Lighting for summer dinners at Fattoria del Colle

Lighting for summer dinners at Fattoria del Colle

Summer nights in the countryside, lights, glow worms, outdoor meals. New lighting for  summer dinners at the  Fattoria del Colle restaurant

By Donatella Cinelli Colombini

For those who come from abroad it is a must: in Italy one must bring light cloche, flip flops and dine under the stars. Millionaires and tourists-on-the-road alike, everyone has the same romantic dream. Obviously their necessities differ: from costly and exclusive events where film producers and starred chefs create unique and private experiences…to glamour events where lights and music create the right atmosphere for famous and less famous people, but everyone is anxious to be seen and photographed by some gossip magazine.

And so on until we get to the locations apt for a vaster public: the Sicilian ”baglio”, the “masseria” in Puglia, the medieval hamlet in Tuscany … and not to mention the classical terraces overlooking the sea and the tables in the squares of the historical towns and villages with views of artistic monuments .

The open air dinner is part of a trip to Italy just like a visit to the Coliseum or like a true pizza. It is up to us to transform them into magical moments and the lighting has a very important role

FATTORIA DEL COLLE BY NIGHT

At Fattoria del Colle we have tried to put a little originality to our nights and we hope to offer special experiences for outdoor dinners. We were among the first, 8 years ago, to use the rows of hanging bulbs that have now become usual in countryside parties. Philip Robinson –an English film producer who has worked at “Four weddings and a funeral”-

chose them illuminate the park in front of the villa at Fattoria del Colle. At night the central area is particularly romantic also because of the hidden led lighting among the oak leaves; in the romantic surrounding park terracotta vases hide the floodlights that illuminate the tree foliage create a fairytale atmosphere so much so that you imagine that elves and fairies arrive like in “A midsummer’s night dream”

During some parties the light designers have added coloured lights for a more evocative effect.

I the country or glamour styles the small park is always an extraordinary place for summer parties.

PARCO DEL VECCHIO FRANTOIO

This is a very much liked area for stand up dinners with DJs or live music thanks to the tiled flooring under the gazebo where one just has to dance.

Other than the lampposts and the lights under the gazebo there is also the atmosphere created by the dahlias in flower, the old olive trees and the lights projected onto an old  protective wall, leaning on which one finds what is left of the old olive mill at Fattoria del Colle. A very trendy industrial-chic effect.

THE COUNTRY INN RESTAURANT TERRACE

The most recent lighting at Fattoria del Colle is on the terrace of the country inn restaurant. In this case too the style is a mix between a peasant feast with garlands and hanging lights. The country chic effect is particularly appreciated by the most romantic of wedding couples for their banquet. The rows of lights and the perimeter hedge frame the panorama of the hamlet of Trequanda and the “nativity scene” effect stuns visitors from abroad. It is so beautiful it resembles a painting, hanging in front of the tables prepared with refined tableware.

This is Tuscany, the real one, the Tuscany that knows how to transform its traditions into unforgettable moments.