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Residenza d'Epoca Hotel I Pini Lido di Camaiore | |
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Versilia is a part of Tuscany that Europeans have known and loved
for decades. Unlike Chianti, Florence and Siena, which tempt the visitor to rush from one renowned artistic treasure to another, this coastal region invites you to slow down and relax. Those who love it dream of it on dreary northern days, feeling the warm breezes as they waft through the pine forests, picturing the sun-drenched Liberty-style villas and hearing the lazy buzz of crickets. Versilia is a uniquely European type of resort area, a tranquil combination of beauty, culture, history, nature and great food that has been the beloved retreat of many fine artists beginning with maestro Giacomo Puccini, who built a home you can still visit today in nearby Torre del Lago. Another artist who made his home here was Galileo Chini. You may never have heard of this Florentine, nor seen any of his works, but you have witnessed the effects of his talent all over the country. In the early part of this century, Chini was largely responsible for introducing the art nouveau style into Italy (where it is usually referred to as "Liberty"). He founded a ceramics factory that created colorful objects which soon made their way into thousands of homes, he painted canvases that were hung in museums ranging from the Uffizi to Rome's Modern Art Gallery, and he designed sets for his close friend Puccini. Chini's stage designs for Turandot are pure Liberty style; perhaps because of them he was asked to paint frescos in the Royal Palace of the King of Siam. Chini lived in Thailand for two years. When he returned to Italy he built a vacation retreat in Versilia and called it Villa Chini. Its large sunny rooms, delightful ornamentation and century-old park were the height of luxury. Today the estate is a charming small hotel where guests return faithfully year after year to enjoy warm family-type hospitality. Many of Chini's paintings, frescoes and decorations, such as a colorful stained-glass fruit basket, are displayed throughout the common rooms where guests can congregate in several sitting areas. His furniture and personal belongings are everywhere, including in the simple guest rooms, all of which have private bathroom, telephone and television. Some also have balconies overlooking the spectacular garden, whose towering trees and profuse sweet-smelling flowers make it a tranquil oasis completely protected from the bustling seaside resort town of Lido di Camaiore. At Hotel I Pini, each day starts with a good buffet breakfast. Afterwards, you can stroll a short 200 yards to the broad sandy beach, which stretches for miles in each direction. I Pini's private beach has all the amenities you could desire. Or you might take a pleasant hike through the pine forests that line the shore. If you're ready to travel farther afield, jump in the car and drive inland to the Apuan Alps (a breathtaking spectacle few people know about) or through the Garfagnana Mountains and into Lunigiana (one of the last remaining off-the-beaten-path parts of Tuscany). Or drive less than an hour south to the quasi-deserted, pristine nature reserve beaches between Castiglioncello and Punta Ala. Also within an hour's drive are Lucca, the Cinqueterre and the marble quarries of Carrara. If you're here in the summer, be sure to take in an outdoor opera performance at the home of Giacomo Puccini. Or stop in at a night club, discotheque or cocktail lounge in the neighborhood. Loretta Degl'Innocenti, chef of Villa Chini, has been a professional cook since she was young, in different restaurants in the region. Her recipes rediscover the tastes of traditional cuisine. Dinner and Breakfast in the garden on request
BIOGRAPHY Galileo CHINI was born in Florence on December 2nd 1873 and died on August 23 rd 1956 As his father died when he was 13, he began to work with his uncle who was a decorator and restorator.He attended evening lessons at a school of art, and in 1896, he funded "The Art of Ceramics" (later called "Factory Fornaci S.Lorenzo), a small factory where he created beautiful objects & thanks to them he introduced the Liberty style in Italy. As a painter he took part at the"Biennale di Venezia" from 1901 till 1936. He worked, as a stage-designer,with Sem BENELLI and Giacomo PUCCINI . This cooperation brought to the creation of the scenes for "Gianni SCHICCHI "and "TURANDOT" . In 1911 he was in Bangkok to decorate Siam King's palace. He remained there till 1913: it was a triumph! Back in Italy, he taught at the "Accademia di Belle Arti"in Florence. Some of his beautiful works of Art can be found at the Modern Art Gallery in Rome, at the Uffizi in Florence and at the Modern Art Gallery in Palazzo Pitti. During the last years of his life, he lived mainly in Versilia, in Fossa Dell'Abate ( today Lido Di Camaiore ) where he had a beautiful villa (built in the Liberty style), which is now the "Club I Pini Hotel where you can still find some of his paintings and works of art. The hotel, which is 200 mt. far from the beach, is in the centre of Lido Di Camaiore (between Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi).
Sterling prices per night per room B&B July & August £155 Rest of the year £ 95 See more pictures Back Home |
