FAQs

You probably have a favourite set of brushes, pencils, paints, palette knives etc already that you wish to bring. However, to save you the hassle of packing materials we have a good alternative.

We will assist you to purchase any materials you require from a local art supplies store.

Our local guide (concierge) service can inform you of tailored activities that your travelling companion can undertake.Your hosts will also be able to assist you with the restaurant recommendations and grocery needs. You need not book any activities before leaving home but where numbers are limited it may be advisable.

At the end of the first day of the Art Class, you and your companion will be invited to attend a pre-dinner welcome drinks event when we will inform you further of the optional activities that are available. Some of these are already mentioned in the Newsletter page on our website and are available upon request from our Local Guide. Subject to availability they are likely to include:

• Walking tour of Todi landmarks art and museums
• Traditional Italian cooking classes
• Guided wine tour
• Scenic national park tours
• Truffle hunting day
• Opera/music concerts, and more…

Just outside the Town walls there are a couple of good supermarkets (Conad) that have a fantastic range of fresh food – yogurt, fresh fruit & veg, milk coffee tea etc.

Todi centro does not have so many supermarkets but some ‘deli’ type shops, and quite a few restaurants and some cafes on and close to the main piazza (Piazza del Popolo). There are also shops for clothes, jewelry, ice cream, craft and several local art galleries to visit.

There are several good airlines available through to Rome (or Milan but Rome is much closer) with just one stop from Australia such as: Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore, Emirates, Thai, Etihad, Cathay and Qatar. A good way to find the best price is via a ‘flight finder’ service such as:

• Skyscanner Australia www.skyscanner.com.au
• MoMondo www.momondo.com.au
• Expedia www.expedia.com
• Alitalia, Ryanair and Transavia.com all service UK to Perugia
• Multiple providers will service the USA to Perugia and Rome

The Bus service is an efficient service from the Airport. It is operated by SULGA Buses and can be boarded at the airport. It runs 3 times a day and takes three hours but is a direct service from the airport . When we looked online the schedule says buses leave the airport at 12noon, 5pm and 8pm ( We can provide the up to date timetable on request). The cost is quite modest, ranging from 15-26 Euro. Tickets can be bought on the bus. The bus will drop passengers just outside the Town center. A short taxi ride will take you to your accommodation.

The train services in Italy are equal to the best in the world. Very fast trains between major cities and slower regional trains connecting to the smaller towns. Todi does not have a local train station but is connected by buses (BusItalia) to the nearby smaller cities of Terni (if coming from Rome or the south) or Perugia (if coming from Florence or the north).

• From Rome Airport  take the airport train that takes you to the heart of Rome (Termini Station) and then transfer to a train that will take you to Terni.
• From Terni and Perugia you can get a bus to Todi.
• Private transfers from Terni and Perugia Train stations to Todi can be arranged through your hosts for a reasonable cost, less than a local taxi.

There is an online train reservation service at https://www.trenitalia.com/en/purchase.html

Tip: If you are arriving into Rome Airport, it is best to arrange a ticket at the Train station at the airport after arrival, they are usually very helpful and speak English well. The trip takes about 3 hours.

Remember: Always ‘validate’ your ticket before getting on a train (usually an orange box on the platform or just before) if it is a ‘general’ ticket. The ticket office will usually tell you if you need to validate but it is always worth asking, otherwise you may get a fine if the inspector decides to not to use his reasonable discretion.

Private car transfers: Todi is only 1.5 hours from Rome airport and 36 minutes from Perugia airport by car so a private car transfer is possible. From Rome it should cost about 40 - 50 Euro pp. Much less if you are coming from Perugia.

Your hosts can make these arrangements for you.

Taxis: If you are staying out of the Town in one of the many wonderful Agritourismo stays, then having a car will be most beneficial. Getting local taxis is possible but remember this is a small town so it may take a while – these can be arranged by the concierge until you learn where the drivers hang out in town.

