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…
Tag: Travel
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…
Snapshots from Italy: Favorites Across the Years, Part 1
A very rough (and probably low) estimate of pictures of Italy I have in my personal files is around 2500. So, in what seems like a perfect way to avoid post-Christmas clean up and neglected laundry from the holidays, I thought it would be fun to showcase some of my top favorites this month. Enjoy…
Snapshots from Italy: A Wish List
“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher While I have been fortunate to see the moon shine from several places in the world (including Italy), Italy is still an itch that needs scratching. Here are some places still on my Italian wish…
Libri love.
I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I stepped into this abundant bookstore in Milan. So beautiful, so orderly, so many libri italiani (Italian books). My heart started beating fast and I didn’t know which section to tackle first. However, I took this picture because there was a great irony occurring at that exact…
Mixing Media
Old world mixes with new as this man of the cloth checks his phone while exiting the Basilica di San Nicola in Bari, Italy. San Nicola (Saint Nicholas), is the patron saint of Bari, Italy, and is thought to be the man who inspired Santa Claus traditions the world over. Please visit Prayers and Piazzas Thursday…
Blessings to all who Pass By
Behold the tabernacolo, those lovely outdoor altars that are ubiquitous in Italy. Ecco il tabernacolo, quelle belle altari all’aria aperta che sono onnipresenti in Italia. “Talvolta con tabernacolo si indica una piccola edicola o capitello votivo o santella o altra struttura posta in luogo pubblico, all’interno della quale è inserita un’immagine sacra (dipinta o scolpita), a…
Contrada Bella
Just a peaceful stone archway, encountered during our summer stroll (passeggiata) in Varenna. Through the archway on one of the nearby buildings was a tile marker etched with the name of the neighborhood, fittingly named: …beautiful district The book giveaway contest is open through this Sunday, November 27! Please click here for more details on how…
Thank you from the heart, and a book giveaway!
Grazie is a simple and easy way to say thank you in Italian. Perhaps you’ve used this word yourself from time to time, even if you’re not learning Italian. But sometimes, one wants to express a stronger sense of gratitude, a heartfelt thank you, something conveying more emotion. Molte grazie (thank you very much), grazie mille (a…
Book Love, Italiano
Thankfully this bookshop in Florence was closed when Daughter and I stumbled upon it this summer, or I may have ended up facing the dilemma of carrying several fragile books back to the U.S. without being damaged en route! Although I would love a couple of these for my collection… This simple display marries two…
Prayers & Piazzas 