EXHIBIT A: Flight of Europa

Flight of Europa depicts the mythological beginning of Europe. Greek mythology tells the story of Europa, a beautiful Phoenician princess, and her journey to Crete. According to ancient legend, the god Zeus disguised himself as an enchanting white bull so he could entice Europa away. She was so captivated by the bull that she climbed on its back. The dastardly bull rushed to the ocean and swam westward to Crete, away from Europa’s life in Phoenicia. Upon her arrival to Crete Europa had three sons, including Minos, the future King of Crete, which is considered the earliest European civilization. Legend, and the ancient Greeks, crowned her the mother of Europe.  

Artist Paul Manship crafted the Flight of Europa in 1925. The gilt bronze cast depicts the story of Europa’s abduction. Eros, known as Cupid, gently whispers in Europa’s ear, while the leaping dolphins assist Zeus on his journey to Crete. Paul Manship chose the patterned marble base to convey a sense of crashing waves. Ensuring authenticity, Manship even inspected vessels from the Minoan era of Crete to shape the bull’s form. The Columbus Museum’s gilded casting is one of only five in existence and was acquired with the help of a Friend of the Museum and The Crowley Foundation Acquisition Fund.

ART: Contentment

Thomas Hovenden was an Irish-American artist popular during the late nineteenth century. He was known for painting narrative subjects from history, literature and contemporary events. He was especially sympathetic to African Americans, which was made even more evident by his embracing the political ideology of his anti-slavery Quaker in-laws.

Hovenden was notorious for depicting family, love and closeness in his works. In this piece, Contentment, he depicts an older couple enjoying each other's company after a family meal. They are shown in their own house, denoting a sense of personal success and status.

Contentment, painted in 1881, was gifted to the Museum in 1993 on behalf of Dr. Philip L. Brewer in honor of the late Dr. Delmar Edwards. Dr. M. Delmar Edwards was the first African American to practice surgery in Columbus, Georgia.

www.columbusmuseum.com

ART: O Freedom Ova me

O Freedom Ova me
1995
Mixed media on wood
Radcliffe Bailey
Born Bridgeton, N.J. 1968

Columbus is a place of rich culture, art and expression. The exquisite works of art in our community each have a unique story, an interesting naissance and heritage. Join SVM as we put them on exhibit for you.

Radcliffe Bailey’s large, mixed-media paintings address his life as young African American living in Atlanta. This work called “ O Freedom Ova Me” is made from found objects. They draw on a variety of sources, including historical events, popular culture, family memories and African traditions as they have been changed and preserved in African-American culture.

This particular work is built around an enlargement of a vintage photograph the artist obtained from one of his family albums. The surrounding surface is thickly painted and incorporates boat motifs that evoke themes of transport, flight and freedom. Bailey has also included repeating pairs of curved lines. These not only recall shapes found in iron balconies all over the South, but also mimic a symbol found on adinkra cloths of West Africa.

While he was influenced by historic figures that have transformed and changed the world, he was also influenced by family members, by his mother, his children, and his grandparents. His mother was quietly creating experiences for him to make art when he was a child. She was his first art teacher and is, today, his most important critic. She introduced him to museums at a young age, allowing for his first encounters with African art, with the art of James van der Zee and Jacob Lawrence. svm
Special thanks to Merecedes Parham, Columbus Museum.

ART: Kindred

A new outdoor sculpture has been installed in The Columbus Museum’s fountain in memory of the late Mark D. Porter (1957-2015). Porter was a past president and longtime member of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. The commission of the sculpture, Kindred, was made possible by the overwhelming generosity of friends of Porter. Porter, Group Vice President at Columbus Bank and Trust until 2015, died in November 2015, and designated The Columbus Museum for gifts in his memory. With the outpouring of donations, the Museum decided on the commission of an outdoor sculpture to commemorate his love of both the Museum and its Bradley Olmsted Garden.

The artist, Andrew T. Crawford, grew up in Atlanta and maintains his studio there. He has a Bachelors of Fine Art in sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design. Crawford has work at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens and has exhibited work at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia and The Bascom in Highlands, North Carolina, among other museums. “The sculpture, Kindred, is based on the observation of the similarities and differences between natural and man-made forms. It finds its origin in objects that exist in environments that are not exclusively of nature or mechanical origins. Through realism, ambiguous shape and form, scale, and surface treatment, the sculpture seeks to draw recognition to the relationships we find in everyday objects. It is a celebration of the crossover of form and imagery that exists between objects that are part of or of a whole, man-made or occurring completely in nature,” said Crawford.

Special thanks to Merecedes Parham, Columbus Museum.

