In order to meet Cupid and Psyche, as is only right since they are two mythological figures, one has to penetrate into the ancient heart of the capital, in Trastevere. Beyond a small secret garden, crowned in the center by a citrus tree, is a room with a very high ceiling where the mortal Psyche, who in beauty equaled Venus, forever holds in her ma...
READ MOREWhen I begin to talk enthusiastically about the archeological museum in Reggio Calabria, I usually just get blank stares. If I show a photo or two of the famous Bronzes of Riace, interest piques. Once I have my listener’s attention, I introduce the rest of the museum’s collection. Ranging from the prehistoric through the Roman period, the exhibits...
READ MOREThe Vasari Corridor in Florence will reopen to the public on 21 December after eight years of major renovation works, Uffizi director Simone Verde confirmed on Thursday. The Florentine landmark, which links the Uffizi Galleries with Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens, will be inaugurated by Italy's culture minister Alessandro Giuli on 20 December...
READ MOREArchaeologists have unearthed an extraordinary collection of ancient treasures at a thermal spa in Tuscany, including bronze snakes, statues, two gold crowns and perfectly preserved eggs. The remarkable finds were discovered at the site of a 2nd century BC springs complex in San Casciano dei Bagni, near Siena in Italy The artefacts had been remarka...
READ MOREGrowing up in the New York metro area in the 1970s and early 1980s, the work of art I heard my parents discuss most often was Michelangelo’s Pietà. The famous sculpture, which resides inside St. Peter’s in Rome, features a beatific and serene Mary seated with the body of the crucified Jesus sprawled across her lap, evoking the great suffering of hi...
READ MOREItaly is an unparalleled destination for art lovers: from the works of Renaissance masters to the contemporary avant-garde, the country offers a one-of-a-kind cultural journey. Visiting the places where art was born and evolved is a rare and precious opportunity. If you have a deep love for art, Italy will welcome you with a vast range of experienc...
READ MOREOne of Rome’s finest ancient art museums lies just steps from the Termini Station: Palazzo Massimo. If you are looking for a reprieve from the hustling and bustling Capitoline Museums or Vatican Museums, Palazzo Massimo is the perfect place to enjoy beautiful Roman artwork. It is also incredibly accessible due to its convenient location across the...
READ MOREAs visitors reach the end of the European painting section on the second floor of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, they come across a dark entryway with two black walls reading the word “Siena” and “1300-1350,” a time period foreign to most viewers. Once inside, visitors are magically transported to a small medieval Italian city. “Siena: The Rise of...
READ MOREAfter 10 years of closure, the Ninfeo di Villa Giulia, a jewel of water in Renaissance Rome, has reopened to visitors. This first "theater of waters" in Rome, the heart of the gardens wanted by Pope Julius III for his luxurious residence at the foot of the Monti Parioli, will be accessible again. It will also be possible to visit the Sala dello Zod...
READ MOREThe Sistine Chapel is probably one of the most celebrated works of the Renaissance era. Built in the 15th century under Pope Sixtus IV and named in his honor, the chapel forms part of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace and serves as the pope’s private chapel. While its walls were initially adorned by various artists, including Botticelli and Ghirlandai...
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