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La Ricreazione Posted by Serena on Aug 31, 2017
Do you know the Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini (1430-1516)? Well, today I want to tell you about my favourite Bellini painting: l’Allegoria Sacra, housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Firenze. I’ve always been intrigued by this painting’s surreal juxtaposition of interior architecture and landscape, and the positioning of the characters in small separate groups, with…
Quanta Frutta! Posted by Serena on Aug 25, 2017
In our giardino (garden) we have two small apple trees which despite their humble proportions have provided us with a bumper crop this year. Apples, apples every day … … apples for breakfast with our muesli, apples after lunch, apples for our afternoon merenda (snack), apples in our salad, and who knows, maybe a nice…
Quel Mazzolin Di Fiori Posted by Serena on Aug 21, 2017
Gathered around the old well in Ponticello, the local musician are singing Quel Mazzolin Di Fiori (That Little Bunch Of Flowers), a folk song that I loved as a child. Composed in the second half of the nineteenth century, Quel Mazzolin Di Fiori was to become one of the Alpini’s (Italian mountain troops) favourite songs…
Nella Piazza Del Paese Posted by Serena on Aug 17, 2017
Nell’antico borgo di Ponticello in Lunigiana il tempo si è fermato. Entriamo nella piazza del paese che brulica di attività intorno al vecchio pozzo. Time has stopped in the ancient hamlet of Ponticello in Lunigiana. We enter the village square which is buzzing with activity around the old well. Per prima cosa incontriamo il venditore…
Bagniamoci I Piedi Posted by Serena on Aug 9, 2017
Lunedì scorso era il mio compleanno: “Cosa vuoi fare per il tuo compleanno?” mi chiede Geoff. “Voglio fare una gita nelle Alpi Apuane” gli rispondo. Ed eccoci ad Equi Terme! Equi Terme, se non ci siete mai stati, è un antico borgo nascosto nel cuore delle stupende Alpi Apuane in Toscana. Da casa nostra ci…
Italian Style Octopus And Potato Salad Posted by Serena on Aug 7, 2017
Here’s a wonderful summer recipe full of the flavours of the sea, l’insalata di polpo e patate (octopus and potato salad). This classic Italian dish is quite simple and very tasty, but beware: there are some gruesome acts to be committed. I can’t wait to see Geoff’s expression when he reads it! Allora, siete pronti?…
Shepherdess For A Day Posted by Serena on Aug 3, 2017
Today I’m going to publish a piece written by my friend Simona, who owns La Gallina Cubista, an organic whole-food shop here in Pontremoli. Every week Simona publishes a newsletter advertising her products. Last week, though, she decided to do something a little different by writing about her morning out on the mountains near Pontremoli…