Florence, antique wooden sculptures

In Florence at the Uffizi Museum from 22 March to 18 August 2016 there will be an exhibition on the colored wooden sculpture of the  fifteenth century.

exibition in Florence: Fece di scoltura di legname e colori
Scultura del quattrocento in legno dipinto a Firenze

At the event it will be exhibited over 40 sculptures by different artists. In the Renaissance period also important sculptors realized these works of art. Often the sculptures were devotional.

a wooden angel exhibited in Florence
photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini-Civita

At the end of the fifteenth century some great art workshops, stimulated by the demands of the market, specialized in the realization of crucifixes in churches, convents and private homes.
In this sculptural field were many active: the brothers Giuliano and Benedetto da Maiano, the Sangallo, the Del Tasso and Baccio da Montelupo.
At that time, other artists, however, considered important only marble sculptures. In fact, in Florence were very relevant examples of marble sculptures.

Uffizi museum and other old buldings in Florence

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Contemporary art in Pienza and Siena

The beautiful town of Pienza hosts from 6 June to 30 August the interesting exhibition of a young Austrian sculptor.

the poster for the exhibition Helga Vockenhuber

Il dono dell'armonia-the gift of harmony

The artist often creates large bronze statues that will be exhibited in Piazza Pio II and Palazzo Piccolomini.

Helga Vockenhuber is often in Tuscany also because there are good foundries that make his job easier.

Piccolomini palace

view of Pienza, photos by sherseydc/steve (flick/wikimedia)
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For those who love contemporary art finally we write that in the near Siena it is in progress an exhibition  of the painter Marco Borgianni (Dei ed eroi, city museum, salt warehouses, until August 30) 

Marco Borgianni in Siena
the artist was born in the province of Florence

a work of Bonanni 
The artist was inspired by the Laooconte kept in Vatican
photo by Opera Laboratori Fiorentini-Civita

the painting exhibition can be seen in a room below the tower 
(Torre del Mangia, foto a.p.)

Baroque art in Rome, exhibition 2015

In the rooms of Palazzo Cipolla, the Rome Foundation Museum is planning from April 1 to July 26 a new exhibition called "Baroque in Rome. The wonder of the arts."

The works of art that will be exhibited are numerous. Tourists will see statues of Gian Lorenzo Bernini and paintings by Guido Reni, Pietro da Cortona, Simon Vouet, Guercino and others.

Painting by Guercino, on loan from the Vatican Museums (photo Vatican Museums)

statue by Bernini  (photo S.S.P.S.A.E e per il Polo Museale della città di Firenze -  Gabinetto Fotografico)

The site of the exhibition is : www.mostrabaroccoroma.it

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On this occasion people interested can visit some monuments in Baroque style and collateral exhibitions. 

Chapel of the Magi  by Borromini -photo ap

Ecstasy of  Saint Teresa by Bernini in 

the church Santa Maria della Vittoria (photo wikipedia)

work by Bernini for the fountain in Piazza Navona

photo alpav

part of the baroque facade of the church of Santa Maria in Via Lata (photo ap)
the architect of the church was Pietro da Cortona
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Bologna artistic centre

In Bologna, tourists can admire many interesting buildings and beautiful artwork. Many important artists were born in or near Bologna.  Particularly important was the role of the Bolognese painters of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. We remember some names: Guido Reni, Domenichino, the brothers Agostino and Annibale Carracci and their cousin Ludovico, Francesco Albani, Guercino and many others. It is easy that people remain surprises.  Also the cultural institutions of the city often propose interesting art exhibitions and every year in Bologna the ARTEFIERA international fair of modern and contemporary art.

Fountain of Neptune-photo alpav

Santo Stefano basilica -photo Luciano B.

San Petronio basilica-photo Luciano B.

the famous towers of Bologna-photo Patrick Clenet (wiki)

old palace in the center -photo Luciano B

old sculpture by Alfonso Lombardi -photo Luciano B.

Ark of Saint Dominic, the monument containing the remains of Saint Dominic.

Worked on the famous monument many sculptors including the young Michelangelo

photo alpav

fresco by Carracci in old palace -photo by wikipedia

important exhibition "from Cimabue to Morandi"  from February to May 2015
The exhibition is on view at Palazzo Fava. The curator of the initiative is Vittorio Sgarbi

The Bolognese gastronomy is of course well known .Finally, we must not forget that in the city since the Middle Ages worked a prestigious university.

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Articles in Italian to know better:

Bologna in the Middle Ages

Sculptures in Bologna

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Old churches in Lucca, Tuscany

Lucca is an ancient and beautiful city in Tuscany. In ancient times before the Romans was inhabited by the Etruscans. Lucca was an important center in the Middle Ages, and for some time was also independent. Over the centuries in this city were also built many beautiful churches. Now we will mention a few.

