ItalyUpdate

TODI: FULL IMMERSION FESTIVAL IN ANCIENT HISTORY

This year's Umbria Antica Festival (formerly known as “Festival dell'Umbria Antica”, is centred in the perfectly preserved medieval town of Todi and is poetically entitled: “Il Cuore Verde d'Italia batte al ritmo della Storia” (“The Green Heart of Italy beats to the rhythm of History”), following “Dove e Nata la Nostra Storia” (“Where our History Began”) and “Uomini e Dei” (“Men and Gods”), the themes of the two previous editions.

The packed three-day programme (15^th - 17^th March 2024) offers a full immersion experience in the life and customs of the ancient peoples who once inhabited the Italian peninsula, their heritage and their lasting influence, as well as the processes of integration brought about by the Roman conquest. Lectures will be held in the Council Chamber of the 13^th century Palazzo del Capitano, Todi and will be conducted by a group of Italy's most prestigious experts in the historical and archaeological fields.

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For full programme: www.festivalumbriantica.it info@festivalumbriantica.it

ROSSINI'S LEAP YEAR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Pesaro (Marche) has a double celebration this year. Not only has it been elected Italian City of Culture 2024, but Leap Year date on the 29^th February allows it to celebrate the birthday of one of its most illustrious sons, the great 19^th century musician Gioachino Rossini, born, in fact, on the 29^th February 1792.

A special Settimana Rossini (Rossini “Week”) is being held between the 18^th February-8^th March with a packed programme of over 30 events and 10 concerts. These will include the classic “Balcony Recital” from the balcony of Rossini's house, played to the crowd in the street below, a new commemorative postage stamp from the Italian mint, a parade of vintage motorcycles from the local historic Benelli factory, the donation of a pianoforte by the local Lugli family of designers and entrepreneurs to enrich the Rossini Gallery Museum, and, most important of all, the inauguration of the new Scavolini Auditorium concert hall.

A birthday must have a cake and Pesaro has a Super-cake: it was part of the scenery constructed for the performance of “Adina” at the Rossini Opera Festival in 2018. The monumental cake will be part of the opening ceremony of the Auditorium on the 29^th February. Rossini, with his quirky sense of humour, would have loved it!

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Info: Tel. +39.0721.3800202 www.rossinioperafestival.it

FORGOTTEN MEDICI WOMAN ARTIST RETURNS TO UFFIZI

A forgotten self-portrait by a 17^th century woman artist has just been acquired by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and will take its place among the self portraits of masters of the calibre of Raphael, Rembrandt, Luca Giordano. Delacroix and “moderns” like Marino Marini, Pellizza di Volpedo, Ai Weiwei, the London Endless and Gilbert & George.

Camilla Guerrieri (born 1628) was celebrated in her day as “the first woman court painter of the Medici family”, for whom she worked for twenty years. She was so highly appreciated that she was awarded a life pension when her leading patroness, Vittoria della Rovere, died.

The self-portrait is a mirror composition that had languished for years in the back of the show-room of a Florentine antique dealer who had been unable to sell it until the Uffizi stepped in.

Among Camilla's other works is “The Madonna with the Infant Jesus, St. Giovannino and St. Aldebrando” in the Diocese Gallery of Senigallia (Marche), which is due to re-open on the 23^rd March 2024 after a twelve-year closure for repairs due to the damage caused by the devastating 2012 earthquake in Northern Italy.

The Uffizi itself has been undergoing an extensive re-organization project in order to display more of its vast collection of 1,600 self-portraits, that cover 6 centuries of art history.

Guerrieri is only one of many forgotten women artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, whose talent and worth are gradually being rediscovered.

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Info: www.uffizi.it

THE WINNING BOUQUETS OF SANREMO

The lavish bouquets presented to all the competitors in the recent SanRemo Song Contest, Italy's most popular annual media event, never fail to attract admiration. All of them were inspired by the floral contest held a couple of weeks before the Song Contest opening, under the slogan “Sanremo, the Flower of Liguria”.

The florists and designers of the Floral City had the choice of two categories: a formal bouquet inspired by the poetically named themes: “The Melody of the Sea” and “The Song of the Woodland.” Contestants had thirty minutes each to submit their designs and make up their compositions, using the supply of freshly cut anemones, roses, snapdragons, mimosa, poppies, buttercups, carnations, lilac, green and silver leaves and more, supplied by the many greenhouses and flower farms of the Ligurian Riviera. The winner had the honour of helping the team of floral designers prepare the bouquets for the Festival stars.

On the 24^th March 2024 the flowers will again be out in force for the annual parade of spectacular flower covered floats for the Festival of the Goddess Flora, that dates back to 1904.

Info: Tel: +39.0184.5801 www.comune.sanremo.im.it

CHRISTIAN EMPEROR TOWERS OVER HOLY YEAR

The reconstruction of the colossal statue of the Roman Emperor Constantine is set to be one of the new attractions for Holy Year 2025. Presented to the press on the 7^th February, the 13m-high, 3-ton statue has been erected in the gardens of the Villa Caffarelli on the Capitol Hill in the heart of Rome, on the spot that archaeologists believe was the site of the ancient Temple of Jupiter dominating the Roman Forum.

The statue has been recreated by integrating seven surviving fragments of the original sculpture of the emperor, using the latest digital technology to gauge the exact measurements and details of the original in its entirety, and was intended, with its superhuman proportions, to strike awe in the hearts of all citizens visiting the Forum.

Constantine was the first Roman emperor to recognize the Christian religion. His mother, Saint Helena, according to tradition, visited the Holy Land, and brought back the Holy Staircase at St. John Lateran, as well as several relics of the crucifixion, which are still venerated by the faithful.

