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Amalfi – Discovering the Historic Heart of the Amalfi Coast

December 14th, 2010

As the namesake town of the Amalfi Coast, the seaside town of Amalfi has gorgeous beaches, an idyllic mountain setting and a fascinating medieval heritage to discover.

It’s easy to fall in love with Amalfi. Glimpsed from the sea, Amalfi is settled into a river valley and surrounded by rugged mountains creating the dramatic backdrop to one of Campania’s most charming towns. Amalfi’s intense natural beauty and romantic setting have captivated travelers, artists and writers for centuries. Walking along the town’s harbor and through the maze of narrow streets and alleys, climbing the same steps as the locals or swimming in the azure sea – yes, it’s easy to fall in love with Amalfi.

In the Middle Ages, this small town was the heart of the Republic of Amalfi, which vied with the likes of Venice, Pisa and Genoa for wealth and power. Amalfi’s trading ships once ruled the Mediterranean seas, sailing as far away as Africa and Constantinople in the East. Her sailors even defined a maritime code, called the Tabula Amalphitana, that was used throughout the Mediterranean until the 16th century. The town’s fortune began to shift in the 12th century when it could no longer compete in military strength with the larger Republic of Pisa. Wars, plague and natural disasters eventually turned the town into a sleepy fishing village.

A sleepy fishing village with quite a story to tell! All around Amalfi you’ll spot signs of the town’s medieval heritage, and none more impressive than the Cathedral of Sant’ Andrea. This magnificent church towers above the town’s central piazza and holds inside it the wealth and history of Amalfi. Climb the grand staircase of the Duomo, as it is called in Amalfi, and step into the serene Cloister of Paradise from the 13th century. Be sure to visit the museum filled with treasures from Amalfi’s illustrious past before descending into the crypt of Sant’ Andrea (St. Andrew). This is the heart and soul of Amalfi, where the relics of the town’s patron saint and protector are held in a lavishly decorated crypt.

After discovering Amalfi’s medieval heritage, the next thing to do is hit the beach. The town’s most popular and largest beach is called Marina Grande, which is located right in the center of town. During the summer months the beach is lined with rows of colorful umbrellas and sun beds. The water is cool and clear, and the setting is perfect for enjoying the warm Mediterranean sun. Swim out from the beach for a marvelous view of the town with the bell tower and top of the Duomo peeking over the beachfront buildings.

If you’re looking for a quieter beach getaway on the Amalfi Coast, head to the Santa Croce beach just west of Amalfi. This isolated and rocky beach is just a short boat ride from the port in Amalfi, and during the summer months a boat service runs regular connections to Santa Croce. Here you’ll find a peaceful setting, excellent restaurants and one of the most beautiful spots for swimming on the coastline.

After relaxing on the beautiful beaches, consider going on a scenic hike up into the beautiful Lattari Mountains high above Amalfi. Follow the ancient pathways connecting Amalfi with the villages in the mountains, and from above look down on the town sitting peacefully by the sea. Just be careful, it’s easy to fall in love with Amalfi!

Credits: Laura Thayer

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Posted in Campania, Places

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A Family of Renaissance Painters-Ghirlandaio

December 10th, 2010

One of the most popular Tuscan families of the Renaissance: the Ghirlandaio family

Credits: Turismo in Toscana

The Ghirlandaio family has been admired for centuries. Most famously the work of Domenico Ghirlandaio in Santa Trinita Church in Florence. Domenico was a famous Renaissance painter from Florence. He has done many works and frescoes throughout Italy. In 1485, he was asked by the Pope Sixtus IV to paint a wall of the Sistine Chapel. He also taught a most famous artist when he was just thirteen years old, Michelangelo. Domenico’s most famous works are in the Sassetti Chapel in Santa Trinita Church. It was commissioned by Francesco Sassetti, a powerful, rich merchant banker of the Medici Bank in Genoa. The chapel is painted of the six scenes of St. Francis’ life.

This exhibit is celebrating the fabulous works of the whole family, not just Domenico. Domenico, the head of the family, his brothers, David and Benedetto, the son, Ridolfo and the students learning under them, Lorenzo di Credi and Granacci will be shown. They worked together for nearly a century, the second half of the 15th century to the early 16th century.

