Urs Rechsteiner is bankrolling an extraordinary pictorial narrative in Val D'Orcia.
In the heart of Tuscany, nestled within the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Tuscan Renaissance landscape, lies the picturesque town of Pienza. Renowned as one of the first Renaissance towns planned as a humanist ideal, Pienza was transformed under Pope Pius II, reflecting new ideals of beauty, harmony, and urban design.
The town's artistic legacy and natural beauty are now showcased through the Art and Soul Path, a cultural and artistic journey that invites an experiential engagement with Pienza's past. This path, inaugurated by the FUR Foundation in March 2024, traces not just the physical beauty of Pienza’s streets and buildings but also connects visitors with the “soul” of its artistic and spiritual history, fostering an immersive and reflective experience of the town and its surroundings.
The path features 28 artistic installations, each interpreting the theme of the bench and the seat, and has received international media attention, even being celebrated by the New York Times.
To complement this unique cultural experience, the FUR Foundation produced the Trilogy titled "Santa Maria, place of inspirations" three years ago. This specialized publication, associated with the Art and Soul Path, offers deeper insights into Pienza’s Renaissance past, the natural beauty of the Val d’Orcia region, and the cultural narratives captured along the path. The Trilogy, which has sold out and is being reprinted, tells the story of places, people, and works of art in the province of Siena and the Val'Orcia, as seen through the lenses of photographers Mattia Balsamini, Andrea Boccalini, and Cristina Cusani.
Balsamini, known for his experimental photography, Boccalini, a well-regarded photographer of advertising campaigns and corporate, and Cusani, whose research is characterized by a great sensitivity to the traces left by the past and their narrative potential, have captured the essence of Pienza and the surrounding area in their photographs.
The Trilogy is a book that focuses on the places, people, and works of art, told through the shots that inspired these photographers. It serves as a cultural companion to the Art and Soul Path, enriching visitors' understanding and appreciation of this unique Tuscan town.
The Art and Soul Path and its related materials, including the Trilogy, make for a one-of-a-kind cultural experience in Tuscany’s Renaissance heartland, encapsulating the essence of Tuscany’s Renaissance humanism and sustainable rural life, embodied by Pienza’s architecture, art, local traditions, and landscape.
The FUR Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Montepulciano, dedicated to the enhancement of the territory and landscape, and the promotion of art and culture, played a significant role in the rediscovery of the Tuscan natural and artistic park. Urs Rechsteiner, the founder of the FUR Foundation, is a Swiss man who has been in love with Tuscany for 30 years.
In summary, the Art and Soul Path and its related materials offer a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich history, art, landscape, and spirituality of Pienza, making it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the Tuscan Renaissance.
The unique cultural experience, the Art and Soul Path, complemented by the Trilogy, offers insights into the lifestyle and home-and-garden aesthetics of Pienza, as captured by photographers Balsamini, Boccalini, and Cusani. The Trilogy, a compilation of the photographers' inspirations, serves as a guide for visitors, enriching their comprehension of the town's artistic and spiritual heritage.
