Antonio Origo -an Italian nobleman from Florence- and Iris, his young wife, bought La Foce in 1924 and dedicated their lives to bringing progress and social change to the poverty-ridden valley. During the Second World War and in its aftermath, the Origos remained at La Foce and sheltered evacuated children and escaped prisoners of war. Iris gives a vivid description of the events that engulfed La Foce during these difficult years in her book War in Val d’Orcia.
The estate lies among the hills overlooking the Val d’Orcia, a beautiful and miraculously intact valley in southern Tuscany. Midway between Florence and Rome, it is also within easy reach of Siena, Arezzo, Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto. Renaissance and medieval gems such as Pienza, Montepulciano, Montichiello and Montalcino are only a few miles away.
The gardens of La Foce (featured in the BBC2’s Monty Don’s Italian Gardens) were designed by the English architect Cecil Pinsent, who also created Bernard Berenson’s garden at Villa I Tatti. Conceived to enhance the Villa and expand the spectacular view over the valley of the Orcia river to Monte Amiata beyond, they were laid out between 1924 and 1939. The terraces gently blend with the landscape, following the humanistic Renaissance ideal of geometrical order close to the house, gradually becoming wilder as they approach the woods. Lemon pots, roses, Mediterranean plants, wisteria, box parterres, laurel and cypress hedges, and paths and benches of travertine punctuate the natural curves of the hills.
For further information, click HERE
Antonio and Iris Origo purchased Chiarentana in 1924 as one of the farms on the La Foce estate. Its history, however, far predates La Foce and it was known in the early Middle Ages as Castello di Reggiano, or Reiano. Emperor Otto I stopped here on his way to Rome in 962.
The Origos restored the impressive building early on as one of the principal La Foce farms, but it is Donata Origo, youngest daughter of Iris and Antonio Origo, who has brought the extraordinary transformation in recent years.
Today, it produces an excellent olive oil.
The Incontri is lucky enough to be able to call Chiarentana ‘home’ for the week of the festival, and most of the musicians will be staying here.
For further information, click , click HERE
18.00 Salone Villa La Foce
Incontro con Hershey Felder, ‘Renaissance Man’ dei nostri tempi
Il fondatore di Incontri in Terra di Siena Antonio Lysy parla con Hershey Felder, nuovo residente fiorentino (in inglese)
6pm Salone Villa La Foce
Hershey Felder: A Renaissance Man for our times
Incontri in Terra di Siena founder Antonio Lysy chats with new Florentine citizen Hershey Felder (in English)
11.30am Cantina Dei, Montepulciano
Guided tour of the cellars and wine tasting. Booking and info (+39 0578 63316, info@itslafoce.org)
6-7pm Granaio di Belvedere, Castelluccio
Filippo Fasser will be at the Granaio with a selection of his instruments to meet audience members
11.30 Cantina Dei, Montepulciano
Visita guidata alla cantina e degustazione vini. Prenotazione e info (+39 0578 63316, info@itslafoce.org)
18.00 – 19.00 Granaio di Belvedere, Castelluccio
Filippo Fasser sarà presente con alcuni dei suoi strumenti per incontrare il nostro pubblico
6pm, Granaio di Belvedere, Castelluccio
Meet Filippo Fasser, Master luthier from Brescia (in English and Italian)
18.00 Granaio di Belvedere, Castelluccio
Incontro con Filippo Fasser, Liutaio Bresciano (in inglese e italiano)
18.00 visita guidata del giardino La Foce con Benedetta Origo (in italiano e inglese)
6pm, La Foce tour of the La Foce garden with Benedetta Origo (in English and Italian)
Evento da confermare.
Evento da confermare.
Event to be confirmed.
Event to be confirmed.