Credits: Turismo in Toscana

The main exhibit is held in the recently renovated Castle dell’Acciaiolo in Scandicci. The unique aspect about this exhibition is that the visitors will be taken on an artistic journey of the Ghirlandaio masterpieces through churches and small museums throughout the hills around Florence.

The path you will follow will be to the ancient Abbey of S. Salvatore and S. Lorenzo Seventh in Scandicci. The work of the picturesque apse fresco of the Adoration of the Magi was done by the hand of Domenico. Campi Bisenzio shows off their Church of St. Andrew in San Donnino which the frescoes of the nave were again done by Domenico.

Credits: Silk.net

This grand tour allows you to rediscover what is really special about the Ghirlandaio family. Other places you can see the exhibit is at the Museum of Sacred Art in San Donnino and in Lastra a Signa, as well as the church and the Museum of San Martino of Gangalandi. Palazzo Medici Riccardi and Museo degli Innocenti in Piazza SS. Annunziata also have exhibits celebrating the exquisite and talented family.

GHIRLANDAIO
A family of Renaissance painters from Florence to Scandicci
21 November 2010 – 1 May 2011

ticket cost: 5,00

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Climbing Campania’s Mt. Vesuvius

December 7th, 2010

Climbing to the top of Mt. Vesuvius is an exhilarating experience and a chance to see fabulous views of the Bay of Naples in Campania.

Credits: Flickr

Mt. Vesuvius has been an alluring sight for me since the first time I landed at Naples’ Capodichino airport and caught a glimpse of it rising dramatically in the distance. The autostrada south of Naples toward Salerno curves around the base of the volcano, and the signs along the way read familiar names, such as Pompeii and Herculaneum, the ancient Roman towns destroyed by the violent eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. The looming presence is a constant reminder that it has held in its grasp generations of Italians who have lived on the dangerous slopes of this volcano.

Mt. Vesuvius is an icon, a myth and one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes all at once. While it hasn’t erupted since 1944, Mt. Vesuvius is considered an active volcano with the capacity of producing another disastrous eruption. But, for the moment, it is quietly keeping watch over the Bay of Naples. I had never been to the top of a volcano before, and one sunny day last October seemed like as good a day as any to climb Mt. Vesuvius!

After exiting the autostrada at Torre del Greco, signs clearly led the way to the Mt. Vesuvius National Park, and soon we were following a road that zigzagged its way up the volcano. At first the tree covering was dense and green, but soon it began to clear and we could see the remarkable views. The day was only partly clear as some unusually mild autumn winds had blown in a bank of humidity and clouds that hugged the coastline along the Bay of Naples and Sorrento Peninsula. Below lay Naples curving around the bay, and in the distance I could spot the distinct shape of the islands of Capri and Ischia poking up through the clouds. The views were spectacular, and I could only imagine how far you could see on a clear day.

The road leads to a parking area near the ancient crater left from the explosive eruption of 79 AD. Nearby you can see the grey lava flow left from the 1944 eruption, one of the first reminders of the destructive powers of Mt. Vesuvius. The parking area has a couple of shops and is the closest you can get to the cone of the volcano by car. There is a footpath that leads to the top where you can walk around part of the crater. It takes about about 35-45 minutes to make the climb up the steep footpath, but the views from the top are well worth the climb.

Peering over the edge of the crater and looking down to the bottom, I felt the power of the earth beneath my feet. Steam slowly floated up from one spot on the side of the crater. High above, a hiking group with special permits carefully made their way along the unmarked side of the crater. They seemed so small and their steps so precarious that it made me feel tiny in comparison with the huge crater.

Once you reach the top of the crater the footpath is fairly level and easy to walk. The ground emanated a warmth that felt good in the cool October air. There is a stillness that comes with being so high, the only sounds being the crunch of the rich red volcanic stones beneath my steps and the wind blowing through the crater. Somewhere below lay the chaos of Naples, but up there everything was so silent, so full of beauty and power.

