by Penny | 13 Jan, 2013 | Lead story, News, Opera, Social History, theatre
St. Mark’s Italian Opera Academy presents MASTERCLASSES for SINGERS July 2nd-July 22nd 2013 Over the past five years nearly all of my visitors have been treated to operas and concerts at St Mark’s English Church on Via Maggio in Florence. This intimate...
by Penny | 14 Oct, 2012 | Books, Films set in Italy, Lead story, News, Religious History, Renaissance Art, Social History, Tuscan gardens, WW2
Final day of 2012 Beyond the Yalla Dog Garden Tours – Cetinale, Castello di Brolio and a review of Good and Bad Government in Siena Cetinale , a villa near Siena was constructed by Carlo Fontana , a pupil of Bernini, between 1676 and 1719 – we visited...
by Penny | 20 Sep, 2012 | Garden tours, Lead story, News, Social History, Tuscan gardens
So pleased to welcome Dr Katie Campbell back to Florence for another garden tour this October. Katie at Villa Gamberaia in May Katie in the gardens at La Foce last year As always we can expect a lively and articulate introduction to the gardens of Tuscany and the...
by Penny | 18 Sep, 2012 | Films set in Italy, Florentine History, Lead story, News, Religious History, Social History
I used to think that the medieval insults and childish taunts from Knight to Knight in the tale of Monty Python and the Holy Grail was just a clever joke – maybe even pushed a little too far! But not at all! Python Terry Jones is far too clever a historian for...
by Penny | 11 Jul, 2012 | Lead story, Tuscan gardens, Wine tasting
11.7.12 Casa Emma Winery We went to Casa Emma today – always a pleasure to listen to their enthusiastic team taking about their organic approach to wine production – and then to taste their delicious wines!! This is the main entrance to the...
by Penny | 19 Jun, 2012 | Books, Lead story, Social History
19.6.12 Eric Musgrave Eric Musgrave has been an expert on style and fashion for over 32 years, and like everyone else who is anyone in the fashion world, he is in Florence this week for the Pitti Uomo fashion week. This coincides with the local launch of his book...
