Last September we stayed at Villa Centofinestre for several days.. an early 18th c villa in the remote Le Marche area of Italy. A long winding drive down from sunny and well farmed Tuscany, through the huge misty Apennine mountains and into the remoteness of Italy’s eastern coastline. Let me just say we were primed for the bustle of Rome after a few days in this quiet wilderness. The Villa was 15 miles from the beaches and Roman ruins of Ancona, and the coastline drive was infinitely less touristy than all that we had experienced from Portofino to Amalfi in previous trips. Back at the villa, it was magical to be the sole inhabitants…besides the caretakers…having the entire top floor to ourselves. In the photos below you can see the dawn slowly breaking as viewed from our balcony. In the formal rooms below, the Venetian glass chandelier took center stage in a fabulous ground floor ballroom…under it’s incredible coffered ceiling with inset gold rosettes…my favorite feature. More photos on the Villa Centofinestre website here as well as a montage at the end of the post of my own favorite views of ceiling frescos, architectural features, the beautiful robin’s egg blue of their painted doors and even some lovely ruins in the Villa’s own backyard, covered in wisteria. The major ground floor rooms are opened up for wedding parties and curious villa guests.
I am keeping very busy this Summer, up to my elbows in closets inside, and shoulder to shoulder with the bees outside as I clip more than 50 lavender bushes. As much as I love collecting, I enjoy resorting and letting go. In the garden as well, sometimes the wild tangle of beauty needs to be pulled back. With the drought in California, I am prioritizing: Lavender, antique roses, the espaliered apple trees, and a 12 year old Gardenia topiary tree that offers me 2 or 3 blooms a day. More on my lavender crop soon!
So Gorgeous and the feeling of being lost in time–but I crave people and hustle and bustle.
Thanks for sharing. Happy week-end. Mary
Absolutely stunning Trish, thank you so much for sharing all of this historical beauty!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Stems Soiree
Dear Trish,
Thank you so much for this beautiful post. I SO love your blog! Can you please tell me what kind of camera you use?
Hi, Lisa, thank you. It is several years old…A Canon Rebel T2i. One of the pluses for me is that it takes good pictures in low light situations.
SO loved your post as well! I, also too would like to know what camera you used.
Huguette
Trish,
I always enjoy your photographs of places you’ve seen abroad, and for that matter, those of your home and garden as well.
All I am doing this drought-laden summer is trim and tidy. I’m trying not to worry about many of the plants as they struggle to adapt to a new norm of less water. I suppose the strongest will survive. 🙂
xo,
Karen
I cut down two cherry trees down and capped a few sprinklers. No new plants. Hope we have a wet winter!
Beautiful. Reminded me of the movie ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’.
Absolutely magical. I can see myself checking in for a month and not missing a single thing from the outside world….a stack of books, good food and wine, and excellent walking shoes and I would be I heaven… Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
BELLISSIMO!
Bon fine settimana – with Lavender, Silk and Velvet!
xxxk
MY kind of place……………
Omfg. Whoa. These pictures!! You are a professional photographer !!! What a vacation. Wow. So glad you are back. I can’t comment on the computer. Trying the cell phone.
It worked!!! Yeah!! I had give up a few weeks ago.
Hi Joni! Sorry for all the hurdles for commenting! Thank you…but the setting just makes my photos look good!
You are always so inspiring, and with a great taste. You have a nose for style.
Thank you Ingvill!
Love the images! The villa is beautiful.