Have you climbed Mt Vesuvius with a bunch of students?

Have you ever thought to climb Mt Vesuvius? Yes Mt. Vesuvius!!! The famous volcano which erupted in 79 AD destroying the well familiar cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. That looming presence is always there, reminding us and to all the people who live around there how dangerous it can be, nevertheless you can't imaging how many people live around there....

The last eruption was in 1944!!!! and...for the moment the volcano is quite, keeping "his"eye over the Bay of Naples....

Well I visited the volcano last April with a group of students who had just arrived from Australia and the experience was fun!!! They were surprised by the narrow winding streets around the mountain and the amount of constructions there, even so they carried on and walked until we reached the top...

the experience was tiring but the students were really happy!!!

John Bosco College

The bus left us in the parking area and from there we had to walk to reach the top from where you have access to part of the crater. The walk can take up to 45 minutes, nevertheless the view from the top it is astonishing if you have a clear blue sky!!!

We peered over the crater and we saw it's immense power ....

....but even the iconic ritual of a Madonna image to protect everyone!!!

This was an amazing adventure!!! 

 TRY THE EXPERIENCE AND HAVE FUN!!!

Imagine a night at the museum!!!

Still in holiday in Italy???!! Tonight there is a wonderful initiative, promoted by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage...Martedi' in Arte....between 7pm and 11pm the main museums of Italy will be open for free to the public to enjoy the artistic beauty of this country.

So...if you are in Italy in this current moment and you want to spent a different night, go and enjoy!!!

Here the list of the museums that participate to this initiative:

CAMPANIA


- Scavi e Teatro Antico di Ercolano, Corso Resina, 5 - Ercolano (NA)
- Palazzo Reale di Napoli, Piazza del Plebiscito, 1 - Napoli (NA)
- Museo di Capodimonte, Via Miano, 1 - Napoli (NA)
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Piazza Museo - Napoli (NA)
- Museo di San Martino, Largo San Martino - Napoli (NA)
- Scavi Vecchi e Nuovi di Pompei, Villa dei Misteri, 2 - Pompei (NA)
- Reggia di Caserta e Complesso Vanvitelliano, Via Douet 2/a - Caserta (CE)




LAZIO


- Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Viale delle Belle Arti, 131 - Roma (RM)
- Terme di Diocleziano, Via Romita, 8 - Roma (RM)
- Crypta Balbi, Via delle Botteghe Oscure, 31 - Roma (RM)
- Museo Nazionale Romano – Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Largo di Villa Peretti, 1 - Roma (RM)
- Palazzo Altemps, Via di S. Apollinare, 44 - Roma (RM)
- Pantheon, Piazza della Rotonda - Roma (RM)
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini, Via Quattro Fontane, 13 - Roma (RM)
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica in Palazzo Corsini, Via della Lungara, 10 - Roma (RM)
- Museo e Galleria Borghese, Piazzale Scipione Borghese, 5 - Roma (RM)
- Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo, Lungotevere Castello, 50 - Roma (RM)
- Villa d’Este, Piazza Trento, 1 – Tivoli (RM)




LOMBARDIA


- Museo di Palazzo Ducale di Mantova, Piazza Sordello – Mantova (MN)
- Pinacoteca di Brera, Via Brera – Milano (MI)
- Cenacolo Vinciano *, Piazza S. Maria delle Grazie – Milano (MI)
(* l'apertura è prevista con le stesse regole di conservazione e tutela, cioè 25 persone per gruppo ogni quarto d'ora fino ad esaurimento dei posti. La prenotazione è gratuita ma obbligatoria tramite il Call Center 0292800360)




PUGLIA


- Castello Svevo, Piazza Federico II di Svevia – Bari (BA)




TOSCANA


- Cappelle Medicee, Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini - Firenze (FI)
- Galleria degli Uffizi e corridoio Vasariano , Via Della Ninna - Firenze (FI)
- Galleria dell'Accademia, Via Ricasoli - Firenze (FI) il 26 ottobre apertura dalle ore 20.30 alle 0,30
- Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Piazza Pitti - Firenze (FI)
- Galleria Palatina e appartamento Palazzo Pitti, Piazza Pitti - Firenze (FI)
- Museo del Bargello, Via del Proconsolo - Firenze (FI)
- Museo San Marco, Piazza S. Marco - Firenze (FI)
- Palazzo Davanzati, Via Porta Rossa - Firenze (FI)




UMBRIA


- Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria, Corso Vannucci - Palazzo dei Priori – Perugia (PG) con apertura dalle 20.00 alle 23.00




VENETO


- Galleria "Giorgio Franchetti" alla Ca' d'Oro, Cannaregio, 3932 - Venezia (VE)
- Gallerie dell'Accademia, Dorsoduro Campo della Carità, 1050/a - Venezia (VE)

Brisbane: "La dolce vita e il dolce far niente!!"

"The sweet life and the sweet idleness" next the Spanish Step by Simona Albanese

In addition to the world most acclaimed artworks and monuments spread all over the city of Rome....Romans are famous for "La dolce vita e...il dolce far niente!!!" 

Why not transfering our passion for "La dolce vita ...e il dolce far niente" in Brisbane? This week (26 May - 2 June 2011) Brisbane celebrates the Italian Week with many events around the city and the region. 

Why not doing the same...Enjoy life to the most, take a break while having Italian conversation in the heart of the city or in New Farm. The offer is valid for a short time!!!

Make sure you lock in a series of classes before your next holiday!!!

Be quick!!

Get in touch!!

Simona

Your connection to Italy 

Going to Rome???!! You must visit the Trevi Fountain

One of the most beautiful fountains of Rome, symbol of power and richness, it  was designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732 and completed in 1762. 

In 1629, Pope Urban VIII, asked Bernini to sketch possible renovations of the fountain, finding it insufficiently theatrical. After the Pope's death the project was abandoned. Bernini's lasting contribution was to situate the fountain from the other side of the square to face the Quirinal Palace (so that the Pope could see and enjoy it). 

my boy at the side of the fountain

All the information you need to know about this fountain are here:

The Trevi Fountain

Rome: Saint Peter's Basilica

Saint Peter is the symbol of Rome, of Christianity and beauty for the magnificent artworks created by Michelangelo, Gianlorenzo Bernini and many more...

For any type of information on Saint Peter have a look to this site:

Saint Peter Basilica

Below are random photos back in 2007:

My children on Saint Peter Square in January 2007

The Barberini's heraldic symbol 

Gianlorenzo Bernini's Baldachin

Michelangelo's Pieta' (1497)

A castle in Rome: Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel'Angelo has an amazing story behind it. It was originally built as the Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian. The long and varied history of the building, with its thousands of metamorphosis seems to have unsettled the complicated maze of underground rooms, balconies, stairs and courtyards that constitute the current structure of the castle.

The original structure and subsequent changes within the building overlap and merge, creating a body faceted and complex, laden with symbolic and historical layers.  

this photo was taken when I was on holiday

on the bridge you can see the two angels commissioned to Gianlorenzo Bernini.

Not far from the Vatican, this amazing building should be one of the stop during your Italian journey!!!!