ABOUT THE RESIDENCY
Residents may choose to apply for a
two or a four week stay.
Our facilities are surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, fields and farmland. To the east we see the Apennine Mountains, beyond the nearby Tiber River valley. To the west are the hills of Umbria and Tuscany, as well as Lago Trasimeno, the largest lake in central Italy.
We are situated ideally between Florence and Rome, and we are even closer to Assisi, Siena, Perugia, Todi, Spoleto and many other fascinating cities. Most residents make use of the Perugia train station which can be easily reached via local cab, providing residents with easy access to day or weekend trips to these and many other places. The medieval hill town of Corciano is a half an hour walk away (many residents use it for morning exercise with a stop at the local cafe for a cappuccino and cornetto).
When the weather is warm residents often take an afternoon break and share a short cab ride to the nearby public pool.
Unlike academic programs or tourist oriented experiences, ACI is for established and emerging artists, writers, scholars, composers, etc. who need uninterrupted time to focus on their work within a small community of creatives in the midst of an incredibly conducive environment. It is useful for independent artists, writers, public or private school educators seeking to immerse themselves in their in art or writing, as well as for university faculty seeking to apply for research funding from their home institution during the summer. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and there is no upper age restriction. 2025 residents ranged in age from 19 to over 70 years of age.
Participants must be able to work independently within a group setting. Artists are provided with an individual partitioned space and, as with writers and scholars, they have access to all of the open facilities and extensive grounds adjacent to the 12th century castle Pieve del Vescovo and the beautiful medieval hill town of Corciano, Italy. WiFi is available. Writers include individuals interested in creative writing and literature, art historians, historians and critics, as well as scholars in any field. A piano is also available for one composer.
Participants may bring a spouse who is not an artist or writer, or a child over the age of 15, for an additional fee.
Entrance to Villa Pieve
CORCIANO, is a quiet, hill town in the Umbrian countryside of central Italy. The medieval town center is one mile from our facilities. Because of its' central location, regular public transportation to the railway/bus stations of nearby Perugia, Corciano is a perfect base from which to see the rest of Italy. There is a bus stop 50 yards from the facilities, and telephone cab service is also readily available. Additionally, free parking is provided should you decide to rent a car for all or part of your residency.
Start by doing what is necessary; Then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
St. Francis of Assisi
ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS OF THE RESIDENCY
As Umbria is an important region for history, art, religion, antiquities and culture, we will host at least one weekly group trip in order to help residents get to know the local area. Side trips are optional, but are an entertaining, unique way to see some of the important areas of the surrounding countryside and the historical towns.
Depending on the length of your stay, possibilities include:
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Visits to local olive/wine producing agriturismo facilities
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Assisi, with wonderful frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue and Duccio
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Lago Trasimeno, where Hannibal defeated the Romans after crossing the Alps, and where, over a thousand years later St. Francis fasted for 40 days
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Perugia, with its amazing Etruscan and Medieval architecture and major museums
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Deruta, famous for its thousand year old ceramic tradition.
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additionally our location makes possible independent day or overnight trips to places such as Siena, Florence, Spoleto, Arezzo and more.
A walk around the grounds of the villa and the castle:
Across the Street
