It’s been a few years since we began hosting our friend Salvatore Ambrosino and his brand L’Arte Nascosta for trunk shows. Twice a year, Salvatore presents exclusive products made by his collective of Italy-based Artisan Partners that range from master goldsmiths to mosaic craftsmen, and everything in between.
Now, we are excited to introduce you to an entirely new service that Salvatore has begun offering: AION Tours - a bespoke tour service in Tuscany centered on Art, Craftsmanship and Cuisine.
The Collector’s Retreat
Inspired by the ever-growing community of collectors in the Armoury family, we worked with Salvatore and his team of experts to curate The Collector’s Retreat, which we look forward to hosting for the first time from April 7-11.
This 4-day retreat is an exclusive deep dive into the vibrant - and ancient – world of Italian art collecting. In between wine tastings and countryside visits, Salvatore and his team will lead you behind the scenes through museums, galleries and private collections that are typically off-limits to the general public as you retrace the trajectory of Art collecting in Italy from the classical days of the Renaissance to the avant garde world of fine Contemporary Art.
Continue reading below to learn more about the unforgettable experience that we’ve arranged.
Information about pricing and how to book may be found at the bottom of the page.
Italy is world-renowned for its rich culture of artistic expression that has for centuries inspired the visual vocabulary of cultures throughout the world. While at first glance, this might appear to be a spontaneous phenomenon, it is in reality the fruit of a deeply engrained cultural sensibility that Italians have harbored for centuries: their passion for collecting. Whether works of art from distant cultures, or more contemporary works of memorabilia, painting, or sculpture, Italians collect it all.
These retreats are an immersive exploration of Italian collecting over time. It offers a glimpse beyond the portoni of Tuscany’s villas and palazzi to reveal the methods of collection and conservation employed by great collectors of the past and present.
These experiences provide privileged closed-doors access to specially curated museums and some of Florence’s most notable antique dealers and skilled conservationists who ply their crafts to sourcing and preserving echoes of the past in the form of collectable material goods. Visit Master Goldsmith Paolo Penko, one of our Artisan Partners with whom we craft custom works of artisanal jewelry and accessories that breathe new life into ancient artifacts. Venture beyond Florence's medieval city walls to visit villas and vineyards with sweeping Tuscan views and delicious Chianti wine.
Through an exploration of the far-reaching treasures that you will encounter, The Collector’s Retreat invites you to reconnect with and celebrate the authentic richness and diversity of our world: a world that is far larger and more nuanced than that which the tech-driven, virtual realm might otherwise project.
I'm pleased to introduce a new project between The Armoury and Salvatore Ambrosino, the man behind L'Arte Nascosta. Salvatore is someone who I deeply respect for his vast knowledge of Italian History, Culture and Craftsmanship.
We are introducing tours consisting of 4 to 8 people, focused on learning about the rich history of Florence and discovering its traditional craftsmanship, including fine jewelry making and stone marquetry. These visits will include private sessions with the craftspeople themselves.
One of the most satisfying moments in the learning process is uncovering something that was previously hidden in plain sight. Many of us have visited Florence before, but few of us could say they truly know the city. With the help of a strong guiding hand: revel in its history, connect with its craftsmen and explore its territory. Gain an uncommon appreciation for one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
“The Maker’s Retreat was an opportunity to experience the culture of Florence through the toils of ancient & modern artisans. Salvatore & Francesco are true
story tellers. I am excited to see what other experiences the AION team will curate.” - Mr. R
"The Maker's Retreat reminded me of the inimitable joy that one only finds in travel. To spend time with a small but wonderful group of people exploring, learning, eating, drinking and truly experiencing Florence was the highlight of my year so far. I cannot thank Sal and Francesco enough for making it happen." - Mr. C
"I have visited Florence dozens of times and never experienced it in such an engaging way until the AION tour. Sal and Francesco connect history, art and food in a uniquely engaging way. I’ll never look at Florence the same way again." - Mr. H
Delve into all aspects of collecting from sourcing, conserving and breathing new life into collectable artifacts of various types, from various periods and from various parts of the world.
Each morning, guests will tour museums, artisan and art conservator workshops, and antique galleries in the city centers of Florence and Arezzo.
Lunch will be provided each day in mindfully selected restaurants that are much appreciated by locals for their timeless, authentic menus.
Afternoons will be spent between medieval towns and Renaissance villas nestled in the countryside where guests will punctuate their full immersion in the world of collecting with gallery visits, wine tastings and a private dinner.
Santa Croce is one of Florence’s 4 major basilicas; we had to seek approval to secure this activity. While private after-hours access is not often granted, I am very glad to say that our request was accepted!
Over the centuries, Santa Croce’s proximity to the Arno River contributed just as much to its prosperity as it did to its near demise. We will discover how the Santa Croce Complex is site of constantly active conservation work as specialists maintain and restore artwork that has been all but destroyed throughout the centuries following the many floods of the Arno River.
