At Casa di Betlemme, in the hamlet of Cervarolo about 7km from Varallo, a picturesque town in Valsesia in the region of Piemonte, Italy

Book your immersion into Byzantine iconography in the Italian Alps

Course Details

Dates: September 4-11, 2026
Location: Casa di Betlemme, Cervarolo, Varallo, Italy
Group Size: Maximum 4 students (intimate, personalized instruction)
Skill Level: All levels welcome but each student will be working on an icon of their own choice.

Cost: €850 for full board and tuition.

Non returnable deposit, to be paid now, reserves your place: €400

Balance of €450 due on arrival.

What's Included

Instruction & Materials

• Six full days of expert personal tuition in Byzantine iconography
• Pre-course preparation via Zoom tutorials
• Basic pigments and materials provided
• Personalised curriculum tailored to group needs and experience levels

Spiritual Practice

• Daily prayers to frame and sanctify the creative process
• Guided reflections on the theology and spirituality of iconography
• Silent painting sessions in the contemplative tradition
• Integration of prayer, art, and the natural beauty of the surrounding mountains

Accommodation & Meals

• 7 nights shared accommodation at Casa di Betlemme or neighboring apartment
• One main meal daily (lunch or dinner)
• Self-service breakfast and supper provisions
• Sunday half-day break for local Mass and relaxation

Participants will kindly help in the preparation and clearing away of meals, and keeping the property clean and tidy. 

Your Experience

Participants can decide which icon they want to work on and we will prepare beforehand via Zoom. This can be a course to paint a simple icon in a week, or can be focused practice for example on garments, backgrounds and so on, or on new areas which you want to learn on such as water gilding or board preparation, or you can just come with whatever you are working on and take advantage of the studio, the peace and quiet and the support of a tutor.

Arrival & orientation: September 4th (morning arrival recommended)
Join us for a welcome supper as you settle into your home for the week.

Daily Rhythm:
Each day begins at 9am with prayer, grounding us in the sacred purpose of iconography. Painting sessions are held in contemplative silence in Ian's icon painting studio against the backdrop of a stunning mountain landscape. This silence allows the work to become a form of meditation, deepened by the profound stillness of the Italian alps and forests that surround us and guided by expert tuition. Each student will have their own workspace in the studio or , if preferred, in the open air. Tuition is directed to a particular student but you can listen in on instruction being given to the other students if you feel it is helpful. We break for prayers and lunch at noon, and a convivial supper at 7pm before concluding the day. Its very informal and shaped by the group as a whole.

The Setting:
Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, Casa di Betlemme offers a sanctuary for the making of liturgical art. The mountains and ancient forests of Varallo provide a natural cathedral—a space where the boundary between prayer and creativity dissolves. Here, in this timeless landscape, you'll discover how silence, nature, and sacred art work together to create things of timeless beauty. Varallo, the local town, is 7km away and is known as 'the City of Art'.

Sunday, September 6th:
Half-day schedule allowing time to attend Mass in the village or at the historic Sacro Monte of Varallo.

Departure: September 11th.

The Contemplative Tradition

Icon painting is not merely an artistic practice—it is a spiritual discipline. In the Christian tradition, iconographers prepare through prayer and fasting, recognising that they are entrusted with an important task in the service of Christ and His Church. 

During this retreat, you will:

• Begin each day with communal prayer. Friday will be a fast day without meat.
• Paint in meditative silence, as generations of iconographers have done for centuries
• Reflect on the theological depth of the images you create and how God is reaching out to you as you do so
• Experience how the natural world—mountains, forests, changing light and your companions—becomes part of your spiritual practice
• Discover the icon a door from heaven where God meets us and we behold Him face to face.

The silence of our painting sessions is not empty, but full—filled with the presence of the mountains, the whisper of the forest, and the quiet work of the Holy Spirit.

Before You Arrive

• Pre-course Zoom sessions to help you select and prepare your icon
• Each participant chooses their own icon design
• Arrive with your prepared board ready to begin
• Detailed preparation guidance provided upon registration

Important Information

Transportation

• Participants arrange their own travel to Cervarolo
• Airport transfer available: Taxi service from Malpensa Airport (approximately €80 per car) can be arranged upon request

Please note that Casa di Betlemme is on a mountain, off the road and up a series of fairly steep alleyways. Accommodation is either in the house or in a neighbouring clean but simply equipped property.

Diet

Please let us know immediately of any particular dietary requirements and allergies.

Questions?

Contact us at ian@eliasicons.co.uk

What You'll Take Home

• Your completed Byzantine icon, created in prayer and silence
• Traditional techniques passed down through centuries
• Deep understanding of sacred iconography and its theology
• The experience of creative work as spiritual practice
• Memories of silence, beauty, and encounter—with art, with nature, with the Divine

In the heart of the Italian mountains, where ancient forests meet sacred tradition, discover the transformative power of creating icons in prayer and silence. This is more than an art course—it is a pilgrimage of the hands and heart.