Loving chocolate....

No many weeks to Christmas....you can find chocolate in many shapes and forms !!!

Here an example of what I have bought last year during the holiday.....

I look forward to enjoy some more chocolate soon!

Santa Claus or Babbo Natale!!

Chocolate nativity

The Gran Tour : for some but not for all!

Galleria of Roma Antica

Do you like to travel? Have you ever been in Italy? Do you like to go and see wonderful places without stress and rush? 

Come with me and have fun!!!!

I'm going soon!!! More details for next tours coming soon!

Ciao,

Simona

Your connection to Italy

Let's cook Italian

The term is gone, however there will be a new Italian Cooking course starting in May at New Farm State School. 

The course is limited to 8 people and it runs for three consecutive weeks.

In classes you cook, you eat and you meet some new friends!

So....I see you in class!

Here I'm in class with my students! We are preparing cannelloni and scaloppine!!!

                         

A presto!!!

Future trips to Italy - ITALIAN WORKSHOP

Have you got intention to travel to Italy and want to learn Italian? You have purchased tickets for a group tour to some of the most beautiful cities or regions of Italy or are you visiting relatives, but you can't speak the language.......what purpose will that map with all the historic sites, churches, and art museums serve if you can't ask a question in Italian, decipher an Italian menu, or use the phone in Italy?

It's not enough to pack your bags and watch Italian movies before you arrive in Italy. Whether you're going to visit the world-famous cities of Florence, Rome, and Venice, or on a pleasure holiday on the Amalfi Coast or the beautiful Sicily, there are a multitude of ways to improve your Italian skills before your trip.

Learn the basics with an Italian workshop of three hours. You will be introduced to the most important phrases and sentences that you will use when travelling. This workshop will give you the confidence to ask your way around; book your accommodation and transport; ask for directions; understand menus in restaurants; and greet people and make friends. 

The workshop is specifically designated for people who need a quick introduction to the language, in order to get around when visiting Italy. 

Course cost: $100 (including materials) - 

For any enquiry you can contact Simona HERE 

BE QUICK!

The traditional ITALIAN CIAMBELLONE in two colours

If you like to cook, here for you a unique Italian cake, the ciambellone. 

Have you ever tried this cake when you were on holiday in Italy?

This is an old traditional cake, usually prepared during the Winter time. Loved by children, but also by adults, the cake is perfect for breakfast or for an afternoon snack. 

So here the recipe for you!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 eggs
• 300 grams all purpose flour
• 200 grams sugar
• 1/2 glass of oil
• 1 glass of milk
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• some butter to grease the pan
• cocoa powder

Empty bowl 

Ready to go in the oven

Ciambellone 

And then.... what are you going to do?

Easy, here the INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven at around 180 C, if not forced. First of all beat the eggs with the sugar until you obtain a nice zabaglione, then add the baking powder, the milk and the oil, and finally the flour and mix until evenly combined. You can either use a whisk, as well as a food processor. YOUR CHOICE!

Grease your baking pan with butter and then add some flour. Move the pan until all the surface is covered with flour to prevent the cake stick while it cooks in the oven.

Add half of the butter into the pan. Then add cocoa into the half batter still in the bowl and mix until blended, and pour gently over the other batter already in the pan.

Cook between 30 and 40 minutes, depend on the oven.You can check if it's ready by piercing the cake with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, it's ready!

BUT REMEMBER DON'T OPEN THE OVEN FOR THE FIRST 20 MINUTES OTHERWISE IT WILL COLLAPSE.

NOW... Try the recipe and then let me know what you think!

A presto!

The Italian ciambellone 

L'infinito

If you have a good knowledge of the Italian language and you want to practise here for you one of the most famous and beautiful text written by Giacomo Leopardi, estrapolated from the "Canti".

Brisbane

Sempre caro mi fu quest'ermo colle,
e questa siepe, che da tanta parte
dell'ultimo orizzonte il guardo esclude.
Ma sedendo e mirando, interminati
spazi di la' da quella, e sovrumani
silenzi, e profondissima quiete
io nel pensier mi fingo: ove per poco
il cor non si spaura. E come il vento
odo stormir tra queste piante, io quello
infinito silenzio a questa voce
vo comparando: e mi sovvien l'eterno,
e le morte stagioni, e la presente
e viva, e il suon di lei. Cosi' tra questa
immensita' s'annega il pensier mio:
e il naufragar m'e' dolce in questo mare.




NEED TO PRACTISE YOUR ITALIAN?

A presto!

Bella VERNAZZA!!!

BEAUTIFUL VERNAZZA FOR ALL THE ITALIAN LOVERS!!!
WALK AND ENJOY THIS MAGNIFICENT AREA OF LIGURIA

Happy Easter!

