Hands-on
Indulge in luxury hands-on experiences, from perfume making to master craftsman workshops. Private, bespoke, and designed for unforgettable creative moments.
The History of Perfume in Florence: A Renaissance Tradition
Discover the rich history of perfume in Florence, from Renaissance apothecaries and the Medici family to today's artisan perfumers. Learn how Florentine fragrance traditions continue to inspire visitors and why creating a signature scent is one of the city's most memorable cultural experiences.
Murano Glass in Venice: The Art of Venetian Glassmaking
Discover the history of Murano glass in Venice and learn how generations of master artisans have preserved one of Italy's most celebrated traditions. Explore the craftsmanship, heritage, and techniques behind authentic Venetian glassmaking.
Gold Leaf Art Florence: Discover the Craft Behind Renaissance Beauty
Discover the centuries-old tradition of gold leaf art in Florence and learn how skilled artisans continue this remarkable craft today. Explore the history of gilding, its role in Renaissance masterpieces, and where to experience Florence's living artistic heritage.
The Art of Florentine Steak: Discovering Florence Through Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Discover the history, tradition, and craftsmanship behind bistecca alla Fiorentina, Florence’s most iconic dish. Learn why this legendary Tuscan steak is more than a meal, how it reflects the culture of the region, and where travelers can experience the authentic techniques behind its preparation.
Faenza, Italy: Discovering Emilia-Romagna’s Hidden Ceramic Capital
Discover Faenza, Italy’s hidden gem in Emilia-Romagna, where centuries-old ceramic traditions, artisan workshops, and local culture come together. Learn why this charming city offers a unique glimpse into authentic Italian craftsmanship beyond the typical tourist path.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Florence: Style, Artisans & Authentic Italian Traditions
Discover Florence through craftsmanship, style, and taste with Artviva’s A Gentleman’s Tour – Shop, Style & Taste in Florence. Explore artisan workshops, bespoke tailoring, leather craftsmanship, and Tuscan flavors while experiencing the city through the eyes of a local expert.
Step Into Ancient Rome: Training Like a Gladiator in the Heart of the Eternal City
Step into Ancient Rome with a hands-on Gladiator School experience where travelers train like Roman fighters, explore gladiator history, and learn ancient combat techniques from expert instructors. Discover why this interactive experience is one of Rome’s most memorable activities for families, couples, and history lovers.
From Sea to Table: Discovering the Amalfi Coast Through Fishing, Food & Local Tradition
Discover what makes the Amalfi Coast Fishing and Cooking Experience so unique as you join local fishermen at sea, learn traditional fishing techniques, prepare your fresh catch, and experience the authentic flavors and maritime traditions of one of Italy's most beautiful coastlines
Cycling Through Tuscany: Wine, Villas & the Rolling Hills Beyond Florence
Experience Tuscany beyond Florence on a luxury bike tour through scenic vineyards, olive groves, and historic estates. Discover the region’s landscapes, Renaissance heritage, and local flavors with a relaxed cycling experience featuring boutique wine tastings, Tuscan specialties, and expert local guides.
A Taste of the Renaissance: Florence’s Historic Recipes, Traditions & Flavors
Step into Renaissance Florence with a hands-on cooking class inspired by the Medici era. Learn to prepare authentic historic recipes, discover the stories behind Renaissance cuisine, and enjoy a memorable meal with Tuscan wine in one of Florence's most unique cultural experiences.
The Art of Ligurian Cooking: Pesto, Focaccia & Coastal Traditions in Cinque Terre
Discover the flavors of Liguria with a hands-on pesto and focaccia cooking class in Cinque Terre. Learn traditional Italian techniques from local chefs, prepare authentic regional dishes, and experience the connection between fresh ingredients, coastal landscapes, and the culinary traditions that define this unforgettable part of Italy.
A Taste of Tuscany: Discover Artisan Cheese Making in the Chianti Countryside
Experience the heart of Tuscan food culture with a hands-on cheese making experience in Chianti. Discover how traditional Italian cheeses are crafted on a family farm, explore vineyards and olive groves, enjoy a farm-to-table lunch, and connect with the generations of traditions behind Tuscany’s world-famous cuisine.
Inside Florence’s Artisan Workshops: Where Centuries-Old Crafts Come to Life
Step inside Florence’s working artisan studios on a private tour of the Oltrarno district. Meet master craftspeople, watch traditional techniques in action, and discover the centuries-old craftsmanship behind the city’s renowned jewelry, textiles, woodworking, and decorative arts.
