Unfortunately for you the law in Europe is a bit complicated. Basically if the driver has a car licence he can drive a vehicle with up to 8 seats without reward. Over that he must have a different licence which allows them to drive a larger vehicle.
So it is doubtful if you will find anything, without a driver.
Here is a link to the U.K. governments website. I would give you the Italian but as this is in English and the rules are basically the same throughout Europe this is better for you to understand the complicated rules we have.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/WhatCanYouDriveAndYourObligations/DG_4022619

<<< I have to hire a 9 seater Mercedes Van and a 5 Seater station wagon to accommodate luggage and people. >>>

You'd need a lot more than that to transport 12 people as they are set up to carry people or luggage, not people and luggage.

A 15 seater coach would be a better option as it will have dedicated luggage space - but it'll probably mean you have to hire a driver as well.

<<I have experience of driving in Italy and Europe. I say this because the rest of the world drives on the wrong side of the road.>>

HUH?

Anyway, you can't rent or drive a vehicle that holds more than 8 without a special license, so you'll need to get that license or hire a special driver. And consider space for their luggage (I've done groups of 6 people in France in a 9-seater van and some brought so much stuff it barely fit in the car, despite severe warnings ahead of time that they had to limit their packing). And it will be a royal PITA to drive and park such a vehicle in small Italian towns.Plus you'll have to deal with parking issues in Florence and Venice.

I am board member of a large art coop in NYC. I wish you all the luck in the world in getting ten artists to do anything in the same manner at the same time.

Here are some suggestions:

Decide that people do not have to do all things together all the time. This is especially true with your group since people work at different rates and want to paint different things.


Make sure people bring all their supplies and do not start to borrow from one another. This includes stools and easels. One of my wife's favorite things is to bring an old sock and put it over her wrist and use it for cleaning her brush.

Know where you can get art supplies in the area that is convenient. Someone will run out of something and then this could stop the progress of the group.

Decide before time how all items will be paid. This is especially true for drinks because there are always one or two will drink more than others.

Blick, Pearl, Flax, Cheap Joe's, etc all have items that are meant for travel and field work. I would also encourage your group to test the materials at home first to make sure everything is as they want it.

Buon fortuna

Your best option is to charter a small bus and driver. You could also hire them for your various excursions.

Only other way to do it would be to rent 4 small or 3 mid-sized cars and pick drivers from the group.

Read Aduchamp1's post a couple of times for all of the good suggestions.

We've been to Italy as part of a large family group. Doing anything together was like herding cats, and we vowed "never again." Good luck!

Thank you Jean.

We have intentionally picked spots to visit that have poisonous snakes and other animals to make sure certain family members would not join us.

Thank you for all the replies.
1. I think I qualify on all points with my international licence (Car). Maybe I interpret it wrong Ribeirasacra.
"Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:

•a passenger carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than 8 passengers
•a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided the following conditions are met:
i. the vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward
ii. the driver is aged 21 iii. the driver has held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
iv. the driver is providing the service on a voluntary basis
v. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers
vi. if the driver is aged 70 or over, is able to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle

When driving a minibus under these conditions you may not receive any payment or consideration for doing so other than out of pocket expenses or tow any size trailer; you may only drive minibuses in this country. Drivers aged 70 or over will need to make a special application, which involves meeting higher medical standards."
I am younger han 70!
2.StCirq - just a bad joke about thye wrong side!
3.Aduchamp1 : The painting part is in Barga and for the seven days. The ten will be on their own while me and a friend do Rome. The painting week is a course by instructors. They supply all materials and accommodation. Afterwards we will pick them up in Barga and then go to Florence and Venice.
4. I see the problem with people and baggage. Everyone is actually limited to 20kg. I think the parking isssues is the greatest problem.
I've got time and will give it thought and google.
Thanks so far.

I suggest (and I think it is suggested above, too) hiring a small bus with driver for separate legs of your trip. I have done so for clients in the past.


You could have the bus take you from Barga to Pisa, then train to Florence, then train to Venice.

Where are you staying in Barga? Trains might fulfill all your needs, depending on where you are staying.

If you are talking about frequent day trips from Barga, I would suggest a few rental cars. Bus hire on a daily basis could get expensive.

" I think I qualify on all points with my international licence (Car). Maybe I interpret it wrong Ribeirasacra.
"Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:"

Is that your IDP (International Driver's Permit)? If so it is a translation of your own license.

Where are you from? Are you somewhere in the EU? If not, having a class B or class C or whatever type license at home doesn't mean the Italians have to recognize/accept it.

You guys are terrific!
I am from South Africa (remember the World cup?).
The train idea has got me running. Now I must study the trenitalia website!
Is there any way bookings can be done for a group on the net? Older people do not like uncertaity! The art holiday organizers will bring the group to Pisa. We must then got to Florence for four nights, Venice for four nights and be back on this last day from Venice to Rome airport (FUI) to fly back to South Africa at about 19:20. We must be at the airport at 16:00.
BTW the trains does not have to be the fast one's. The slower, the easier to get photo's!
I think I have changed the thread and will have to start a new one!
Thanks again.

Sita has 14 and 16 passengers buses that you can hire, but I think you would have to use their drivers.

http://www.sitabus.it/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLd4y39ATJmMUbxBub6keiijjCBXw98nNT9YP0vfUD9AtyQyPKHR0VAaEhinE!/delta/base64xml/L3dJdyEvd0ZNQUFzQUMvNElVRS82X0FfQTg!

I'd seriously check out whether you can legally drive a larger vehicle. The International License you have, as pointed out, just translates your US license and it relates to the laws there. For example, young teenagers can have a US driving license but getting that translated into an International License still won't let them drive in countries where they ae below the legal age.

I don't know the Italian rules, or if this is now Euro-wide. In the UK for example, you must have section D license unless you got your B (car) license before a certain date (donkeys years ago).

I'd hate you to book a vehicle and then not be allowed to drive it.

I also wonder about the space for luggage and artists materials - presumably you'll have more stuff than the average tourist because of these.

Pisa to Florence, Florence to Venice, and Venice to Rome are all easy by train. With many trains per day.

Trenitalia does not accept American credit cards. Not sure about South African ones. So we buy all our train tickets when we first arrive in Italy, usually at a travel agency displaying the Trenitalia logo.

Speaking of travel agents, maybe you could find one in South Africa to help you with your planning.

And don't rely on an Italian train to get you to Rome and the airport the day of your flight. Strikes and other contretemps happen. Get to Rome the day before your departure.