Benvenuto to all my Lovely Loyal and new Followers
Roberto Manetti
Photo P Finnigan
Now, by Friday morning I had planned out all the fun things I wanted to tell you, then I bumped into Roberto Manetti, our local world-famous sculptor. We were both in the chemist (farmacia) in Fiano and I asked him if he had a lot of work on. “Come and see for yourself!” he whispered, only because he speaks that way after an operation. “Come tomorrow, I’ll meet you in the Piazza and you can follow me to my studios!” “Well,” said my man, “Thats another morning gone!” But I was really excited as I had never had the honour of visiting his studios before, and I had heard that he was an amazing artist. So, Saturday we were in the Piazza at ten sharp and there he was with a big smile on his face.
Roberto’s fabulous studio and exhibition centre.
Photo P Finnigan
We followed his big car/truck to a turning down a track only five minutes away from Fiano. We drove over a stretch of concrete and back on to a dirt track, which was lined with terracotta pots filled with blooming shrubs, and into a small carpark fenced in natural wood. We climbed out and breathed in the welcome smell of woodland, then down a few steps into the garden of a most amazing Art Decco type property with fabulous views. I can honestly say it took my breath away. Roberto had designed and built it himself thirty years ago as a studio and exhibition centre. You would never know it was there from the road above. Yes, people came by invitation only and he explained that he would often have groups of people who not only enjoyed the exhibition, but the huge garden too.
The exhibition.
Photo P Finnigan
Couple, dog and cat at window. This is three dimensional. If you go round the back you will see the bottoms and tails of these lovely characters!
Photo P Finnigan
Firstly, we were shown where he worked and there were two statues in progress. Then into the exhibition centre and we were overwhelmed by the wonderful original work he had completed over many years, some of which have been in exhibitions all around the world. My heart swelled when I realised how much he loved dogs and cats, these appeared in many of his creations. My man was snapping away with his camera as Roberto and I did the rounds and he explained the background to each one. Do take a closer look at these pictures. My man and I agreed that we would ask him to do a statue of our last dog Bosun, just as soon as we we had sufficient spare funds!
One of hundreds of flowering pots.
Photo P Finnigan
Man reading, with dog under olive tree.
Photo P Finnigan
Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he took us on a tour of the garden, through arbours and tunnels, where beautiful shrubs, protected from the wind were in full bloom. Up to a copse of Famiglia Trees he had planted thirty years ago and were now three stories high, and to visit his two peacocks that had a pen with a natural stream running through it and a bit higher up to see two fresh water ponds, one full of gold-fish and higher still to benches overlooking the Chianti Hills.
Rooftop View of the Chianti hills.
Photo P Finnigan
Now all this time a cold wind was howling around the place, so we could only imagine how glorious it would be in Spring and Summer. What a privilege to be allowed to see this place and to be able to tell you all about it.
The ancient hill town of Certaldo Alto, silhouetted against the sunset.
Photo J Finnigan
The only other thing I must show you, which was also very beautiful and caused me to screech to a halt on my way down to Certaldo on Tuesday evening, was the first sunset for weeks and Certaldo Alto’s wonderful silhouette against that gorgeous sky.
Yes, I know, what about all those other things I was planning to share? Well I’m afraid Roberto’s place and Certaldo Alto in the sunset, has taken all my thoughts away. But, please come back next week and we’ll catch up on everything else that did not get a mention this time, including some good news for Fiano!
Salute June x
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‘My Father, The Assassin’. Book one in the series.
‘The Bolivian Connection’ Book two in the series.
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