your place.

Email [email protected] →

Art as Poetry · 26–31 March 2027 · Registration deadline 12 February 2027
Dolce far Niente · 9–14 April 2027 · Registration deadline 26 February 2027
Early bird price €2,400pp for deposits paid before 31 December 2026 · €2,700pp after · Deposit €300, fully refundable up to 8 weeks before arrival · Balance due 30 days before arrival

Join the List

A free mini watercolour, just for joining

Sign up and Zax will send you a small original watercolour, post included. You'll also be the first to hear about new retreat dates.

A Few Views From Umbria

Around the Alta Valle del Tevere

Monte Santa Maria Tiberina hilltop village seen through oak branches The hilltop village with snow-capped mountains behind Stone terrace overlooking the valley at sunset Rolling green hills with yellow broom flowers in bloom A gravel track through the countryside toward the hills Sun breaking through clouds above the hills at dusk The pool at night, lit by starlight and reflecting the trees Begonias in bloom in the garden A small bird in the branches above the valley View toward Pereto in the Umbrian hills