Day In Piazza Campo dei Fiori

Posted on Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Piazza Campo dei Fiori is definitely not to be missed while visiting Rome, Italy. It’s a charming little fruit and vegetable market located right in the center of Rome, in a square that bars the same name. The market has been in business since 1869, and is one of many open markets in Rome. It’s well-known for its extremely fresh, extremely colorful produce, meats, fish, and very fragrant fresh and dried spices.

A friend of mine had been to Rome a few times, and she told me that every time she went, she made sure to take a trip to Campo dei Fiori. She raved about how wonderful the little market was, and how delectable the foods were, so I knew that I’d have to check it out for myself. The piazza was relatively easy to find, as it wasn’t too far from the Pantheon. I went early in the morning, which I found out was a good idea as the market closes down at 3pm. The square was alive and buzzing with people—locals picking up ingredients for that night’s meal, tourists flitting about from stall to stall sampling goods, and farmers and growers showing off their produce and wares. The smells filling the air were quite appetizing, as the scents of ripe fruits mingled with the aromas of greens and spices. I didn’t know where to start!

I decided to start at a stall that had tables filled with gorgeous berries: strawberries of a vibrant red, deep-blue blueberries, shiny blackberries, and plump white currants that resembled pearls. The strawberries had such a delicate and sweet flavor, and they were barely tart at all. They were nothing like that Florida and California berries we’re used to in America! And the blueberries were so good, they were almost like candy. Oh, and don’t get me started on the grapes! I always knew that Italy would probably have the best grapes around, and they certainly do. They were everything they were supposed to be, sweet and tart at the same time, along with a crisp, clean flavor. There were many other delightful fruits, including bananas, passion fruit, the sweetest peaches, pineapples, countless kinds of melon, and the deepest red of grapefruits you’ve ever seen.

Following in the Footsteps of Bernini

Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2012

Rome is one of my most favorite places to travel. There is so many things to see, so much history to take in, that more than one trip is necessary in order to see everything you wish to see. Gian Lorenzo Bernini is one of the most famous artists around, and his stunning sculptures and fountains can bee seen all over Rome. The last time I was there, I planned a walk through Rome that would take me to some of his most famous works.

I started my walk at the Santa Maria della Vittoria, which is the Church of Our Lady of Victory. Inside, it houses one of Bernini’s most gorgeous works: the Ecstasy of St. Teresa. In this sculpture, it depicts St. Teresa with her head thrown back in the ecstasy, and a young cherub-like angel with a golden arrow aimed straight for the saint’s heart. The arrow is symbolic of God’s love, and is what is causing St. Teresa’s ecstasy. Both the woman and angel are on a bed of clouds, which were made hollow as to not add extra weight to the already hefty masterpiece. The sun shines down on the pair from above, and on the floor below them, Death is portrayed. I stood in awe of the piece for what seemed like forever.

I continued my walk down Via Barberini to the Piazza Barberini to visit the next Bernini piece on my list, which was the Fontana del Tritone, or the Trition Fountain. In the middle of the white marble basin is a group of four fish that are holding up a large oyster shell with their tailfins. Sitting atop the shell is Triton, a merman that is the mythological god of the sea, and he is blowing on a conch shell. The sculpture itself is made out of travertine, which is a form of limestone that is a common building material in Italy.

Next, I walked down Via delle Quattro Fontane, and passed the Palazzo Barberini, which was a beautiful palace that was once lived in by Barberini. I eventually came upon the Piazza Navona to the last Bernini work on my list, which was the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, or the Fountain of the Four Rivers. Each of the four figures represents a river: The Ganges River, The Danube, The Nile, and the Rio de la Plata. The four figures are featured upon a rock, with a horse in the water underneath. The Nile River’s source was unknown at the time the sculpture was created, so the head of the figure representing the river was covered with a scarf. Behind the stunning piece is a very tall obelisk, that was brought into Rome by the Emperor Caracalla. The obelisk had been buried for quite some time at Capo di Bove, awaiting to be used to adorn a brilliant fountain. The obelisk had been saved for just the right fountain, because the Fntana dei Quattro Fiumi is a brilliant piece, indeed.

Florence, Italy

Posted on Saturday, January 07, 2012

The Crown of the Renaissance, Florence is a jewel.  Most Italy tours only spend two days there so time is of the essence in order to see all the main sights.  Your sightseeing tour should include Piazza Michaelangelo for the magnificent view of the city, the Duomo (cathedral with fabulous Brunelleschi Dome), Baptistry Doors of bronze and famous Piazza Signoria.   This tour takes a half day.    On your own, you must cross overthe Arno River on the Pontevecchio and shop at leisure for Florentine gold trinkets.   On the other side is the Pitti Palace art museum and Boboli Gardens which allows for a lovely stroll among the topiaries.  Whether you are an art lover or not, the Uffizi Gallery has a collection of the world’s finest art by the great masters such as Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, Botticelli and more.   Tickets can be purchased in advance on the net to avoid long lines.  You also cannot leave Florence without seeing the world famous David at the Accademia.  It’s amazing to see in person and there are many other wonderful sculptures there.

For relaxing, all of the piazzas have gelato shops and around each corner is a fabulous leather goods shop.  If you have an extra day, you can take day trips to anywhere in Tuscany such as Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti Country and more.  There are also cooking classes, olive oil tastings, chocolate and wine tastings…

Florence has something for everyone.

Italy: Art and Culture

Posted on Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Italy has been witness to the birth of two of the most powerful and influential forces in not only Europe, but the Western World. The mark the Romans left on the world is not only cultural but the evidence of their highly sophisticated society is no more abundant than in the heart of the former Empire itself, Rome.

Almost 1000 years after the fall of the ancient Roman Empire, Italy again (this time with Florence leading the way) became the cultural capital of the world, the Renascence (not just an art movement, but an intellectual awakening, an explosion of science, technology and discovery that changed the way the people of Europe operated and saw themselves) flourished here.

Florence is still today the undisputed capital of Renascence Art, fueled by the Medici Family in the late 1400’s and into the 1600’s the city was host to Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and a who’s who of art science and philosophy legends . People still visit the city today to witness for themselves the beauty and perfection in painting, sculpture and architecture that was created during this time. Some of the cities most famous and visited museums include the Accademia and the Uffuzi.

Rome was never far behind Florence in this cultural awakening and is home to the Vatican City, home to the Vatican Museums and the roof of the Sistine Chapel so famously painted by Michelangelo as well as his ‘Last Judgment’. People also flock to Rome from every corner of the globe for religious pilgrimages, to St. Peters Basilica, home of the Catholic Church and the Vatican City, located in the heart of Rome.

Venice also provides a totally unique experience with it’s canals, bridges, gondolas, the Basilica of St Mark and the square, reputed to be one of the most beautiful and romantic in the world.

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Gelato Like No Other from San Gimignano

Posted on Tuesday, December 20, 2011