Our Story

My wife Denise and I have been educating students in the arts for many years. In 2002, we embarked on the first of many journeys throughout Italy, experiencing firsthand the art, culture and cuisine of the country from which our grandparents and great-grandparents called home. Having felt as if we had come home ourselves, we vowed that one day we would find a way to share our love of art with others in a setting that offered peace, inspiration and creativity...and the idea of Studio Borgo was born. We hope that you will join us in this celebration of art and learning and perhaps you will even experience your own personal renaissance with us here in Tuscany.

Cordiali Saluti,

Tom Ruggio
Founder/Instructor

Tom Ruggio

An award winning artist and educator, Tom Ruggio's artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the United States, Italy, Germany and Mexico. His work has also been added to public and private collections in America and Europe. Tom received an MFA and BA at Queens College, New York and also studied at the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture in New York City.

Instructor and Founder of Studio Borgo - Tom Ruggio.

Thomas Ruggio. The Aunnunciation. 2006.
Graphite on paper 29.5" x 41".

Denise Ruggio

A graphic designer and illustrator by trade, Denise Ruggio has worked in various creative departments throughout New York and has been teaching the subject on the college level for many years. But Denise's creative contribution to Studio Borgo comes in another form...delicious lunches for the students on studio days. Inspired by her Italian-American upbringing combined with her travels throughout Tuscany and cooking tips from some of the locals of Borgo a Mozzano, Denise provides the workshop artists with a unique Tuscan experience with dishes such as fresh pumpkin ravioli with gorgonzola sauce, tortelini with butter and sage or penne with ripe, red cherry tomatoes and basil topped with a local pecorino.

The Art Studio In Tuscany

After many trips to Italy, finding the perfect studio was not easy. We wanted a location that avoided some of the problems other art workshops in Europe experience: being too isolated or in the middle of an overcrowded tourist location. What we finally discovered was a property set atop a serene hilltop village just 15 minutes outside the city of Lucca in a town called Borgo a Mozzano. Here we found that we could combine the authenticity of the Tuscan experience and also offer our students some of the finest accomodations available in the heart of Lucca.

This medieval Tuscan village offers a town center within walking distance and a property that lends an inspiring panoramic vista of the valley below. The studio enjoys a privileged location overlooking the Serchio River and the surrounding hills. It resides on a road paved with the original stones from the middle ages and is named after its famed religious icon, Saint Gemma Galgani, who once lived in the village. Her home, just steps from the studio, is a historic landmark.

Renovating the property to house an art studio was quite an undertaking. Contractors worked for months restoring the stone walls of the studio to reveal the original 17th century construction. By defining the space with white stucco in typical Tuscan style, this beautifully converted old cantina provides students with an inspiring, historical and unique studio space.

Tom Ruggio Teaching Inside the Studio.

Outside, the scenic grounds and panoramic views contribute to a stunning atmosphere and a relaxing environment for a lunch break.The studio is also situated next to a piazza adjacent to a 17th century church. Every hour, the bell tower chimes, forever reminding us that we are in an old, medieval village.

Next door is the old church of San Giovanni Battista
with it's majestic stone tower.

Studio Borgo's Part in Tuscany's Annual Traveling Music Festival

During the second week of August, the piazza next to Studio Borgo serves as the stage for a traveling music festival which showcases musicians of all genres from all over Italy. Its close proximity (right outside the studio door) allows Studio Borgo to lend its grounds to the performers as their backstage/staging area.

In 2012, well known opera singers performed a medley of comedic operettas here. It was a relaxing evening of watching
opera while enjoying the cool mountain breeze on an August night! If you book a workshop during this week, you have the added bonus of being able to attend this annual cultural event.