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 »The Ghirarium: Etruscans ensured that a tasty treat was always close
Here is a common kitchen appliance from Etruscan and Roman times that has gone the way of the dodo bird… the GHIRARIUM. Etruscan finds in many areas, including in Cortona and Chiusi, have revealed the common presence of a special terracotta pot used for the alimentary raising of dormice, in Italian “ghiri”.
The Ghirarium has shelves …
The Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the most important works of ancient architecture that comes down to us today. In fact, one of the main reasons it’s so important is that it has a roof!… which is a rarity in itself. And what a roof! Its huge hemispherical dome and open occulus are a marvel of …
A sweet treat in Cortona: Alessio Burroni’s Cocoa
At just about any time of any day of the week, you can walk into Cocoa on via Guelfa in Cortona and find Alessio Burroni with his hands in some chocolate or dough. You enter into his lair through a little door in a stone building (just across from the Church of Sant’Agostino), where the …
The Church of San Martino a Mensola
San Martino a Mensola is a lovely parish church in the Renaissance style. Although modest in size, its architecture is grand and it contains a number of quattrocento altarpieces. As there is absolutely no information on the internet about this church, I am posting what I was able to learn through book research.
Sofonisba Anguissola (female artist biographical film)
Sofonisba Anguissola: More than a Woman
Summary: Sofonisba Anguissola (1532-1625) surpassed the expectations of women during the Italian Renaissance. She was well educated and trained under the tutelage of Bernardino Campi from 1545 to 1549 and thereafter with Bernardino Barri. With the help of her father, her works were well marketed and dispersed within the influential …
Cortona’s historical flag throwers right on time!
On February 14th 2009, Cortona’s sbandieratori, or historical flagthrowers, put on a great show for a chilly crowd (it was around the freezing mark). At noon, their new medieval costumes were unveiled by the designer in a special ceremony. The new costumes are more consistent than the last, in that the drummers, trumpeters, and flag …
Supermarkets and food shopping in Florence
With the economic crisis in full swing, travelers are choosing to stay in more self-catering accomodations. Rental apartments in Florence give you the advantage of having a kitchen in which you can prepare local specialties and avoid tourist trap restaurants. You can save your money for a few special meals, and indulge in delicious lunches …
Italy makes a good backdrop for historical fiction
The past decade has seen a spate of art historical fiction set in Italy, some of it well researched, some juicy, some pretty awful. Here is the shortlist of ten readable books set in Italy, with a historical or art historical element (any time period). They are listed in no particular order.
Pisa Camposanto Triumph of Death and Last Judgement
Many people visit Pisa to see the famous Leaning Tower. They stay for the Duomo, maybe the Baptistry. But whatever you do, don’t forget to go into the Camposanto and see this very unusually gory fresco.
The detached fresco fragments of the massive fresco cycle depicting the Triumph of Death and Last Judgement are on display …
Centrale Montemartini (Rome Capitoline Museums satellite site)
This electrical plant, the first in Rome and built 1912, has been converted recently (1997) into a secondary museum space for the Capitoline Museum collections of sculpture during the main site’s rennovation. I admit, I was skeptical about this museum – I thought it would house “leftovers”. I was very pleasantly surprised and would recommend …
Palazzo Rucellai – The Rucellai family home by Alberti
Giovanni di Paolo Rucellai envisaged this palace as a statement of his wealth and prominence, and the importance of his family in the Santa Maria Novella neighbourhood. The commission of a family palace must be seen also in light of Rucellai’s other architectural commissions, those for the facade of the church of Santa Maria Novella, …
Lucca’s kebab controversy caught on film
The city of Lucca has made international headlines by banning new ethnic and fast food restaurants within the city walls (in January 2009). The kebab restaurants are taking the brunt of this decision. My friends and students made a movie about this last Saturday, posted on their website www.tuscanproductions.com. (Yours truly is briefly featured as an …
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 …