Farm to Table in Umbria: Food, Family, and Italian Traditions
A farm to table Umbria experience offers an immersive day in rural Italy, where food, landscape, and tradition come together through truffle hunting, pasta making, and a shared farmhouse lunch. This article explores how a local family experience reveals the deeper connection between Umbrian cuisine and the land, offering travelers an authentic look at everyday life in Italy’s green heart.
Italian Coffee Culture in Florence – Espresso, Ritual, and the Craft of the Barista
Italian coffee culture in Florence is best understood through the rhythm of the espresso bar, where precision, speed, and repetition define every cup. This article explores how espresso, cappuccino, and the craft of the barista reflect a structured system built on technique, timing, and cultural tradition. Together, they reveal coffee in Florence not as a leisurely drink, but as a daily ritual shaped by skill, consistency, and deeply rooted social habits.
How a Florence Treasure Hunt Strengthens Team Collaboration
Discover how the Florence Team Building Treasure Hunt transforms the city's historic streets into an interactive team-building experience. Learn how this private activity encourages collaboration, communication, and problem-solving while exploring Florence's rich history, making it an ideal choice for corporate groups, incentive trips, and private organizations seeking a memorable shared experience.
Discover Ravenna Through Byzantine Mosaics and Artisan Craftsmanship
Discover the rich Byzantine heritage of Ravenna through a private mosaic workshop and guided cultural tour with Artviva. This article explores how travelers can visit UNESCO-listed mosaic sites with an expert guide, learn the history behind Ravenna’s world-famous mosaics, and take part in a hands-on workshop where they create their own mosaic using traditional techniques inspired by centuries of Italian craftsmanship.
Sicily’s Storytelling Tapestry: From Puppetry to Cuntu – Mimmo Cuticchio – an Exclusive Interview
The Art of Jewelry Making in Florence
The Ultimate Guide to Art & Craft Experiences in Italy
Top 10 Cultural Experiences in Tuscany You Shouldn’t Miss
Truffle Hunt Tuscany: The Ultimate Gourmet Tour
Deruta: Italy’s Ceramic Heart in the Hills of Umbria
Alba’s White Truffle Adventure: Unearthing Italy’s Most Precious Flavor
Team Building in Tuscany: Redefine Connection with Artviva
The Only Grain-to-Pasta Cooking Class in Italy: Mill Ancient Grains, Make Fresh Pasta, Taste Tuscany
Discover Italy’s only grain-to-pasta class, where you mill ancient grains by hand and turn them into fresh Tuscan pasta. Learn authentic techniques, create three traditional pasta shapes, and enjoy an organic tasting menu with wine, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. A deep dive into heritage grains and true Italian cooking -perfect for food lovers and curious travelers.
Florence Marble Carving Sculpture Class – Learn Michelangelo’ s Techniques
Learn the secrets of marble carving in Florence with a renowned Michelangelo expert. In this private workshop, you’ll use traditional tools, explore classical techniques, and shape your own small sculpture. Beginner-friendly and weather-proof, it offers an inspiring glimpse into Italy’s artistic heritage - perfect for creative travelers seeking an authentic Florentine experience.
VIP Renaissance Costume Ball in a Florentine Palace
Step into Florence’s grandest tradition: a Renaissance costume ball held in an exquisite frescoed palace. Guests dress in elegant period attire and waltz, promenade, and dance to live classical music performed by exceptional musicians. With candlelight, orchestral moments, refined choreography, and theatrical touches, this is an unforgettable gala evening. Perfect for corporate celebrations, VIP groups, anniversaries, weddings, and special events. Fully tailored to your needs.
Michelin Chef Cooking Class & Foraging Experience Tuscany
Step into the flavors of Tuscany with a private, chef-led experience that brings the landscape to your table. Guided by a Michelin-starred chef, you’ll forage for seasonal wild ingredients around your villa, then transform them into exquisite dishes during an immersive cooking class. This unforgettable journey connects nature, culture, and cuisine in the most authentic way.
Grape Stomping in Tuscany! – Private Tuscany Wine Tour Experience
Sink your feet into freshly harvested grapes as the scent of ripe fruit fills the air. This unforgettable experience blends Tuscan tradition, laughter, and fine wine in one joyful celebration of harvest. Surrounded by rolling vineyards and golden light, you will live a moment that perfectly captures the essence of Tuscany: rustic, authentic, and full of life.
Florence and Tuscany: Easy Wine Master Beginner – Private Experience
Discover the essentials of wine appreciation and certification in a relaxed, private setting in Tuscany. This beginner-level WSET Wine Master course covers the basics of wine mastery in one unforgettable day, ideal for friends or family at your villa or apartment. Complete the course with a new certification and a newfound confidence in the world of wine.