ART: Alice

Alice; 2017; 54x43 inches; oil on canvas

Amy Sherald was born in Columbus, Georgia, in 1973. She received her MFA in Painting from Maryland Institute College of Art (2004), BA in Painting from Clark-Atlanta University (1997), and was a Spelman College International Artistin-Residence in Portobelo, Panama (1997). In 2016, Sherald was the first woman to win the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition grand prize; an accompanying exhibition, The Outwin 2016, has been on tour since 2016 and will open at the Kemper Museum, in Kansas City, MO in October 2017. She describes her young self as an introvert who took solace in making art, an activity she could enjoy on her own. Her family was supportive, though not involved in the arts. Sherald didn’t go to a museum for the first time until she was in college.

From the time she started kindergarten, when she was one of two or three black children enrolled in her private school, Sherald was well aware of her race ― specifically, how it should and should not be performed. “You’re different from everybody else,” Sherald recalled. “You need to speak a certain way and act a certain way. That’s what my mom told me on the first day of school.” Early on, Sherald absorbed the ability to slip in and out of certain modes of being, like a variety show performer, depending on who she was with and what she wanted to achieve. “In sociology they call it ‘code switching,’” she said. “I can feel just as comfortable in a room full of people who don’t look like me because I understand the social cues of class and race.”

Amy is an award-winning painter who paints large scale oil paintings of people underrepresented in the art historical narrative. Translation: she paints portraits of beautiful ordinary black folk because they’re missing from museum walls and representation matters. She’s much like Kerry James Marshall in this regard, deliberately aiming her art practice at centering black people in her work and painting them in ways that evoke everyday living and everyday leisure. Her portraits lean more on the surreal side and include elements you won’t find in real life. For starters, she ditches a more realistic brownish skin tone color and instead casts all her characters in this beautiful charcoal gray which adds this extraordinary intensity but still feels real and still reads “I’m black.” The vibrant backgrounds, playful outfits, and accessories appear in stark contrast to the stoic expressions. “I’m depicting the many people who existed in history but whose presence was never documented,” Amy Sherald explains.

ART: The Last 100 Yards Exhibit at the Infantry Museum

The National Infantry Museum, located in Ft. Benning. Ga, is currently hosting The Last 100 Yards: The Infantryman’s Legacy of Valor and Sacrifice exhibit. Experience 240+ years of American history in immersive exhibits that put you on the front lines for the Last 100 Yards. See what it takes to be a U.S. Army Soldier and be reminded why freedom isn’t free.

The story of the Infantry’s history – at least the pieces of it that can fit inside one museum – is finally complete. The National Infantry Museum has opened the long-awaited Securing our Freedoms/Defining the Nation gallery, which chronicles the branch’s history from 1775 to 1889.

When the museum opened in 2009, budgetary constraints put the completion of the planned Revolutionary War and Civil War galleries on hold. In 2011, the museum offered one of those two unfinished spaces to the Armor branch, which had just moved its school to Fort Benning.

Visitors to the new 5,100-square-foot gallery will be transported to the years preceding the Revolutionary War, and will travel through to the end of the Frontier Indian Wars. Among the 175 priceless artifacts now displayed are numerous muskets and rifles, a 200-pound mountain howitzer used in the Mexican-American War, a Civil War era James Gun with its innovative rifling system, and the Gatling Gun – the forerunner of the modern machine gun – used in the Frontier Indian Wars.

There are interactive kiosks, too, including one that illustrates the challenges of building a disciplined and effective Army, and one that demonstrates the critical role of music in communication on the battlefield. Two large silk regimental and national flags from the 2nd United States Colored Troops – among the museum’s rarest artifacts – are on display for the first time.

Maneuver Center of Excellence Museum’s Chief Dave Hanselman says the gallery is intended not only to inform and educate the public, but to fulfill the mission of supporting Infantry training at Fort Benning. The underlying theme of the gallery, he says, is how ever-evolving technologies have dictated ever-evolving training since the Infantry’s earliest days. “This time period set the stage for everything that has followed over the past 242 years,” said National Infantry Museum Foundation President Greg Camp. “We are thrilled to finally be able to share this chapter of Infantry history.”

The new gallery was formally dedicated at a ceremony at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 14, the Army’s 242nd birthday. The guest speaker was LTG (Ret) Tom Metz, Chairman and CEO of the National Infantry Museum Foundation.

The 190,000-square-foot National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center chronicles the history of the American Infantry from its formation in 1775 to the present. On display are tens of thousands of priceless artifacts telling the stories from Bunker Hill to Baghdad.

Soldier Center includes elements that make the modern museum visitor’s experience complete: a giant screen theater, the Fife and Drum restaurant, and the Soldier Store, operated by Ranger Joe’s, an iconic name in the military retail field.

