Creative courses at Casa Berti
Casa Berti is the perfect setting for learning something new whilst relaxing in the Italian countryside. With our dedicated studio space now up and running we can offer courses ...
Read MoreWelcome to Casa Berti
A private hill-top estate with expansive views, two houses, a yoga/art studio, gardens, olive groves and woodland.
Casa Berti – the villa
The 17th Century manor house is set on a hilltop spur in fifteen acres of gardens, olives groves and woodland, and offers sweeping views to the East and West. The villa comprises four luxuriously appointed, air-conditioned double bedroom with en-suite bath/shower rooms, a family suite (double bedroom and twin bedroom sharing master bath/shower room), drawing room with open log-fire, tv and baby grand piano, cloakroom, billiards/dining room (for 16), pantry, kitchen, library and a consecrated private chapel.
Casa Rosina – the farmhouse
The traditional farmhouse (30 metres from the villa)sleeps six. It has been recently refurbished to provide a double bedroom with en-suite bath/shower room, a further double bedroom which shares a shower room with a twin bedroom. While independent, it is close enough to the main house to allow a total group of sixteen people. With its own garden, kitchen, open fireplace and study it can supplement the main house or provide a romantic getaway in its own right.
The Studio
This large and light space (11 x 5 metres) is used for courses ranging from sculpture and painting to yoga and Tai Chi. Newly fitted air conditioning units provide heat in the winter and cool in the summer. We provide yoga mats, bolsters, bricks belts and so on for 15 practioners. The studio is also equipped for analogue and digital sound and vision.
The Gardens
A terracotta tiled terrace lined with lemon trees leads to a wisteria-covered pergola with a travertine table which provides outdoor dining for up to 16 guests. A few steps away lies the swimming pool, salt-cleaned and surrounded by Gaze-Burvill sunloungers, fixed umbrellas and terra cotta tiles. Set in the well-tended gardens sits a gazebo furnished with day beds and a table. a willow-shrouded pond stocked with gold fish and terrapins, a badminton court and a gravel boules pitch. The traditional wood-fired pizza oven is located up a few steps next to the farm house. The pathway between the two houses is floor-lit automatically at sundown.
Gallery
Some views of Casa Berti, Casa Rosina and the gardens
Previous art retreats
Portrait & Figure Sculpture in Clay
with Jason Arkles | March 2017
View gallery
Painting Under the Tuscan Sun
with Lori McNee | October 2017
View gallery
Portrait & Figure Drawing
with Kathryn Engberg | September 2017
View gallery
The Inner Portrait
with Henrik Udalen | May 2017
View gallery
Up & Coming Art Retreats
Catalyst Art Retreat
29 April – 5 May 2018
Live the life of an artist at our immersive artist retreat. Visual artists, illustrators, textile artists, photographers, digital artists, crafters, makers, writers, musicians, and performers are all welcome! Spring in Tuscany is lovely with lots of wildflowers. It’s also the time of year when the Luccese villas are open for garden tours.
Catalyst Art Retreat
19 – 25 August 2018
Live the life of an artist at our immersive artist retreat in Tuscany. Imagine swimming in marble-bouldered rivers (Seravezza), cooling dips and beers at the Casa Berti pool, and long warm evenings dining beneath a pergola with one of the best views in the world. Visual artists, illustrators, textile artists, photographers, digital artists, crafters, makers, writers, musicians, and performers are all welcome!
Catalyst Art Retreat
2 – 8 September 2018
Catalyst brings a little bit of Japan to Italy! Shibori means to tie, fold, and bind cloth before dyeing using indigo dyes. We’ll demonstrate how to create an indigo vat using pre-reduced indigo crystals and share several fold, tie, and resist techniques. Participants will create their own dyed cloths. We’ll also introduce complementary techniques like shifu, Japanese thread spinning with a drop spindle. There’s ample time for you to experiment and do your own thing. The week will culminate in an outdoor exhibition of your creations at the beach in Viareggio.
Animal Sculpture in Wax and Clay
with Dido Crosby | 8 – 15 September 2018
(session 1)
Portrait and figure sculpture in clay with Jason Arkles | 22 – 29 September 2018
(session 1)
Plein air
with Lori McNee | 7 – 13 October 2018
(session 1)
Plein air
with Lori McNee | 14 – 20 October 2018
(session 2)
Painting Flowers in Acrylics
with Carmelo Blandino | 21 – 27 October 2018
(session 2)
Floorplans
Estate map, Casa Berti, Casa Rosina and Studio
The Estate
Casa Berti ground floor
Casa Berti upper ground floor
Casa Berti first floor
Casa Rosina ground floor
Casa Rosina first floor
Studio
Our accommodation
The Estate
- Sixteen acres of olive terraces, gardens and woodland, cultivated by Etruscans, Romans and now locals.
- Extensive woodland walks
- A natural spring produces mineral-rich water (prized by locals) all year round.
- Swimming pool
- Badminton
- Boules
- Archery
- Croquet
- private masseuse available by appointment
Casa Berti
- Sleeps 10 – air conditioed
- 3 double bedrooms with en-suite bath/shower rooms
- 1 family suite (double bedroom and a twin bedroom sharing a master bath/shower room)
- Drawing room with open log-fire, TV and baby grand piano
- Dining room for 16/ billiards, snooker, pool and darts
- Library
- Tuscan kitchen with range cooker
- Consecrated private chapel
- catering by arrangement
Casa Rosina
- Sleeps 6
- 2 double bedrooms (1 with own bathroom)
- 2 single/dble bedrooms
- 3 Bathrooms
- Drawing room with open log fire
- 50″ Smart TV, blu-ray
- Kitchen/dining room for 10
The Studio
- 11 x 5 metres
- Air-conditioned
- Ceiling north light and East facing large window aperture
- Yoga equipment
- Exercise equipment
- DJ equipped with twin Technics 1200s, Allen & Heath mixer and active speakers
Keep informed
What's going on at Casa Berti
News
Coming up at Casa Berti
View of Casa Berti
Casa Berti is perched on a sunlit spur surrounded by fifteen acres of gardens, olives groves and woodland. See the sweeping views to the East and West and take ...
Read MoreLa raccolta
Every November we invite close friends and family to help Giuliano harvest, cold press and label several hundred bottles of the finest grade olive oil. ‘Extra virgin olive oil’ must ...
Read MoreOur Limoncello
Margherita, our house keeper, makes a finely balanced Limoncello with the Casa Berti lemons which grow on the terrace.
Read More