Il “Bon Fresco” nel cuore della Toscana
Scopri l’arte senza tempo del vero “Bon Fresco” e vivi un’esperienza immersiva tra arte, storia e territorio nel cuore della Toscana.
Un workshop pratico di 3 giorni a Pietrasanta, città internazionale degli artisti e della scultura, per avvicinarsi alla tecnica dell’affresco tradizionale, dalle sue origini romane fino alla grande tradizione del Rinascimento Toscano.
Guidati dall’artista Franco Pagliarulo, imparerai a conoscere i materiali e le diverse fasi della lavorazione: dalla preparazione dell’intonaco e del disegno preparatorio fino allo spolvero, alla preparazione del velo finale e alla pittura con pigmenti naturali applicati sull’intonaco fresco.
Ma sarà anche un’esperienza alla scoperta del territorio: visiteremo gli affreschi di Fernando Botero e Romano Cosci a Pietrasanta e ci sposteremo a Casoli, il “borgo degli Sgraffiti”, un luogo unico dove l’arte contemporanea è diventata parte integrante dell’identità del paese.
3 giorni di arte, tecnica e bellezza nel cuore della Toscana
Giorno 1 – Pietrasanta, la città degli artisti. Ore 10 -16
Introduzione alla storia e ai segreti della pittura a fresco.
Presentazione dei materiali e delle principali fasi di lavorazione.
Passeggiata guidata nel centro storico di Pietrasanta alla scoperta degli affreschi e delle opere di Fernando Botero e Romano Cosci.
Giorno 2 – Dal disegno all’intonaco ore 10 -19
Preparazione dell’arriccio, il primo strato dell’intonaco.
Progettazione del soggetto e realizzazione del cartone preparatorio, con la tecnica dello spolvero utilizzata nella tradizione dell’affresco.
Visita a Casoli, il “Paese degli Sgraffiti”, per conoscere questa particolare tradizione artistica e il lavoro di Franco Pagliarulo.
Giorno 3 – Il tuo affresco ore 10 – 19.30 (pausa pranzo 1 ora)
Preparazione dell’intonaco e del velo finale su una tegola tradizionale in terracotta (embrice).
Trasferimento del disegno attraverso lo spolvero e realizzazione della pittura a fresco con pigmenti naturali e acqua.
Al termine, ogni partecipante avrà realizzato il proprio piccolo affresco o sgraffito originale, da portare con sé come ricordo di un’esperienza artistica vissuta in Toscana.
Una vera esperienza italiana
Tre giorni per imparare una tecnica antica, entrare in contatto diretto con i materiali e il lavoro dell’artista, ma anche conoscere Pietrasanta, scoprire Casoli e vivere il patrimonio artistico della Versilia attraverso uno sguardo più autentico e personale.
Prossima data:
🎈 23–24–25 ottobre € 450 solo la domenica € 190
Posti limitati
Fresco Workshop – Italy
Discover the timeless art of Buon Fresco in the heart of Tuscany
Step into the world of traditional Italian fresco painting with a 3-day hands-on fresco workshop in Pietrasanta, one of Tuscany’s most renowned towns for artists, sculptors and art lovers.
Learn the authentic techniques of Buon Fresco, the ancient painting method used by Roman painters and perfected during the Italian Renaissance. From preparing the lime plaster and creating the preparatory drawing to transferring the design and painting with natural mineral pigments, you will experience the complete fresco-making process.
Working under the guidance of artist Franco Pagliarulo, you will discover how a fresco is created layer by layer, directly onto fresh lime plaster. The workshop combines practical learning, art history and visits to some of the most interesting artistic sites around Pietrasanta.
This is not simply a painting class: it is an opportunity to experience a living tradition of Italian art and to create your own authentic fresco to take home.
3 Days of Art, Tradition and Beauty in Tuscany
Day 1 – Discovering the Art of Fresco
An introduction to the history and secrets of Buon Fresco, from ancient Roman painting to the great fresco cycles of the Italian Renaissance.
You will be introduced to all the materials and tools used in traditional fresco painting and learn about the different stages of the process.
We will then take a guided walk through Pietrasanta to discover frescoes and artworks by artists such as Fernando Botero and Romano Cosci, while exploring the unique atmosphere of this historic town, known internationally as a meeting place for artists and sculptors.
Day 2 – From Drawing to Plaster
Preparation of the arriccio, the first rough layer of lime plaster.
You will design your own subject and create the cartoon, the full-size preparatory drawing used to transfer the composition onto the fresh plaster.
You will learn the traditional spolvero technique, in which small perforations are made along the lines of the drawing and fine charcoal or pigment powder is used to transfer the design onto the plaster.
In the afternoon, we will visit Casoli, the famous “Village of Sgraffiti”, a small historic village near Camaiore decorated with traditional sgraffito artworks. This visit offers an opportunity to discover another fascinating Italian wall-decoration technique closely connected to the artistic traditions of Tuscany.
Day 3 – Painting Your Own Fresco
The final and most exciting stage begins with the preparation of the intonaco, the fresh fine plaster layer on which the painting will be executed.
Each participant will prepare the final plaster surface, known as the velo, on a traditional terracotta roof tile (embrice).
The preparatory drawing is then transferred onto the fresh plaster and the painting begins.
Using natural mineral pigments mixed with water, you will experience the unique sensation of painting directly onto wet lime plaster — working while the plaster is still fresh and allowing the pigments to become permanently integrated with the surface through the natural process of carbonation.
By the end of the workshop, each participant will have completed their own original fresco, created entirely by hand using traditional techniques, and will be able to take it home as a unique souvenir of their experience in Tuscany.
A genuine Italian art experience
This workshop is designed for anyone fascinated by Italian art, Renaissance painting, traditional craftsmanship and hands-on creative experiences.
No previous experience in fresco painting is required. Curiosity, enthusiasm and a willingness to get your hands dirty are enough!
Come and discover why fresco painting is so much more than simply painting on a wall: it is a dialogue between drawing, lime, water, earth and time.
Next Workshop Dates
🎈 23–24–25 October 2026
3-day workshop – €500
Location: Pietrasanta, Tuscany, Italy
Limited places available.