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September 17-24th 2013 – Painting in a Palazzo in San Agata dei Goti with Glynis Barnes Mellish
Introducing a completely new venture – surprisingly not based in either London or Florence! In September we are visiting a small walled town called San Agata dei Goti near Naples for a whole weeks Artist’s Workshop staying and working in or near a Palazzo which, following 12 years of restoration, has been set up specifically [...]
Painting
Federico da Montefeltro – The Duke of Urbino»Federico da Montefeltro One of the most frequently commented upon paintings in the Uffizi is this elaborate panel painting by Piero della Franscesca Sadly for the Duke of Urbino, who is portrayed on in this diptych with his Duchess sometime between 1465-72 the comments are hardly flattering – in fact more often utterly damning, towards poor Federico’s facial beauty! And the [...]
Cooking
Agretti – a short seasonal treat»Last night at Dinos I had my first taste of Agretti – a grass like Mediterranean vegetable with thin succulent needle like leaves that grow on small bushy plants – in season now – it will not be around for long! Expensive and highly prized by top chefs, agretti is difficult to get to seed, making [...]
Italian language
From Acciaiuoli to Zecca Vecchia – the naming of streets in Florence»From Acciaiuoli to Zecca Vecchia – the Street – Names of Florence researched and written by Mark Roberts. This little known book is a treasure-house for anyone interested in the history of Florence – all these Vias, Borgos, Piazzas, Vicolos and Valtas hold their history in their names – and Tuscany more than anywhere else [...]