BUONA PASQUA!

I'm back...teaching Italian and enjoying life, art and good food!

I have been away for sometimes as everyone does during their journey! I'm back in New Farm and I am involved in new different projects!

If you like to cook and you want to join my cooking classes, I'm offering a course at New Farm State School between May and June. Places are very limited, so be quick!

In New Farm I also offer several Italian classes between Monday and Tuesday.

New courses will start Monday April 29th and Tuesday April 30th.

When in Rome @ Mario's by Italian Cultural Experience

If you have only a short amount of time and you want to learn quickly some Italian expressions, this course in May is perfect for you! The class will be held every Thursday of the month!

This is a new initiative with ANFE in Newstead!

Italian classes at ANFE

Maybe you prefer to relax, enjoy a coffee and practise your Italian! I can arrange even this for you!
Just send me an email! I will be very happy to assist you in this task!

Italian conversation classes Brisbane

I also organise cultural morning! If you are interested in these type of meetings, get in touch!

Luca Giordano
On loan at the QAG 

I look forward to hearing back from you!

A presto!

AND ARE YOU COMING TO ITALY WITH ME IN SEPTEMBER?

Time flies: the Auckland Art Gallery!

Time flies, moving around as always to make life more interesting!

Here a mix of photos from the refurbished Auckland Art Gallery

Since the gallery has reopened the doors in early September so many people have gone to visit this new amazing place, therefore if you have occasion, go and visit the gallery!

You can find a very big variety of artworks.....

A presto!

Prato: Festival Contemporanea 11

Between September 23 and October 8, 2011 at the Teatro Mestastasio there will be a contemporary program, not only Renaissance art, but something modern and beautiful to admire and enjoy in Tuscany.

All of this is in Prato, not far from Florence, symbol of the Renaissance art and literature.

Go and have fun!!

A presto!

Simona

The European Baroque: what's outside Italy?

The Drunken Hercules by Rubens

Despite various wars, the Baroque was the style of the seventeenth-century Europe.


The Baroque was passionate, energetic and exciting. Church and palace ceilings were replaced by painted illusions of limitless space, often extravagant and ostentatious, such as the Triumph of Divine Providence for the Palazzo Barberini by Pietro da Cortona.

Sculpture and paintings expand spatially: they evoke emotions and feelings!


The Baroque style took shape in Rome, attracted artists all over Italy, such as collectors and connoisseurs from everywhere, so what was the situation outside Italy?


Come to next series of lectures at New Farm State School during the last term for 2011.


Lessons start on:
Thursday 13th October at 6.30pm.


A presto!


Simona

Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2011 in Australia

Next week the Italian Film Festival 2011 is on again in this part of the world. It will start in Melbourne and Sydney to then reach Brisbane in October.

If you have missed all the nice Italian movies in Italy, this is the perfect occasion to go and enjoy an Italian movie and practice your Italian at the main time, so enjoy!!

Rugby World Cup 2011: Auckland and New Zealand

A Haka in Auckland!

                                                   

Auckland is a wonderful city and a fantastic place to live, there are galleries, museums, shopping and much much more....but this year there is the Rugby World Cup 2011. It started yesterday in Auckland, the opening ceremony was wonderful and obviously the All Black have won the match against Tonga.

Tomorrow the Italian team will play vs Wallabies (Australia) in Albany on the North Shore at 3.30pm, New Zealand time! Many matches will be in Auckland, but others around New Zealand, so wherever you are be a supporter.....

Now for me...which team I should support?

A presto!

Simona

The Macchina di Santa Rosa

The Macchina of Santa Rosa is an annual celebration in the city of Viterbo!!  Santa Rosa is the patron of Viterbo, she lived during the XIII century.


Every year Viterbo celebrates this event with a huge manifestation, called La Macchina di Santa Rosa, where a big tower decorated with lights, tall about 30m, is carried around the city by circa 100 strong men. 

The first Macchina was organized in 1258, when the body of Santa Rosa was transferred from the Church of Santa Maria in Poggio to the Church dedicated to her by order of Pope Alexander IV. Since then every year this event is celebrated to commemorate the day. So September 3rd is a very important day for all the people of Viterbo and for the curious tourists.


If you want to know more and you are in Italy go and have a visit to Viterbo, the Macchina is tonight at 9pm.

More information in Italian from:

http://www.infoviterbo.it/viterbo_la_macchina_di_santa_rosa.htm

Palazzo Davanzati in Florence - a different museum

Florence

Imagine a different day in Florence! You want to escape the crowd and the confusion of the city center, where to go? what to do? i have an idea...go and visit Palazzo Davanzati.

