Winter Session

Those of us who live in Umbria love the winter season. Visibility is enhanced by the cold and the smell of wood smoke from farmhouse chimneys is in the air. Hiking and walking become a daily routine. The quiet and the solitude make an ideal environment to get work done. You as Civitellians can partake of that still, lovely season as well.

We are happy to announce that ten of our residencies will be available to you for the months of November, December, January, February, March, and April. Spaces are available to our Fellows, Director’s Guests, Alumni, and qualifying artists, writers, and composers.

All apartments have heat and cooking facilities and all have Wi-Fi. Minimum stays of one week are encouraged, but priority will be given to longer stays. Meals are not offered in this time period. If desired, occasional meals can be catered for a small fee as requested.

The Castle gym (rowing machine, treadmill, stationary bicycle, weights) will be open as well as the communal Open Studio equipped with great lighting and work areas, hand tools, electric tools, some art and construction supplies. The Castle Library collection, now at 10,000 volumes including the Mark Strand library, will be available to you 24 hours a day.

Below is information about our available spaces. Email diego@civitella.org to make your arrangements now, as spaces for 2023 are quickly filling up.

PIZZA is the most beloved of all the composers’ spaces at Civitella. A free-standing house just outside the Civitella gates, Pizza was has a master bedroom that sleeps two, a full kitchen and bathroom, and a beautiful studio with glass doors that open to the private grounds and gardens. Our Steinway grand piano is in this studio space and available for your use.

ARCO is not unlike a gondolier’s house in Venice. One enters on the ground floor and walks up a flight of stairs to the main floor with its small kitchen and work area. A comfortable armchair looks out to the best view of the castle of any of our apartments. Another flight of stairs brings you upstairs to the bedroom and bathroom. This is ideal for a writer.

GRANAIO is housed within the castle walls. A flight of stairs brings you up to a long spacious loft space with a full kitchen, living room/sitting area, bedroom and bathroom with tub and shower. This is where grain was stored in the early days of the Castle, but now for years it has become a favorite studio for composers and writers. An upright piano is included here.

CASTRABECCO SU is the upstairs floor of the farmhouse. It is ideal for two or three people and includes a large master bedroom with its own bathroom, a studiolo, another smaller bedroom with a private bathroom, living room with working fireplace, and full kitchen. The views from this apartment are spectacular.

ORTO is our newest refurbished mini apartment. On the ground floor of Castrabecco, this is a one room studio ideal for a writer. One enters through glass doors to a double bedded bedroom that shares space with a small kitchen (two burners only), kitchen table, comfortable reading chair. Full bathroom with tub, nice desk area for working.

TINAIA is one of our newly restored spaces overlooking the Secret Garden. It has a private entrance, beamed ceilings, efficiency kitchen, bathroom with shower, and a livingroom/studio with a baby grand piano. The piano, just restored, belonged to Ursula Corning’s mother.

GIARDINO is one of our newly restored spaces overlooking the Secret Garden.  It consists of a bathroom, kitchen, and large studio/living area. Terracotta floor tiles, beamed ceilings, private entrance and magnificent views of the secret garden.

LULU is a perfect space for a writer or scholar. One enters through the gallery to a one room apartment with a full bath (including bath tub and shower), efficiency kitchen, and small table/work area. The apartment provides easy access to the Secret Garden.

UPUPA is a stone and brick ground floor apartment close to the offices. The studio/kitchen looks out over the lush green lawn in front of the castle. It is full of natural light thanks to large glass doors. A newly remodeled bathroom separates the studio/kitchen from the bedroom.  The entire suite is accessible for those with mobility issues.

“When I showed up at Civitella, I was broken and exhausted from years of pushing myself. Having that luxurious stretch of time and all that beautiful space to do absolutely anything I wanted really enabled me to rekindle my dying embers.”

Alison Bechdel (Fellow 2014)

“In her book “Plainwater” Anne Carson writes, “The pure lines of Umbria are a fever.” And, as I learned after my fall fellowship in 2016, it’s a fever that doesn’t leave you. For those of us lucky enough to experience the magic of being a Civitella Ranieri Fellow, we understand how place can transform into myth – that our once-had paradise vanishes at the end of six weeks into pure memory. But now, the greatest gift: the ability to come back as a winter fellow. Returning home to Civitella felt both natural and surreal. The place, dressed in a different season, offered both a sense of newness and familiarity. I spent my mornings walking around the grounds, each side of the castle a study in shadow and light. To be able to return back has been nothing short of a dream.”

Kimberly Grey (Fellow 2016)