Just across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco — and 700 years into the past — distinguished professors from all over the world are lecturing on the work of 14th century Florentine poet and humanist Giovanni Boccaccio, renown for works such as Decameron and On Famous Women. Recently, San Franciscans enjoyed Pier Paolo Pasolini's Decameron at the Castro Theater. Boccaccio believed that much could be learned from antiquity. He challenged the arguments of those who wanted to limit access to classical sources to prevent any "moral harm" to readers. The revival of classical antiquity became an important step toward the Renaissance. The series kicks off on Thursday October 24th and goes until the 26th at Wheeler Hall at the University of California Berkeley. For detailed information click here.

Here is a Sonetto from Giovanni Boccaccio that shows his passion for life in all its aspects, including... sex! The text comes from an Anthology of Italian Poems 13th-19th Century selected and translated by Lorna de' Lucchi, Alfred A. Knopf, New York; 1922; pp. 90-92, 350-51. The original version is at the bottom. See you in Berkeley!

Read more

Fonte: San Francisco, Italy