Part-way through the week, I remember my postcard duties and head off to the post office with one of the other students. On the way, I confess that I’m a bit over Venice. That postcard charm has been lost. Another gondola, another canal, another narrow alley funnelling lost tourists about... Ho-hum, yawn.

“I’m so glad to hear you say that,” she says with visible relief. “I totally agree, but was feeling kind of guilty about it.”

We agree that there’s something about this mosaic course, maybe something about being in Venice and having a purpose, that elevates you above the level of mere tourist. Sounds smug, I know, but it’s true. We’re somehow meshed in with the ancient city. We’re here not just to see, but to do, to learn.

We get hands on with history and we get to experience something of the blood, sweat and years that have been invested into the gilded face of the city. I also discover that there’s something delightfully therapeutic about making mosaics. There’s a lot of attention to detail and slow yet rewarding progress that somehow soothes as it gobbles up time.

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It’s so right for Venice, where time seems to glide. Bring this hobby back to the world of cars and traffic, however, and you’ve got yourself a little oasis, an escape from the hurly-burly.

We all get to take our mosaics home, but I also feel we’re taking home a sense of connection to the city. Now I can visit Venice and know that I’m not skimming the surface, that I’ve seen some of the behind-the-scenes magic. Maybe this feeling of involvement is why many people, including two of my fellow students, repeat the course. I suspect I’ll be back one day too.

NEED TO KNOW

Andrew Quested was a guest of Orsoni (00 39 041 244 0002, www.orsoni.com ), which offers mosaic courses from £380 for three days or £1,114 for two weeks, excluding flights and accommodation. British Airways (0844 493 0787, www.ba.com ), BMI (0870 607 0555, www.flybmi.com ), EasyJet (www.easyjet.com ) and Thomson (0871 231 4691, www.thomson.co.uk ) all fly to Venice.

The Domus Orsoni guesthouse (00 39-041 275 9538, www.domusorsoni.it ), part of the Orsoni workshop, has doubles from £80, B&B (though expect to pay about £200 in summer). Nearby are the Hotel Eden (041 524 4003, www.htleden.com ; doubles £64/£182) and the gorgeous Residenza Cannaregio (041 524 4332, www.residenzacannaregio.it ; doubles £72/£240). All prices include breakfast

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