As I looked out over the sun shining on the Bay of Naples, I could spot the familiar curves of Capri just off the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula. I held my breath as I thought I heard the volcano let out a deep, dark grumble. Did it really happen or was my imagination getting carried away? I’ll never know for sure, but it’s one of the many memories I treasure from climbing to the top of Mt. Vesuvius.

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Photo Credits: Laura Thayer

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Siena: the Land of water

December 6th, 2010

Today we have the pleasure to present you Sarah Scott, who writes about one of the most popular Tuscan cities: Siena. Welcome, Sarah!

Siena, amongst the most important Tuscany destinations, is a famous place with an illustrious past.

Credits: Flickr

Perhaps you have already walked through its streets and crossed the countryside, either on foot or with the imagination.
The wealth of history will have revealed to you its glory, both past and present, through the mythology of the palio and the contrade, the fascination of solitary churches and unique cycles of frescos; but also with the intense flavour of traditional food and famous wines.

Credits: Flickr

Together with all of this there are other marvels, perhaps less well known, a history that is only apparently secondary that can be discovered through the water.

The water in the Land of Siena represents a fresh viewpoint, rich in stimuli.

Credits: Flickr

The fountains, for example, are manifold but all of them unusual, sometimes monumnetal, a few are fortified to defend a precious blessing.

Credits: Picasaweb

Water is an irreplaceable good in search of which the Sienese people dedicated resources and energies from the very beginnings of community life.

From the drinking fountains of the contrade – used for baptisms and for consecrating eternal allegiance – to the elegance of Fontebranda, and even the sculptures of Jacopo della Quercia in the Central Gaia fountain, marking the joy of arrival of water in the town.

About the author: Sarah Scott has been working in Tuscany for two years, in tourism field. She writes for a blog dealing of Italy destinations, http://www.italyadvisor.co.uk

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Florence Noël Festival

December 3rd, 2010

Florence Noel is a festival that will be held at the Stazione Leopolda on December 4th-12th. The festival is meant to enrich the lives during the Christmas season. 

This is a great event where you can get all your Christmas shopping done for the family. There will be booths with festive scenes, presentations, tastings, shows and exhibitions. The Fabuland toy museum of San Benedetto del Tronto will be showing some nostalgic toys for the adults to remember and relive. Also there will be an exhibit showing the evolution of toys from the 18th century to the 20th century.

 

 

 

There will be delicious goodies to buy as well as workshops to attend. Some of the workshops will be cooking demonstrations, cooking lessons, the workshops are catered to adults and children, families and individuals. One of the children workshops is called Cucinare e` un gioco (Cooking is a game) will be run by Christina Palandri, you will learn how to make fun cakes, cookies and other special delicacies. This workshop will occur every day of the festival at 5:30pm. Other courses will consist of embroidery mini-courses organized by the Club del Punto in Croce, where visitors can try to learn the tricks and the technique of the Tombolo, the Trapunto Fiorentino, Macramé.

Merletto e Tombolo, Credits: Flickr

There will be plenty of sweets and candies, chestnuts available to snack on in the square in front of the exhibition. For lunch there is a special ‘tirolese’ restaurant focusing on every Tuscan. Something to warm your belly, they are offering coffee, hot chocolate and mulled wine with other selections of winter beverages and desserts from the Nordic tradition.

Christmas music for me represents my childhood as much as my adulthood. When I start hearing Christmas music I get all warm inside. It is by far the best part of Christmas for me. There will be choirs singing, a Christmas concert, performances of chamber music and classical dance to enjoy. A classic will be performed as well the play “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens. All are organized in collaboration with schools and associations of dance and music of the area.

Last but not least right next to Santa’s house, children will find a mailbox to put their own personal letters in. A highlight of any child’s life is sending their wish list to Santa Claus.

Florence Noel is above all a way to share the Christmas season with your loved ones. You will discover or rediscover the Italian traditions of Christmas. There will be charities you can offer some help or give a donation to assist them during the holiday season.

For more information on the festivities, check out the Florence Noel website.

Other Credits: Katie Greenaway

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Posted in Events, Tuscany

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