Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli

Just across Ponte Garibaldi, entering into Trastevere, you arrive to Piazza Gioacchino Belli where there is the monument dedicated to Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli (March 7, 1791 - December 21, 1863), a great poet of Rome. He is remembered for his vivid popular poetry in the Roman dialect - thousands of satirical sonnets that form an invaluable document of 19th century's papal Rome and the life of its common, humbler people.

Here one of Belli's poetry:


La Bocca della Verita' (italiano)


In d'una chiesa sopra a 'na piazzetta
Un po' ppiù ssù de Piazza Montanara
Pe la strada che pporta a la Salara,
C'è in nell'entrà una cosa benedetta.

Pe ttutta Roma quant'è larga e stretta
Nun poterai trovà cosa ppiù rara.
È una faccia de pietra che tt'impara
Chi ha detta la bucìa, chi nu l'ha detta.

S'io mo a sta faccia, c'ha la bocca uperta,
Je ce metto una mano, e nu la striggne
La verità da me ttiella pe certa.

Ma ssi fficca la mano uno in bucìa,
Èssi sicuro che a tirà né a spiggne
Quella mano che lì nun viè ppiù via.


The mouth of truth (English version)


In a church, in a small square
Shortly after Montanara Square [2] ,
Along the road leading to the salt-works,
As soon as you enter there's something holy.

In all Rome far and wide
You could not find something as rare as that.
It's a face of stone, which tells
Who is a lier and who is not.

If in the mouth of this statue, which is open,
I insert my hand and it does not clasp it,
Consider my truth as most reliable.

But if a lier inserts his hand
Be sure that, push or pull,
That hand won't come out. 

My obsession for Caravaggio...master...precursor of the Baroque....all over the world!!!

How many lecturers? conferences? Talks....but it is not enough...I have a real obsession for Caravaggio,  master painter, equal in skill and influence to artists such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.

Caravaggio, Saint John the Baptist

Caravaggio died 1610, just over 400 years ago. Last year Italy has celebrated this anniversary with  exhibitions across many different cities included Rome, at the Scuderie del Quirinale, and so museums in a number of Italian cities have exhibitions detailing his work, along with newly published books, DVDs, film and video documentaries about his life and legacy.

Caravaggio, Calling of Matthew
San Luigi dei Francesi

And this is not enough!!! About half of these paintings hang in museums in Italy: almost every Italian region has an art museum with one or more Caravaggio paintings on display!!! obviously Rome is an exception!! Just considering San Luigi dei Francesi, Santa Maria del Popolo, the Galleria Corsini, the Galleria Borgheseand so on.....

                       

Many other works may be found throughout Europe, in London, Paris, Saint Petersburg, in Russia and Toledo, in Spain.....Caravaggio’s paintings are also accessible across other continents, such as the United States, where you can see some interesting works such as the Crucifixion of Saint Andrew in the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio

                    

 or Francis of Assisi in Ecstasy at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Connecticut, or the Conversion of the Magdalene at the Art Institute of Detroit in Michigan or the Musician at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and many many more.....

.....if you have a passion for Caravaggio....travel around the world and visit these amazing artworks!!!

A presto!

Have you ever walked up to Tiberius Villa??? Do you know where is it?

Every time you come to Italy there is something new to discover and enjoy....it can be La Dolce Vita, food, shopping, wine, lifestyle, but mainly art!!!

This time instead of visiting the Blue Grotto or just doing shopping or enjoying the sweet life of Capri a group of adventurous students has decided to go and see Tiberius Villa. About 45 minutes walk from the main Square.....

and that's the view from the top!!

Look down...how high we are!!!

the villa was built on several levels!!

Villa Jovis is situated at the end of Viale Amedeo Maturi, where one finds a number of steps faced with marble slabs originating from the Roman Villa. Villa Jovis, built in the first century B.C. and attributed to Tiberius, was chosen for its position on the cliff's edge which guaranteed both privacy and security, of vital importance to the Emperor. 

many different areas and still well preserved!

A considerable percentage of the Roman villa remains, a villa which was built with large cisterns and water tanks, so as to counteract the perennial lack of water on the island of Capri. 


Villa Jovis was organized in sections linked by corridors, stairs and passageways. The Emperor had a North facing apartment with views over the Gulf of Naples; to the East there was the section dedicated to official functions; the baths were to the South and to the West the servants accommodation and lavatories were located. 


Tiberius's Villa extended over 5.500 square meters and was built up on various levels, unusual for the period, but made necessary by the location.

Looking down to Capri

the other side

Madonna at the top!

Within the site boundaries of Villa Jovis one finds the small Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso. In the space in front of the church there is a statue of the Madonna, visible from the sea below to protect Capri.

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Caravaggio even in the Galleria Corsini

 

The Galleria Corsini is located on Via della Lungara, not far from Porta Settimiana. It was built for Cardinal Domenico Riario between 1510 and 1512. It was rebuilt between 1732 and 1736 by Ferdinando Fuga, who planned the facade to be viewed by an angle, being the Via della Lungara a very narrow street.


The collection of the Galleria Corsini was formed during the XVIII century, although composed from various sources mostly originating from the Corsini family.  

In 1883 the palace was sold to the Italian State with its collection, which thus formed the basis of the National Gallery of Ancient Art.

Madonna with Child by Orazio Gentileschi

Saint John the Baptist by Caravaggio (particular)




Pentecost, Last Judgment and Ascension by Beato Angelico

Look up!!!

by Giorgio Albanese

When you walk around Rome you can find something interesting and different in each corner, so don't forget to have a look around you...there are so many interesting things to see even where you don't expect, like this Madonna image at the corner of the Via della Dogana!!

Italia: Festa della Repubblica!!!

TANTI AUGURI ITALIA PER LA TUA FESTA...

CHE QUESTO POSSA ESSERE UN GIORNO SPETTACOLARE...

CON CELEBRAZIONI ED EVENTI IN TUTTA ITALIA...

The Italian Republic celebrates the Festa della Repubblica on June 2 every year. The day remembers the foundational legislature supported by common right to vote in 1946, where the citizens of Italy were inspired to participate in the elections to make a decision on the type of government after the end of World War II and the end of Fascism.

Festa della Repubblica

Brisbane: coming back as a tourist??!! what's for children???!

A day of fun at the Power House

Think you coming to Brisbane for the first time...maybe to visit a friend or for holiday or for fun...and you have children with you.....what are you going to do???

Well, I can tell you that Brisbane is a great city for families. Here children and their parents can enjoy and visit one of the many city attractions!!!

Here a list for you:

The Queensland Museum  has plenty to entertain  children, especially during the school holiday where different program are set up for them. In the same building there is the Sciencentre which is part of the Museum and has lots of activities that children will love (admission fee).

You can get lost in the State Library !!!! It is so big and it has a free area for young children called The Corner and another area called The Parlour  which has old-fashioned games for older kids. Not far from the library you can't miss the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art  which offer regular programs aimed at children and young adults especially during the holiday.

And then why not have a walk around South Bank. You can easily have a look around, let your kids play and maybe have a ride on the Fairy Wheel.

That's what you can find walking around South Bank!!

If then you are tired to walk around stop by the public library in Brisbane Square, at the high end of the Queen Street Mall. Here there is an indoor play area for small children and plenty of books for you to read.

Talking about parks: there is the Roma Street Parklands and the City Botanic Gardens both with play grounds, picnic areas and plenty of interesting areas for children to explore (no admission fee)

There are many things you can do with children here...so just explore and have fun!!!