To (almost) finish up my week of teaching in Città della Pieve, Italy, please join me as I look back on our side-trips and activities that added so much to the overall experience of fabric collage in Italy—beginning with the magic of small purple crocuses creating a knock-your-socks-off yellow dye—and finishing with the immensity of a humble cathedral with roots to the years between the 4th and 5th centuries.
In the photo above, the encircling walls of Città della Pieve in the region of Umbria, look out to the rolling hills of Tuscany. This was my first trip to Italy and I have curated a few photos to give you a small taste of the sights my class and I experienced. So grab a cuppa and put your feet up for some no-hassle arm-chair travel through this inviting little Medieval town. Salute.
Next Year’s Return to Città della Pieve with Strada Toscana
I will be returning to teach at this inspiring location next year in October of 2026. For more information about that trip or to register, please visit this link.
Serendipitous Fabric Collage: Fantastical Fish of Tuscany—Pesci Fantastici di Toscana
October 19-24, 2026
Città della Pieve, Italy
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Fabric Collage in Italy: 2025 Class Experiences with Strada Toscana
To see the fantastic work my students created at the same time we were enjoying all the following extra curricular activities, please check out this post: Bel Sole Italiano: Student Fabric Collage from Città della Pieve , Italy
Click on photos to enlarge images and to scroll through photo galleries
Day One: Arrival and Introduction to Città della Pieve
Some of us had arrived to Citta della Pieve a day or so early, but by mid-afternoon on Day One, everyone was getting settled and resting up for class. Home base was the Hotel Vannucci, a short walk through the time-worn streets, past a former prison (now an information center) and its spring-water fountain (perfect for filling water bottles), to our classroom.
Our arrival dinner at the Hotel Vannucci after a walking tour of the town, guided by our lovely Strada Toscana host, Pamela Haack.
Day Two: Saffron Day
I’ve been very excited for Saffron Day ever since Pamela helped arrange it when we set up this class last year—and it will be repeated in 2026 as well. It was a revelation for me to learn that: 1.) There are crocuses that bloom in October. 2.) And they are the crocuses that produce the “world’s most expensive spice,” saffron. 3.) The harvested red stamens that are dried for the spice also produce a bright yellow dye for fabrics. 4.) The land surrounding Città della Pieve is home to fields of the saffron crocuses!
Of course dyeing fabrics with locally grown saffron was the number one activity I was hoping for for my class and myself, and Pamela made it all happen. Her friend Alessandro, a saffron farmer and producer, opened up a small crocus plot within a centuries-old monastery garden for us to pick saffron buds and the red stamens ourselves.
Alessandro and Pamela, then gave us a tour through his saffron, “zafferano,” museum—with all sorts of growing and historical facts, and parchment ledgers documenting the growth of the saffron trade, above.
Back in Our Classroom
Alessandro sent back a little jar of dried saffron for each of us to soak in a water and vinegar solution to make a fabric dye.
Since the longer the dye steeps the stronger it will become, and the longer the fabric soaks, the brighter it will become, our saffron “day” became three days. The dye sat overnight in mason jars, then our fabric sat overnight in the bowls of dye. 
On day three the amazing yellow fabric was rinsed out and hung on a clothesline that Pamela strung up in the classroom.
Wow! All of the fabrics I brought for the class began as white cotton fabrics, some with black or white-on-white prints that ended up resisting the dye, as I had hoped. We also found that cotton cheesecloth and silk based fabrics take on the dye beautifully as well.
A few students already used some of their new fabric in their sun portraits. I can’t wait to experiment with my own new saffron-dyed fabrics.
Day Three: Pienza
On Day Three was our field trip to the neighboring town of Pienza—a few fabulous hours full of art and architecture. Looking back on this trip to Italy, I’m realizing how much these added experiences have inspired me to learn more of the Medieval and Renaissance art we have been immersed in. I loved looking closely at the Illuminated Manuscripts that Pamela showed us in a Pienza museum—click on the example photo in gallery below and look closely at the lower left corner of the border design for a fanciful creature.
There’s so much to show and share that beginning next week, I’ll be adding a new blog post category: “Bites of Inspiration”—to delve a little deeper into some of this new inspiration, knowledge, observations, thoughts and ideas—and how they may possibly be applied to our fabric art.
Day Four: Pasta Making
On Day Four, we wrapped up class at 4pm and had a nice walk through town to meet Christian, a bistro owner friend of Pamela’s. He had a Prosecco toast, a pasta-making class, and dinner ready for us. Salute!
With all of us mixing, kneading, rolling, cutting, and stretching the dough—under Christian’s watchful direction—we made enough pici noodles for one of our dinner courses at Christian’s Bistro. I have a new favorite pasta, and a holiday activity to teach my family. 😉
Italy is certainly known for its food, and the week in Città della Pieve with Strada Toscana did not disappoint. Pamela had dinners and a couple lunches all planned out and ready for us—it was like her friends became our friends, such as Paola toasting with Pamela, below.
We felt welcomed, at home and taken care of wherever we went around town. My sister Heidi, was glad to have accompanied me on this trip—and it was fun for me to share it with her.
Day Five: Città della Pieve
Throughout the week, we could easily wander through town on our own or as a group. When Pamela was with us, she would educate us on the history of Città della Pieve–about the uniqueness of the abundant brick buildings and the literal layers of history on the buildings’ facades, as well as beneath our feet.
Just as I did, my students took plenty of photos. I’d see a few of them all pointing their cameras in a particular direction—more than likely at doorways, windows, laundry hanging from windows, arches, stones, stone-filled doorways. I loved it, they were getting inspired just like I was.
Above, is Italy’s narrowest street. Yes, it’s a named street, as are the ones below.
One morning before we started our class day, Pamela walked us two blocks from the classroom to the plaza in front of the Città della Pieve Cathedral, below.
Pamela gave us a very informative tour of this cathedral. I had hoped to soak up some new inspiration to apply to my own art during this trip to Italy—and being surrounded by such art and history, I certainly did. More of these thoughts beginning in next week’s new “Bites of Information” posts.
Next Year’s Return to Città della Pieve with Strada Toscana
I will be returning to teach at this inspiring location next year in October of 2026. For more information about that trip or to register, please visit this link.
Serendipitous Fabric Collage: Fantastical Fish of Tuscany—Pesci Fantastici di Toscana
October 19-24, 2026
Città della Pieve, Italy
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Celebrating 10 years of the Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Blog
To celebrate our ten year anniversary, we’re offering two specials: a free pattern and a $30 discount on the Fabric Collage Master Class.
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Specials good until January 1, 2026.
2026 In-Person Classes
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Susan Carlson Fabric Images in Santa Fe, New Mexico
March 23, 2026 – March 27, 2026
Santa Fe, New Mexico
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Susan Carlson Fabric Collage Immersion: A 10 Day Workshop at Woodland Ridge Retreat
April 21, 2026 – May 2, 2026
Menomonie, WI
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Susan Carlson Fabric Collage in Bar Harbor, Maine 2026
September 14, 2026 – September 18, 2026
Bar Harbor, Maine
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Serendipitous Fabric Collage: Fantastical Fish of Tuscany—Pesci Fantastici di Toscana
October 19-24, 2026
Città della Pieve, Italy
FOR MORE INFORMATION
What a marvelous trip accompanied by a great write up! It provides food for plenty of thought.
I did this class with you in Italy and it was such a fabulous week.
Katie Mackay