TOSCANA POETICA:
POETIC TUSCANY APRIL 26 - MAY 3, 2008
INSTRUCTOR: ANDREA RONTINI
All images ©2006 ANDREA RONTINI
“Italia! Oh Italia! Thou who hast the fatal gift of beauty.” – Lord Byron
Italian landscape, architecture, villas, gardens, food, wine, style and design are famously imbued with a centuries old homage to beauty and art. Even small and simple details are infused with this birthright, the lifeblood of Italy. A photographers dream, this land of enchanted light offers its corners and hidden places for your discovery and interpretation. When asked why so many major artists sprang out of Tuscany, an Italian replies, “Ahhh…you have to come here yourself to find out.”
THE WORKSHOP
A rare opportunity for aspiring photographers to attend an exclusive workshop in Italy with award-winning Tuscan landscape photographer, Andrea Rontini, whose photographs are widely known as Toscana Poetica, Poetic Tuscany, for the fine art esthetic he imparts to the traditional landscape. You will have 3 touring field trips with Mr. Rontini, to his own hidden photographic locations in different areas of Tuscany, including a critique by the Artist of the photos you will take, as well as a visit to his photo lab in Florence to understand the printing process. Discover for yourself the famed Tuscan light that has influenced artists for centuries. Plenty of free time for visiting Tuscany’s captivating hilltop villages and towns. All levels of photographers welcome. All attendees must supply their own camera equipment (digital and/or SLR) and supplies. Visit Andrea Rontini’s website at www.andrearontini.it
THE AGENDA
APRIL 26 - MAY 3, 2008
|
Saturday
|
Welcome to Panzano in Chianti!
You’ll be greeted at Florence Airport or Train Station by our friendly Dream Italia concierge to get acquainted and drive by private coach along the winding Chianti roads to Panzano in Chianti, about 18 miles south of Florence, to our elegant, country villa. Perched at the top of the famed Conca d’Oro (Golden Basin) valley, a natural amphitheater planted with vines and olive trees, you can enjoy the vista over the rolling Chianti hills. It is an easy 5 minute walk to the heart of the medieval village of Panzano. Time to unpack and settle in. Tonight we will enjoy a welcome dinner together.
|
|
Sunday
|
San Gimignano & Castellina
We go first to the celebrated, towered village, San Gimignano, for free time to explore this charming town on your own. San Gimignano is renowned for its medieval towers, 14 of the original 72 remain. We will visit a nearby farm for a light lunch and tasting of their special vernaccia white wine. After lunch we will proceed to the quaint village of Castellina in Chianti, for an introduction to acclaimed photographer, Andrea Rontini, in his gallery. Here, he would like to meet you and show you his photographs. He will briefly discuss some of his techniques. Following the visit to his gallery, you will have free time to stroll around the village of Castellina in Chianti, shop or have dinner at leisure.
|
|
Monday
|
Val d’Arbia & Val d’Orcia Field Trip with the Artist
Today will be our first full day workshop. Our in-the-field workshops are designed to begin early (7 AM departure) and end late (7 PM return) so that we can take advantage of the morning and evening light. Mr. Rontini will meet us at our villa for an early start, and accompany us on the drive by private coach to the lovely Arbia and Orcia Valleys south of Siena. Here in the famous Crete Senesi, the landscape changes to the sun washed images of a painting, with cypress trees dotting the landscape. We will stop along the way for photography opportunities and guidance from Mr. Rontini. Lunch in a local trattoria. After lunch we continue exploring this area with further insights from the Artist. Dinner at the villa prepared by the cooking class.
For Non-Students: Today’s field trip will be heavily based on taking photographs and will involve time spent in the countryside, away from city centers. You can feel free to remain at the villa today and relax, or take a walk around Panzano or along one of the nearby country roads. We have organized a very special Tuscan cooking class for you this afternoon, right in your own villa. Your chef/instructor is a former restaurant owner and known as one of the best chefs in the region. Your class will be lively and hands-on, and the dinner you all prepare will be enjoyed by everyone in the group upon the return of the field trip students.
|
|
Tuesday
|
Day 4 Saturday: Chianti Villages Field Trip with the Artist
We will leave early in the morning (7 AM) to take advantage of the morning light. With the Artist on board with us, we will spend the day traveling through the Chianti countryside, stopping at medieval villages and hamlets along the way. Lunch in Volpaia, where we will have more photo opportunities of this beautifully preserved hamlet that is home to a famous wine producing family. The landscape in the Chianti is typified by a tapestry of immaculately laid out vineyards and olive groves on gently rolling hills sprinkled with enchanting medieval hilltop towns. Return 7 PM for dinner at your leisure in one of the trattorias in Panzano.
For Non-Students: Today is a wonderful day for you to join us on the field trip as we will travel through the countryside and stop in the little Chianti villages. There will be the chance for you to explore in the villages while the students are working with the Artist.
|
|
Wednesday
|
Casentino Field Trip with the Artist
The Artist will meet us again at 7 AM for our final full day in the field, to the area near Casentino. This area near Arezzo is some of the least traveled and most picturesque countryside of Tuscany. This enclave is typified by wild hills, high mountains, remote abbeys and ancient forests. Lunch in a Franciscan Abbey. We will return slightly earlier this evening to set up your laptops in the villa, where we’ll have a critique of your photos by the Artist. Following that, we will have a special goodbye dinner with the Artist.
