'Arte in Italia - 2010'

Wow, how time flies! It has been a while since I've updated my blog, sorry for that, I guess I have been kind of busy.... doing a little bit of traveling. So, here's a new post from my recent travels and also a fresh new updated look for my blog, enjoy!

Last month I had the opportunity to attend an art workshop in Tuscany given by no other than Andrew Lattimore, my art teacher.  Our home base for the time was in the lovely town of Fiesole, right outside the beautiful city of Florence. We stayed at Pensione Bencistà, a wonderful family-run villa with the most spectacular views of Florence.
We painted almost every day, except for a couple of days when we traveled to Florence to study and learn, but most of all to enjoy the extraordinary wealth of art and architecture this city has to offer. First on the agenda Galleria dell'Accademia, home of Michelangelo's David and many other masterpieces. We also visited Galleria Palatina, located at the Pitti Palace, with its impressive collection by the great masters of the Renaissance, to include one of the greatest, Caravaggio.
When in Florence, a visit to one of Italy's most prominent museums, Galleria degli Uffizi, is a must! Housing the worlds finest collection of Italian Renaissance paintings by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, just to name a few. For a serious art lover or student, this is one of the most important art museums in the world.

 Pensione Bencistà

Otto and Trielle the two Labs that reside at Pensione Bencistà

 Panoramic view of Florence from Pensione Bencistà

The view from my room

The terrace, where we gathered every morning for breakfast

Part of our group at breakfast

The garden

Another view from inside Pencione Bencistà

Giuseppe's garden

Giuseppe has been the master gardener at Pencione Bencistà for over 39 years. Every day he harvests the fruits of his labor for all the guests to enjoy at dinner. This particular day we were served zucchini blossoms, Yum!

Early on before the start of our workshop, a few of us did a day trip to the near by medieval town of Siena, about an hour bus ride from Florence. Known for it's most famous festival, Il Palio di Siena, a horse race-run in Siena's Piazza del Campo. This very popular event lasts four days June 29 - July 2 and then again from August 13 - 16. We happened to be there on June 27, a couple of days before the start of this manifestation. There was a lot of excitement, including a parade. 

A parade in Siena a few days before the start of Il Palio di Siena

Torre del Mangia and the Palazzo Pubblico on the Piazza del Campo

Siena Duomo - Cathedrale di Santa Maria

Siena Duomo

Another view of Siena

Street art - Siena

This is my third visit to Italy and this is one of my favorite things, without a doubt, that I look forward to indulge in, Gelato! Oh yeah!!

'Sienese Laundry'

Giuseppe

Giuseppe

Lunch in Fiesole with part of our group

The Roman Theatre of Fiesole

Roman Baths - Fiesole

Clock Tower - Fiesole

One of German artist, Günther Stilling's sculptures, on the grounds of the Archeological Museum, near the Roman Theatre of Fiesole.

 Another one

Future painting

Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore - Il Duomo di Firenze

Il Duomo viewed from the Uffizi

Porta del Paradiso - Gates of Paradise

The Ponte Vecchio over the Arno River

Ponte Vecchio

View of Florence from Giardino Bardini

Another view of Florence from Giardino Bardini

Giardino Bardini

Giardino Bardini

View of the Arno River and Florence from Giardino Bardini

Andrew Lattimore

Some of our work lined up to be critiqued

After all our hard work we celebrated with a glass of Prosecco, courtesy of our host and hostess Daniele and Beatrice. Grazie mille!

This was a most enjoyable trip, made special by the warm hospitality provided by the staff at  Pencione Bencistà, along with the guidance and talent of our teacher Andrew. I made some new friends on this trip, learned a great deal about art, enjoyed delicious Tuscan cuisine and fine Italian wines, I look forward to my return. Arrivederci per ora.

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