Chelsea and Christi are perfect people to experience Italy with for the first time! My daughter and I loved seeing the area and getting to know them. Because they’ve lived there, they have friends and connections and truly understand the people, culture, and language.

They thought of every detail... from extensive detailed notes regarding the trains in, little added touches at the Villa, preparing food, experiences (ie drawing, pasta, rain & hedgehogs!), to day trips, etc. It was an all-around, well-planned adventure. Owning their own creative businesses, they have knowledge and experience in art that they easily pass on to the novice as well as the experienced artist. I would most definitely plan another trip with Bellissima Art Retreats! 

- Amy

From the moment I arrived I was welcomed and submerged into the Tuscan countryside. Our home for the week was out of a storybook, charming, spacious, comfortable, quiet, peaceful with beautiful vistas and a pool! Christi and Chelsea were the perfect hosts, every day was well organized and planned. We enjoyed local towns, cafes, painted, (Chelsea, thank you for being my private water color instructor for the ENTIRE week), had cooking classes, visited amazing wineries, shopped, ate and drank amazing food and wines. 

My favorite town we visited for the day was Assisi, there are no words to describe this extraordinary, beautiful place; I will definitely be back! I am very grateful for my time spent with my new friends I made on this trip. Thank you for all the Aperol Spritz pit stops (my new favorite drink) and Church stops to light candles for my son along the way. You ladies helped to heal my heart.

-Michele

Looking through my pictures from the Tuscany retreat and wishing I were back in Italy right now! It was an amazing week with amazing people. We had time for ourselves and time to be social. There was a perfect balance of painting, relaxing, and sight-seeing. We shopped, cooked, ate, traveled, and laid by the pool. The activities were well planned out and so enjoyable. Chelsea and Christi are fabulous guides, teachers and friends!
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-Lauren

I had both the honor and the ABSOLUTE pleasure to travel to Florence, Italy with Bellissima Art Retreat in the summer of 2016. It was a week full of amazing history, art, cooking, wine tasting, travel, concerts and I must say- great gelato! All the while making new friends and treasured memories under the talented direction of Christi Schaeffer and Chelsea Ward. These two young women not only took charge to make sure every whim and detail was addressed, but they did it with such grace and charisma you would think they have been doing these retreats for decades. With Chelsea speaking fluent Italian and both their ability to teach even the most novice artist how to put paint to paper it was a once in a lifetime experience I will treasure. If you dare have the opportunity to join them on one of their future retreats, you must go! You will not regret your decision.
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- Trish

The Bellissima Art Retreat was some of the best money I've ever spent.  Chelsea and Christi organize it perfectly.  It was stress-free in that everything was planned and ready to go - the amazing apartment, food in the fridge, an awesome itinerary- and yet, throughout the week, I still had the freedom to branch off and do other things that I wanted.  The best part is that Chelsea and Christi are practically Italians themselves, so you get much more than a surface tour.  After a week, I knew the good spots to get coffee and where to find a killer sandwich, which restaurants would give me free Limoncello if I stayed late enough, and how to do a decent watercolor to boot.   I made new friends, made memories with old friends, and came home with a hand-made sketchbook full of art.  Overall, it was a perfect adventure!

- Kendal

As I reflect back on my trip to Italy to share my thoughts, the first thing that I noticed was that I was smiling. The 1 st ever Bellissima Art Retreat brings a big smile to me, because I can’t think of a time that we weren’t smiling and laughing on this trip. So, So fun! I had never been to Italy before, so I was mildly hesitant. But from the moment my girlfriend and I said yes to the trip, Christi and Chelsea do their best to make sure you are ready for a trip to remember for a lifetime. 

Christi and Chelsea both have lived in Italy and were great guides and lead great tours for us. They know their history, Italian culture, must see attractions, best food, and of course they know their art! The Itinerary was packed and well planned. The day in Tuscany at the farm house was really special. Wonderful to cook authentic Italian food together, drink great wines, and paint in the vineyard. They also left time in the itinerary for you to rest, relax, paint or go exploring on your own. If you have an additions you’d like to plan onto your trip, the girls are happy to assist you with suggestions, help with train travel or anything else you could ask for. I always felt they were there to make sure we all had the best Italy experience we could possibly have. And we did!

- Debi

What a great experience. Even for a beginning artist like myself. I highly recommend this trip. Great for first time travelers as well. These gals planned everything, and were very helpful with ideas for our down time."

- Ingrid

Fun and fun and amazing instruction.  Attended the Ballard Art Retreat weekend...plenty to do but at a low key pace.  Christi and Chelsea always ready to provide instruction but allowed you to explore your talents.  The weekend was a great getaway in a beautiful setting...and this coming from someone who never painted before.  Thank you for making the experience so amazing!

- Gail

I would highly recommend a Bellissima Art Retreat.  I had the pleasure of attending their recent California weekend retreat, and it was amazing. They ladies took their time in explaining different techniques and approaches to working with different materials, I learned so much.  They also adapt to every skill level so you can go at your own pace and truly enjoy the experience of creating.  The projects varied, yet where so thoughtfully planned that each course flowed into the next.

The atmosphere of the weekend was so joyful and comfortable; it truly nurtured a creative tone. The meals were healthy, delicious and timely, you felt very well taken care of.  These gals really know not only how to teach art, but how to treat you while they are doing it! The experience was amazing, I can't wait to do it again!!

​-Susan