The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo



260. Giambologna in the Bargello

Well, it's been nearly a week since my dad left and only one week until the new Giambologna exhibition finishes. I have my first lesson today at 1pm and the Bargello museum is only open in the mornings, so Annette and I tear ourselves out of bed and get on the bus to the centre nice and early.


 


Giambologna is one of our favourite Sculptors and was very prolific in Florence. The exhibition is superb. Some of his pieces are always here and some have been specially brought in. I even pick up an amazing sculpture book for 20 euros, what a bargain! And what a Sculptor... not bad for a Frenchman!




(Original journal entry no: 322 - 15/0&/2006)



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