In the past this palace belonged to the Davizzi family, wealthy merchants in the late fourteenth century. They constructed the palace, which later was purchased by the Davanzati family in the late sixteenth century.

This palace brings you back in time, show you the structure of what the modern palaces are going to be, so don't miss this place next time you are in Florence!!!

Palazzo Davanzati
Florence

Palazzo Davanzati


Address:  Via Porta Rossa 13 – Firenze – Tel. 055 2388610

Hours: Weekdays: 8.15 am – 1.50 pm; open second and fourth Monday of the month.

Holidays: 8.15 – 1.50 pm – open first, third and fifth Sunday of the month.

Closed on: the second and fourth Sunday of the month; the first, third and fifth Monday of every month. December 25, January 1, May 1

A presto!!

Simona

Questioning Pietro da Cortona in the Johnston Collection?

The Johnston Collection is a secret place  in the east side of Melbourne.


If you decide to visit this place in order to prevent disturbing the neighborhood, a tour parties come to collect you at a Melbourne hotel and you are transported to the house where the Collection is on show, in a bus that belongs to the Johnston Collection.


The Collection is the work of one man, William Johnston, who died in 1986, leaving everything to a Trust, who delegate professional staff looking after the Collection.

Pietro da Cortona (in the manner)
Presentation of Christ Child , 1635
The Johnston Collection

The Collection is made up of paintings, antiques, curiosities and several different pieces that represent the various passions of this man, who loved beautiful things ad collected them.

   
Between these works there is a painting, subject of my lecture in late May and now an article recently published on The World of Antiques & Art (Issue 81). 


In the past this work was attributed to Pietro da Cortona, but I have my doubts! 
So if you want to know more, get the magazine and go on page 84.


Note: If you like Pietro da Cortona and you want to see some of his most famous ceiling works, go to visit Palazzo Barberini in Rome and Palazzo Pitti in Florence.


Buona lettura!!


A presto!


Simona

Renaissance at the National Gallery of Australia

Giovan Battista Moroni
Bambina della Famiglia Redetti, 1566-70

Next December a new exhibition will be on display at the National Gallery of Australia: "Renaissance: Raphael, Botticelli, Titian, Bellini". 


The works of these artists and other eminent artists executed by Italian artists between the 15th and 16th century will come to Australia for the first time.


These works, now part of the collection of the Accademia Carra, where once own by the merchant and collector Giacomo Carrara, who died in 1796. Until recently the collection was looked after by a Trust, to then pass under the jurisdiction of the city of Bergamo, that amplified the collection, thanks to gifts and donations of other private collectors.


Today in the Collection is possible to count more than 1,800 artworks, including masterworks by Giovanni Bellini, Titian, Botticelli and Raphael.

Titian,
Madonna with Child, 1510

                                                                                     Due to restructuring/maintenance of the Accademia Carrara, around seventy artworks will be borrowed by the National Gallery of Australia and they will be on display for the first time on the Australian sole. 


This occasion will be a wonderful opportunity for art lovers, researchers and public, who will see with their own eyes works that hardly leave Italy due their fragility, value and conservation concern. 


Between the many works, there will also be the "Madonna and Child" by Titian, which will travel so far to come to Australia in December for about 4 months. 


Don't miss this occasion... go and enjoy this event! 



A presto!!
Simona

Another Italian masterpiece at the National Gallery of Victoria

Correggio at the NGV

This year the National Gallery of Victoria celebrates its 150th anniversary. What a magnificent present for all the art lovers... another wonderful Italian masterpiece has been added to the collection...that is fantastic!!

I will certainly take the time to go and have a look to this work!

Regarded as one of the prominent artists of the High Renaissance together with Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael, Correggio is well re-known for the fresco ceiling he decorated in Parma, such as the Assumption of the Virgin for the Cathedral.

Assumption of the Virgin by Correggio

This work was clearly a catalyst and inspirational example for the sotto in su technique later used by the painters of the Baroque period, such as Lanfranco's Assumption in Santa Andrea della Valle in Rome.

Correggio was a precursor and innovative artist, an example for many other artists, so well done Melbourne!

A presto!

Vicolo del Cedro

In the heart of Trastevere, Rione XIII, not far from Santa Maria in Trastevere.

on Vicolo del Cedro

From Vicolo del Cedro you can easily reach the Janiculum Hill, the steps are a short cut and I like to walk along there with my son, who loves to stop and drink in one of the old Roman public "fontanelle"

Lorenzo in Vicolo del Cedro

So maybe next time you are in Rome, take a short cut and have a look around the back streets of Trastevere!

A presto!