San Gimignano, an ancient garden

Since May 10, 2015, tourists can visit the garden attached to the ancient pharmacy of Santa Fina in San Gimignano.

The apothecary is visible within the circuit of the museums of San Gimignano

Architects, archaeologists, botanists and gardeners, worked several months to evoke in the green spaces of the garden appearance, the atmosphere and all the characteristics of the old Pharmacy.
The pharmacy and the hospital attached were founded in the thirteenth century and was dedicated to St. Fina, famous woman also remembered with the frescoes by Ghirlandaio in the cathedral of San Gimignano.

a corner of the old pharmacy-  photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini SpA 

ampoules ancient pharmacy-photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini SpA

Saffron in the garden of Santa Fina- photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini SpA 

Saffron is often used to do drugs or to flavor local dishes

staging area of the garden 

photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini SpA 

Obviously we know that tourists are always fascinated by the medieval-looking town. Several people then enjoy the local wines. San Gimignano is not far from Siena and many other beautiful places in Tuscany.

the center of San Gimignano-Tuscany

the ancient towers - photo MarkusMark (wiki)
the medieval towers of San Gimignano are very famous

detail of a fresco by Ghirlandaio in the Chapel of Santa Fina
In the cathedral there are several works of art.

Vernaccia,  the good wine of San Giminano
In the future near the garden of Santa Fina organizers will propose occasionally  tasting of wines and other food products by this country.  Vernaccia wine was also appreciated in the Middle Ages to the tables of princes and knights

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Architecture, Open House Rome

In Rome for the fourth time an association in collaboration with various government agencies offer people the chance to visit different buildings from different periods.

Hopen House Roma, to learn about the architecture

9 and 10 May 2015

The buildings that tourists and students can visit are numerous. Interested persons can view the program of the event on the website: hopen house Roma

The possibility of knowing architectural works not well known is obviously considerable. The program also provides complementary initiatives.

The event collaborate many volunteers and some scholars of architecture. We publish photos of some of the buildings are open.

palace Congressi Eur/Rome  -photo idorosario

old house De Crescenzi -photo Louis Do Rosario

Corsini palace, photo a.zucconi

Coni palace

farmhouse Pius V

palace Congressi-Eur (photo louis do rosario)

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foto a cura ufficio stampa Hopen House Roma

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The fires of Agnone and art in Molise

In the beautiful town of Agnone every year in December there is a beautiful and traditional parade of torches. In the local dialect this ancient event is called the "'ndocciata".

Below we publish some photos of this particular event.

the procession of torches-photo Iride G.

a large torch of Agnone-photo Iride G.

'ndocciata:  fires illuminates tourists- photo Iride G.

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However Agnone there are to visit several old churches and the old bell foundry.

In this city there is also a museum of bells. Above is reproduced a stamp by Italy

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Agnone is a beautiful town of Molise, one of the smallest Italian regions. In very ancient times here there were the ancient Sunnis. In the Middle Ages it was very important in the area the great monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno which remain the ruins and fragments of frescoes. The main cities are Campobasso and Isernia.  The Molise region also has a historic town on the coast of the Adriatic Sea: Termoli

the ancient theater in the archaeological area of Pietrabbondante

fresco in San Vincenzo al Volturno-photo by wikipedia

old fountain (Fontana Fraterna) in Isernia, photo Guuz (wiki)

Termoli, the old cathedral

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Flowers and architecture in Tuscany. Pienza and around

In the beautiful town of Pienza and in the nearby Val d'Orcia, tourists will see from 1 to 10 May 2015 many flowers that decorate many places in the area.
Pienza was founded as the ideal city of the Italian Renaissance and therefore its palaces and churches are really interesting. For the construction of the main buildings in this city, the architect Bernardo Rossellino (1409-1464) worked for some years. The idea of building cities according to criteria Renaissance pervaded many artists but practical achievements were few.

Enea Silvio Piccolomini, later Pope Pius II, was the mastermind in the construction of Pienza

fresco in Siena by Pinturicchio -photo wikipedia 

the center of Pienza

a girl admires the flowers of Pienza at the event last year

photo studio Esseci

Piazza Pio II -photo studio Esseci

courtyard Palazzo Piccolomini-photo studio Esseci

In Pienza are several places to visit and you can also see some interesting works of art. 

At the event of May 2015 the organizers will exhibit also a nice little known painting that was created by the artist Nicolas van Houbraken (1668-1723).

Nearby, tourists can also visit: the Leonini Horti in San Quirico d'Orcia, the park Palace Massaini etc.

garden Villa Fiori in Chianciano Terme-photo studio Esseci

On other occasions, nature lovers can make a path with an old train called "Terre di Siena, treno natura"

to know some about this old train, read on the web

It should not be forgotten that these lands were involved ancient Via Francigena.  In San Quirico d'Orcia,  Pienza and Montalcino there are some very interesting old churches. In the area of Siena there are also special hills, called "Crete Senesi"  (Sienese clays). Finally are notable the landscapes of Mount Amiata and the "Abbadia San Salvatore".
There are many reasons for a trip to this area. And the cuisine has its importance.

Abbey Sant Antimo in the beautiful nature of the Tuscan hills

Abbadia San Salvatore (abbey in the area of Monte Amiata)
photo Kweedado2/wiki

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Rome and the ancient people of the Po valley

Since May 9, 2015 to January 17, 2016 Santa Giulia Museum in Brescia will host the exhibition "Brixia, Rome and the people of the Po. A meeting of cultures: III-I century BC"

poster of the exhibition in Brescia

The exhibition documents particularly the cultural situation that was created in the Po Valley and other areas from the battle of 295 BC to Sentinum until full inclusion of people of the north . In the 49 BC was in fact extended Roman citizenship.

In addition to the visible artifacts of the Museum of Santa Giulia, the archaeological park of Brixia (Brescia) has a great documentary value.

the Capitolium in Brescia -photo Studio Esseci

the ancient amphitheater of Brescia-photo Studio Esseci

old photo 

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Siena, restorations in Piccolomini Library

Were completed restorations in the Piccolomini Library, adjacent to the Cathedral. From April 2015, visitors can once again admire the works that have been recently restored: an important fresco, some windows and some decorations. Obviously many other frescoes of the Library were restored in other times.

windows and coats of arms

decorated glass and small frescoes

Enea Silvio leaves for Basel, fresco by Pinturicchio

The restoration works have been cured by the Restoration Laboratory of Fabrizio Iacopini and by the company Diana Glass Art.
Read more on the frescoes by Pinturicchio and other artists in the famous library. See page: Libreria Piccolomi- cattedrale di Siena
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Photos by Ufficio Stampa a cura di Opera Laboratori Fiorentini – Gruppo Civita
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