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Info: Tel. 060608 www.museicapitolini.org

ITALY'S REFORESTATION PLANS TAKE OFF

As part of a widespread plan to combat climate change and air pollution, Italy has embarked on an extensive reforesting operation that includes “Parco Italia”, a project launched in 2021 by the Stefano Boeri Architect & Foundation to plant 22 million trees in 15 major Italian cities. The first batch of 15,000 trees have already been planted, with the support of 2 million euro from the Amazon company's Right Now Climate Fund. A further 35,000 trees are to be planted during 2024.

Meanwhile, Verona is spearheading a project in its territory: “a tree for every new born baby”, with the initial plantation of 1,300 trees.

Among the more novel projects, however, has been launched by the alpine town of Cuneo (Piedmont) where the Santa Croce Hospital has chosen to plant a grove of paulownia trees in its grounds. The paulownia, a native if China introduced into Europe around two hundred years ago for its decorative appeal, has been found to be a formidable natural air purifier and the most effective of all trees at absorbing smog and CO2.

Info: www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net>project>parcoitalia

Youtube: Paulownia per l'Ospedale di Cuneo

SPINA: REDISCOVERED ETRUSCAN PORT

Finds excavated at Spina, the Etruscan nation's most important port on the Adriatic coast are now on show at the Villa Giulia National Etruscan Museum in Rome, after previous exhibitions at Comacchio and Ferrara, celebrating the centenary of the site's discovery.

A century ago Spina was thought to be a mere legend. It was buried in the mud and marshes of Comacchio, known as “Little Venice” for its network of waterways on the Po Delta. The delta is now a favourite haunt of birdwatchers.

Over 4000 tombs were discovered, many of them intact, and the rich variety of grave goods gave archaeologists a unique insight into the vast extension of trading links with the populations of the Mediterranean.

The Rome exhibition “Spina Etrusca a Villa Giulia. Un Grande Porto del Mediterranean” will run until 7^th April 2024 at the Museo Nazionale Etrusco (ETRU).

Info: Tel. +39.06.3226571 www.museoetru.it

MARCO POLO RELIVES IN VENICE CARNIVAL 2024

This year's Venice Carnival is dedicated to its celebrated son Marco Polo, the intrepid explorer and the first recorded European who opened up the mysterious world of the Orient.

The event also celebrates the 700^th anniversary of Marco's death, after he had returned safely to Venice and had written his fascinating travelogue, commonly called “The Million”.

Throughout the Carnival period (27^th January - 13^th February 2024), the call and campi of Venice and its satellite city Mestre will be transformed into a fabulous stage set recounting his journey, with the Darsena Grande, the historic dock at the Arsenal staging the special event “Terra Incognita” (Unknown Land – the Amazing Journey of Marco).

This year's Carnival also coincides with Chinese New Year (2^nd - 13^th February), so there will be dual celebrations in many parts of the city and the lagoon islands.

Info: Tel. +39.041.5939979 www.venice-carnival-italy.com

OF MICE AND ROME....

Archaeologists excavating in a recently unexplored area in the outskirts of the buried city of Pompeii have uncovered previously little known aspects of daily life in the 1^st century AD.

Pompeii is celebrated for the magnificent wall paintings, fountains and gardens belonging to the rich upper classes, but not much had come to light that revealed the realities of the life of the less fortunate slave workers.

In 2021 digs started around the suburban villa of Civita Giuliana, uncovering a stable with the remains of a horse and a richly decorated parade chariot. However, what really fascinated archaeologists was the discovery of a couple of small rooms where the household slaves lived in bare and spartan conditions - in stark contrast to the luxury accommodation enjoyed by their owners. The solidification of the hot gas erupted from the volcano had preserved the outline of the furniture, the bed linen and household objects and thus enabled precise plaster cast reproductions to be made.

One of the most unexpected discoveries was the remains of two mice inside an amphora that had been stored under one of the beds, plus a black rat inside a clay jug where it had obviously been trying desperately to climb out. Although we know from ancient sources that rodents were present in Ancient Rome, the presence of three in one small room shows how common they must have been and casts new light on the hygienic standards and the spread of disease, despite the Romans' well-known penchant for baths.

Info: Tel. Infopoint +39.0818575347 www.pompeiisites.org

THE 485^th CARNIVAL FOR FOIANO DELLA CHIANA

The small town of Foiano della Chiana (Arezzo, Tuscany) launches its 485^th Carnevale celebrations on the 28^th January 2024 with the traditional parade of colossal floats wending their laborious way down the narrow medieval streets of the historic centre.

Foiano, in fact, claims to have the oldest pre-Lenten Carnival in Italy, on document since 1539. This year's theme is “Fantasy” and the four competing float creators will focus on fairytale themes and traditional Disney film characters. The winner will be announced by Re Giocondo (King of Merriment) at the concluding event on the 25^th February which heralds in Lent and the end of all the fun. The 9000 inhabitants of the town all pitch in to help with the construction of the gigantic papier mache figures and Foiano, in fact, has a special school that teaches local children the art in order to carry on the long tradition. The floats will be paraded through the town every Sunday throughout February, accompanied by street entertainers, music, games, tricks and fireworks displays.

The little town of Foiano has an illustrious past dating back to the times of the Medici takeover. Its Town Hall dates from the 14^th century and its churches are graced with works by prestigious artists of the renaissance period like Signorelli, Andrea della Robbia, Pomarancio and .Circignani.

Carnival Sundays: 28^th Jan., 4^th ,11^th 18^th 25^th February 2024

Info: Tel. +39.0575.642100/+39.3395981439 www.carnevaledifoiano.it