The 155-acre campus includes an authentically restored World War II Company Street and a five-acre parade field and stadium that holds 2,100 people for weekly graduations of Fort Benning trainees. Heritage Walk is lined with flags of all American states and territories and features customengraved granite pavers purchased by those who wish to honor a loved one.

The $100 million National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center opened on June 19, 2009. In eight years, 2.5 million people have visited the museum. It is the number one rated attraction in Columbus on TripAdvisor, and has one of the highest ratings among attractions statewide. It has earned a prestigious Themed Entertainment Industry Award, and, in 2016, was named USA Today’s Best Free Museum.

The National Infantry Museum is a private, non-profit organization that relies on donations for operating expenses. Admission is free, however a $5 per person donation is requested at the door. SVM

ART: Chihuly

Born in 1941 in Tacoma, Washington, Dale Chihuly was first introduced to glass when studying interior design at the University of Washington. After graduating in 1965 and working for a time for John Graham Architects, Chihuly enrolled in Harvey Littleton's seminal glass program at the University of Wisconsin. Littleton is considered the father of the American studio glass movement, which changed the medium world-wide from one of craft and design, to one in which artists may work directly with the material for their own aesthetic expression. Chihuly received his M.S. in 1967. He continued his glass studies at the Rhode Island School of
Design (RISD) and was awarded an M.F.A. in 1968. After a Fulbright Fellowship, working and observing in the Venini factory in Venice, Chihuly returned to RISD to establish and head a glass department. In June 1995, while making temporary glass installations along the Nuutajärvi River in Finland, Dale Chihuly tossed some of his forms into the water to let them float downstream. When he saw local children putting them in their small wooden rowboats, he developed an idea for a new work of art. For Chihuly, Boat Installation is a recreation of that experience in Finland.

Uniting color, light, form, and space to deliver uniquely immersive experiences, Chihuly has completed ambitious architectural artwork installations all over the world. Inspired by a lifelong interest in architecture and gardens, Chihuly creates site-specific sculptures for a wide variety of settings, from public spaces and museums, to private homes and gardens. In 1999, Chihuly mounted an ambitious installation, "Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem." More than one million visitors attended the Tower of David Museum to view these installations. In 2001, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London curated the Chihuly exhibition at the V&A. He exhibited at the Salt Lake Art Center during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games in
Salt Lake City, Utah. His first major glasshouse exhibition "Chihuly in the Park: A Garden of Glass" was on display at the Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago. The Chihuly Bridge of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, was dedicated in 2002. In the summer of 2005, Chihuly returned to London, England and transformed the famous landscape of London's Kew Gardens with large scale, organically-shaped glass sculptures set throughout Kew’s 300-acre garden landscape. Gardens of Glass: Chihuly at Kew included a series of spectacular installations placed within the great glasshouses. SVM

ART: Upstream by Jeffrey Gibson

Upstream Jeffrey Gibson 2016 acrylic on canvas

Museum purchase made possible by the Edward Swift Shorter Bequest Fund

Jeffrey Gibson

Gibson’s artwork intermingles elements of traditional Native American art with contemporary artistic references. Thus powwow regalia, 19th century parfleche containers, and drums are seamlessly merged with elements of Modernist geometric abstraction, Minimalism, and Pattern and Decoration. Here there is an echo of Frank Stella and Josef Albers – canonized in our current dialogue which has little or no inclusion of Native American art which Gibson provides comparable weight and equivalence.

Gibson’s artworks are in the permanent collections of many major art museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Canada, the Nasher, the Nerman, Crystal Bridges, and the Denver Art Museum. Recent solo exhibitions include SCAD Museum of Art (Savannah and Atlanta), the National Academy Museum in New York, The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, and the Cornell Museum of Fine Art. The Denver Art Museum will mount a traveling mid-career survey in the Spring of 2018, to be followed by a smaller solo exhibition at the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art in the fall of 2018. He has participated in Greater New York, Prospect New Orleans, the Everson Biennale, and Site Santa Fe. Gibson is a member of the faculty at Bard College and a past TED Foundation Fellow and Joan Mitchell Grant recipient.

Chile

Encompassing a narrow strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the high peaks of the Andes, Chile includes the driest desert, the Atacama in the north, the agriculturally-rich Central Valley, snow-covered volcanoes, forests and tranquil lakes of the south, and the wild and windswept glaciers and fjords of the far south. 

