Celebrating Your Inner Italian
Ferdinando Scianna: Viaggio, Racconto, Memoria (Travel, Story, Memory) is currently showing at the Modern Art Museum in Palermo.
I had never seen Scianna’s work prior to this show. Now, I can’t imagine a world without it. His eye is keen and empathetic.
By Sharon Sanders
Our first full day in Palermo started with great time at the Sunday flea market. Mercatino Antiquario di Piazza Marina runs weekly from 7 a.m. to midday. Dozens of vendors surround the lovely gated park and nearby streets.
By Walter Sanders
Sardinia tour guide Paola Loi connected us with the mayor of Milis Sergio Vacca.
In 2018, when Sharon was studying Italian in Bergamo, and I caught up with her in Cremona, we met up with old pals James Martin and Martha Bakerjian.
These renowned Italy bloggers split their time between northern California and a small town in the wild and wooly Lunigiana section of Tuscany near Massa Carrarra.
The pair met in the mid-1980s when they both worked on an archeological dig in Sardinia. They share an avid interest in Italy and blog at Martha’s Italy, Wandering Sardinia, and Wandering Italy
Over lunch we decided to meet again in 2019 to explore Sardinia together. In April, 2019 we boarded a Corsica Ferries boat in Livorno for an overnight crossing to Porto Aranci in Sardinia. [Read more…]
The banks of the Temo River in Bosa, Sardinia. The Malaspina Castle is on the hill (above left).
Driving south from Alghero on the northwest coast of Sardinia, it’s a scenic hour-long drive south to the ancient town of Bosa. On a fine sunny April morning, with tapestries of wildflowers cascading down the mountains to the Mediterranean Sea, you might think you were in Paradise.
The old town of Bosa has two water outlets: the sea port and the Temo River which is said to be the only navigable river on the island.
By Sharon Sanders
Just typing those words and I salivate. Giusti is a fine bakery in the center of Lucca on Via S. Lucia.
Forno a Vapore Amedeo Giusti (steam oven bakery Amedeo Giusti) creates a variety of breads and pastries using stone-ground organic DOP (protected place of origin) flour, heirloom grains, extra-virgin olive oil and other premium ingredients.
The budino di riso (lemon-kissed rice pudding in a cookie crust; above left) was paradise.
A mini crostata filled with stracchino cheese was a savory sensation.
A glazed walnut-fig brioche pastry (right) tasted like Christmas. Walter and I slivered it into disappearing.
The most impressive baked good was the focaccia, both for the quality of the product and the volume of it that left the shop on our two visits.
By Sharon Sanders
Weaver Genni Tommasi was profiled in a recent Dream of Italy newsletter article about artisans in Lucca. I bookmarked the piece and this morning made the pilgrimage to Tommasi Loomworks at Via Sant’Andrea 28 to meet the tanto talented Signora Tommasi and her gentle assistant, the collie Lady Hawke.
As promised in the DOI article by Mary Ann Hemphill, the space was graced by Tommasi loom- woven creations in natural fabrics: tops, scarves, neck ornaments, chandelier coverings, tote bags, even aprons. Tommasi, a former harpist, has two looms set up in the back of the showroom. She says her son is now weaving with her.
Tommasi was chatting with friends — an American family who live in Belgium –who had stopped by to visit. Also in the showroom was an associate from Norway who represents Tommasi’s creations in Scandinavia.
Lady Hawke brings a gentle vibe to the Tommasi showroom.
It was a thrill to meet the artist and acquire (grazie, Walter) a silk shawl of exceptional beauty.