Cucinelli Family Roots Solomeo, Italy On the rise of a low hill, not far from Lago Trasimeno—a heart shaped lake in the heart of the province of Umbria—rests the home village of Federica Cucinelli, wife of Brunello Cucinelli. For those unfamiliar with Signor Cucinelli, his family founded what became a world-wide clothing empire. [...]
Venice to Piegaro: A Daring Escape In 1292, the rulers of Venice decreed all glass blowing would move to the island of Murano to protect the city from fires created by the furnaces in the glass workshops. Subsequently, the artists became virtual prisoners to their craft as the Venetians attempted to keep a monopoly on [...]
A Chance Discovery Trevi Many years ago, by sheer luck, I found myself in the small town of Trevi. This treasure rests in the province of Umbria, adjacent to the SS3, the main road that winds north from Terni to Foligno. I stopped in the town to have lunch and discovered, either by [...]
His contemporaries called him Fra Giovanni; after his death, angels joined his name. Guido di Pietro was born in a small village in the Mugello area of Tuscany. As an adult, he joined a confraternity associated with the Carmine order where assumed the name of Fra Giovanni, Brother John. He lived a devout an inconspicuous [...]
Umbria, the very heart of Italy, is little known to many visitors. Our trip begins with transfers from Rome directly to our villa in the hills of central Umbria.
Midnight in Umbria's city of Norcia. Huge construction lights illuminate the facade of the Basilica of St. Benedict. Behind the facade, ruin. The loss of this religious and artistic treasure will take decades to restore-if it can ever be restored. October 30, 2016 - the aftermath The basilica was constructed over the site [...]
In the aftermath of, now, two tremors which have shaken central Italy, a friend, Anne Robichaud, has shared some photos of the damage done to the small church of San Salvatore, near Norcia, in Umbria. While there is little that can be done at this time, I am certain that once time allows those who [...]
Our prayers are with those affected by a second series of large earthquakes that struck late this evening Central European Time, October 26, 2016, once again in central Italy. The epicenter appears to be in the same general area of central Italy, not too far from Amatrice, one of the most heavily damaged villages in [...]
It was during a recent visit to the Alte Pinakothek in Munich that I encountered The Annunciation by an artist whose name I did not recognize: Fra Carnevale. Portrait Fra Carnevale1470Artist Unknown My curiosity was roused and I began to research this little known, reclusive, Renaissance artist. Between the years 1420 and 1425, [...]
Piegaro, Umbria, Italy This small walled village holds within its medieval walls, one of the most treasured secrets in the province of Umbria and of Italy; the creation of stained glass. Situated above the Nestore River in central Umbria, the town became a destination for glass artists from Venice. In 1292, the Venice [...]