By Madison Crawford

Surrounded on three sides by virtually impassable barriers, Chile's rich Central Valley remained largely unknown to the outside world until the middle of the fifteenth century, when the Incas began their great conquests of much of the continent. In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan discovered the beautiful South American country of Chile. In 1541, Pedro de Valdivia crossed into the Central Valley, having followed the Inca road south from Peru. He founded Santiago in February, and soon afterward crossed into Mapuche domains and established strongholds there. Once the property of Spain, Chile gained its independence in 1818 and became what it is today. Chile is now thriving with people and is the ultimate hot spot for those touring South America.

With a neoclassical Italian style and originally created as a colonial mint, the President’s Palace is one of the most striking and famous buildings in Santiago. In 1973, the military coup d'état caused a considerable amount of damage to the palace and many changes have been made
over the years to restore the building. Recently, a public square called Plaza de la Ciudadanía (Citizenry Square) was created on the palace grounds and gives way to paths that lead to an array of exhibitions. Call ahead and schedule a tour to learn more about the rich history and gorgeous architecture this building holds. (+56 2 690 4000).

Easter Island, officially a territory of Chile, lies far off in the Pacific Ocean, roughly halfway to Tahiti. It is most famous for its enigmatic giant stone statutes, built centuries ago.

Situated right in the heart of Santiago, Cerro San Cristóbal provides an incredibly extensive view of the city and all the captivating landmarks it contains. About halfway up this hill is a zoo, perfect for entertaining those who brought their children along.
At the top of Cerro San Cristóbal, a statue of the Virgin Mary stands tall, bordered with lights so as to be seen even in the late hours of the night. For the more adventurous visitors, this hill can be reached by a scenic hike. A funicular station is provided on Mondays between 2 to 7
p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. to transport those less inclined to endure a 45 minute climb. Whatever you plan to do while visiting this attraction, make sure to bring cash (in pesos) in case you want to buy a snack at the snack bar, purchase a souvenir, or even use the restroom. santiagotourist.com

Interior of the The Metropolitan Cathedral in Santiago. Construction of the current church was started in 1748.

Mano del Desierto sculpture sits in the middle of Atacama desert.

Atacama Desert, known as the driest place in the world and often compared to the planet Mars due to its appearance. While it may seem as though this location would not be the most comfortable to visit, the average temperature during the day in the Atacama is between 32 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit and there are many captivating sites to see within this desert. An enormous, 36 foot high sculpture of a hand reaches out as if desperate for
something with which to cling. The El Tatio geyser can also be found here, spewing scorching
water and vapor from the earth. Reminiscent of the surface of the moon, the Valle de la Luna
(Valley of the Moon) is a common spot in this desert for tourists to visit.

Valle Nevado, near Santiago, offers access to the largest skiable domain in South America: nearly 7,000 acres. With such a vast amount of terrain the resort caters to all levels of skiers and snowboarders

Located approximately an hour away from various ski resorts of your choice, Santiago is the perfect place to visit for those looking for some fun in the snow and a stunning view atop the Andes Mountains. Tres Valles (Three Valleys) has the most popular resorts, including La Parva, El Colorado, and Valle Nevado.

While not exclusively Chilean, empanadas can be found on menus all over Chile. Instead of being fried, the locals prefer to bake empanadas with an egg wash. They can be stuffed with many different combinations of meat and veggies, sometimes including cheese as well. Though empanadas are served in the United States, there is no comparison to the taste of a true, original empanada. 

Often called “Poor Man’s Steak,” bistec a lo pobre may be a heart attack waiting to happen, but it is an indulgence many Chileans find worth the calories. Served with a side of either rice or a
hefty scoop of french fries, the steak is topped with fried onions and fried eggs.

The site of a vital battle in the War of the Pacific back in 1880, this colossal rock extends over 110 meters above the city of Arica. Learn all about the significance of this site on your journey up the steep path leading to a dazzling view from the very top. El Morro de Arica is the place to go if you want to experience the culture of the Chileans through their rich history and the beauty of the city.

Acapulco

There is a sense of magic nostalgia surrounding the iconic Acapulco, a city of charming beach resorts, high-energy nightlife, and a history of spectacular rises and falls.

By Paola Cigui

Located on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Acapulco has been inhabited by Olmecs, Nahuas, and Coixas. With the arrival of the Spanish in the 1520s, it soon became a Spanish colony. In the 1530s, Hernán Cortés established Acapulco as a major port which was later attacked by English pirates. The port was then devastated by an earthquake in 1776 and the Mexican War of Independence that lasted from 1810 to 1821. Despite the tragedies, the 20th century represented an economic and cultural boom for the city. After the visit of the Prince of Wales, the economic growth and new glamourous reputation began Acapulco’s Golden Age (1940-70). The city was suddenly considered Mexico’s hottest holiday destination, guaranteeing bliss and excitement. Acapulco was chosen as the wedding location of Elizabeth Taylor and Mike Todd, the movie setting of Fun in Acapulco starring Elvis Presley, and the honeymoon destination of JFK and Jackie Kennedy in 1953.