For Non-Students: Today’s photography field trip will be heavily based on taking photographs and will involve time spent in the countryside, away from city centers. You can feel free to remain at the villa today and relax, or take a walk around Panzano or along one of the nearby country roads. We have organized a half-day guided hike through the vineyards and olive groves with a nature specialist today, with a stop for a wine tasting along the way. We will all rendezvous tonight by 6 or 7 PM at the villa so that we can all go together for a special dinner with the Artist.
|
|
Thursday
|
Florence: A Lab Visit with the Artist
This morning we will visit the art capital of Europe, Florence, and have free time in the morning for shopping, visiting museums, wandering through Florence’s maze of narrow streets or you may want to visit the Boboli Gardens for a walk through this exquisite Italian garden. We highly recommend visiting the Mercato Centrale, for a colorful and vast array of greengrocers, butchers, and fishmongers, and the numerous cafés and trattorias where Florentines gather. Students will rendezvous after lunch for a 2 hour visit to the Artist’s lab in Florence where he will instruct you on the printing process and techniques he uses. Non-Students may continue to enjoy Florence.
|
|
Friday
|
Medieval Siena & Monteriggioni
This morning we will drive to the picturesque medieval town of Siena. One of the most beautiful towns in Tuscany, Siena is home to the famous Il Palio, a summertime horse race ridden in medieval costume for hundreds of years. You will have the morning at leisure to make your own discoveries. Among the brick buildings sits the gleaming white gothic cathedral which is well worth a visit inside to view its rich artwork and the incomparable Library. Or climb the tower in the main piazza for unparalleled 360° views over the Piazza del Campo and the maze of burnt sienna colored buildings. Lunch at leisure in one of Siena’s many trattorias. From here it is a short ride to the fortified village of Monteriggioni, key fortress in the 300 year long civil war between Florence and Siena. It is remarkable that the medieval walls of the village remain almost entirely intact today. Tonight we will celebrate with a farewell dinner with your tour guide at a popular local restaurant.
|
|
Saturday
|
Arrivederci!
After breakfast we will return by private coach to Florence Airport or Train Station. We’ll say goodbye to our guides and our new travel mates.
|
WORKSHOP PACKAGE
 $3950 Double Occupancy
A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE ARTIST
Andrea Rontini lives near Florence. He has followed his passion for photography for some time and has obtained recognition for it all over Italy. He started his professional career during the 80’s when he joined the photographical groups of the town and started winning prizes and being recognized at national and international contests. His pictures were, from the very beginning, “particular” in respect to what was conceived as landscape up to that moment: the shots, the cuts, yesterday like today, blend in a unique soft and suffused representation.
During the years he has closely examined colours, but his photographical style, of which it has been said, “is capable of colouring the silence,” (E. Gaiotto 1993) has remained unmistakable.
In time, Mr. Rontini gained other recognitions: in 2000 he was asked by Minolta to attend the Photo Show of Rome. In October 2002 he was part of the Italian team who won the world cup for the colour printing of landscapes at the 20th edition of the biennial FIAP in Belgium.
He has been publishing calendars of the Tuscan countryside since 1997. He also published two books: Toscana Poetica (Poetic Tuscany) (1999) and La Fotografia del Chianti (Photography in Chianti) (2003). His works have been published in photographical reviews and Italian and foreign periodicals. He has had photographic commissions for the writer Dacia Maraini and the film director Mario Monicelli.
Abroad his works were exhibited in United States (1998 in Sonoma, CA, 2004 in Litchfield, CT) and in France. In Italy his works can always be seen at his personal gallery in Castellina in Chianti (SI) where it is possible to admire his beautiful Cibachrome pictures printed in limited edition.
All his jobs and his finished projects come from a deep passion for photography, and they are made in the hope of upgrading photography, both in Italy and abroad, to the form of art that it deserves.
Please visit our Policies page for more information about deadlines and cancellation policies.
Tour contract and liability release, please click here.
WORKSHOP & TOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Price: $3950 per person
Where we will stay:
Located at the edge of the medieval village, Panzano in Chianti, the handsome 18th century villa has been carefully restored respecting the original architectural style. The villa is owned by one of the most prestigious wine producers in the Chianti. Equipped with a modern country-style kitchen, dishwasher, fireplace, outside dining area, barbecue, heat and air-conditioning, separate lines for telephone and computer and satellite T.V. The carefully-chosen furniture and materials reflect an elegant and comfortable country style and include handsome antiques and locally hand-crafted pieces.
All rooms based on double-occupancy, with ensuite bath (each bedroom has a bathroom). The modern kitchen is self-catering, and while continental breakfast items such as bread, jam, coffee and tea will be provided, you will make your own breakfast each day. You may want to purchase snacks or other items to prepare on your own during the week.
TRIP COST INCLUDES:
- A charming, first class tour with a small, intimate group, limited to 14 - allowing us to go places not readily accessible to larger groups. Our small groups are about a quarter of the size of most tour groups.
- Full time services of a professional and friendly Dream Italia tour guide - our lively, local expert will make the history, art & culture come alive.
- 7 nights accommodation in charming Tuscan villa (based on availability)
- Photography field trips, instructions, lab visit and critique with Andrea Rontini
- Visits to medieval towns and countryside of Tuscany, all while enjoying the regional foods and fine wines of Tuscany
- All continental-style breakfasts (B), and lunch (L) or dinner (D) each day. We give you free time to make your own discoveries for some meals.
- All group transportation by private coach
- Begin & conclude in Florence
TRIP COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfare
- Personal expenses, photography equipment, supplies, printing costs, drinks and free-time sightseeing and activities.
- Optional excursions
- Gratuities for driver, tour guide(s).
ORGANIZERS/ LEADERS: DREAM ITALIA. Further tour information, please visit www.dreamitalia.com/tours_tuscany.html
|
|
|
Travels with Artists
