Today was to be a low key day: hang out, swim at the pool, have a nice lunch, drink some wine.
Late in the day, we went to visit the Niki de St. Phalle Giardino di Tarot. It was even better than expected. The kids loved the colorful, magical creations. The artist, along with her husband, fellow artist Jean Tingley, worked for 20 years planning and creating this amazing sculpture garden before it was opened to the public in 1998.
De Saint Phalle was inspired by the work of Antonio Gaudi in Barcelona when she lived briefly in Spain. The Giardino di Tarot has 21 statues, some small and made of resin, some large enough to live inside (and Niki did live for a year inside the Empress), and all decorated entirely in mosaics in every color imaginable -- but also a lot of mirrors. It comprises a body of art that reflects the artist and the viewer. Each of the sculptures represents one figure from the major arcana -- the 21 cards in the tarot deck that regard significant aspects of life. Niki and Jean created the sculpture garden in the Maremma on a property that was "lent" to them by friends.
Afterwards, just as the sun was fading in the sky, we drove through the fields of Capalbio scalo and up to the Etruscan remains of Cosa in Ansedonia. We timed it perfectly so we arrived there (after a brief hike) in time for the sunset. It was another hit with the kids. From here, you can see the entire Argentario peninsula, the sea around Feniglia and Giannella as well as the coastline to the south of Torba and Machiatonda beaches.
As it grew dark, we retired to our villa for a light dinner. Then we laid on the lettinos that we'd moved to our "great"lawn and admired the bright stars in the sky.
No comments:
Post a Comment