In the 2000s, Mexico’s drug wars left the city broken. Tourists were directed to other destinations in the country such as Cancun in the Yucatán Peninsula. History aside, the natural beauty, ardent nightlife, and delicious cuisine are unbeatable reasons to choose Acapulco as a late summer gateway.

One of the most pristine beaches in Acapulco is Playa de Barra Vieja. This natural beauty has a much more local feel compared to the luxurious beaches in Punta Diamante, offering stunning scenery, a tranquil atmosphere, and delicious local food. On this wildly picturesque beach you can go horseback riding, ride along on an ATV, or enjoy a boat tour of the lagoon and take in the tropical wildlife. The beach offers plenty of restaurants, where you can take a siesta on one of the colorful hammocks set up around your table.

For a bit of serenity and a breathtaking view of Acapulco, give the Capilla de la Paz (“Chapel of Peace”) a visit. This small but charming chapel is located on a cliff off the blissful Las Brisas area of Acapulco. At this location, you can find a white cross over 130 feet tall, a bird sanctuary, gardens, and sculptures such as Las Manos de la Hermanidad (“The Hands of Brotherhood”) by Claudio Favier.

One of the most pristine beaches in Acapulco is Playa de Barra Vieja. This natural beauty has a much more local feel compared to the luxurious beaches in Punta Diamante, offering stunning scenery, a tranquil atmosphere, and delicious local food. On this wildly picturesque beach you can go horseback riding, ride along on an ATV, or enjoy a boat tour of the lagoon and take in the tropical wildlife. The beach offers plenty of restaurants, where you can take a siesta on one of the colorful hammocks set up around your table.

Once in Mexico, every art lover wants to admire the work of the iconic Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera, one of the most controversial couples in the history of Mexico. The traditional part of Acapulco, known as La Costera, treasures one of the last murals done by Rivera, which is a contender for the city’s most valuable cultural artifact. Created in 1956, the mural features Aztec mythology and it was created for Dolores Olmedo, Rivera’s close friend and collector of his paintings.

Pozole is a traditional soup from Mexico. It is a tasty mixture of meat (typically beef or pork or a combination of both) garnished by your choice of shredded lettuce, chili peppers, onion, garlic, oregano, avocado, salsa, and limes. There are three types of pozole: green, white, and red. In the state of Guerrero, every Thursday is Pozole day (called jueves pozolero) and this traditional dish can be easily found in the restaurants of Acapulco.

Cecina is a typical Mexican dish consisting of thinly sliced beef, served with tortillas, sour cream, salsa verde, and the omnipresent ingredient of any Mexican kitchen- lime. If you’re driving from Mexico City to Acapulco, a recommended stop is 4 Vientos, a restaurant located on the highway. In the picture below, cecina, served with homemade tender tortillas, is their absolute specialty

Pescadillas (from the word pescado, meaning fish) are simply fried fish quesadillas. This crunchy delight is usually made of fresh tuna (but can have any local fish available), onion, tomato, garlic, and chilis, wrapped into a fried corn tortilla. They are perfect as appetizers, spiced up with the various salsas, the traditional red or green sauces, and a shot of mezcal or two.

www.lasbrisashotels.com.mx | (52) 744.469.6900

Las Brisas Acapulco guarantees a luxurious experience offering a wide selection of modern stand-alone casitas. This legendary seaside resort features private oceanfront pools, large terraces with the most spectacular views of Acapulco Bay and both relaxing and exploring activities. Ideal for families and couples, this paradisiac resort offers tranquility, romance, and exclusivity.

www.banyantree.com | (52) 744.434.0100

Once in Acapulco, also known as the Pearl of The Pacific, opt for the most romantic gateway: Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués. This luxury resort has a distinctive Asian feel. Built on high stilts over sheer cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this dreamy boutique resort in Cabo Marques offers a premium spa, all-villa accommodations, and breathtaking views.

www.encantoacapulco.mx | (52) 744 446 7101

Overlooking Acapulco Bay at the highest point of Brisas Marqués, featuring a swimming pool, and boasting views up to 270 º to the Pacific Ocean and all of Acapulco´s bay. Tres Vidas golf course is near this ocean front hotel. Acapulco Airport is 24-minutes’ drive away. This property is also rated for the best value in Acapulco.

Italian Vilas

From a gently aging home where an actual princess is the cook, to a fairytale-looking cottage encircled with vines, renting a villa is the best way to go in Italy.

