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!!!