Fun Gilding Workshop in Florence – A Traditional Artisan Experience
Discover the art of traditional Italian gilding in a historic Florentine workshop. Guided by a master artisan, learn how gold leaf is applied to wood, prepare surfaces, and create your own gilded piece to take home. A fascinating, hands-on experience perfect for art lovers and curious cultural explorers.
Private Team – Building Treasure Hunt in Florence for Corporate Groups
Bring your team together with a private Florence Team-Building Treasure Hunt designed exclusively for corporate groups. Over three energising hours, colleagues solve clues, tackle creative challenges, and explore Renaissance landmarks with licensed expert guides. Ideal for retreats and incentive trips, this engaging experience strengthens communication, collaboration, and morale while showcasing Florence’s most iconic squares, bridges, and monuments.
Learn to Speak Italian Tour – A Fun Florence Walking Italian Class
Step out of the classroom and onto the streets of the magnificent city during this unique and interactive, personalized Italian language class.
Be a Designer for a Day in Milan – Private Experience
Enter the world of Milanese design with a hands-on creative experience inside a renowned studio. Work alongside leading designers in fashion, interiors, and accessories as you craft your own bespoke piece. This immersive workshop offers travelers a rare glimpse into Italy’s design capital and is ideal for creatives and style-focused guests seeking an exclusive, inspiring encounter.
VIP Luxury Truffle Experience in Alba – A Private Michelin Kitchen
Experience an exclusive VIP truffle adventure in the hills near Alba, featuring a private truffle hunt followed by rare access to a Michelin-starred chef’s kitchen. Select fresh herbs and ingredients from the chef’s own garden, create a personalized truffle-inspired menu together, and enjoy a curated wine tasting. An exceptional, private culinary journey into Piedmont’s most celebrated traditions.Price on Application
Florentine Masters: Fresco Making in the Renaissance – Private Art Class
Learn the ancient technique of true fresco painting in an authentic Florentine workshop. Guided by a master, prepare the plaster, mix pigments, and paint directly onto fresh intonaco just as Renaissance artists once did. A fascinating, hands-on creative experience, perfect for art lovers, families, and curious beginners.
Florentine Masters: Techniques of the Renaissance Masters – Private Art Class in Florence
Step into a historic Florentine workshop and learn the secret painting techniques of the Renaissance masters. Guided by an expert artist, explore pigments, gilding, and traditional materials, and create a small artwork inspired by Florence’s great painters. A fun, hands-on experience for art lovers, families, and the creatively curious.
Florentine Masters: Paper Marbling in Florence
Discover the beautiful Florentine tradition of paper marbling in a historic artisan workshop. Guided by a master craftsman, learn how colours float on water, are combed into intricate patterns, and transferred to fine paper. Create your own marbled sheets to take home—a fun, hands-on experience for art lovers and families.
Florentine Masters: Become a Master Forger – Private Art Class
Learn the remarkable techniques used by master art forgers in a private hands-on class in Florence. Guided by an expert, you’ll age paper, study Renaissance drawing styles, and create a convincing pastiche that looks authentically centuries old. A fascinating, fun workshop for art lovers, families, and the creatively curious.
Mask Making Workshop in Venice – Private Artisan Experience
Decorate your own authentic Venetian Carnival mask in a private atelier led by a master artisan. Using traditional materials such as gold leaf, fine pigments, and classic trims, you’ll learn the history and craft behind Venice’s iconic masks. Enjoy personalised guidance as you design a unique keepsake to take home, crafted in the heart of the Floating City.
Fun Easy Leather Making Experience in Florence – Private Craft Class
Discover Florence’s leather-making heritage in a private workshop led by expert artisans. Learn traditional techniques such as cutting, stitching, and finishing, and create your own handcrafted leather item to take home. A fun, beginner-friendly experience ideal for families, couples, and anyone who loves Italian craftsmanship.
Private Mosaic Workshop and Iconic Mosaic Tour with Local Artisan in Ravenna
Explore Ravenna’s most famous mosaics with a guided 1-hour tour of the main mosaic site in the city center, followed by a hands-on Private Mosaic Workshop with a local artisan. Perfect for art lovers, families, and even team-building events, this experience connects you deeply with the art of mosaic-making.
Amazing Palermo Cooking Class & Market Experience
Enjoy Palermo’s most exclusive cooking experience inside one of the city’s grand historic palaces. Join a local Italian aristocrat for a hands-on lesson in traditional Sicilian cuisine, explore a vibrant Palermo market, and cook with exceptional regional ingredients. Complete your experience with a refined tasting of Sicilian wines and a memorable meal in truly opulent surroundings.
