Italy Events

Rome


EUR under the spotlight again
The EUR neighborhood in Rome has been forgotten for far too many years by both turists and the capital’s cultural audience. But today things may change since a new, great architectural project has just been unveiled and which will put EUR on the map for design lovers.



From the genius mind of the worldknown architect Massimilano Fuksas, in three years time a new complex will be born on the same spot, where the known Palazzo dei Congressi is now located. “A collective dream, for a positive change in Rome’s architecture”. With these words, the roman architect explains the vision for his multifunctional complex already know as “The Fuksas’ Clowd” due to the huge glowing and flying sculpture located at its entrance which resembles to a clowd. Over an area of 27 thousands square meters, the new complex will be able to host 11 thousand people, with its 1.800 places Auditorium, and 600 rooms hotel. Also, there will be a parking space for 2.500 cars, coffee shops and restaurants, while under the building there will be more 15 thousands square meters available for several different activities. For further informations, please visit: www.fuksas.it



Tosca - Piccola Lirica: top ten must do must see in Italy
After the first season, in spring 2007 the request was so big that this three acts opera by Giacomo Puccini is now returning at Theatre Flaiano in Rome for its second season.
Piccola Lirica is a company attempting to popularize the art form of the opera. For no less then 8th months a shortened version of Tosca will be performed at this small theatre in the historical centre of Rome. The Piccola Lirica will be doing 200 Tosca evenings until the 25th of May, when the season closes, and instead of the usual three hours show, the opera last for only ninety minutes. The idea is that in this way a younger audience will be reached.
Other details that have been thought of in the same attempt to attract a new and younger audience, is for example playing in a 200 seat theatre, which makes it easier for the people to see the expressions of the actors. Also the choice of a younger cast have been made on purpose, because the usual image of the stereotyped middle-aged divas. The compressed version aswell gives it a more affordable choice compared to the big opera houses.

By the "Independent" Piccola Lirica was classed among the top ten "must do/must see in Italy", while the New York Times reviewed it as a "charming, touching and a little genuine pathos".





Teatro Flaiano Via Santo Stefano del Cacco, 15 00186 Roma tel. 06.6796496
Ticket price ranges from 44,00 to 77,00 Euros
and can be purchased online on this site.

Music: Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
Reduction and dramaturgical adaptation: Gianna Volpi
Musical adaptation and Orchestra Director: Elisabetta Del Buono
Conductor: Rossana Siclari
Management: Gabriella Callea



Landscapes of Memory The Roman Watercolors of Ettore Roesler Franz
Landscapes of Memory is a tribute to the painter Ettore Roesler Franz, taking place at the "Museo di Roma in Trastevere" to celebrate the centenary of his death, showing 79 watercolour paintings that stretch from 1876 to 1895.
These paintings are Witnesses of the vanished Rome at the end of the nineteenth century. Ettore Roesler had mixed feelings about the mentality of the city life, but at the same time he was very much attached to his home town.




With his paintings he wanted to testify the deep changes that took place in Rome after the proclamation; capital city of Italy and the disastrous flood that afflicted Rome later the same year. The artist was an absolute master of the difficult technique of watercolours, and his impressive paintings describe very well the rapid process of modernization of the city.
He gave a lot of attention to the areas along the river Tiber, where many buildings where destroyed to give space to the containment walls to the river, but also the areas of Piazza Venezia, the Ghetto and Monti Trastevere, where very important urban, architectural and artistic areas of old Rome was lost forever. An impressive exhibition by a roman artist, in the heart of one of Rome's most characteristic areas.



Museo di Roma in Trastevere
The museum is found in Piazza Sant'Egidio, Trastevere - Open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10.00 to 20.00.
The tickets cost Euro 5,50 (full price) and Euro 4,00 ( reduced )
Enjoy!



Committenze Contemporaneee
Committenze Contemporanee is a new exhibition project linked to a cultural program titled Dieci Grandi Mostre (Ten Big Exhibitions), started in 2006 with the exhibition of Raffaello's works. The project aims to connect to each exhibition of important past artists, such as Tiziano, Correggio, Bernini, Caravaggio, Raffaello, the original works of contemporary artists, to increase the values of their contents and improve elaborations and critiques. The first Committenza Contemporanea, committed to vedovamazzei (Maristella Scala and Simeone Crispino) titled Raphael the Western, is conceptually connected to the innovation brang by Raffaello in the artistic filed, and is revisited in a contemporary point of view, with a revolutionary combination between wild nature and painting's seduction.

