Andiamo a Cortona!

UGA Cortona and the Lamar Dodd School of Art invites you to the heart of Tuscany to discover the artist within.

October 19 - 27, 2025

Interested? Contact Grace Mercer at Grace.Mercer@uga.edu or call (706) 542-1511

Since 2006, the Lamar Dodd School of Art and the International Center in Cortona of the University of Georgia have co-created the Dodd Cortona Experience — approximately one week of special, artist-led tours centered around the art-rich and historical Tuscan hill town of Cortona. This October, the Dodd and UGA Cortona cordially invite you to join us for the 2025 Dodd Cortona Experience after a decade hiatus.

The program is designed for lovers of art, food, wine, and the central Italian landscape and culture. The experience also highlights Lamar Dodd School of Art studio and lecture-based courses taught at the UGA Cortona Center, now celebrating 55+ years of the highest quality study abroad programming. 

Joe Peragine, director of the Lamar Dodd School of Art and professor of drawing & painting will lead the 2025 Dodd Cortona Experience, aided by Chris Robinson, director of UGA Cortona.

The week-long tour from October 19 - 27, 2025 will offer an art/studio educational component, as well as culinary and cultural exploration of central Italy.

Find program details, educational workshops and itinerary below.

After registration for the Dodd Cortona Experience, participants will receive detailed course descriptions, itineraries, suggested reading lists, and a supply list. A pre-travel information session will be scheduled in Fall 2025.

The total balance of registration and gift must be paid by no later than June 6, 2025.

If you cancel after program payment is made on or before July 21, 2025, the Lamar Dodd School of Art and UGA Cortona will provide a refund, according to a scale provided in Program Details.

Contact 

Grace Mercer // Grace.Mercer@uga.edu // (706) 542-1511

 

View of UGA Cortona entrance. Photograph courtesy of the University of Georgia.

 

Program Details

When

Sunday October 19, 2025 (depart U.S., arrive October 20) - Monday October 27, 2025

Included
  • Transportation
    • Chartered coach between Fiumicino airport in Rome and Cortona; group excursions outside Cortona
  • Food
    • Range of receptions, dinners, wine and cheese event, cooking lesson, and some lunches, as indicated by the program itinerary
  • Museum entry
    • Museum reservations and entry for the group, tour guides, and logistical planning
  • Educational workshops and some art supplies

Not Included

  • Hotel accommodations (see official hotel partner below)
    • Please note accommodations are the sole responsibility of program participants
  • Airfare to and from Italy
  • Any ground transportation other than that described above, according to program itinerary
  • Any meals other than those organized by the program, as described above
  • Any services not specifically identified under ‘Included’, described above

Official Hotel Partner

Il Monastero di Cortona

This special hotel occupies the same building once known as the “Albergo Athens”, the former living accommodations for UGA Cortona students for over 30 years. It is now a boutique hotel, recently renovated with unique, modern comfort in a historical setting

Various Group Rates available under Group name Cortona Experience 2025 for arrival on October 20 and departure on October 27.

Booking should be made by June 25, 2025. On that date, any remaining rooms will revert to the hotel to sell to other guests at prevailing rates.

Eligibility and Reservations

Participation in the 2025 Dodd Cortona Experience is open to UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art and UGA Cortona alumni, as well as to all “friends” of Cortona. Total number of participants will be limited. Potential participants are advised that Cortona is a hilly town with steep streets. Restrictions on participation may apply to individuals under the age of 18. 2025 Dodd Cortona Experience reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.

Cost

The cost of the 2025 Dodd Cortona Experience is $2,500 per person, which may fluctuate slightly based on final group size and exchange rate at the time of travel. Submit payment here.

In addition to the registration payment, we are asking for a tax-deductible, non-refundable gift of $1,000 per individual ($1,500 for couples) to the Lamar Dodd School of Art and UGA Cortona to ensure the continuation of quality visual arts education and programming at home and abroad. Make gift here.

The total balance of registration and gift must be paid by no later than June 6, 2025.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel after program payment is made on or before July 21, 2025, the Lamar Dodd School of Art and UGA Cortona will provide a refund, according to the following scale:

Timeline of Participant Cancellation Cancellation Fee Participant is Financially Responsible to Pay
90 to 63 days prior to the program departure date 25%
64 to 40 days prior to the program departure date 50%
39 to 15 days prior to the program departure date 75%
14 prior to the program departure date and at any time during the program 100%

 

Student in ceramics studio at Jack Kehoe Center in Cortona, October 2024. Photograph courtesy of Francis Oliver.

Student in ceramics studio at Jack Kehoe Center in Cortona, October 2024. Photograph courtesy of Francis Oliver.
 

Educational Workshops

 

Watercolor Workshop with Lamar Dodd School of Art Director Joe Peragine

All participants will enjoy field and studio work with Lamar Dodd School of Art Director and painter Joe Peragine

The primary objective will be to learn watercolor techniques and when desired, incorporate drawings into the watercolor vocabulary. Given the site and setting of Cortona, subjects will include landscape and architecture while attempting to challenge ourselves with combinations of speed and size of paintings. Weather permitting, meetings will occur outside at specific locations in and around Cortona; the area provides a variety of subjects from which to draw and paint. 

