In February 2000, Arthur Zinn, a New York attorney, and his new bride Martha moved to the heart of Tuscany to embark upon the project of Arthur’s dreams: to restore a dilapidated farming hamlet (with thousand year old foundations) that had been deserted for thirty years. New Canaan Library invites all to hear the fascinating story of Arthur’s restoration of Villa Barbazzano. Adding a festive note to the evening will be wine and selected tastings by New Canaan’s Barolo Trattoria and Wine Bar.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29 in the Library’s Adrian Lamb Room. Please register online at newcanaanlibrary.org.

By the time the Zinns arrived, the houses were in desperate condition. Roofs and ceilings had collapsed, walls were crumbling and trees were growing amid the rubble. Over the course of the next five years, Arthur and a crew of seven labored to bring Barbazzano back to life. During that time he gained an appreciation for their corner of Tuscany, an area rich in history and culture. Arthur shares the story of this special property and relays his insights on such diverse topics as the history of the region and the house; the restoration of the buildings; life in central Tuscany; Italian family life; Italian food; and cultural differences.

Arthur Zinn is a graduate of Yale College and NYU Law School. Prior to moving to Italy in 2000 to restore Barbazzano, he practiced law in New York City. In 2005, he moved to St. Catharines Ontario with his wife Martha and their sons Henry and Teddy (both born in Florence), where he developed a vacation rental business featuring Barbazzano. The Zinns settled in New Canaan in 2013. Arthur now spends many happy days at Yale in Sterling Library, where he is completing research on a historical fiction thriller set in renaissance Florence.

New Canaan Library’s mission is to enrich the town’s intellectual and cultural life by providing free and convenient access to information, fostering lifelong learning and encouraging the exchange of ideas.