Florence has a way of making even a blank page feel special. This open-air painting session puts you in the city’s light and color on a guided, private plein air outing, with hands-on instruction and included materials. I especially like that you get personal attention from Ulisse Mladenova, and that the teaching focuses on practical steps you can actually use. A possible drawback: the exact painting spot shifts with the weather, so your final view depends on conditions.

If you want Florence in an artistic frame, this is a smart choice. You’ll work outdoors in a piazza setting, learning how to lay a color base and shape a finished painting quickly, using acrylic technique (with time to discuss your preferred approach). Still, it’s not a museum lecture, so if you’re chasing a tightly structured step-by-step “paint this exact thing” experience, you should ask what kind of guidance you’ll receive before you go.

Key Things to Know Before You Paint in Florence

• Private, open-air class focused on plein air painting in central Florence
• Ulisse Mladenova provides direct feedback and teaching throughout the session
• Acrylic-based approach with tips on color bases, shaping the painting, and art-history examples
• Your easel location depends on weather, with options like Pontevecchio, Giardino delle Rose, or Piazza di Santo Spirito
• Materials included, plus coffee and/or tea during the class
• Optional chair can be requested for comfort

A Plein Air Painting Class That Turns Florence Into Color

This is not the kind of art activity where you sit, watch, and hope it sticks. The whole point is to paint in the fresh air, with Florence around you and the scene changing as the light shifts. I like that the instruction is tied to what you’re actually seeing right in front of you, instead of abstract advice.

You also get a private setup, so you’re not competing with a group for help. Ulisse Mladenova is the instructor-guide, and the session is designed around feedback and encouragement, not just handing over supplies. That matters, because plein air painting can feel intimidating the first time you look at a real scene and realize it has depth, shadow, and detail all at once.

One more practical plus: the materials are included. When you’re traveling, that saves you from playing guessing games at an art supply shop you might not find on a tight schedule. You’re free to show up ready to work.

Your 3-Hour Flow, From Santa Maria Novella Back Again

The experience runs about 3 hours, and it’s set up like a focused block. You start at Piazza di Santa Maria Novella (P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 50123 Firenze FI), and you end back at the same meeting point.

That start location is convenient. It’s central enough that you can pair this with other Florence sights without needing a whole new logistics plan. It also helps if you’re staying around the core sights, because getting to the meeting point is usually straightforward.

What I’d expect during the session is a rhythm like this: you arrive, you settle into your outdoor spot, and Ulisse guides you through the basics of building a painting fast. The goal is not “take all afternoon to get it perfect.” The aim is to understand how paintings are constructed and to complete a small work you can take home.

Stop location in practice

Even though the plan mentions Piazza Santo Spirito as a point in the flow, the class painting location is ultimately weather-dependent, with these outdoor choices:

• Pontevecchio
• Giardino delle Rose
• Piazza di Santo Spirito

So you should mentally pack a little flexibility. Your “final frame” will match the day.

Where You Paint: Pontevecchio, Rose Garden, or Piazza Santo Spirito

This is the heart of the experience, because each option gives you a different visual challenge.

Pontevecchio is all about character: stone, structure, and a dramatic sense of place. If you’re drawn to classic Florence images, this is likely to feel instantly recognizable. It also can be visually busy, so the instruction on simplifying shapes and building a color base becomes extra useful.

Giardino delle Rose suggests a softer, more open feel. If the weather and light work out, you may get a calmer scene to paint, where color relationships and atmospheric effects matter more than strict geometry. The practical teaching focus helps here too, because even “pretty and simple” outdoors can turn complex fast once you start mixing tones.

Piazza di Santo Spirito often feels like a great balance of city energy and painterly subjects. It’s a lived-in piazza vibe, and that helps if you like scenes that don’t feel like staged postcard material. One review also mentioned the instructor choosing a quiet spot, which fits the idea that the instructor actively tries to make the painting area workable.

A key consideration: if it rains, windy, or too bright, you may have to adapt. Since the provider chooses the location based on weather, you won’t be stuck improvising. But the exact view and comfort level will change day to day.

How the Teaching Works: Acrylic, Color Bases, and Your Style

The session uses an acrylic colours technique approach. That’s a big deal for plein air work. Acrylic can be handled like oil in terms of layering possibilities, and it also works differently from classic oil workflows, which is useful when you have a limited time window and want to finish something you can be proud of.

The instruction is also designed to help you move beyond copying what you see. You’ll use examples from art history to support what the instructor calls your personal style. Translation: you’re not just chasing outlines. You’re learning how artists think about value, color placement, and composition.

You’ll get help with:

• laying a color base
• shaping your painting as you go
• understanding how the painting gets built, quickly

The practical “finish it” goal shows up in how the instructor teaches. You’re aiming to complete a small masterpiece, not just create a sketch that stays unfinished. That’s valuable if you want a real souvenir, and it’s also motivating when you realize you can finish a painting in a single session.

What if you’re not a painter?