Rental Cars: Driving in Italy is fun and easy with GPS. Going from Rome airport, cars are easy to hire from the airport. Best to pre-book however. If you hire a car you will have flexibility during your stay but consider how often you will use it after arriving. Confident drivers will enjoy driving in Italy provided you have English speaking GPS functionality. With a car, going home for lunch to an Agritourismo (farmstay or villa accommodation) would be a possibility. If you bring a friend they might enjoy the car while you are in Class. Combining the hire with another couple could halve the cost and make a big difference.

Parking in Todi: This can be an issue (see section below) if you are staying in Todi centro, as it is an authentic medieval town. But there is public parking below the town outside the city walls with a lift to the town or free bus shuttle into the Centro. However, if you are content to stay in Todi centro you may not need a car at all as all the necessities are within walking distance if you are reasonably fit. The bus service will take you to Shops and large supermarkets outside the central town area.

Our Local Guide (Concierge) can arrange with a number of Local accommodation owners a special rate for groups and family or companion. Our accommodation suggestions are contained in our blog post relating to Accommodation. These can be booked through Booking.com. Contact us if you need any help with your bookings.

There is a wide range of accommodation available from simple ‘convent’ rooms and apartments in Todi centro up to lavish villas in the surrounding country and plenty of options in between.

We strongly suggest if you wish to maximize your experience of the class and the town that you book accommodation that is easily accessible to the Todi town center (Todi centro). Most of the places referred to in our list of suggestions are within an easy walk of the Studio.

• Comfortable walking shoes.
• Closed toe shoes for the studio.
• Old clothes/ apron for the class.
• Light clothing generally. Average temps are around 24 C but can be  the 30 + C in summer.
• Coat or jumper for the evening. It can get cool.
• PACK LIGHTLY! You may be bringing materials and taking  work home  with you . Do not bring suitcases that you cannot manage yourself. You may have to negotiate stairs and cobbled streets.

Covid -19 has changed our way of life. We are taking a cautious approach to holding classes and will assess the risks continuously which is why we have a forgiving refund policy. We will require that you be vaccinated well before departing your country of origin and preferably that you have had a booster jab. You must have appropriate documentary evidence of your vaccination status on arrival in Italy.If you present in class with symptoms we may ask you to have a test for covid and wait until the results are known.

Todi is a hilltop town though it is generally flat at the top. There is limited parking in Todi centro which is delightful. The main, less expensive, car parking, is accessed via an enclosed lift (funicular) close to the center of town from below the town wall. Walking is relatively easy but you will need moderately good health. If you are very unfit and feel you cannot walk up and down some mild hills, you can get a taxi to and from your accommodation at your own expense but you will have to factor in small town response times.

Todi does not have a hospital in the center of town, but there is a medical clinic and a number of GPs. Health care in Italy is generally very good with the local Pharmacy (Farmacia) handling most regular ailments. A modern ‘local’ hospital is 20 minutes away at Pantala and two major hospitals are located 35 minutes away in Perugia. If you are aware of a pre-existing health issue that cannot be handled by a general practitioner, please reconsider these classes. Ensure you have adequate supplies of prescription medication for the duration of your travel and a letter from your GP explaining your health condition and preferred treatment. You can contact us if you are unsure.

Remember: Please bring your medicare card as Australians can use it in Italy and be sure to bring written confirmation of any medical condition with you as a precaution. Also remember to TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE that recognises any pre-existing conditions, if appropriate. Some insurers will cover Covid as a medical condition.

You probably don’t need to have a phone, but it is handy if you are traveling with others and the use of the camera on any smart phone is almost obligatory! It is relatively easy to get a SIM prepaid card with credit either at the airport or better still, when you arrive in Todi. Speak to your service provider before you leave home about international roaming charges if you need to be contactable from home or send your critical contacts your new European mobile number. We find using WhatsApp is a cost saving measure. Having a phone will give you easy access to us as your hosts and our Local Guide(Concierge) by mobile. If a problem arises your teacher will have access to the Concierge.

Finally, TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE. No-one should travel overseas without it!