Florence has a way of making you want to slow down. This open-air painting session turns the city into your subject, guided by Ulisse so you leave with real skills and a personal souvenir. You paint outdoors in a piazza setting or along the river, and the exact spot shifts with the weather.

What I like most is the hands-on instruction. You get focused coaching while working from a live view, plus thoughtful art-history examples to help you find your own style fast. I also like that everything is provided—paints, brushes, and your canvas or wooden support—so you can show up and start painting without hunting for supplies.

One thing to consider: if you want super rigid, minute-by-minute direction, this class may feel a bit freer than expected depending on the day’s setup. Also, since the session is outdoors, the location and comfort level can vary with wind, crowds, and where you end up painting.

Key Points at a Glance

• Plein air in central Florence: acrylic painting from a real Florence view
• Ulisse’s private attention: your group gets the instructor-guide’s full focus
• All materials included: canvas or wooden support, paints, and brushes
• Weather chooses the spot: Ponte Vecchio, Giardino delle Rose, or Piazza di Santo Spirito
• You learn the process: color base, shaping the painting, and quick completion
• Comfort options: a chair can be included on request, plus coffee and/or tea

Why This Class Works as a Florence Experience (Not Just a Craft)

This painting session is built for the kind of travel day where you want more than photos. Florence is all light and angles, and plein air painting forces you to notice what your eyes usually skip: where shadows break, how a wall catches brightness, and how color behaves in real time. Instead of imagining the Renaissance, you’re working with it directly through the shapes in front of you.

The second big win is how the session connects art to Florence’s look. You’re not just copying a view. Ulisse uses examples from art history to help you make choices—how to lay down a base color, how to shape the forms, and how to build confidence quickly. That means the “souvenir” isn’t just cute. It’s meaningful because you can point to the decisions you made.

You should also know what you are paying for. This isn’t a paint-and-go workshop. It’s a guided, open-air class designed to get you to a finished result in about three hours, with instructor input along the way. That’s a good match for people who like learning while they do.

3 Hours with Ulisse: Private Guidance, Real Feedback, and a Finished Result

The experience runs about three hours, and it’s offered in English. You’ll be grouped only with your own party, which is where the value really kicks in. In a larger class, you might spend the time waiting your turn. Here, the instruction is set up for your group so you can actually ask questions and adjust your work on the spot.

Ulisse is a tour guide and an art teacher as well as a painter. That matters because the lesson doesn’t live in a vacuum. You get feedback that blends technique with place—so your painting improves and your understanding of what you’re seeing grows at the same time. Several people also note that Ulisse keeps things warm and conversational, which turns the session into a real Florence moment rather than a stiff classroom exercise.

What you’ll do during the session is structured around quick progress:

• you’ll lay down a color base
• you’ll learn how to shape the painting so it reads well
• you’ll work toward completing a small, personal artwork within the time

The “you finish something” goal is not just motivational. It’s practical. It helps you avoid the common plein air problem: starting enthusiastically, then realizing you’ll never finish before the light changes.

Meeting at Piazza di Santa Maria Novella and Finding Your Starting Point

The meeting point is Piazza di Santa Maria Novella (P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy). The activity ends back at the meeting point, so you’re not left wondering how to get home afterward.

This is also a central area, so it tends to pair well with a sightseeing day. If you’re coming in via public transportation, you’ll likely find the area easy to reach. The session is scheduled within the stated daily hours (from mid-morning through early evening during the operating window listed).

One practical detail that affects your comfort: because the class is outdoors and the view depends on conditions, the time between meeting and painting can include a short walk and settling in. Some people report that Ulisse can meet them at their hotel, but the baseline meeting location is still Piazza di Santa Maria Novella. If you’re staying nearby, it’s worth asking how she plans to get you to the painting spot on your specific day.

Where You’ll Paint in Florence: Santo Spirito, Ponte Vecchio, or Giardino delle Rose

The class is designed as plein air, and the location changes depending on the weather:

• Pontevecchio (river-side setting)
• Giardino delle Rose (garden viewpoint)
• Piazza di Santo Spirito (piazza setting)

The itinerary information points to Piazza di Santo Spirito as a key starting option, but the weather-based adjustment is part of the deal. In plain terms: your view might be along the river, or it might be from a piazza or a garden area, and Ulisse will pick what works best that day.

Here’s why that variation can be a good thing:

• A river-side location often gives you strong reflections and long lines, but it can be breezy.
• A garden viewpoint can feel calmer, with less street noise, but you may be dealing with uneven ground depending on where you set up.
• Piazza settings are great for capturing architecture and crowd energy, though busy times can make it harder to work quietly.

Comfort is part of this decision too. Chairs can be included on request, and you’ll also get coffee and/or tea. If you know you’ll paint better with a seat, ask ahead so you’re not negotiating once you arrive.