Masseria Cisterna Rossa, Puglia

At the cap of Italy's heel, Masseria Cisterna Rossa is a former farmhouse on a working olive-oil grove. The owner is a gallerist based in Rome, and it shows – perfectly positioned sculptures, oversize artworks and impeccable Italian taste grace the interiors. The main house has four bedrooms, each with an ensuite, and there is an outhouse with a further bedroom for extra guests.
 

Since it's in Italy, dining is of course the focus of any holiday here: the vast kitchen has every utensil you've ever heard of (as well as some you haven't), cupboard-loads of beautiful ceramics made in Ruffano, the next village along, and there's a cellar on-site stocking a catalogue's worth of primitivo from nearby Manduria. There's also an entire cooking station outside, where as well as a barbecue, you'll find a wood-fired forno. Enlist the multi-tasking services of resident gardener, caretaker and pizzaiolo Luciano and he will whip up a series of pizzas, having got the temperature of the oven up to 500º gradually throughout the day.

If you don't fancy cooking, a chef can be booked to create a local menu for your party; or if you want to learn skills to take home with you, request a class with Anna Maria Chirone Arno, who delights in sharing the secrets of il gusto del tacco (the taste of the heel). The masseria might encourage hermit-like behaviour, but there is plenty to venture out for should you be able to pull yourself away.

Lecce, an hour's drive north, is a beautiful Baroque town of golden churches, trinket-filled shops and simple restaurants offering spectacular local food (try Mamma Lupa on Via Acaja). Visit the end of the country at Santa Maria de Leuca and have a romantic waterfront meal on the cliff edge at 24RE (24releuca.it).

Or rummage the antiques at the monthly Sunday stalls in the port town of Gallipoli, before stopping for lunch alongside local octogenarians in the know at a shack in the fish market, where fresh grilled prawns and sea urchins are served on tarpaulin-covered tables. 

Sleeps 10; from $7,888 per week.

Villa Elia, Puglia

Home is the only place where you can truly be yourself, where you breathe peace, truth and beauty, where it sounds subside, perfumes soften and sensations intensify. Where nothing can hurt you. It is both refuge and certainty. Time flows through certain places like a river, leaving an indelible imprint on every rock and stone it encounters, fusing past and present together in an exquisite equilibrium.
 

As you walk through the rooms, you are transported to another world that effortlessly blends a cosmopolitan Milanese sensibility with a tribal elan. There are flavors of Puglia, England, Turkey. Art and artefacts from dark, mysterious and fascinating Africa. The interiors offer up a kaleidoscope of emotions, always and everywhere. Shells, necklaces and boxes, books and collections, fragments of personal history displayed with pride and protected with modesty.
 

Playful coloured masks, droplets of ruby glass, emerald glass, jute curtains. And so, eventually, we are free to look elsewhere, within our being, to the energy, the almost tangible genius loci, that protective spirit that transforms everything and allows you to view reality through renewed eyes. Like mirrors reflecting your own emotions. Finally, you are home.

This refurbished masseria feels like the country home of an eccentric and well-traveled bohemian friend, with vaulted ceilings, a mix of antiques, woven rugs, and rustic rattan furniture—even a private cinema (Jude Law spent a vacation here). Surrounded by acres of fruit and olive trees, Villa Elia is just a short drive from the historic beaches of Gallipoli.

Sleeps 17; from $7,581 per week

La Cerbaia, Tuscany

This farmhouse is on the edge of the (also rentable) grand Cetinale estate, in the same wild woods less than ten miles outside of Siena. Though it’s literally the estate’s former pigsty, today, it is anything but. With its own swimming pool, gardens, and shared tennis court, plus a dining room that seats 16 and a living room with fireplace, pizza oven, and ping-pong table, it’s the perfect spot for a multi-generational vacation (the estate’s grounds are open for exploration if no one has rented the Cetinale’s great house.)

A farmhouse at the foot of the 'Montagnola Senese' on the Cetinale estate, La Cerbaia is set at the end of a private road between the 'Holy Woods' and the  gardens of the villa. With rooms on several levels, the house is furnished with fabrics in warm colours and pretty pictures throughout. A welcoming kitchen and dining area is also the setting for many a Tuscan meal prepared by the cook. Outside the house is surrounded by gardens and lawn, with several sitting areas, endless corners to sit and read, a vine- covered dining pergola and a further shaded area for sundowners. The pool area is furnished with smart rattan sun loungers.
 

The space and diversity of its many living areas, both inside and out means that guests will be reluctanct to leave. This idyllic retreat is ideally situated for sightseeing, shopping, eating out or just relaxing in the beautiful Tuscan countryside.The property is only 1km from the nearest bus stop and  just 14 kms from Siena. Other interesting excursions can be made to places such as the little-known beautiful Romanesque cloister at Torri, the working monastery of Monte Oliveto or the ruined Cistercian abbey at San Galgano.

