THE RETREAT VENUE
From Autumn 2025 onwards. Welcome to our new home!
​This Autumn, we are excited to welcome you for our very first season at our new dedicated art retreat Villa. Which will now be our long-term base and home ✨
Pontassieve, Tuscany
This 19th Century Villa used to belong to an ancient noble family, the Dukes of Caffarelli. Roughly 700 metres above sea level, we are located near the beautiful Casentinesi forest park, in the Chianti region of Tuscany, just 40 minutes from the centre of Florence. Entirely surrounded by nature, the Villa enjoys an enchanting location between woods of chestnut and beech trees, the Casentino Hills and the Forest of Vallombrosa. Enjoy a 360 degree view of the surrounding hills, entirely covered with woodland and vineyards. Ideal for long immersive walks, and a place to engage with nature.​​​​​​​
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Location
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The local train station of Pontassieve, is just a 12 minute drive away, or an 18 minute bus ride (we have a bus stop right outside the villa). From Pontassieve station you can reach Florence Santa Maria Novella Station in 28 minutes.​ Whilst in Pontassieve, it's worth wandering around this historic town, located at the confluence of the Arno and Sieve rivers. It's known for its medieval architecture, including the Ponte Mediceo (Medici Bridge) and remnants of ancient fortifications. The town's name, meaning "bridge on the Sieve River," reflects its location and iconic bridge.
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The Studio
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The octagonal studio is a spacious, bright and welcoming 220 sqm geometric structure, with views of the surrounding woodland. This is a space where you can learn, create, and feel inspired.​ It's full of natural, as well as artificial light, with plenty of space for 18 students and 2 models. Made entirely of wood, it has large windows overlooking the surrounding forest and the adjacent pond, giving the beautiful feeling of being immersed in nature while enjoying wonderful sunsets.
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The octagon represents an ancient theme of symbolism connected with the spiritual and religious world. Its geometric and mathematical characteristics make it a particularly harmonious figure in architecture. This studio is also the perfect meditation space, and it's always open, so you can choose to practice your art, or use this space however you wish before or after class.
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Meals​
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During this all-inclusive art workshop, meals will be home-cooked by our wonderful Tuscan chef, and eaten together in our panoramic dining room or outside when the weather is nice (which it usually is). The majority of our meals are vegetarian and made up of seasonal, fresh, Tuscan ingredients. We can also cater for vegan and gluten free diets, let us know in advance.
What does the Villa include
After class you'll have free use of the Villa and grounds to explore. During the week we will host some evening events; such as pizza night using our outdoor pizza oven, an evening of life drawing, and a night of live music. Many of our evenings will be spent around the fire, under the stars. If you need to unwind after class you can use our sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. Or if you prefer to explore you can wander through the woodland, walk, cycle or take the bus into town. ​And of course you are always welcome to continue practicing your art, sketching outside, or continue painting in our studio, which is always open.​​​​​
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Villa Details​
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Originally built as the abode of Duke Caffarelli's noble family, the venue has since been renovated, following bioarchitecture guidelines, where only recyclable materials are used. Heating and hot water are produced by a biomass boiler (wood, pellets, and ecological grains) which guarantee thermal comfort. Each bedroom is carefully decorated, with character and care. For those with mobility issues, each floor is accessible by elevator, and the entire villa is wheelchair friendly.
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We are excited to welcome you all to this beautiful location, Autumn 2025 is going to be something special.
