Stacy Pollard

Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici: The Woman Behind the Treasures of Florence

And so it was that on a July day in Florence, 1737, one which I imagine would have been oppressive and hot as summer days can be in Tuscany, the last ruling member of the Medici family, Grand Duke Gian Gastone, died. He had been a poor representation of the once-great Medici family and with his…

5 Romantic Italian Phrases

One of the beauties of Italian is that it is a very specific language. I would say I love that, but that would be very un-Italian indeed. For example, there are different words to indicate playing a sport (giocare) versus playing an instrument (suonare). Or for painting a wall (tinteggiare) versus creating something with paint — like…

Reads for Renaissance Lovers

Whether categorized as a collection or a fascination/obsession, one topic which is well represented in my home library is the Renaissance. I tend to purchase a book or two during my travels, sparked by something amazing I’ve seen and unable to resist the always strategically placed gift shops. Examples: Above: Brunelleschi’s Dome by Ross King is a must-read…

Reads for Renaissance Lovers: Just the Lists

For an extended version of this post which includes book summaries and thoughts from your reviewer, please click here. 15 Renaissance Reads Mona Lisa: A Life Discovered by Dianne Hales Brunelleschi’s Dome by Ross King Leonardo and The Last Supper by Ross King Michelangelo and the Pope’s Ceiling by Ross King (detecting a pattern, here?)…

Florence’s Other Dome: The Basilica of San Lorenzo’s Medici Chapels

If this shot above were wider, then just a bit to the right you would see Florence’s iconic Duomo, capping the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Pictured here, however, a very similar-in-“miniature” dome graces the Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of the Princes), one of two structures comprising the Medici Chapels in the complex of the…

Cin Cin, Amici!

Cheers to you all, friends. I hope 2017 is off to a beautiful start! Cin cin a tutti, amici! Spero che 2017 (due mila diciasette) comincia bellissimo!

How I (plan to) Study Italian, 2017

I have written that, a few years back, I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions, but last week, at the start of a new session of Italian classes, there was a buon proposito waiting for us all: Migliorare il mio italiano | Improve my Italian Our professoressa had written this knowing that certainly this a goal for all of…

Favorite Snapshots Across the Years: The Florence Edition

Florence makes my heart beat fast. For reasons which I’ve never fully understood, I feel actual love for this city, cradle of the Renaissance. I can’t get enough of it when I’m there; I ache for it when I’m gone. When in Florence, I rise with the sun and wander the streets just for the…

In Grampa’s Piazza

Growing up, Grampa Mike’s story was such a part of our family that it was, in a way, a non-story. We all knew that he immigrated from Italy as a teenager. We knew that he left the small home where he and his big Italian family lived, sailed across the ocean for weeks, landed at…

Snapshots from Italy: Favorites Across the Years, Part 2

This is the second post in a three-part series. For Part One, please click here. Between the years of 1820-2004, sources show that approximately 5.5 million Italians immigrated to the United States, but the biggest wave of immigration was concentrated during the years of 1880-1914, when more than four million Italians came to the United…