Brisbane: Benvenuti nel Queensland

Brisbane's Treasury Casino by Simona Albanese

Queensland....a beautiful place where to live in Australia...an article published yesterday for Nati con la valigia

This is the link:

Brisbane: Benvenuti nel Queensland

Where is the original Marcus Aurelius?

On the Campidoglio hill, where are all the main offices of the Sindaco of the city, two buildings host the Musei Capitolini of Rome, the eldest publique museum of the world (1471) founded in obedience to Sisto IV Pope's wish. 

image from wikipedia

The Cordonata Stair and the entire square were projected by Michelangelo and strongly wanted by Pope Palo III before the visit of emperor Carlo V in 1536. The sacre place, once the center of the ancient Rome, was in ashamed conditions. Michelangelo suggested to build a third Palace, Palazzo Nuovo, to enclose the space of the square. 

The project was finished only after Michelangelo's death but following his original drawnings. Nowadays, Palazzo Nuovo and Palazzo dei Conservatori host the Musei Capitolini, the first public museum of the history opened in 1734. 

First rooms are dedicated to the sculpture and keep some beautiful Roman bronze statues as the Spinario, depicting a young man in the act of taking off a thorn from his foot or the famous Lupa Capitolina, feeding young brothers Romolo and Remo, a real symbol of Rome. The upper floor, dedicated to the painting, hosts works by Caravaggio, Veronese, Guercino, Rubens and Tiziano.

                                                                   Lupa Capitolina

An underground passage will bring you to Palazzo Nuovo principally dedicated to the the sculpture. Palazzo Nuovo also keeps the original Marco Aurelio's equestrian monument once placed in the center of the square.

Scott and the Marco Aurelio

Taking a photo!!

For any further information:

Musei Capitolini

I LOVE ROME!!!!

Trilussa: a Roman poet

In Piazza Trilussa in Trastevere, not far from Ponte Sisto, there is the monument to Carlo Alberto Salustri, nicknamed Trilussa (1871-1950), another famous poet of Rome for his sonnets.

Trilussa


On the plaque, next his bust , one of his most famous sonnets:



Here the translation:

IN THE SHADE

While reading the usual newspaper,
snuggling in the shade of a haystack
I notice a hog, and I say: - see you, pig! -
I notice a donkey and I say: - see you, jackass! -
Maybe these animals won't understand me,
but at least I feel satisfied
with the opportunity of saying how things are for real
without the fear of landing in jail.

Next week I will see this in person on my daily walk!!!

Coming out of there...who are you?

Corso Rinascimento 

If you walk along Corso Rinascimento in the evening you come across many different politicians in the process of leaving Palazzo Madama, the main Baroque facade on this street. Here is where the Senate sits.

Palazzo Madama by Simona Albanese

Originally the palace belonged to the Crescenzi family, a powerful Roman family, to then pass to the Medici family during the 16^th century as part of the dowry of Alfonsina Orsini. Only later the current façade was enlarged to receive this enormous entrance. The name of the palazzo “Madama” has its origin in Margaret of Parma, illegitimate daughter of Charles V, who married Alessandro de’ Medici first and then Ottavio Farnese. The palace was purchased by the Pope Benedict XIV in 1740, to become successively the residence of the Governor of Rome and finally the seat of the Ministry of Finance for a short period of time during the second half of the 19^th century.

Today the palace is the seat of the Senato della Repubblica or Italian senate, which together with the Camera dei Deputati in Montecitorio, compose the Italian Parliament.

Open to the public on the first Saturday of each month, excluded August, this place is worth a visit!

Buona visita!!

Welcome "Primavera"!!!

Primavera di Botticelli - Birth of Venus by Botticelli

… “arbitrium tu, dea, floris habe.”
Saepe ego digestos volui numerare colores,
nec potui: numero copia maior erat.

   Ovidio, Fasti, V, 210 sgg  .

.. "Goddess, take charge of the flowers,"
I often wanted to count the colors of the plants he'd
set out, but I couldn't: the profusion was beyond  counting.         

Today the northern hemisphere celebrates the first day of Spring!
... what better example than the Primavera or Birth of Venus by Botticelli, a key works in the Uffizi Gallery of Florence!


Are you planning a trip, or you have a strong passion or an interest in art...I organize private art group cafe' such as lectures at university and galleries, but also community education classes.


Questions? you can contact me HERE


A presto!!

