Archive for 'Uncategorized'
The Hidden Italian Garden Posted by Serena on May 30, 2016
Lunigiana is a beautiful magical land tucked away in the very north of Toscana. Here, far from the beaten tourist trails, life is lived a passo d’uomo. The visitor to Lunigiana is spoilt for choice: forest, mountains, rushing torrents and enchanting waterfalls provide the backdrop to relatively untouched borghi medievali. One such borgo is the…
The Smuggler Posted by Geoff on May 23, 2016
Isn’t it nice to begin the day with a smile? If you follow our blog you’ll know that we like to include, where possible, a bit of humour. But barzellette (jokes) can be difficult to understand when not recounted in your mother tongue, so I’ve translated this one into English for you. Il Contrabbandiere (The…
Tasty Italian Flowers Posted by Serena on May 18, 2016
Food dominates all here in Italy, and wherever they are, whatever the occasion, Italians love discussing it! Here’s a typical example: The setting: A small Yoga class in a little Italian country town The characters: Serena (the yoga teacher) and the students (all ladies). Insegnante: “Adesso sdraiatevi e portate le ginocchia al petto così da…
An Old Italian Springtime Recipe Posted by Serena on Apr 15, 2016
Spring is blooming all around us, re-awakening our senses: the birds are singing from dawn to dusk, the hills are painted in many shades of green, the fields are carpets of flowers, the air smells of mint, thyme and other wild herbs, our skin is caressed by the first warm sun and a fresh breeze…
Primavera Posted by Geoff on Apr 11, 2016
The transition from winter to spring always brings with it a touch of nostalgia. The return of sounds, colours, and odours simultaneously awakens desires for the future and memories of the past. These sensations are often heightened to an almost unbearable level when you live in a place, as do I, far from that of…
An Italian Painting for Easter Posted by Serena on Mar 25, 2016
There is a hidden jewel in the Pinacoteca e Museo Civico in the small Tuscan town of Volterra: La Deposizione dalla Croce (The Deposition from the Cross) by Rosso Fiorentino. Giovan Battista di Jacopo (1494-1540), known as il Rosso Fiorentino (the Red-haired Florentine), was one of the most famous artist of 16th century Tuscan Mannerism…
An Italian Poem for Father’s Day Posted by Serena on Mar 18, 2016
Here in Italy, the 19th of March is La Festa del Papà (Father’s day). Here’s a beautiful poem written by Camillo Sbarbaro (1888 – 1967) and published in 1914 in the collection Pianissimo. The poem takes its title from the first line: Padre, se anche tu non fossi il mio padre (Father, even if you…