Sleeps 13; from $5,000 per week.

Castello di Reschio, Umbria

Renting a spread like this is as close as you might get to living like Italian nobility in the countryside. Reschio is a huge, rambling estate dotted with olive groves, cypress trees and vineyards, whose main castle dates to the 11th century. It’s owned by the Bolza family, who live in the castello and have spent years restoring several of the stone farmhouses on the grounds in a rustic-modern style of exposed timber beams, a mix of antiques and custom pieces, and yards of creamy linens.

With unobstructed views of Umbria’s rolling hillside and access to chefs, drivers, stables, and tennis courts, Castello di Reschio is the epitome of secluded luxury. Count Antonio Bolza and his architecturally inclined family spent decades restoring this 2,700 acre estate to its former glory (the main castle and about 50 farmhouses date all the way back to 1202).

Though the entire property is not yet complete, the rentable cottages, palazzos, and for-sale villas are meticulously furnished with modern pieces and artful details designed by Italy’s top artisans. As far as amenities go, no detail was spared: The infinity pool overlooks ancient mulberry tree groves and fragrant lavender fields, while each home’s bath quarters are stocked with fresh linens and Ortigia Sicilia apothecary items. The Reschio vineyard is famous for producing tantalizing rosés which, along with expertly-prepared, locally sourced meals, you can sample at the property’s private restaurant, Osteria.

Sleeps 10; $1,790 per night.

Mandola Picola, Umbria

This is a superbly designed luxury Umbrian villa in a very picturesque part of the world, close the the towns of Perugia and Todi and the famous Umbrian wine region of Montefalco. Framing the farmhouse are cherry groves, undulating barley fields and a lovely view over the ancient town of Piedicolle.

The local village offers tennis and a clutch of useful and intriguing amenities from the pizzeria to the butchers shop. There's a great sense of authenticity in this part of Italy and the chance to explore an unadulterated version of the region, steeped in history and preserved in time. Perugia is one of Italy's most interesting cities - a thriving hub of the region offering many dining and exploring opportunities and many lovely shops.

There are plenty of areas to see and explore, not least the opportunity to visit some of Southern Tuscany's loveliest areas around the Val d'Orcia, including Montepulciano and San Casciano dei Bagni.

Sleeps 8; from $6,600 a week.

Dreaming of 30A

30A Dreaming of No matter if it is Watercolor, Alys Beach, Seaside, or Grayton Beach, scenic 30A is made up of unique beach communities that still offer the laid-back lifestyle and local vibe that one expects from Florida beach towns.

HISTORY

The 1890’s was a period when American taste and interest in vacationing at the beach in the summer was popular. In several parts of Florida, small beach resort communities began to grow. By 1911, Grayton Beach was a small resort for beach goers from DeFuniak Springs and elsewhere in the county. As with many developments in the 1920’s, promotion and advertising were widely used to market resort areas. Newspapers in DeFuniak Springs carried advertisements that promoted Grayton Beach as a place to buy a beach lot and as a place to relax and recuperate from daily life.

By 1923, new houses replaced the cottages that had been located on the beach since before the turn of the century. Visitors continued to come from Alabama and Walton County. J.J. Kinney and B.B. Murray were among several who built houses at the beach. Their houses were described as “air castles” with low hip roofs called storm roofs and large screens with hinged shutters to protect from hurricanes.
The first recorded cabin was in the late 1860s, but it became a major bay community in the early 1900s. As a major steamboat landing, the Town of Santa Rosa boasted a population from 850 to 1,200 people at its height. However, a crop disaster and vicious hurricane devastated the town. The town eventually took on a sinister “Wild West” tone after a recorded posse chase took place and a murderous feud caused divi

TOP 5 PLACES TO VISIT ALONG THE 30A

ROSEMARY BEACH

One of South Walton’s planned New Urbanist communities, Rosemary Beach is an architectural treasure trove, boasting influences from the West Indies, New Orleans, Charleston, and St. Augustine, among others.
Encompassing the lush greens is the community’s town center, where The Merchants of Rosemary Beach, a wonderful collection of quaint shops, boutiques, and restaurants are located. Grab a good read from Hidden Lantern Bookstore and then treat yourself to a drink from Amavida Coffee, where you can also shop for 30A gear.

GRAYTON BEACH

Perched on the sunny Gulf of Mexico, Grayton Beach has thrived as a tranquil resort town since the early 20th century. Life here hasn't changed all that much since its initial settlement - the village center is a beguiling maze of winding streets, quaint cottages, and white picket fences. A friendly crowd of fishers, artists, and blissed-out vacationers can normally be found here, hanging out in friendly, family-run restaurants, or more likely enjoying life on the sensational sandy beach.

