Vasto: Haven for Artists & Writers: Article - Philadelphia Jan 2007
Posted in Uncategorized by Louis on January 22nd, 2007
FROM ITALY’S BEST-KEPT SECRET TO A HAVEN FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS
Luigi Monteferrante’s retreats help creative spirits relax, recharge, and enjoy the view
The first time I visited Abruzzi, I fell in love. Everywhere I went, I found something to make me smile. Lovely towns with charming houses. Silvery-green olive groves. Beautiful beaches. Rugged mountains topped with snow. Hospitable people who couldn’t do enough for you. Wine as good as any I’d ever tasted. And the kind of rich, hearty food you’d have to stand in line for back in Philly. There was no question about it: this region, situated on Italy’s Adriatic coast, would be my little secret. Unlike Tuscany, Abruzzi had not been popularized by mass-marketed books or Merchant-Ivory films. Unlike Umbria or Le Marche, it remained relatively undiscovered by those who thought they knew all the undiscovered places. Few people I knew had ever heard of Abruzzi, much less had any interest in renting a villa there. It belonged to me.
So I had mixed feelings when I was invited to hear writer Luigi Monteferrante speak at the DaVinci Art Alliance a few weeks ago. Monteferrante, a Canadian native now living in the picturesque Abruzzese town of Vasto, runs a unique service: workshop retreats that give other writers and visual artists the chance to soak up the scenery and recharge their creative batteries. Here he was in South Philadelphia, spilling my secret to everyone. How could he? Then I met him, heard what he had to say, and then I thought, how could he not? Abruzzi is fabulous, and his retreats are too wonderful not to share.
Monteferrante’s unique get-aways which he runs with Philadelphia-area artist Rachel Citrino provide tours, studio space, and as much or as little structure and interaction as each guest might require or desire. It all started when Monteferrante was a child. Growing up in Montreal, he vacationed with his family in Italy. It became a second home, and after graduating from college, he decided to make it his first. In between teaching English to corporate clients and wind-surfing, he wrote, married an Italian woman, and decided to stay. That was twenty-two years ago. The environment proved to be an ideal incubator for his own writing (he has published stories in the Chicago Quarterly Review as well as a novel, At the Heart of the Devil’s Lair), and now he wants others to bask in this source of inspiration. This is not the typical touristy tour; it is, in Monteferrante’s words, “A chance for me to show people the Italy I know.” And he knows it well.
Held twice each year, the retreats consist of up to ten participants, who rendezvous in Rome for a three-day introductory period. From there, they see an Italy that’s not on the usual tourist routes. A bus takes them to the little village of Fontecchio, where they’ll view the imposing castle and the lovely Romanesque church of San Francesco. Then it’s off to the medieval town of Vasto for the next eight days. While on Monteferrante’s home turf, guests have lots of inviting options; Monteferrante and Citrino tailor the activities to the wishes of their guests, and Citrino even distributes a questionnaire to determine their preferences. You might wish to relax on the pristine beaches. You can visit the picturesque historic town, with its distinctive architecture. Or you might chose to spend the morning cycling, and the afternoon exploring the resources of the Rossetti House (the home of Gabriel Rossetti, father of the famous Dante Gabriel), now an archive. You might also hop on the minibus for a visit to a vineyard, a trip to the Trimiti Islands, or a jaunt to Venice for the Biennale.
And while play is strongly encouraged, there are plenty of opportunities for work, too. Artists can attend Rachel Citrino’s workshops on drawing, painting or photography, or work privately in one of the spacious studios. Writers can enough find peace and quiet to crank out that book or polish that screenplay. And this is Italy, of course, so in between, there are wine tastings, wonderful dinners, and lots of pleasant surprises. At the end of the stay, all artists are welcome to display their finished pieces or their works-in-progress at a special exhibition and reception. (Last year’s drew some nearly 60 visitors!)
The 2007 retreats will be held May 28 through June 10, and from June 18 through July 1. The price is $2,850 per person, including the accommodations, transportation to and from Rome, all breakfasts, most other meals, and tour guides. The optional excursion to Venice (June 10-13) is an additional $495.
With the gregarious and gracious Monteferrante and Citrino leading the way, it’s hard to imagine that my private Abruzzi will remain a secret much longer. The books and movies are sure to follow, and so are the tourists. But it’s also likely that the visiting artists and writers will also fill the world with works of true beauty inspired by their travels to this magnificent region. And that’s not such a bad thing.
For more information, visit www.vm-plus.com or www.villamonteferrante.com. E-mail Luigi Monteferrante at info@luigimonteferrante.com. For information about future Da Vinci Art Alliance events, visit www.davinciartalliance.org.