Rome, Borghese Gallery Video
Piazzale Scipione Borghese (Parco di Villa Borghese)
Ticket price: Euro 10,50



Florence

Florence over Christmas
If you are visiting Florence over Christmas here are some tips on how to find the right Christmas atmosphere in the renaissance city. The markets is yearly returning tradition, and you will find several of them throughout the city, the most important is the one in Piazza Santa Croce, here you'll find traditional Christmas biscuits, wine and decoration.



If you are strolling down Piazza Republica you will find the giant decorated Christmas tree and if you are travelling with kids, maybe a visit to the ice-skating rink in piazza della Libertà is a good idea. Another guarantee for the right atmosphere is the Christmas concerts. This year there are no less then 30 different ones organised all over town. Music will be played in churches, museums and libraries, sacred as well as classical and contemporary. We can mention that the 29th of December at the "Altana della Biblioteca delle Oblate" the choir "Piccolo coro di melograno" will perform music of Brahms and Coppio Ferri. Also keep in mind the Teatro della Pergola where several concert will be performed during the holidays.


Finally there is the big new years eve concert in Piazza Santa Croce but if you prefer why not celebrate the new year in the Uffizi center, surrounded by centuries of art and history? In front of the Uffizi gallery this big party will take place for the second year in the row.







Arnolfo, the origins of the Florentine Renaissance
Museum of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza del Duomo 9, Florence
Arnolfo Di Cambio was an architect and a sculpture, one of the greatest of the later part of the two hundreds. This exhibition at Museo dell'Opera in Florence closes the season of VIIth centenary celebrations of the artist Arnolfo. There are more ten hundred works presented at the exhibition, and many of them comes from Florence where Arnolfo also is associated with some of the major monuments of this period. An exhibition dedicated to sculpture with masterpieces in loan from both Italy and abroad. For example you will be able to admire the "Madonna" of the school of Nicola Pisano in Berlin and the statue of Charles d’Anjou from the Capitoline Museum. But there will also be paintings, gold work and sculptures describing for us the artistic scene in the city of Florence during the period of Arnolfo.

The Florence Museum of Santa Maria del Fiore is found in Piazza del Duomo n. 9.
The museum is open every day from 9.00 to 19.30, full price is 10,00 euros and reduced is 8,50 euros.



Michelangelo's Architecture at San Lorenzo, four open questions
Casa Buonarroti, Via Ghibellina 70
Thanks to the drawings of Michelangelo in Casa Buonarroti and other works of art from prestigious Italian and international collections this exhibition is presented. An exhibition which has as main theme the discussion of the incompleteness of Brunelleschi's famous basilica. This is also an occasion to a deeper study of Michelangelo's role as architect in one of the most famous and visited artistic monuments, with the help of digital renderings and three-dimensional models. The exhibition focuses on four key issues and the aim is to try and straighten out some questions regarding this four themes. The intervention in the New Sacristy, the stair hall of the Laurentian Library, the construction of the Tribuna delle Reliquie and the drawings for the mysterious triangular-plan "Secret Library" that was never realised.

Tickets: full price Euros 6,50, reduced price Euros 4,00, schools Euros 3,00
Opening hours: 9.30 - 14.00, closed on Tuesdays.



Tuscany events


Chianti Sculpture Park Pievasciata, Siena - Chianti Sculpture Park map
A project of integrating art and nature using international sculpture works, each one expressed in different materials has resulted a unique art experience, The Chianti Sculpture Park.
It has recently opened but is already a "must" stopping place, if you are travelling through the Chianti area. Artist from no less than five different continents where asked to first select their prefeable spot in this already stunning landscape, and then make a proposal of a sculpture to arrange there. In this way the park developed into a work of art, with sculptures in total harmony with the trees and light surrounding them, art integrated with the nature!


So if you are travelling in this region of Italy don't miss out on this unusual promenade through the Tuscan landscape. The sculpture park is found in the Chianti region close to the village of Fornace, visiting the homepage of the park, you will find all the information on how to reach it ( in english of course )

The park is open from April to October, from 10:00 am to Sunset. From November to March it is advisable to call first: 0577-357151. The entrance fee is 7,50 euro, 5 euros if you are under 16 years.







