It seems cliché to speak of reawakening after a long Winter, but with the amount of rain we got this year, putting England to shame, even a slight glimpse of Spring is extremely welcome. Easter came early this year and for a few hours on Sunday morning here in Maremma, the skies cleared, the sun …
Read the full story »Sustainable tourism in Cinque Terre: support Vendemmia, a documentary
This article is about sustainable tourism in the Cinque Terre. If you’re looking for travel information to and around Cinque Terre please click here!
Krista and Sharon set out in 2008 to make a film about the impact of mass tourism on the Cinque Terre and the area’s preservation efforts – a careful balancing act between …
2011 in review: the arts in Florence
I feel like my first “major” article of the year on this blog should be arts related, and know that I’ve been somewhat remiss both about posting, and in writing about the arts. The fact is that my daily life these days does not always involve exhibits or art history. But living in Florence, Italy, …
Three concept stores in Florence (to visit while at Pitti)
A man stopped me on the street today to ask me, in Italian, if we had a piece of clothing called “flo”. After getting over my misunderstanding that this was a theoretical question proposed to a stranger, and my shock that someone actually thought I was Italian, I realized that this fashionable man was looking …
Florence for Children: January 2012 events
It’s freezing, kids (and adults) have the flu and it’s a real pity as there are so many things to do and see around Florence… and it’s also a great time to take a winter break, like to Val Gardena where Family hotels make life easier for children and parents. Here is a selection …
Italian Christmas menus from North to South
These days talk revolves around food (even more than usual) as everyone is planning their menu for the vigiglia di Natale (Christmas Eve). While a normal meal, especially in the South, is often object of discussion at 8am, holiday meals are decided weeks in advance, with some negotiation between family members. Not surprisingly, what’s eaten …
Bernini’s Sant’Andrea al Quirinale in Rome
At Sant’Andrea al Quirinale in Rome, Gianlorenzo Bernini created a jewel of the Baroque; a keyhole through which to peer into the mind of mid-seventeenth century Rome. Architectural historian Agnes Crawford contributes this learned guest post that connects Bernini’s Baroque architectural style to the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola.
Over a century before Bernini’s creations, Martin …
Top 5 Christmas gift ideas from Renaissance Florence
Sing it: On the eigth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: eight live trouts, seven hares a jumpin, six rock crystal glasses, five barrels of olives, four eagles for hunting, three antidotes to poison, two turtle doves, and the fossilized horn of a unicorn. The December Italy Blogging Roundtable topic is: Gifts.
Stumped …
Florence for Children: December 2011 and holiday events
Here’s the second post from ArtTrav’s colomnist who will be contributing seasonal articles about what to do in Florence with children.
Laura, mother of three-year-old Francesco (in the photo!), is also the energetic founder of ToscanaIN and is involved in the new social network for women, WithAndWithin.
Three-year-old Francesco is the protagonist of Florence for children. …
An invite to bloggers: a “gift” from the Italy Blogging Roundtable
Many of you will know that, since May 2011, five of us have been writing a monthly post on a given topic and we call it the Italy Blogging Roundtable. Each month we decide the topic in advance and the only rule is that it has to be connected to Italy; the posts are published …
We’re on House Hunters International
Living in Florence has its appeal, but Tommaso and I have always had a thing for Maremma, an area of Tuscany that remains “off the beaten track” due to its apparent lack of much to do except experiencing beautiful nature and beaches. Although Maremma doesn’t have the kind of Renaissance history that first attracted me …
Florence for children: November and December events
Meet ArtTrav’s new colomnist, who will be contributing seasonal articles about what to do in Florence with children.
Laura, mother of three-year-old Francesco (in the photo!), is also the energetic founder of ToscanaIN and is involved in the new social network for women, WithAndWithin.
My three-year-old Francesco is the protagonist of Florence for children. He’s …
Minestrone: my winter comfort food (Italy blogging roundtable)
I can’t remember what my comfort food was before I moved to Italy, but I think the main characteristics of comfort food have been the same my whole life long: warm, starchy, and mushy. I don’t know how this need developed – it was not from my mother, whose cooking is totally different from mine …
Who is behind ArtTrav?
ArtTrav is a blog about expat life, art, and travel in Italy and Europe. I am Alexandra Korey, a Florence-based art historian turned blogger.
My goal is to help travelers and residents like you experience countries through culture and local living. If it takes geeky, long articles to do that, so be it! Learn more.art history »
Being a woman in Italy… in the Renaissance
Anytime any of my friends expresses a preference for having lived in the Middle Ages or the Renaissance, I like to remind them that had they done so, their chances of dying in childbirth would be much higher than their likelihood of receiving any education. A 10 percent chance of dying in childbirth awaited each …
Info and Events »
Katrin Grote-Baker – colours and signs in Florence
I’m happy to announce the exhibit of a friend of mine’s work opening in Florence at Immaginaria Arti Visive Gallery at via Guelfa n. 22/ a r, Florence, from October 6 to November 1, 2012. I personally love Katrin’s work and invested in one of her paintings a few years ago, so I’m looking forward …
