winifredcreamer

The “Top Ten” Problem

Call it the “Top Ten” problem. Visit any city in Italy (and other countries) and you will have to pre-book visits to major sights. If you don’t because you want to keep your plans flexible, you may not get in or it will be a scramble to get tickets to the major sights (the VaticanContinue reading “The “Top Ten” Problem”

The Uffizi Gallery–Custodian of the Renaissance

The Uffizi Gallery is one of those must-see places, whether you know much about it or not. I am not sure I could have told you when the Renaissance began or ended or what its art looked like before we visited, but now I have a clearer idea. This is largely because we had anContinue reading “The Uffizi Gallery–Custodian of the Renaissance”

The High Noon Birdwatching Society

Italy is not known for birdwatching, yet we’ve had a couple of excellent experiences lately. After visiting the archaeology museum in Chiusi, we had our picnic beside Lake Chiusi where we found a flock of Great Crested Grebes in their summer mating colors. We did not see any of the mating ritual they are knownContinue reading “The High Noon Birdwatching Society”

Some Tuscan Towns and Country

We have driven out from Florence to see more of Tuscany. The traditional landscape of dry yellow fields bordered by tall narrow cypresses is there, but so are rolling forested hills, rocky outcrops bearing hill towns and dry plains bordered by umbrella pines and the sea. Hemos salido de Florencia para ver más de laContinue reading “Some Tuscan Towns and Country”

A First Dip into Florence

We are visiting Florence sparingly to avoid total burnout from the combustion of cultural experiences under the force of heat and pressure from crowds. The first rule of visiting cities: Never Take the Car, is easy here. There is excellent tram service from Scandicci into the city center. There is parking in a nearby shoppingContinue reading “A First Dip into Florence”

Visiting the Etruscans

The people who lived between Rome and Florence from about 800- 200 BC were the Etruscans. Eventually these people were absorbed into the Roman population of Italy but they had a huge influence that is not well known because of the way Etruscan religion and culture merged into that of Rome. Best known from artifactsContinue reading “Visiting the Etruscans”

Welcome to Scandicci (Florence)

On June 1, we moved into our new apartment, half a house above Scandicci, a suburb of Florence. It is very comfortable, and our hostess, Lucia, is very warm and willing to put up with my stumbling Italian. El 1 de junio, nos mudamos a nuestro nuevo apartamento, media casa encima de Scandicci, un suburbioContinue reading “Welcome to Scandicci (Florence)”

Making Mosaics

There are mosaics in Venice, but I didn’t find any place that was making mosaics. In Ravenna, however, there are several large mosaic studios. We visited one and I enjoyed seeing the range of work that was being done. Some pieces are copies of classical mosaics, or pieces made in classical style. Hay mosaicos enContinue reading “Making Mosaics”

Ravenna, a mosaic jewel

We spent the day between rental apartments in Ravenna. I visited in 1968 with my Italian family when I was a summer exchange student and I never forgot these beautiful works of art and I wanted Jonathan to see them. We had a rapid but satisfying visit to all the main sites. The mosaics areContinue reading “Ravenna, a mosaic jewel”

Dilemma in Venice

Venice has signs along some of its narrow streets and on its narrow bridges that remind visitors that real people (Italian people, VENETIAN people) live in Venice and have places to go, people to see, things to do. If tourists would kindly keep moving and not stop in the middle of bridges, people who liveContinue reading “Dilemma in Venice”