What You Actually Learn: Acrylic Technique and Art-History Choices

This class uses an acrylic approach. Acrylic is flexible in a way that works well for a short session: you can apply it so it behaves with different looks, similar to other mediums depending on how it’s handled. The goal is not to make you memorize formulas. It’s to help you build a painting that looks like what you see.

Ulisse’s teaching focuses on three practical things:

1. Color foundation: how to set a base so the rest of the painting makes sense
2. Shaping the subject: how to capture the main forms quickly so your work reads
3. Style decisions: using art-history examples so you can pick a personal approach rather than copying exactly

You also get help choosing what to paint in a way that fits your interests and skill level. Some people mention Ulisse asking which medium they want, and in practice that can mean you’re not stuck only with one mindset. The class is described as acrylic-first, but the instruction style is flexible enough that people feel guided toward the look they want.

The art-history angle is more useful than it sounds. When you understand how artists build a scene—base layers, light logic, and composition—you stop treating painting like guesswork. You start treating it like problem-solving. That’s why people leave feeling they improved, not just that they had a nice afternoon.

The Value of $160.22: Private Coaching + Materials + a Real Souvenir

At $160.22 per person for about three hours, you should think of this as paying for three things at once:

• private instruction (your group gets dedicated attention)
• all painting materials (colors, brushes, canvas or wooden support)
• a guided plan to finish a small masterpiece

Many cheaper activities in Florence can be fun, but they often don’t include quality feedback or the structure needed to finish. Here, the price makes sense if you want the learning piece, not just the Instagram result.

The class also seems to have strong demand, with people booking it about 110 days in advance on average. That’s not just trivia. It often signals that the experience is popular because it’s a solid “activity-meets-skill” format. If you want a specific time window, you’ll typically do better by booking early rather than waiting until your last days.

Group discounts are available, which is another reason it can feel fair. If you’re traveling with a friend or family member who also wants to paint, the value gets even stronger because the session stays private while the cost splits.

What to Expect Day-of: Coffee, Seating, and Staying Focused Outdoors

Your materials are provided, including colors, brushes, and your painting support. A chair can be included on request, and coffee and/or tea are part of the included experience. Soda/pop is not included, and tipping isn’t mentioned as included, so budget a little extra if you’re in the habit of tipping guides.

Since this is plein air, you’re painting in a real environment with real distractions: light changes, people passing through the same spaces, and the occasional breeze. That can be frustrating if you expected a studio setting. The upside is that you’re learning the exact skill plein air painters practice: adapting while staying committed to your drawing and color choices.

One thing I’d watch for if you’re planning with a picky mindset: a few people feel the guidance can be less directive than they expected. That doesn’t mean it’s unhelpful. It likely means Ulisse adjusts to your style and pace rather than forcing a single step-by-step path. If you’re the kind of person who wants clear instructions every minute, start the session by saying you want more structure. Ask what to focus on first. You’ll get more from the class when you steer the level of direction you need.

Who Should Book This (and Who Might Prefer Something More Structured)

This is a great fit if you want a hands-on art activity that also functions like a mini Florence orientation. Because Ulisse blends painting with area context, you’ll learn how to see the city in the way artists see it—light, proportion, and color relationships.

It also works for a wide range of abilities, since the class is designed to help you quickly build a finished piece. People mention it being enjoyable for different ages and skill levels, and the private format helps you get the right kind of feedback without feeling rushed.

Where it may not fit perfectly:

• If you want a very strict, instructor-led step-by-step like a factory process, you might feel the pacing is more free.
• If you’re uncomfortable with the idea that the exact painting location can change due to weather, you’ll need to accept the flexibility. The plus side is that you’re still painting outdoors in a meaningful Florence setting.

If you’re the type who loves talking, this can also be a good match. Several people describe Ulisse as friendly, full of life experience, and able to explain both technique and deeper thinking about art in a way that keeps the time moving.

Should You Book This En Plein Air Class in Florence?

I’d book it if you want a memorable Florence day that combines a real view, guided art instruction, and a finished painting you can actually take home. At $160.22, the materials and private attention make it feel like more than a casual workshop, especially if you’re traveling with someone who wants the same kind of activity.

I’d skip or think twice if you need rigid instruction, or if you strongly prefer a predictable exact location with zero outdoor variables. The weather-based spot selection is part of the design. You’ll get more out of this if you go in curious and willing to adapt.

FAQ

How long is the painting experience?

It lasts about 3 hours.

What does it cost per person?

The price is listed as $160.22 per person.

Is the class offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Where does the plein air painting take place?

The session happens in one of these locations depending on weather: Pontevecchio, Giardino delle Rose, or Piazza di Santo Spirito.

What’s included in the price?

Included are colors, brushes, canvas or a wooden support for painting, and coffee and/or tea. A chair can be included on request.

What’s not included?

Soda/pop and tips are not included.

Is this a private experience?

Yes. It is private, and only your group will participate.

Can I cancel and get a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can service animals join?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

Do I receive a ticket on my phone?

It includes a mobile ticket.