This was the home of Giorgio Vasari; a notable Renaissance painter in his own right, Giorgio Vasari was the first person to write the biographies of the great masters in art, architecture and sculpture that preceded him, making him the first art historian. His work laid the foundation for collecting and connoisseurship in Italy and the world in the centuries that followed.
This museum was previously the private collection of Renaissance art collector and dealer Herbert Percy Horne, who later bequeathed the collection to the City of Florence so that it might be turned into a museum.
Since its foundation, the Horne Museum, has maintained Herbert Horne’s approach to collecting, which was rigorously focused on art and furnishings of the 14th and 15th centuries.
This Renaissance villa is currently home to New York University’s Florence campus, and boasts the largest private collection of art in Italy. During a private opening of the villa, guests will enjoy a tour in which they will retrace the growth of this collection throughout the first part of the 20th century, when the previous owners - art dealers by trade - utilized this space to conserve their favorite works of art and host illustrious guests such as Prince Charles and Princess Diana while on their honeymoon!
A charming medieval town, San Gimignano is known as “the Manhattan of Tuscany” for its abundance of defensive towers that are reminiscent of the Manhattan skyline. Located in San Gimignano, the Galleria Continua is a notable contemporary art gallery that curates and exhibits works by notable contemporary artists from all over the world.
Historically the palace of Forence’s Chief of police, the Bargello museum is known for its collection of sculpture from notable Renaissance masters, such as Michelangelo, Giambologna and Donatello. The museum also has a vast collection of decorative arts that animate daily and ceremonial life in Renaissance Florence: ceramics, textiles, tapestries, and glyptics (engraved gemstones).
Throughout his career, which spans more than 30 years, he has mastered the traditional goldsmithing techniques of the Florentine Renaissance and emerged as an internationally acclaimed authority in his specialty.
Over the years, Maestro Penko has received many prestigious awards and recognitions, the most notable of which was his 2016 investiture as Accademico Onorario (Honored Scholar) in the acclaimed Accademia delle Arti del Disegno, founded in 1563 by Giorgio Vasari. For the past 500 years, this exclusive title has been reserved for Florence’s most accomplished artisans.
In addition to many private individuals and prestigious institutions, Maestro Penko counts among his patrons three Popes, the Dolce & Gabbana fashion house, and many Italian government officials.
Salvatore’s local antique dealer and antique restorer specialized in Italian furniture and decorative arts. For three generations, the Migliorini family has worked on restoration projects for small private clients, and large public clients alike; among the most prestigious of these is the restoration of the carved doors of the Santa Croce Basilica. Mirco and Paolo will share their family’s history in antique restoration and demonstrate some examples of the work they do to conserve their client’s antique furniture.
Similar to San Gimignano, Sansepolcro is also a very charming, characteristic medieval town. Before reaching Arezzo, the birthplace of Giorgio Vasari, we will stop here to visit the Aboca Museum, which boasts a sizable collection of herbal and naturalistic artifacts. Such collections were typical of Wunderkammer, or cabinets of curiosities among European elites in Renaissance Europe.
After settling into this state-of-the-art winery known for its sustainable productions of organic wines, guests will enjoy a tour of the facility followed by a wine tasting and private farewell dinner. Guests will sleep at Salcheto’s luxury accommodations for the final evening of the retreat.
The locations we selected for each day of the retreat were chosen with an eye for quality and authenticity. Each restaurant offers a characteristically rustic setting, while compromising in no way on the quality of the ingredients they use or the masterful way in which they prepare each of their traditional dishes.
Some house private collections of art, others have been centers of agricultural activity for centuries. Regardless of their function, Tuscany’s villas have always offered reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city center, inviting their visitors to embrace the vita contemplativa, or contemplative life, while enjoying a break from the city's vita attiva, or active life. Inspired by the ancients, we chose to schedule a visit to a villa on each day of the itinerary with precisely the same goal in mind.
Velona’s Jungle is a design -oriented boutique hotel located in what was formerly the owner’s private family residence in the center of Florence. The hotel is decorated with an eclectic, but tasteful mix of antiques and contemporary pieces that will make anyone feel at home even while away-from-home.
For the single booking price of $8,500 (with a 15% discount for double bookings), we are pleased to offer the following complementary services:
- Includes accommodation in the center of Florence (first three nights), and at a villa in the heart of the Chianti region (final night)-
- Group welcome dinner on arrival day (Day 1)
- Breakfast and lunch on days 2, 3 & 4
- Group shuttle transportation between destinations located outside Florence’s city center.
- Exclusive access for guided tours in iconic locations such as the Basilica of Santa Croce complex, Giorgio Vasari’s personal home, and Villa La Pietra, a Renaissance villa and the Florence campus of New York University
Please note other expenses, such as airfare, arrival and departure transfers, any visa or travel requirements for entry into Italy, travel insurance, other meals and alcoholic beverages not stated in itinerary, etc., are not included.
A non-refundable 50% is required at sign-up with the balance due before the trip. Please note that we reserved the right to make itinerary changes based on unforeseen circumstances.
To reserve your place and for any further information please contact
us at info@lartenascosta.com.
