One of the most breathtaking art exhibits I’ve seen in the past year is the display of bronze sculptures by Polish born artist Igor Mitoraj in the main piazza of the artists’ village of  Pietrasanta in Tuscany. After studying in Poland, Paris and Mexico, as a painter and sculptor in terracotta and bronze, Mitoraj turned to marble (the town of Carrara is nearby) and set up a studio in Pietrasanta where he lived until his death in the fall of last year. In his dying days he prepared the current exhibit which features his larger than life bronze torsos, nudes, and busts that are rooted in the classical tradition with its focus on the well modelled torso. The post modern twist? He emphasizes the damage sustained by the original classical sculptures.He also meticulously specified the placement in the piazza as well as the addition of olive trees framing one side of the busts in the image below.

An art critic told me a fascinating fact, that he chose to display a mold that he knew would disintegrate with the elements, making a statement about the ephemeralness of life. If you happen to be in Northern Italy or its surrounds between now and August 31, try to take in the exhibit which also includes some of his paintings and other sculptures in the adjacent Cathedral of Saint Martin. Plus, if you haven’t been to Pietrasanta and love all the arts, this is the place, brimming with emerging fashion designers, artists of all kinds, and musicians, especially in the summer when the province hosts a classical music festival. Colombian artist and sculptor Fernando Botero has lived and worked there and Miami’s own Julio Larraz has also used its foundries for his bronzes.

And if you’re looking for a place to stay in Pietrasanta, look no further than Lemon’s Guest House. This picture book house on a hill five minutes from the art village of Pietrasanta and 25 minutes from Lucca is owned by Erica Cavalli Beard, who’s a painter, sculptor, should also be an interior designer based on her great style, and one of the best conversationalists I’ve ever met (that’s saying a lot). Every inch of the house has an objet or artwork her discerning eye has found in her travels and an eye for style also extends to the exuberant garden with butterflies, colorful parakeets and an arbor for a wonderful, bountiful breakfast. And the price is right!