Nati con la valigia: Italian article on Dunedin

Dunedin Railway Station by Simona Albanese

Scappiamo a Dunedin is a new article written for Nati con la valigia.

Festa del papa' in Rome: Father's day pastries in Rome

Bigne' di San Giuseppe

In Italy we celebrate Father's Day on March 19th, when for the Roman religious calendar is Saint Joseph, Rome celebrates this festivity with the Bigne' di San Giuseppe. 

Here a simple recipe for you:

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups water
• 5 Tbs butter
• 3/4 cup flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp limoncello (lemon liquor)
• 1 Tbs vanilla
• confectioners sugar
• oil for baking sheet

Direction


In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil over high heat. When the water comes to a boil remove the pan from the heat and add all the flour at once. Stir immediately until smooth. Add the butter and return the pan to medium heat and keep stirring. The flour and water will form a ball. You will need to stir until the ball no longer sticks to the sides or bottom of the pan.


Remove from the heat and allow to cool and then add one egg at the time. Stir each egg completely into the pastry before adding the next. Stir in the limoncello and vanilla. 


Let the batter rest for at least 15 minutes. Using a soup spoon, place spoon size pieces of batter on a greased cookie sheet. Leave at least 2" between the drops of batter. 


Bake at around 200 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 185 degrees Celsius. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until golden brown. They will be approximately double in size. Turn the oven off and let the pastries "dry" in the oven. 


Don't remove until they are completely cool. Gently open and fill with pastry cream or custard. 


Dust the tops with confectioner's sugar.


Tanti auguri papino!!!

Italy celebrates 150 years of unification

Italy commemorates its 150 anniversary this year. Today, March 17th, is the day of unification, therefore many events have been organized for free in many different cities of Italy.


If you are in Italy on holiday today make the time to go and see one of them!!
Here a list for you:


TURIN

LA BELLA ITALIA
ART AND IDENTITY OF ITALIAN CAPITAL CITIES

at La Venaria Reale, which will reopen to the public, and will present the House of Savoy and celebrate the Reggia with its dazzling architecture, that makes it one of the finest examples of Baroque internationally.

FORLI'

Dal Papa Re al Regno d'Italia. Quando i forlivesi diventarono italiani

Documentary exhibition of the Unification of Italy. The exhibition is divided in different sections, focusing on the events of the nation between 1859-1861, and in particular on how the political unification impacted on the society of Forli'.

The exhibition will be at the Archivio di Stato di Forli'

VENICE

Free entry at the Sale Monumentali della Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana

ROME

Centocinquantenario dell'Unita' d'Italia

http://www.soprintendenzabsaelazio.it/

COSENZA

Buon Compleanno Italia

Free entry at the Archivio di Stato di Cosenza: Complesso Monumentale San Francesco di Paola

MANTUA

Le Carceri dei Martiri di Belfiore

Special opening at the Museo di Palazzo Ducale, Castello San Giorgio

Today is a day to celebrate, so have fun and have a nice glass of spumante!!!


AUGURI ITALIA!!!

Tanti auguri Italia!!!

On 17 March, moreover, in order to ensure due solemnity and maximum participation in the celebrations of the anniversary of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the Unity of Italy, all museums, state parks and archaeological sites will be open free of charge .

http://www.italiaunita150.it/

Caravaggio in Bitonto

The city of Bitonto, in the Puglia region, for its history and the extraordinary evidence that this has left in the territory is set up as a city of art with a museum waiting to be configured in its best potential. 

For the next two months the beautiful gallery will host another interesting exhibition on Caravaggio entitled:

Echi Caravaggeschi in Puglia 

In this occasion approximately sixty works will be on display: portraits, religious, mythological, biblical and still life scenes from private collections, churches and museums all over Puglia will  look into the influence of Caravaggio in the region during the first decade of the seventeenth century.

The Gallery has a considerable number of paintings and drawings, most probably executed between the sixteenth and early twentieth century. Moreover there is a small collection of contemporary artworks. 

The wide variety of works in the gallery is, without doubts, one of the reasons why this museum is highly appreciated amongst art lovers. In fact, 

most of the collection consists of a big variety of artworks, by Italian artists such as Giovanni da Rimini, Titian and Veronese, or international artists, such as Fussli, Hamilton, Gros, Delacroix and Winterhalter. The collection has been donated by the Devanna brothers to the Italian State and today are part of the Italian patrimony.

For more information:

Galleria Nazionale della Puglia

DON'T MISS THE OCCASION!!