We will look at other watercolor artists, encouraging sentiment about what type of painting you wish to create. There are many looks to watercolor; some fluid and washed with emotion, while others can be dry and full of detail. Do you wish to paint with a loose style or with more control?

The surrounding area offers many options, in and outside the city of Cortona, inspiring subjects to render. We can engage in walks within the city or outside Cortona to locations such as Le Celle, observing local landscape and people. The grounds of the UGA Cortona Kehoe Center and Severini School can also be used to identify subject matter.

We will have critiques or simply opportunities for group discussion. Occasions will be provided to see what others are accomplishing and to hear what others think. These lighthearted moments are meant to be a fun reflection of a collective experience.  

 

Workshop Options

Participants can choose to attend all or select which of the workshops they would like to join

Maiolica Decoration with UGA Cortona Director Chris Robinson

This 2–3-hour workshop dives in to the ancient and admired Italian tradition of ‘Maiolica’ ceramics decoration. For this workshop, the process will involve painting images and/or designs on to a pre-fired and glazed ceramic object. UGA Cortona Director, Chris Robinson will lead instruction for the workshop, providing points of historical context along the way. The finished, decorated objects will be fired and returned to program participants.

Other workshops TBA

 

Itinerary

Sunday October 19, 2025 (Departing U.S.), arriving October 20, 2025 (Rome) - Monday October 27, 2025

Day 1 Monday, October 20
  • 10:30am
    • Arrival (for most of us) to Rome Airport
  • 12:30pm
    • Bus meets participants and leaves from Rome Airport for Cortona (approx. 3-hour ride); boxed lunches provided on bus
  • 3:30pm
    • Approximate arrival to Cortona, settle into lodging
  • 6:00pm
    • Welcome “Apericena” in DelBrenna Jewelry shop in Cortona (famous prosecco with gold dust); greetings from UGA Cortona Director, Chris Robinson and UGA Lamar Dodd School of Art Director, Joe Peragine

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 2 Tuesday, October 21
  • 8:30am
    • Meet for coffee/tea (location TBA); review itineraries
  • 9:00am
    • Tour of Cortona (city) led by Chris Robinson
  • 10:00am
  • 12:00pm
    • Lunch on your own
  • 2:00pm
    • Tour of UGA Cortona International Center, including: studios, classrooms, grounds, etc.
  • 3:00 - 5:00pm
    • Ceramics demo with opportunity to glaze and decorate your own Italian maiolica masterpiece! (Kehoe Center)
  • Dinner on your own

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 3 Wednesday, October 22
  • 9:00am
    • Coffee/tea conversation/workshop (location TBD): Italian Customs and Culture with UGA Cortona International Center Staff
  • 10:00am
    • Tour Cortona Diocesano Museum, including famous Annunciation by Fra Angelico
  • 11:00am
    • Class with Dodd Director, Joe Peragine
  • Lunch on your own
  • 2:00pm
    • Studio Art demo/workshop
  • 4:00pm
    • Cooking lesson with local chef… and dinner as group

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 4 Thursday, October 23
  • 9:00am
    • Studio time/Class
  • 11:00am
    • Visit local Frantoio (olive oil mill) to see pressing process & taste new oil.
  • Light lunch incorporating new olive oil.
  • 6:00pm
    • Marco Molesini presents ‘wine-tasting in piazza’
  • 8:00pm
    • “Shine & Dine” dinner showcasing wines from producer represented at piazza tasting. Osteria del Teatro

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 5 Friday, October 24
  • 8:30am
    • Walk to Le Celle (optional car transportation provided)
  • 9:30am
    • Class at Le Celle
  • 11:30am
    • Return to Cortona
  • 12:00pm
    • Lunch, provided at Sant'Agostino
  • 2:00pm
    • UGA Cortona Mini Conference — Dead on Display: From Death to Exhibition
  • 7:30pm
    • Dinner with UGA Cortona fall program participants, meet scholarship students

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 6 Saturday, October 25
Options
  • Option A
    • Join UGA Cortona Fall Semester group on excursion to Assisi. UGA Cortona students make an excursion each Saturday as part of the program and course work. There will be on-site lectures from professors and assignments for the students. We will also enter the Basilica of Saint Francis and other sites.
      • Depart Cortona 8:00am, return to Cortona approximately 6:00pm
  • Option B
    • Morning studio time, afternoon Vineyard visit with tasting and light food
    • Depart Cortona 2:00pm, return to Cortona approximately 6:00pm
  • Option C
    • Independent travel – As ‘independent travel’, transportation will not be arranged or paid for by Dodd Cortona Experience. Logistical informational/assistance will be provided upon request.
  • Option D: Stay in Cortona, rest, relax, repose
  • Dinner on your own

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 7 Sunday, October 26
  • 9:00am
    • Studio time/Class
  • Lunch on your own
  • TBA
    • Set up Dodd Cortona Experience show after lunch
  • TBA
    • Free time for packing, around-town errands, etc.
  • 5:30pm
    • Reception and “Show & Tell” of artwork
  • 7:30pm
    • Final, celebratory dinner in Cortona

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Day 8 Monday, October 27 – End of Program
  • TBA
    • Bring luggage down to transport to bus
  • TBA
    • Early departure for Rome Airport
  • Boxed breakfast en-route