Calici di Stelle 2017 in Tuscany

Calici di Stelle, Castelvecchio

Get your star charts out, the Italian wine and stargazing event is back from August 10th to 15th. This year Tuscany has planned a wine picnic within the vineyards of the great wineries participating.

Antinori, San Casciano Val Di Pesa

From sunset it will be possible to savour excellent Tuscan wines, accompanied by music or other forms of entertainment, under the open sky of wine estates. This year’s edition’s slogan is “You enjoy the stars, we take care of the wine”.

Castello di Ama, Chianti Senese

The idea is to open not only the cellar doors but also the vineyard gates, inviting visitors to enjoy the beautiful countryside together with a good glass of wine while observing the stars.

Il Borro, Loro Ciuffena, Arezzo

So from the vineyards along the seashore of Maremma and the Etruscan Coast, passing through the Val d’Orcia and the great Tuscan designations, Brunello di Montalcino and Nobile di Montepulciano, up towards Chianti and under the Apuan Alps of Candia and the Colli di Luni, wineries will be organizing numerous initiatives from August 10th to 15th.

Tenuta di Artimino, Artimino, Prato

For a complete calendar of participating wineries and events take a look here.

Castello Banfi, Montalcino, Siena

Pubblicato in Events in Tuscany, Italian food and wine, Tuscan food and wine, Tuscan wineries, Tuscany | Contrassegnato , , , , , , , | Lascia un commento

Cortona Mix Festival 2017

Cortona Mix Festival

The multidisciplinary event is back. Music, theatre, books, dancing, cinema, culture, and much, much more are the arts that make this festival quiet unique. The beautiful town of Cortona this year opens its historic buildings, streets and squares from July 19th to 23rd.

Cortona Mix Festival

At its sixth edition, this year the theme of Cortona Mix Festival is “Travel Notes”. Visitors are invited to explore a journey that moves from the past towards the future through a programme packed with concerts, shows, encounters and special events. An itinerary which kicks off on Wednesday morning and concludes on Sunday evening with a party at the Girifalco’s Fortress.

Cortona Mix Festival

On Thursday 20th evening in Piazza Signorelli the return in Italy of The Boomtown Rats, featuring Bob Geldof, Garry Roberts, Pete Briquette and Simon Crowe. On Friday 21st David Lynch’s documentary film “The Art of Life” will be screened in Signorelli Theatre at 3 pm and again at 11.30 pm. On the same day singer-actress Jill Hennessy will be performing in Piazza Signorelli at 9.30 pm with Max Weinberg & Siena Jazz University.

Cortona Mix Festival

For a complete programme in English look here while for ticket offices here.

Cortona Mix Festival

Pubblicato in Cortona, Events in Valdichiana, Festivals and feasts in Tuscany, Tuscany, Valdichiana | Contrassegnato , , , , | Lascia un commento

Bruce Chatwin. The journey continues

Bruce Chatwin

On at the Tower of the Castello dei Vescovi di Luni in Castelnuovo Magra (La Spezia, Liguria) is the photography exhibition Bruce Chatwin… il viaggio continua. The exhibition wants to celebrate the renowned English travel writer who 40 years ago astonished the literary world with his first book In Patagonia (1977).

Bruce Chatwin

Writing and art were fundamental elements of Chatwin’s life, nonetheless photography proved to be an essential narrative instrument. He was a very talented photographer with a sharp eye for details.

Bruce Chatwin, Patagonia

After his death, it was discovered that he had taken over 3,000 photos on his pilgrimage around the world. Proof of how essential they were to his travels, is the fact that his wife, Elizabeth Chanler, was often forced to reach him in remote parts of the world to bring him new film when he ran out of it.

Bruce Chatwin

Spreading over the seven floors of the Tower, the exhibition also displays black-and-white photos put at disposal by Elizabeth from the considerable University of Oxford collection. Amongst these, the photographs taken during the trip to Yunnan with his wife which have never been exhibited before.

