On April 9, 2025, author Katia Lysy will host a walk through the gardens of the Origo family estate, as she shares its secrets, captured in words and pictures in her recently published photographic book ‘LA FOCE: Paradise in Tuscany’. During the garden-walk, Katia will discuss the enduring vision of her grandparents, Iris and Antonio Origo, and their quest to reclaim a ‘forgotten’ part of the region. Thanks to their efforts, the Val d’Orcia is now considered ‘quintessential Tuscany’, in the collective imagination.
Katia’s dedication as estate manager aims to preserve her family’s legacy, and her work as an editor produced ‘A Chill in the Air’, a posthumous work by Iris Origo, and the precursor to Origo’s bestselling classic diary ‘War in Val d'Orcia’.
After experiencing the gardens featured in Katia’s newest book, participants will enjoy a hearty meal at La Foce Dopolavoro, a typical trattoria, built in 1939, as a restorative meeting point for La Foce farm labourers.
Limited places available. Registration required.
Our bus will leave Florence at 09:00 and should be back in town by 17:00.
Cost per person: 130 euro per person.
The participation fee includes round-trip transportation to and from La Foce in the Val d’Orcia and a delicious seasonal meal, following Katia’s highly personal guided tour of the gardens.
In case of cancellation, every effort will be made to involve a participant from the waiting list. Should the reserved spot go unfilled, participation fees are non-refundable.
For more information please contact us at bif@britishinstitute.it
This outing, generously hosted by Katia Lysy, forms part of a larger 3-year programme: “Florentine Gardens: Early Women Expats and Artists of Today”, organised by Calliope Arts and Il Palmerino Cultural Association, in collaboration with the British Institute of Florence.