Autumn in Chianti
Gastronomic festival in the Chianti region
This food and wine event is organised in eight different municipalities of the Chianti region. It was created to rediscover and explore the traditional Tuscan cuisine. The event is characterized by the participation of 58 typical restaurants spread over the municipalities of Castelnuovo Berardenga, Barberino, Castellina, Gaiole, Greve, Radda, San Casciano e Tavarnelle.
Each one presenting a particular menu following a theme, with promotional prices and as guest of honour the "Extra vergine olive oil".


Festival of Val d’Arbia.
Festival of Val d’Arbia is kept in in Buonconvento, Siena. The festivity recalls on the ancient market of cattle and merchandise that was originally held the 24th of September. Today it consists of different shows, sport events, typical products from the area, merchandise of all kind, aswell as art and sculpture.





Photography exhibition by Gruppo Fotografico Pientino -Pienza
This is a photographic research on the main gardens and green areas within five district of the Val d'Orcia natural park. In the splendid town of Pienza, where the historical centre is on the world heritage list since 1996, this event is organised by Gruppo Fotografico Pientino with the aim to show 600 portrait photos of the beautiful "Val d'Orcia Historic Gardens".





Venice events

WINTER IN VENICE
Sweet tasting's, magic listening and charming events
This is the fifth year that "Winter in Venice" is organised, it begun 17th of November will continue until the 6th of January. No less then hundred events in 50 different locations throughout the city of canals. A sort of festival divided into music, gastronomy and other kind of events. For the example there is the "Cioco Gaudium" which is a gastronomical event dedicated to chocolate, spices and teas, a journey through intense flavours organised by Veneto slow food organisation.

For the music lovers there is a truly rich program of concerts. Some of the most beautiful churches of Venice have been dedicated to Organ and Choir concerts and getting closer to Christmas you will also be able to enjoy gospel concerts. Then there is the show of San Servolo Jazz, but we also suggest this years curious music event "La zampogna de' pastori" which is an unusual musical journey through the pastoral traditions in Italy, perfomed with bagpipes. For those of you staying in Venice also for Christmas eve and day, there will be a Christmas concert performed by the Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto conducted by maestro Sergio Balestracci. Other events such as dance performance, theatre and more, can all be found in the official program, which you can download here (written in Italian as well as English.)



Milan events

Milan-a portrait in movement, the changing metropolis
If you are sightseeing Milan, why not take your time to see what it looked like more than a hundred years ago. At "Forma" the international centre of photography the exhibition "Milan, a portrait in movement" is going on until the 20th of January. The protagonists of this exhibition are Milan and its inhabitants. Black and white photographs from the end of 19th century until the modern city of today. A project organised from four major archives photographic archives telling us the story about a city’s people and the changes throughout a centaury. As well as the historical images there are also today’s big names in photography, like Martin Parr, Luigi Ghirri and others, giving us there personal view on how they see the city.

Forma centre is found in Piazza Tito Lucrezio Caro 1 and the ticket costs euro 7.50 which gives you entrance to all the exhibitions in the museum. Forma centre website


Vivienne Westwood 35 Years of fashion “AGAINST”
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London brings Vivienne Westwood to Palazzo Reale in Milan. From the 26 September to the 20 gennaio 2008 you can visit the greatest tribute ever made to the muse of the punk movement. The exhibition documents the career of the designer starting from 1965 and her first meeting with Malcolm McLaren to the present day.
After leaving London the exhibition has visited Canberra, Shangai, Tokyo and Bangkok, only to mention a few. The last stop is now Italy and here it will stay until the 20th of January. Accompanying the impressive costumes and accessories there are video installations showing some of her most famous fashion shows. Vivienne was the one, that from here little shop in King’s Road, London, launched the Sex Pistols, detested and fought the hypocrisy of the age, and the codes of behaviour of the establishment.

And although she has been so celebrated throughout the years the designer has not lost her revolting manners. To inaugurate the exhibition she enounced, “This is a terrible world, where no one thinks, everyone watches TV and no one reads books or pays interest in art. People continuously want to express themselves, but they are empty inside and got nothing to say, they are only boring!
Then she adds, there is still hope of a change though, if you immerse yourself into art something inside you will change, and if you change yourself, hopefully also the world can change.


Visiting the city of fashion, don’t miss this occasion of seeing an important part of its history. For information and booking telephone 02/54919. Website