About Us :: Ornella Tempestini
Ornella Tempestini was born in 1963 in Prato. She studied in Tuscany and received her degree in modern languages from the University of Florence in 1985. Her English Literature degree thesis on John Ruskin received the highest accolades and set the scene for her interest in the relationship between foreigners and her native land. She is proficient in four languages: Spanish, French, English and, of course, Italian.
Enamored of travel since childhood, Ornella began her career as a tour leader immediately upon completion of her studies. Her first experiences were leading groups of Italian nationals abroad and as such, she traveled throughout Europe and around the globe with the major Italian tour operators. Realizing, however, that her real passion lie in her homeland, she opted to change direction and began to conduct specialized tours of Tuscany for American visitors. She has worked in this capacity for Perillo, Gate One and Globus.
Ornella is as proud of her entrepreneurial spirit as of her homeland and felt it a natural progression that eventually she should start her own company – Tuscan-Colors – to enable her to offer the very best of Tuscany in both escorted touring and customized individual arrangements.
Cinema, fashion and sport are Ornella’s preferred pass-time pursuits. She has attended courses in film criticism in Rome and assists her fashion-designer mother on a part-time basis. She is an excellent skier, swimmer and, as of recently, equestrian. When she finds the time, she likes to unwind with her filly, Quadra, in the Prato countryside. She also keeps a residence in Rome.
Her collection of tea-pots – culled in markets and antique shops around the world – is museum-quality...as is her collection of rare books.