Bruce Chatwin

The show leads visitors through various continents and closes with some of the more famous Patagonia photographs. This choice is not only to pay homage to the book’s 40th anniversary, but also to celebrate Chatwin’s documentary approach in his works. This was the first time he associated accurate notes to each picture as if he wanted to create a travel report.

Bruce Chatwin

Also on display his famous self-designed rucksack. Furthermore, on September 5th, at 5.30 pm, Elizabeth Chatwin will be present to talk about her husband’s travels and passions.

Bruce Chatwin

The exhibition is on until October 8th. Open every day except Mondays, until September 3rd from 10 am to 12.30 am and from 5 pm to 11 pm; from Sept. 3rd to October 8th open from 10 am to 12.30 am and from 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm. Full price ticket costs 7 Euros.

Bruce Chatwin

Pubblicato in Castelnuovo Magra, Exhibitions in Liguria, Lunigiana, Photography | Contrassegnato , , , , | Lascia un commento

Robert Doisneau. A l’imparfait de l’objectif

Le Baiser de l'Hotel de Ville, Paris, 1950

Opening on July 8 at the Lucca Center of Contemporary Art – Lu.C.C.A. – in Lucca is an exhibition of French photographer Robert Doisneau.

Les bouchers melomanes, Paris, 1953

For years Robert Doisneau narrated the life of Paris, its outskirts, its characters. Never a location was a mere setting, rather it was dialoguing with its protagonists.

Les pains de Picasso, Vallauris, 1952

Through Robert Doisneau, la Ville Lumière is spectacular in an explosion of contrast between light and shadow, between perfection and imperfection. The secret of life is in its magnificent discrepancies.

Dimanche matin, Arcueil-Cachan, 1945

The exhibition will be on until November 12. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm. Full price ticket costs 9 Euros.

La famille du blanchisseur, 1949

 

Pubblicato in Art in Lucca, Events in Lucca, Exhibitions in Lucca, Lucca, Photography | Contrassegnato , , | Lascia un commento

The Saracen Joust

05_07 Giostra del Saracino

Initially an exercise for military training, this ancient game of chivalry held in Arezzo dates back to the Middle Ages. Between the 16th century and the end of the 17th century, the tournament was regularly held becoming an important social function within the urban community. On and off, during the following centuries, the joust was definitely restored in 1931 as a form of historical re-enactment set in the 14th century.

02_01 Giostra del Saracino

Today the Joust takes place twice every year in Piazza Grande. The so-called San Donato Joust, dedicated to the town’s Patron Saint, is held by night on the second last Saturday of June, whereas the September Joust is held in the afternoon of the first Sunday of said-month.

03_01 Giostra del Saracino Entrance of the Knights xF

The Joust involves the four quarters of Arezzo. The green and red team is the quarter of Porta Crucifera, aka Culcitrone, the yellow and crimson team is Porta del Foro, aka Porta San Lorentino, the white and green team is Porta Sant’Andrea and the yellow and blue team is Porta del Borgo, today called Porta Santo Spirito.

04_01 Giostra del Saracino - Fanti del Comune

The historical re-enactment consists in a colourful pageant of 350 costume characters, knights, flag-wavers, drummers and trumpeters parading across Arezzo to reach the steps of the Cathedral where the Bishop of Arezzo blesses the men-at-arms.

05_01 Giostra del Saracino WIKI

The tournament itself is held in Piazza Grande and consists in eight jousters charging their horses against the Saracen, an armour-plated dummy, holding a cat-o’-nine-tails. The aim is to hit the Saracen’s shield without being hit off the horse by the replica’s whip. This takes ability, courage and a huge dose of good luck. The shield itself is divided into fields, each representing a different set of points. The joust is won by the couple of knights who obtain the highest score and the quarter to whom the couple is associated receives the much coveted golden lance. Obviously celebrations can go on days in the winning quarter.

06_01 Giostra del Saracino

Pubblicato in Arezzo, Events in Arezzo, Folklore in Tuscany, Tuscan lifestyle, Tuscan towns and cities, Tuscany | Contrassegnato , , | Lascia un commento