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From Tuscany to Lombardy: Touring Magnificent Italian Villas with Laura Benitti

From Tuscany to Lombardy: Touring Magnificent Italian Villas with Laura Benitti


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

The garden must be studied in relation to the house, and garden and house in relation to the landscape.”  This iconic mantra was first published by the famous American writer Edith Wharton (1862-1937) in her book “Italian Villas and Their Gardens.”

Feeling inspired by the many trips made by Wharton across Italy, this narrative provides us with an excellent lens through which to view some of the most enchanting villas in Italy and their magnificent historic gardens – from Tuscany to Lazio and from Lombardy to Veneto.

Through the words of Edith Wharton and the magic of digital maps, we will fly through the most beautiful villas of Italy, starting from Tuscany and Lazio and then continuing North towards the Euganean Hills of  Padua and Lakes Maggiore and Como. 

The primary villas we will explore together include:

  • Villa Corsini in Florence
  • Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola
  • Villa Lante in Bagnaia
  • Villa del Principe-Palazzo di Andrea Doria in Genoa
  • Villa d'Este and Villa Pliniana at Lake Como
  • Isola Bella and Isola Madre at Lake Maggiore
  • Villa Cicogna near Varese
  • Castle of Catajo 
  • Botanical Garden of Padua. 

Led by an expert on Art History, Laura Benitti,  this interactive seminar will be dedicated to a selection of Italian Gardens and Villas through the eyes of Edith Wharton. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased appreciation of the history and art of Italian gardens.

Laura was born in Turin, where she studied history of art, but moved to Milan in 2002. Since her graduation, she has accumulated a long experience as an art consultant and registrar in a few museums in Turin, as well as expertise as a local Milan guide. She loves to be both an experienced and friendly local ambassador of Milan and Como area for her travelers.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
17%
(1)
17%
(1)
0%
(0)
17%
(1)
50%
(3)
L
Louis Mazzari (Manchester, US)

Laura's tour is so engaged and evocative. And her use of Edith Wharton's prose makes such a beautiful counterpoint to the visual appeal of the villas and gardens. I had just toured Wharton's New York, so was delighted with this fantastic look into her travels through Italy.

P
Peter Hunt (Hamden, US)
Following Edith Wharton

Guest did not leave comment

N
Noel Stillings (Hollywood, US)
Review

The other Context lecturers set a high bar - while I enjoyed this, expected more than Google earth & street views.

A
Anonymous (Beverly, US)
Very disappointing!

This is the first lecture from Context that I just couldn’t watch. I had to quit 15 minutes into it, She took a long time to get started, and when she finally got into the content she was reading pages from Edith Wharton’s book and showing Google Earth images. The audio was terrible too. All in all this was far, far below what I have come to expect from taking close to a hundred context lectures.

J
John Wakeman (Walla Walla, US)
Disappointed

Not much original content — pages from a book and mostly Google Earth imagery. Not up to my expectations from Context, based on numerous other Context Italian seminars.

Customer Reviews

Based on 6 reviews
17%
(1)
17%
(1)
0%
(0)
17%
(1)
50%
(3)
L
Louis Mazzari (Manchester, US)

Laura's tour is so engaged and evocative. And her use of Edith Wharton's prose makes such a beautiful counterpoint to the visual appeal of the villas and gardens. I had just toured Wharton's New York, so was delighted with this fantastic look into her travels through Italy.

P
Peter Hunt (Hamden, US)
Following Edith Wharton

Guest did not leave comment

N
Noel Stillings (Hollywood, US)
Review

The other Context lecturers set a high bar - while I enjoyed this, expected more than Google earth & street views.

A
Anonymous (Beverly, US)
Very disappointing!

This is the first lecture from Context that I just couldn’t watch. I had to quit 15 minutes into it, She took a long time to get started, and when she finally got into the content she was reading pages from Edith Wharton’s book and showing Google Earth images. The audio was terrible too. All in all this was far, far below what I have come to expect from taking close to a hundred context lectures.

J
John Wakeman (Walla Walla, US)
Disappointed

Not much original content — pages from a book and mostly Google Earth imagery. Not up to my expectations from Context, based on numerous other Context Italian seminars.