A watercolor artist in Tuscany

Many of Villa le Barone’s guests love outdoor painting and are practicing watercolor.

The Chianti hills are so inspiring! Various workshops have been organized by painters from the USA, UK, France, but Villa le Barone can also organize individual courses with a talented watercolor artist, Sabine Blomqvist, now established in Greve in Chanti, who graduated in Industrial Design and Applied Arts at Aalto University in Finland.

She has participated in various exhibitions in Italy and abroad (Florence, Milan, Australia, Spain…) and has won several awards. Villa le Barone will organize an exhibition of her works during the summer 2020.

Whether you are a beginner or experienced, do not miss the opportunity to paint the beauty of Chianti, and bring this wonderful memory home: a watercolor painted by yourself. Sabine will provide you with all the necessary equipment!

To see her works and know her better, visit Sabine’s website: A watercolor artist in Tuscany.

Goldsmithing in Florence

Goldsmith worksops on the Ponte Vecchio Florence
Goldsmith worksops on the Ponte Vecchio Florence

Goldsmithing in Florence was first practiced in monasteries and abbeys during the middle age, with the production of sacred objects such as reliquaries, crosses, chalices…

The Republic of Florence introduced its own currency in 1252, the Gold Florin, gaining a significant role in the whole Europe. This led to the development of a successful goldsmithing that culminated during the Renaissance, when it was common for painters and sculptors to start their apprentices in jewelry workshops. Still to day the art of goldsmithing is very dynamic in Florence, in particular on Ponte Vecchio.

One of the first extraordinary example of the art of goldsmithing in Florence is the Treasure that was commissioned in 1366. It was assigned to a range of participants and famous goldsmiths, such as Leonardo di ser Giovanni, Michele di Monte, Tommaso Ghiberti, Matteo di Giovanni, Bernardo Cennini, Antonio del Pollaiolo e Andrea del Verrocchio, worked on the creation of this masterpiece, that required more than 100 years of work. 400 kg of silver and 1050 enabled plates. Today, this unique goldsmithing example is preserved, inside a showcase, in the Treasury Room of the Opera Duomo Museum.

Goldsmith's masterpiece The Treasure Museo del Opera del Duomo Florence
Goldsmith’s masterpiece The Treasure Museo del Opera del Duomo Florence

Later on, during the 15th and 16th century, many of the sculptors, artists and architects of the Renaissance often had their initial training in goldsmith studios. Brunelleschi, Donatello, Ghiberti, Botticelli and Verocchio (Leonardo da Vinci’s master) are just a handful of the many who began as goldsmiths before creating the Renaissance’s greatest buildings and most memorable sculptures and paintings. In 1565, Benvenuto Cellini, the sculptor of the “Perseus and the head of Medusa” on Piazza della Signoria, wrote his autobiography, in which he describes techniques, tools and materials used at that time, a book still used by many jewelry artisans today.

Benvenuto Cellini Perseus and Medusa Florence
Benvenuto Cellini Perseus and Medusa Florence

At the end of the 16th century Under Gran Duke Francesco 1er, the goldsmithing workshops were opened in the Uffizzi, but it is in 1593 that his successor Ferdinando 1er ordered the Ponte Vecchio to be entirely devoted to gold shops and laboratories In the 19th century a little fountain with the bust of Benvenuto Cellini by the sculptor Raffaello Romanelli was placed on the terrace in the middle of the bridge. Still today, Italy, and Tuscany is one of the top designers and producers of fine gold jewelry in the world.

Staying in Palazzo Larderel, you will be able to discover and admire the past and current talented artisan goldsmiths in Florence.

The gardens of Villa le Barone in Tuscany: Fragrances, sounds, flavors, views

Villa le Barone’s gardens: stupendous views on Chianti hills and fragrant roses

 The gardens of Villa le Barone in Chianti Tuscany, are full of perfumes that will enchant your nose, whatever the season. The other senses are also solicited: the sight with the views on the wonderful landscapes of the Chianti hills, the hearing with the bird’s songs and the bells of the nearby church (but they stop during the night!), the taste with all the flavors of the Tuscan cuisine.

There are of course the roses, blooming in all seasons, the honeysuckles, which climb here and there and exhale their delicate perfume, the different odorous jasmine, and you will certainly particularly enjoy the large, deep green foliage and profuse white and very fragrant flowers of the poet jasmine. You will love the scent of verbena leaves by crumpling them between your fingers! At the end of June the lilies are in full bloom, and their fragrance make the garden a delight!
And of course there are all the scents of aromatic plants that perfume the Tuscan cuisine and that you can enjoy in our restaurant! Rosemary, basil, tarragon, different species of thyme, sage (do you know there are more than 100 different species of sage?) are widely used by our Tuscan cooks. We have also created in one of the gardens an angle where you can discover about a hundred aromatic herbs. Near the “Fattoria”, there is a massive lavender, where butterflies come to flit.

Villa le Barone’s gardens: fragrant lilies

And what views, whether of the pool, tennis or gardens! Your eyes will be captivated by the enchanting vistas on the Chianti hills, with their vineyards and olive groves. What’s better than to be soothed by the sound of water, to hear the birds and the sound of the bells of the neighboring church San Leolino while having a light lunch on the terrace under the centennials chestnuts?

Come and experience the scents of Villa le Barone’s gardens, come and admire its unique views, come and taste the wines of Chianti and Tuscan cuisine, come and listen to the song of birds! Come and relax in this privileged environment!