Thursday, October 23, 2014

Women, Books and Blogs at the American Academy in Rome

Rome viewed from Villa Aurelia's terrace 


The American Academy’s Villa Aurelia  proudly  crowns the Janiculum Hill, aloof and elegant  and full of history. It is not  easy to arrive  by  public transport  and for years it was a place mostly frequented by the resident scholars,  lucky recipients of the prestigious  Rome Prizes.


Over  the past several years  the American Academy has continued its policy of  opening up to local creative people of all nationalities thus enriching the scholars in residence and enlarging the circle of scholarship and community.
security at Villa Aurelia

Villa Aurelia by night


Last Tuesday  it was a pleasure to see a full house  listening attentively to the speakers at the conversation about Women and the Social Media. 


 Among those present the newly arrived Irish Ambassador, Bobby McDonagh, local bloggers, academics, art historians, students and  journalists.
a goup of local writers and  journalists  





The emphasis was on how social media, internet, the 24-hour news cycle and the democratized internet can be used to  empower  women worldwide. The panelists   each narrated personal incidents, discussed the present day situation and  strategies for the future.  

the distinguished panelists 
The Italian speakers  lauded their American counterparts  for their knowhow  and gumption, for it was pointed out that Italian women are woefully  behind perhaps  due to shyness and cultural mores.

“But”, Sabina Ciuffini explained, “ we Italians are better cooks”. 
Sabina Ciuffini, a blast from the past 

Linda Douglass

Mary Beard speaks with Kim Bowes 



The bilingual  conference   included a Skype connection with Dr. Cecilia Kyenge in  Strasbourg and was skillfully coordinated by   Kim Bowes of the American Academy.


Panelists were author  Mary Beard, the former White House  Communications Director for Health Care Linda Douglass, blogger and entrepreneur  Sabina Ciuffini www.unaqualunque.it and former Italian Minister Dr. Cecilia Kyenge . 
 prosecco after the conference 

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Anagni: Papal town south of Rome


Entrance to Anagni: Porta Santa Maria 
Rome’s Vatican City, Viterbo and Anagni  are the three Italian cities where popes have lived over the centuries.  Anagni  is the least known, least visited, but worthwhile  for its rustic charm, historic palazzi and  monuments.

Although I have lived in Italy for  50 years, it was only  last week that I had a chance to visit  Anagni thanks to a trip organized  by the Viterbo archeology club where I often lecture-ArcheoTuscia.  


Apse and Chapel dedicated to  St. Thomas Becket  

The main attraction for the group of Viterbesi was to compare their city with Anagni and to have a "gita" (day out) which included a nice lunch.

high noon at Anagni's Cathedral 
  My reason  was to finally see Anagni's  Cathedral with the 12th century frescoed crypt of San Magno which art historians consider  the  Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages.

The frescoes are filled with symbolism  and could be studied  in detail for  several hours. But that does not happen  for visits are monitored for all groups, large or small.. 
entrance  to the lower level crypt 
Each person  pays  a  4 euro entrance fee  to  clamber down the dangerously steep stairway and  enter the crypt. 

bell tower shadow on the Duomo facade
While the  guide  explained the significance of  the mysterious  frescoes  and visitors jostled to get a look, we  kept  an eye on the time for  after 10 minutes  the lights are  automatically  switched  off.

Comatesque floors in upper part of Duomo 
Like the Sistine Chapel in Vatican,  it is forbidden to take photos and videos, so a voice shouting “No Foto!”  punctuated the visit. 

Here is a scan of the crypt's layout  which shows  how complicated 
the fresco cycles are. 

How does Anagni  compare with our nearby papal town of Viterbo? 
bookshop at Anagni 
Viterbo’s Papal Palace complex has  a well stocked bookshop and souvenir stands  bursting with  books and guides while the only  printed material  on the crypt is a poorly translated 40 page pamphlet priced at an  exorbitant  7 euro.
Pope Boniface VIII statue


 profferlo stairway, similar to those in Viterbo

"herding cats" 



Anagni countryside  


a picturesque  corner

 The medieval quarter of Viterbo  is pedestrians only while a  stroll through Anagni means dodging  traffic and  is best done with a local guide who can  explain  the town’s complicated history and lead you to the most picturesque corners.

our guide Luca with wife Antonella  
Our guide Luca Di Cocco  did an admirable job and chose  an excellent  Agriturismo  for  lunch in a country setting. 
  
lunch at Agriturismo  San Isidoro
  


Friday, October 3, 2014

Antiques Fair in Rome's Palazzo Venezia

Staircase to the Biennale Antiques Fair 

Palazzo Venezia is the venue for the 9th edition of the Rome Antiques Biennial this week  (Oct  1-6,2014). 
lunch time at the Biennale 


entrance  to  the Biennale, Palazzo Venezia, Via del Plebiscito
directly in front of the 64 bus stop and Berlusconi's apartment 


Dealer with two sculptures and  a collection of mortars

Roman mosaic table top 

Boldini portrait and two dealers 

 Forty-three  top antiques  dealers  present their collections of antiques, paintings, sculptures and art  objects in  a bid to revive interest (and sales)  of antiques in  crisis-hit Italy.

The best time to visit  the show is  late morning or  early afternoon when  the crowds  have thinned out and  the dealers  have time to  answer questions about about  their  wares.

A magnificent Madonna and child at Ida Benucci's stand


A dealer checks  his computer flanked by  two magnificent paintings
Most  of the exhibitors  are the “old guard”   with  classy shops   in the Piazza di Spagna and  Via Babuino area of  Rome.
Others come from Bologna, Milano, Perugia  and Florence.   




The level is extremely high with museum quality furniture, paintings, sculptures and  objects of art. 
a group of dealers discuss as they await  visitors

Prices of antiques (and real estate)  have come down considerably  in the past decade making this  an excellent time to invest. 
Dealers complain that buyers are scarce,  and the Italians and foreigners who once purchased their prestige wares are now few and far between.

 All styles and periods  are represented at the Biennial where a  few hours  of browsing and chatting with dealers becomes an enriching experience.
Art Dèco parchment consolle
Learn more about antiques, styles of furniture  and how to buy antiques in Italy on  Elegant Etruria's  Antiques  section .

The more you know about antiques and the market, the better you can bargain for  that  irresistible piece that catches your eye. 

For more information see the Biennal's website . Your comments  and questions are welcome.