One of the strongest selling points is that this feels approachable at different skill levels. Multiple comments praised Ulisse’s encouragement and help, including moments where she gave new painting skills and support that made the work feel achievable.

Just be aware of one mixed point: one person felt the guidance wasn’t directive enough and that the spot selection felt limiting. That doesn’t mean the class is unstructured, but it does suggest you’ll get the best experience if you communicate what you want from the instruction. If you prefer a very guided “do this next” approach, say so at the start.

Comfort and Included Extras, What You Actually Get

This class is built to reduce the hassle factor.

Included:

• Colors, brushes, canvas or wooden support
• chair can be included on request
• coffee and/or tea

Not included:

• soda/pop
• tips

The optional chair request is worth noting. Outdoor painting is enjoyable, but sitting for a few hours can be tiring if you’re used to comfortable chairs. If you’d rather not stand and shift around, ask for the chair when booking.

Also, you’re not expected to bring gear. When materials are included, the whole experience becomes easier to fit into a travel schedule, especially if you’re trying to keep luggage light.

Language, Group Size, and Your Chances for Real Help

The class runs in English, and it’s offered as a private tour/activity, meaning only your group participates.

That private format is a major value driver. In a larger group class, instruction time gets divided, and plein air painting usually needs at least some individual feedback as your painting progresses. Here, the promise is full attention from your instructor-guide.

You’ll also see that group discounts are available, which can make this more reasonable if you’re booking with someone you trust for a shared outing. The listed average booking timing is also a signal: it’s often reserved well in advance (around 110 days on average), so if you have a specific date or time window in mind, booking early helps.

You’ll receive a confirmation within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. That’s useful because it means you can usually lock it in without waiting too long.

Price and Value: Is $160.22 Worth It?

At $160.22 per person for about 3 hours, this sits in the “pay for a guided, hands-on experience” range. The question is what you’re paying for besides the act of painting.

Here’s the value breakdown based on what you get:

• You’re paying for an instructor-guide (Ulisse Mladenova) who provides feedback and teaches specific techniques.
• You’re paying for materials, so you’re not paying extra for supplies you may not want to carry home.
• You’re paying for a private setting, so help is not diluted across a big group.
• You get a finished souvenir objective, a small masterpiece painted by you.

If you’ve ever done DIY “paint and sip” style activities while traveling, this is different. It’s more skill-based and more scene-based, because you’re outdoors in real Florence locations and the teaching is tied to how paintings are constructed.

The main value risk is the one mixed comment to keep in mind: if the spot selection ends up feeling awkward for you, the experience can feel overpriced. Weather and chosen location drive that variable. Still, since the instructor is deciding the place based on conditions, it’s also likely they’ll pick a workable view with a plan for what can actually be painted comfortably.

Who This Painting Session Is Best For

This works best if you’re one of these types of travelers:

• You want a hands-on activity that connects you to Florence’s light, color, and architecture.
• You like learning real techniques, not just making art for the sake of it.
• You prefer smaller, more personal instruction where someone can correct and encourage you during the session.
• You’d like a take-home souvenir that feels personal instead of buying another photo-only memory.

It’s also a great option if you’re traveling with a parent, friend, or sibling who enjoys creativity. One review story described a mom and daughter experience as a highlight, and it fits the overall format: approachable, encouraging, and designed to help you finish.

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants a structured “script” and a highly controlled outcome, you might want to ask what the guidance style is like. That helps you avoid a mismatch between your expectations and how the instructor handles feedback.

Quick Tips for Booking and Getting the Most From It

Since the painting location depends on weather, plan your day with flexibility. If you schedule this on a day where you also have a tight itinerary, you might feel stressed if the spot changes.

Also, think about comfort. If standing for a while will bother you, request a chair when possible.

Finally, be ready to talk. A standout from the positive feedback is how much conversation and personality Ulisse brings into the session, which makes the time fly. If you want the instruction to focus on technique, say so. If you want it to focus on art-history context and how to see like an artist, that also seems to be part of the teaching approach.

Should You Book This Florence Painting Experience?

I’d book it if you want something genuinely different from the usual Florence checklist, and you like the idea of taking home a small piece you made outdoors in the city itself. The private format, the included materials, and the practical teaching around color bases and shaping a painting all point to good value for the price.

Skip it only if you strongly need a very rigid, step-by-step class structure or if you hate the idea that the exact scene depends on weather. If that’s you, ask questions upfront about how the instructor sets up each session and how much direct direction you can expect.

If you’re flexible and you want Florence through an artist’s process, this is one of the more memorable ways to spend a few hours in the center of town.

FAQ

How long is the painting experience in Florence?

It runs for about 3 hours.

What language is the group painting class offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

Where do we meet, and where does the experience end?

You start at Piazza di Santa Maria Novella and the activity ends back at the same meeting point.

Where will we paint during the session?

Painting takes place on Pontevecchio, Giardino delle Rose, or Piazza di Santo Spirito, depending on weather conditions. Piazza Santo Spirito is also listed as a stop.

What is included in the price?

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

Is there a cancellation window for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.