we are no longer taking bookings for this trip.
we will have another ravenna holiday, following the same schedule in october 2021, so if you are interested please save it in your diary!
RAVENNA & venice
ITALY MOSAIC HOLIDAY
29th september - 14th october 2019
Get Inspired
RAVENNA BIENNALE
29 september -3rd OCTOBER. . . . . . VENICE
3-14th OCTOBER. . . RAVENNA
We have lined up a very exciting trip for October 2019. An inspiring 10 day trip to Ravenna, to see this years fantastic artwork at the Mosaic Biennale. We will also be delving into exciting workshops at the highly regarded SISAM School of Mosaic, where we will partake in a 5 day course in the Roman-Byzantine traditional style of mosaic. The course will be 9.00am - 1.30pm daily, so you are free to explore the sights, or partake in activities the Biennale has to offer in the afternoon on those days.
Alongside The Biennale and SISAM Mosaicing Workhops, we will also go on some excursions to nearby towns, one of them being of Faenza, a town known for being one of the most important historical centres for ceramics in the world. Here, stands a fascinating Ceramic Museum, which we will be visiting, alongside many small ceramic workshops.
On top of going to Ravenna, we are offering you the additional option of starting the holiday by spending 4 nights seeing the fabulous sights of the captivating city of Venice. We will then travel together to Ravenna for our mosaic immersion.
The choice is up to you whether you join us for the entirety of the excursion, or for you to join us for just the Ravenna Mosaicing course and Bienalle part of this holiday.
RAVENNA AND THE MOSAIC BIENNALE
Ravenna has played an important role in history, It prospered in Roman times, was the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy, and later the capital of the Byzantine Empire in Italy. During these periods of greatness many monuments were built with lavish mosaic decorations. Of the many churches and mausolems, 8 of them are World Heritage Sites. During your stay in Ravenna you will have enough time to explore this vast array of churches and fabulous mosaics. But there will also be many other exhibitions of modern mosaics, celebrated in the Mosaic Biennale. This starts on 10 October with a grand opening night - Il Notte d"Oro (the Night of Gold) which will continue into the early hours of the morning!
ACCOMMODATION
RAVENNA
Accommodation will be at the Hotel Centrale Byron in central Ravenna, This popular hotel is beautifully situated in a street leading to the main Piazza del Popolo, right in the heart of Ravenna. Here you will have easy access to shops, restaurants and all the activities of the Biennale. The interior of the hotel is modern, clean and the beds are very comfortable. Accommodation will be in single rooms (single supplement included) unless otherwise requested, and will include breakfast.
The hotel is at the edge of the pedestrian zone, giving easy access to taxis and buses. During the mosaic course at SISAM, a taxi will take us to and from the hotel to the mosaic school, which is by the beach resorts and the nature reserve of Marina Romea, about 10 minutes drive.
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venice
Accommodation in Venice is the ornate and traditionally decorated Apartment San Marco.
It is located in the heart of Venice, only a 1 minute walk from the Central Saint Marco Square, and surrounded by abundance of wonderful shops, restaurants and Gondola filled waterways. From here we are within walking distance of much of what Venice has to offer, which is ideal.
The apartment features both double and single bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living rooms, and a kitchen. We have access to free wi-fi connection, a T.V (not that its needed!) and a lift (meaning no dragging big suitcases up endless flights of stairs!). I can assure you, this will be a truly wonderful way to stay in Venice.
SISAM
SCHOOL OF MOSAIC
SISAM has been running courses in Roman-Byzantine mosaics and frescoes since 2001. Our course has been designed for people who have some knowledge of mosaics, to make one small (approx 30x30 cms) mosaic work. Depending on your expertise, this could be a copy of a fragment of a particular Ravenna mosaic, or, if you are more experienced, it could be a contemporary mosaic of your choice. In this case, you are encouraged to bring photos/drawings of your
intended design with you.
Participants will learn to use a hammer and hardie, along with the traditional methods using lime and paste, as used in the making of the historical mosaics of Ravenna.
Stones, such as limestone, marble, brick, etc. are provided free, but students will be asked to pay for any coloured smalti as well as all silver and gold pieces.
PROGRAMME
VENICE
(optional extra)
29th Sep Arrive at Marco Polo - Venice Airport on either flight BA0578 from London Heathrow, or flight BA2584 from London Gatwick. Minibus transfer to our traditionally decorated apartment, located in central Venice.
30th Sep - 2nd Oct Three full days to explore Venice.
