About the Renaissance Retreat at the Castello di Meleto
Join me for an enchanting seven-day getaway at the Castello di Meleto, a Medieval castle in the heart of Tuscany, to paint from life with the goal of creating an oil portrait in a landscape as exemplified in many Renaissance portraits.
All of our time with the model is spent inside our studio in the castle, while several afternoons will be spent painting en plein air the background landscape that we’ll put behind the model.
If you are enthusiastic about portraiture and landscape as a subject, and are a beginner or advanced painter in pursuit of adventure and community, this is THE workshop for you!
Time not painting is dedicated to special activities enjoyed by all painters and accompanying family/companions: learning to cook, tasting wines, swimming in the glorious outdoor pools, exploring the mysteries of the castle, strolling through the vineyards and gardens and discovering the secrets of the surrounding valley.
About Castello di Meleto
The earliest record of Meleto dates back to the eleventh century when the castle belonged to the Benedictine monks of Badia a Coltibuono.
The name “Meleto in Chianti” is mentioned for the first time in 1256 in the Libro degli Estimi (Book of Estimates) of the Florentine Guelphs as a property of a local feudal family. Thanks to its strategic position close to the border between the territories of the Republic of Florence and Republic of Siena, the castle became a main Florentine stronghold of the area and later on one of the main fortifications in Terziere di Gaiole of the Lega del Chianti. This made the castle a coveted prize between the two contenders, although it never sustained serious damage.
To learn more about the Castello di Meleto, please visit their website.
Castello di Meleto: the Food & Wine
Learn to Make Pasta
One hour and 30 minutes with a chef to create different kinds of egg pasta. After the cooking class, guests will eat the pasta they made, in addition to bruschette and meat (salami, prosciutto) produced by the Castello di Meleto, all served together with wines from the castle’s own production. The experience will also include a guided tour of the castle.
Discover Wines with the Winemakers
Join the winemakers in the vineyards of the Castello di Meleto: a fun experience to learn everything about the vineyard secrets and a unique opportunity to find an answer to all the questions you might have regarding the grapevine cultivation.
Location
The Castello di Meleto is located in Tuscany about 40 minutes North of Siena and about 1 hour and 15 minutes South of Florence.
Sign Up for the Next Retreat
The next Renaissance Retreat at the Castello di Meleto will be:
- Monday, May 9th to Sunday, May 15th, 2022
- Monday, October 3rd to Sunday, October 9th 2022
The maximum number of Painting Participants is 8 painting participants per retreat.
The maximum number total–Painting Participants + Non-Painting Companions–is 16 per retreat.
Should none of the above dates work for you and your group, Custom Retreats are possible. Please contact me using the Questions form for details.
For any and all questions that you don’t find an answer to on this web page, please use the Questions form to contact me or send a message via WhatsApp: +39 347 263 1033.
—Timothy Joseph Allen
Your Painting Teacher and Renaissance Retreat Organizer