St Martin's Cathedral-photo by ap 2012

decorations in the entrance of the cathedral-photo by ap 2012

detail of the facade of the cathedral -photo by ap 2012

Inside the cathedral there are many works of art but tourists admire the very famous  tomb of Ilaria del Carretto by Jacopo della Quercia. On the facade of the cathedral curious people observe a strange design with a labyrinth.

mosaic of the facade of the church of San Frediano-photo by ap 2012

inside the church of San Frediano-photo by ap 2012

bell tower and the back of the church of San Frediano-photo ap 2012

Even in this church there are sculptures and frescoes of the Renaissance. Interested readers can also see the page: Basilica di San Frediano

San Michele in Foro, church-photo alpy

church built over the ancient Roman forum

the crucifix in the church of San Michele

Santi Giovanni e Reparata church-photo alpav 2012

In the basement of the church of Santa Reparata are several archaeological remains and tourists can take a journey through the centuries.

archaeological excavations-photo alpav 2012

Santa Maria Forisportam church

But there are other nice old churches and other monuments.

gardens and walls in Lucca-photo ap 2012

Lucca is not big city. Several tourists rent bicycles to visit the monuments and the beautiful gardens around the ancient walls.

Finally, many people eat at the restaurant good soups spelled (farro) and loves the music of Giacomo Puccini. The great musician was born in Lucca in 1858 and there are often concerts in some churches.

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Art exhibition from Giotto to Gentile

An interesting art exhibition is organized in Fabriano in the Marche region from July 26 to November 30.

The works of art on display are numerous and were made by artists who lived in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The famous painter Gentile was born in this city.

To get an idea of the sculptures and paintings the people can see the website of the exhibition

Fabriano is a beautiful medieval town. Tourists can visit many churches and the museum of the paper.

In these places, the paper industry has ancient traditions. Some small shops selling precious paper.

historic center of Fabriano, photos of alpav

The Marche region has large collections of works of art in Urbino, Ancona, Ascoli Piceno etc..

To see some photos, go arte Marche page. The Region has a beautiful coast on the Adriatic Sea.

Art in Trastevere, old neighborhood of Rome

In ancient times it was a very popular district and there were people from all over the Roman Empire. In Trastevere there are archaeological evidence like an ancient barracks of the fire, a temple of Syrians living in Rome etc..
Even Christianity spread very quickly in this part of Rome. Some private homes (domus) initially functioned as churches.
Over the centuries in the same places they were built beautiful churches with many works of art.
The most famous churches in the district are the basilica of Santa Maria, the churchs of Santa Cecilia and San Crisogono.
In the basements of the churches of Santa Cecilia and San Grisogono, visitors can see the remains of the houses used by the earliest Christians.
All three churches in Trastevere are really nice and tourists are always very happy to visit them.

S.Cecilia church, ciborium by Arnolfo di Cambio -photo ap

S.Cecilia church-statue Cecilia by Stefano Maderno-photo ap

In convent next to the church is a beautiful fragment of a fresco by Cavallini

Santa Maria in Trastevere, facade-photo by wikipedia

Santa Maria in Trastevere, mosaics (some by Cavallini)-photo a.p

San Crisogono, facade- photo a.p.

In Trastevere you can also visit Villa Farnesina and a famous fresco by Raphael. But in 1879 in the gardens of the villa were found archaeological remains of an ancient building. The beautiful frescos that were discovered can be seen in a museum . 

Galatea by Raphael and other frescos

Even the residents of other neighborhoods like Trastevere. Many go for walks or to buy crafts. All in good weather enjoy alfresco dining in the restaurants .
The neighborhood in the summer also organizes a famous festival ( Festa de Noantri).
In the area there is much interest in the ancient folk traditions.

In an important square of Trastevere is the monument to poet Gioacchino Belli. His poems were written in the typical Roman dialect.

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A part of the district borders the River Tiber (Tevere).
This is a very old picture, but the Vatican is not far 

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HOTELS IN ROME

Agostino di Duccio: renaissance sculpture

Agostino di Duccio (1418 – c. 1481) was born in Tuscany, but after the first experiences with the famous Donatello, he worked particularly in Umbria and Emilia-Romagna.

Perugia, San Bernardino-sculptures on the facade-picture &copy ap

Modena, cathedral -sculptures on the facade minor-picture &copy ap

But the most important sculptures by Agostino are in the Malatesta Temple (Tempio Malatestiano) in Rimini. In this city of Romagna, the sculptor created the famous reliefs of zodiacal  and mythological figures.
The beaches of Rimini are famous but tourists in the historical center can also see important works of art and archaeological evidence.
In Rimini hotels are numerous and the trip can also be done with air flights low cost (also from Russia).
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Sculptures by Agostino di Duccio are also in the Louvre and other European museums.

Madonna d'Auvillers, Louvre-by wikimedia (Sailko)

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Read more, italian article: sculptor Agostino di Duccio

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