3rd Oct Take bus boat to train station, then take train to Bologna to meet the rest of the group, and travel with them to Hotel Centrale Byron in Ravenna.
ravenna
3rd Oct Arrive at 17:55 at Bologna Airport from Heathrow on flight BA 0542. Minibus transfer to Hotel Centrale Byron in Ravenna (approximately 1 hour).
4th Oct Breakfast, then City Tour of Ravenna with an English speaking guide from SISAM School of Mosaics. Welcome evening meal at Ca' de Vin.
5th Oct Free day to discover more local places of interest. Meet at the hotel in the evening and head for the Notte d’Oro celebrations – the grand opening of the Mosaic Biennale. Festivities continue through into the night, stay as late as you want!
6th Oct A free day to recover from the night before, and maybe take a look around some of the other Biennale venues.
7th Oct An early breakfast, followed by a 09.00 start at the SISAM School of Mosaics, in Marina Romea, a 10 minute taxi ride from Ravenna. There will be an introductory talk on the history and language of mosaics, followed by a chance to choose your Roman- Byzantine subject from their files and prepare your substrates with the lime mixture. Participants are also welcome to bring their own designs. Finish at 13.30 and discover the local area. Taxi back to town and free time after lunch.
8th Oct Early breakfast followed by a 09.00 start at SISAM. After a brief introduction to the materials and tools, prepare your grid ready to mosaic. Start cutting the mosaic materials. Finish at 13.30, Taxi back to town and free time in the afternoon.
9th Oct Early breakfast followed by a 09.00 start at SISAM. Continue working on your mosaic until 13.30. Taxi back to town and free time in the afternoon.
10th Oct Early breakfast followed by a 09.00 start at SISAM. Continue working on your mosaic until 13.30. Taxi back to town and free time in the afternoon.
11th Oct Early breakfast followed by a 09.00 start at SISAM. The mosaic course ends! Finish
working on your mosaic. Feedback session and receipt of certificates. Taxi back to town and free time in the afternoon.
12th Oct A free day.
13th Oct Breakfast at the hotel. 09.30 Coach to Faenza to visit the ceramics museum and a chance to wander around the town and discover some of the small ceramic workshops in the area. 17.30 Coach to Brisighella, a village dating back to medieval times. 19.30 Farewell Dinner at La Grotta restaurant in Brisighella.
14th Oct Our final breakfast at the hotel before checking out. Our bus will leave the hotel at 09.00 to take everyone to Bologna. Flight BA 0541 departs Bologna Airport at 12:05 and arrives at London Heathrow at 13:25.
PRICING
COST FOR 11 nights in ravenna, mosaicing holiday IS £2025
COST FOR 4 EXTRA NIGHTS IN VENICE, InCLUDING TRANSFERS, is £500
INCLUDED IN THE COST:
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Bed and breakfast accommodation for the duration of your 11-night stay.
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Welcome dinner at Ca' de Vin restaurant.
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5 x 4.5 hour workshops at SISAM School of Mosaic, studying Roman-Byzantine traditional methods (some materials included).
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Taxis to and from SISAM for the mosaic course
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Guided tour of the monuments in Ravenna.
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One day excursion to Faenza and the ceramics museum.
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Final farewell meal in the medieval village of Brisighella.
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Transfers to and from Bologna/Venice airports to the accommodation.
Please Note: Prices in Venice are very high. We wish we could offer you Venice for cheaper, but it is just not possible. However AHA can assure you our accommodation is a truly spectacular, venetian property, in the very heart of the centre and within walking distance of everything.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE COST:
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Flights to and from Bologna/Venice airport.
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Glass, silver and gold smalti and mosaic paste.
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Any meals not specified above.
FLIGHTS
Please book on the following flights:
OUTBOUND Venice 29th September 2019
London Heathrow to Venice:
BA 0578 Departs London Heathrow at 13:35, Arrives at Marco Polo - Venice at 16:45
OR
London Gatwick to Venice:
BA 2584 Departs London Gatwick at 13:25
Arrives at Marco Polo - Venice at 16:40.
OUTBOUND Ravenna 3rd October 2019
London Heathrow to Bologna:
BA 0542 Departs London Heathrow at 14:55
Arrives Bologna at 17:55
Return to London 14th October 2019
Bologna to London Heathrow:
BA 0541 Departs Bologna at 12:05
Arrives London Heathrow at 13:25
Flights from other home destinations can be booked, but it may not be possible to guarantee airport transfers if times do not concur. Individual transfer arrangements can be organised by train or bus at a small extra cost.
Click on image above to link to
British Airways booking site.