WATERCOLOR

When designing the community of Watercolor, care was taken to preserve the health and natural beauty of Western Lake. Instead of immediately bordering the lake, lake-front homes in Watercolor view this rare natural wonder through groves of tall pine and scrub oak groves. On the South side of Scenic 30-A is the WaterColor Beach Club and the luxurious WaterColor Inn, home of the James Beard award-winning restaurant, Fish Out of Water.

ALYS BEACH

The 158-acre site, which occupies the last piece of beachfront property on the Florida Panhandle, slopes slightly to the south, offering exceptionally long views to the water from many points inland. Planned by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, Alys Beach is a Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) whose architectural vision has its roots in the style of Bermuda architecture.
When you’re in the mood for water that’s unsalted, Alys Beach’s Caliza Pool complex has a 100-foot, zero-entry pool surrounded by a loggia and cabanas, as well as a shallow family pool, a 75-foot lap pool for serious swimmers, and a cypress-shaded spa pool.

SEASIDE

Founded by Robert and Daryl Davis in 1979, Seaside's innovative “small town” design was carefully planned. With its nine unique beach pavilions,
cobblestone streets, quaint cottages, white picket fences, and picture-perfect parks and storefronts.
You’ll find kids walking to Seaside Neighborhood School, and the The Repertory Theatre, where actors are busy rehearsing for tonight’s big show. Travel is by foot or bicycle. There’s a town grocer (the famous Modica Market), a book and record store (Sundog Books and Central Square Records), charming art and jewelry galleries, cafes, toy shops, clothing boutiques, a weekly farmer’s market, outdoor concerts, and movies under the stars.

WHERE TO STAY

THE PEARL HOTEL

With its distinctive Old World European architecture, and sun-drenched turrets and terraces, along with timeless black-and-white striped awnings, The Pearl Hotel brings an ultra-luxury boutique experience to the regal shores of Rosemary Beach. With unparalleled services and amenities befitting the only full-service, adult-oriented hotel in South Walton, they offer complimentary beach chairs and oversized umbrellas as well as privileges at the private St. Joe Club & Resorts. Here, guests may enjoy private amenities such as Watersound Beach Club, championship golf, tennis, boating, and more. www.thepearlrb.com

WATERCOLOR INN

Overlooking the sugar sands of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, just a short distance from popular attractions including Seaside and Rosemary Beach, you will find Watercolor Inn, a warm family-friendly destination steeped in southern hospitality, history and charm. The hotel is situated on a stunning 500-acre community, tucked between the Gulf of Mexico and a coastal dune lake framed by a longleaf pine forest.
Watercolor Inn experiences are inspired by the surroundings, from the coastal elegance of the 60 guest rooms and suites to the locally sourced menus and captivating Gulf views at the restaurants. www.watercolorresort.com

COTTAGE RENTAL AGENCY – SEASIDE

Cottage Rental Agency has the largest selection of homes in Seaside and exclusive, full-service guest amenities. CRA on 30A features vacation cottages in surrounding beach communities including Watercolor, NatureWalk, and Old Seagrove. Some of the perks they provide include: two complimentary bike rentals, bottle of wine upon arrival, unlimited DVD rentals, free popcorn and a welcome beach tote with unique souvenirs.
rentals.cottagerentalagency.com

WHERE TO EAT

CUVEE 30A

Cuvee 30A brings everything the Emerald Coast loves about celebrity Chef Tim Creehan’s wildly popular cuisine to South Walton’s gorgeous new 30Avenue development. Savor Tim’s award winning signature dishes such as Amy Grant’s Seared Tuna Rare and Vince Gill’s Pecan Crusted Grouper in a stunning venue conveniently situated at the junction of 30A and Highway 98. cuvee30a.com

LA CREMA TAPAS & CHOCOLATE

La Crema restaurant is influenced by the incredibly popular tapas and chocolate shops of Madrid and Barcelona. Rosemary Beach and Barcelona share a similar climate and strategic location next to the sea for fresh food. A tapas and chocolate shop was a natural fit for the quaint beach town. La Crema is a place to linger with friends, while dining and enjoying great flavors both in cuisine and wine. lacrematapas.com

GEORGE'S AT ALYS BEACH

Established in 2008, George’s bring regional coastal fare, infused with global flavors to the quaint town of Alys Beach. They craft all of their dishes using locally sourced, organic produce, and the freshest seafood avalabe. George’s now offers a beautiful viewing deck where you can take a drink and look out over Alys Beach while you wait to be seated.
georgesatalysbeach.com SVM