Adopt an Olive Tree with Prince Corsini – Luxury Tuscany Olive Oil Experience
"Adopt an Olive Tree" is a unique Tuscany tour. It is the only Italian tour experience where you adopt a olive tree on a beautiful Tuscan villa estate with a plaque in your name. The estate belongs to a noble Italian family.
A Gondola Adventure – Unique Guided Venice Gondola Tour
Experience Venice from its most iconic vantage point on a privately guided gondola tour. Glide through quiet canals and beneath graceful bridges as your expert guide shares the traditions, craftsmanship, and history behind the gondolier’s ancient art. This intimate journey reveals the true essence of the Floating City, offering a serene and timeless perspective found only on the water.
Learn To Be a Gondolier – Learn How To Row a Gondola in Venice
Discover Venice from a gondolier’s perspective in this relaxed, hands-on rowing lesson aboard a traditional training boat. Learn the techniques, balance, and secrets behind the city’s most iconic profession as you try your hand at guiding the vessel through calm canals. An inviting and unforgettable experience that reveals the skill and tradition behind Venice’s timeless art of rowing.
Gladiator School – Learn to be a gladiator in Ancient Rome!
Step into the world of ancient combat at Rome’s renowned gladiator school. Discover the weapons, tactics, and traditions that shaped a gladiator’s life as you train with expert instructors. Learn authentic moves, explore historical equipment, and experience the thrill of preparing for battle. A lively and immersive introduction to one of Rome’s most fascinating cultural phenomena.
White Truffle Gourmet Adventure Alba – Private Experience
Join us in Alba, the heart of Italy’s truffle country, for an exclusive White Truffle Gourmet Adventure. This private full-day experience includes a guided truffle hunt, a curated tasting of renowned local wines, and a gourmet lunch showcasing Alba’s prized white truffles. An exceptional culinary journey ideal for passionate food lovers and travelers seeking something truly memorable.
Perfect Pizza & Gelato Making Class
Create authentic Italian flavors in a private Florence cooking class where you’ll craft Neapolitan-style pizza and churn silky gelato with an expert chef. Work in a professional kitchen using seasonal ingredients, then enjoy a relaxed meal of everything you’ve made. A fun, hands - on culinary experience ideal for couples, families, and groups seeking a delicious taste of Florence.
Truffle Hunting in Tuscany with Lunch & Wine Tasting
What better way to enjoy a morning in Tuscany than with a truffle hunt in the Tuscan hills? Our expert truffle hunter will lead you through forests, so you can combine sightseeing and adventure all in one tour. Tour ends with a light lunch specializing in truffle flavored treats.
Foraging in Tuscany Experience
Get outdoors and enjoy the Tuscan countryside in this fun foraging tour with Florence's most sought after forager! You'll forage like Italians have for centuries in the countryside and learn what herbs and wild plants can be used for salads and cooking.
Florence Perfume Making Experience
Create your own signature scent in an elegant Florentine perfume atelier. Guided by a private master nose, explore rare essences, learn how fragrances are structured, and blend top, heart, and base notes to craft a bespoke perfume to take home. A fun, sensory experience and a unique Florentine keepsake.
Fun Half Day Jewelry Making Experience in Florence
Enjoy a creative course in jewelry, making your own piece, leaving you with an appreciation for the handmade artisanship of jewelry-making.
The jeweler teacher combines a contemporary and creative perspective with a special capacity to find each student's inner creativity, helping you make beautiful pieces unique to you.
Learn to Paint or Sculpt – Art Class in Florence
Enjoy learning to paint or sculpt with a professional artist in their studio in Florence. Create your own masterpiece in the cradle of the Renaissance.
Private Gelato Making Class in Florence
Have fun in this hands-on private gelato-making class! You, your friends, partner or the whole family can bond in this fantastically Italian and yummy cooking class.
Learn the history of this infamously delicious Italian ice-cream while engaging all your senses in the gelato-making process.
Venetian Masters – The Gondola Makers of Venice: Artisan Workshop Visit
Step inside a historic squero to meet the gondola makers of Venice. This private artisan visit reveals centuries-old techniques, living traditions, and the quiet beauty of a working boatyard rarely seen by visitors.
Be a Barista for a Day in Florence – Master Italian Coffee Making
Step behind the bar in Florence and learn to brew like a professional. Pull perfect espresso shots, texture milk, and create latte art, then finish with a certificate that celebrates your new barista skills.