"A glimpse into a magical Tuscan villa—rustic yet urban, old-fashioned elegant yet bohemian, accessible yet personal—that nurtures the world's finest literary talent.

In the hills above Florence, Santa Maddalena is like a secret garden where writers hone their craft and meet like-minded people. Along with evocative images, these essays by 27 acclaimed authors invite readers to understand how the spirit of this restored villa, its owners and resident pets has inspired creative writing and creativity among so many.

Monti della Corte and her late husband, Gregor von Rezzori, turned a ruin into the ultimate retreat where they would write, have and entertain friends and other artists - Pedro Almodóvar, Bernardo Bertolucci, David Hockney, Isabella Rossellini. This gracious interweaving of hospitality and creativity became the Santa Maddalena Foundation and the Writer's Fellowship program in 2000."

Publication date
2021

Authors
Beatrice Monti della Corte

Edited by Michael Cunningham
Photos by François Halard

Publishers
Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.