Beyond the Yalla Dog

Thanks to Alesandra Korey of the Florentine and Arttrav for the invitation to the Murate this evening.

I have to admit that the Murate would not previously have been an accommodation of choice for me –  meaning literally The Walled Up Ones – previous guests have not always been so keen to go through the entrance – as they rarely came out again!

Originally a Convent, housing amongst others the orphaned Medici child duchess Catherine de Medici, for her own protection against the anti-Medici faction in 1527 and Cammilla Martelli, the loudly  protesting widow of Grand Duke Cosimo 1, who was incarcerated there by her stepson Francesco within hours of his father’s death in 1573!

Cell Doors at the Murate

In latter years the Murate became a real prison, but now after at least ten years work, it has been transformed into a Culture Centre for the City of Florence and is a really beautiful building in which to hold events.

Our Murate visit was a lot happier than those of the Medici ladies because we chose to join a Knitting group – with American style refreshments – with lots of support for our projects from Ace Knitter Barbara and the team from the Florentine.

Thanks for reawakening another early life interest Ladies!

Some participants in the Knitting Bee at the Murate - April 28th 2011