In these difficult times, it is pleasant to note that the natural world continues in its seasonal rhythms, oblivious to our human affairs. Here in Tuscany we are effectively locked down again and Lois and I are in our apartment in Florence. But, until last week, when we could move freely from here the Watermill […]
Italian cooking, Watermill style. Do you like the idea? Let us know!
Over the years we have welcomed thousands of guests here for our renowned creative courses, where they have enjoyed the tranquil and spectacular setting of this part of rural Tuscany, inspirational teaching, warm hospitality and the convivial company of like-minded people. But whether they are here to learn more about painting, creative writing, knitting or […]
Our largest night-time visitor yet
Here is the largest night-time visitor we have spotted yet. Or rather, Flavio Terenzoni has captured him using one of those nocturnal-vision cameras. He’s a cervo, a deer. Above is a still from the video and you can see the whole sequence (only lasting a few seconds) by clicking here. I am no naturalist but […]
The health benefits of knitting… enhance your well-being with a Watermill week
We are sure that every knitter knows it: knitting and crocheting can bring great health benefits, not least in stitching away stress, lowering heart rate and blood pressure and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The repetitive action of needlework can induce a relaxed state like that associated with meditation and yoga. We were recently […]
The Vasari suite: a self-contained apartment celebrating another Renaissance polymath
Today we reach the end of our tour of the Watermill bedrooms, with the second of our self-contained apartment suites, The Vasari Suite. As usual I have made one of those short Facebook slideshows, which you can see by clicking here. Giorgio Vasari, who lived and worked in Florence in the 16th century, was another […]
The Watermill’s Lippi suite: commemorating a scandalous monk who was a sublime painter
Continuing our tour of the Watermill bedrooms we move today to the first of our self-contained apartment suites, the Lippi suite. As usual I have made one of those short Facebook slideshows, which you can see by clicking here. The suite is named after Filippo Lippi and his son Filippino Lippi, painters in the mid-15th […]
Prickly night-time visitors
Here are a couple more night-time visitors to the Watermill grounds, spotted by Flavio Terenzoni, using one of those night-vision cameras to spy on the nocturnal wildlife around the Watermill. These two prickly customers are istrici, our native porcupines, sharing the Watermill grounds with deer (of various sizes), badgers, foxes, wild boar and goodness knows […]
The Donatello bedroom: cosy and bright and with a terrace with wonderful views over the garden and mountains
The Donatello bedroom, appropriately enough, is next to the Brunelleschi, for Donatello was for many years his apprentice, and he accompanied Fillipo Brunelleschi on their celebrated trip to Rome at the turn of the 15th century, where they rediscovered the secrets of classical architecture and sculpture. Donatello’s sculptures, in both marble and bronze, were revolutionary, […]
Another night-time visitor in the Watermill gardens
Our gardener Flavio Terenzoni continues to have fun using one of those night-vision cameras to spy on the nocturnal wildlife around the Watermill. A few weeks ago, we showed you a self-confident fox having a scratch on one of our bridges across the millstream. Today it’s the turn of a shy little capriolo, a roe […]
Be inspired by the towering genius of the Renaissance in the Brunelleschi bedroom
Continuing our notes of the Renaissance artists whose names grace the Watermill bedrooms and apartment suites, today we come to my great hero, Filippo Brunelleschi, to my mind the towering genius of the early Renaissance. As well as designing and supervising the construction of the incomparable dome of Florence cathedral, Filippo invented linear perspective, designed […]