Any artists on the forum?

Pam, sounds like a great trip. Some cities still make beautiful paper for drawing, watercolor, etc., and sell sheets or notebooks (Amalfi is one city but you should check if Assisi does as well). Something like that might make a nice background for your work. There are some interesting views of Assisi from the Rocca Maggiore at the top of the city, and from just about any side street. At around sunset, the pink stone of the city picks up a little golden highlighting - beautiful to see. In Rome, you can go to the Janiculum for rather distant views of Rome, or take the sky elevator at the Monument to Vittore Emmanuele II for views of the city. I like the twin churches in Piazza del Popolo - it's a big pedestrian piazza and you'll probably be able to sit almost anywhere to paint/draw. Trastevere also offers good opportunities for things to paint/draw and it's easy to get to/from St. Peter's. Also the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. You can easily buy more supplies if you need them.

You may also want to think about just buying supplies here in Italy both to use an as souvenirs of your trip - there are shops everywhere with an amazing array of art supplies.

Thank you Zoe & Anthony. You both gave great info. From what I understand is that when we get to Assisi, we'll have some time to rest up, do some sightseeing, rest some more, have supper and then do some touring the next day before heading to Rome. I think we're having dinner in Assisi before the ride back to Rome. My only fear Anthony is that I won't have a lot of free time to find a shop selling art supplies before I find places to paint. However, when I get there I'll ask my escort for help finding a shop. If I have any way to do it, I want to be able to draw something every day and hopefully to also do a little bit of painting, either watercolors or pastels. I would dearly love to be able to buy some art supplies to use in Italy and to bring home. I plan to pack my 1/2 sticks of NuPastels in rice in a a small plastic container with rubberbands holding it closed and then putting everything in a ziplock bag. Pam

Pam, you can contact your hotel and ask about art supply stores, or google for info (maybe something like "buy art supplies Assisi").

Pam... sounds like a wonderful trip... I am a photographer/artist and always pack art supplies for myself as well as for my grandkids as they are very artistic. So, I always pack what I think we can't live without but have also managed to purchase art supplies in most countries I have traveled to. I bought pigment from Morocco as well as Rousillion, beautiful handmade paper in Florence, quill pens and India ink in England, etc. as well as wonderful sketch books at a variety of places in Italy. A few years ago I stayed in a little town outside of Florence called San Donato, and as we followed the little road to this tiny hill town as rounded the corner and found an array of artists with their easles who were painting the beautiful Tuscan countryside. It looked like a scene out of a movie. My 9 year old grandson was with me (a wonderful artist) and they gave him his first set of acrylics! If you get a chance to go there and paint it is amazing.