Lucca Digital Photo Fest, 20 Novemebr – 12 December
The sixth international photographic and videoart festival, amongst the most prestigeous in Europe. Seventeen photographic exhibitions, workshops, lectures by famous photographers, awards in various locations.
Full programme on www.ldpf.it
PALAZZO DUCALE Piazza Napoleone
Bye Bye Baby, Marylin Giuliana Scime’s private collection, till 30 January. Horst P. Horst Fashion and glamour, till 30 January. Francesca Woodman till 12 December.
PALAZZO GUINIGI Giorgia FioriIl Dono photos taken in missions throughout the world, till 12 December.
CHIESA DEI SERVI Donna Ferrata 10013 TriBeCa till 12 December
World press photo 200 photos which won awards from the World Press Foundation, till 12 December
CHIESA DELL’ALBA Boris Missirkov and Georgi Bogdanov Svetana ManevaBulgarian installations/portraits till 12 December.
EX MANIFATTURA TABACCHI Jan Saudek Il Teatro della Vita Eroticism and irony, till 12 December. Andrea di Martino La messa è finita. The rebirth of deconsecrated churches in Italy. Rania Bellou Prison Privacyinstallations from Greece.
Tracey Moffat Revolution, doomed love. Australian artist’s videoart, till 12 December.
CENTER OF CONTEMPORARY ART Via della Fratta 36. Michel Comte Not Only for Women photographic exhibition. Faminine icons of our times. Open 10.00-19.00 Tuesday to Sunday.
Monday closed. Starts 20 November till 23 January. Paola Binante Parapilomenitill 12 December. Ludmilla Radchenko Born to be Pop open 10.00-19.00 Tuesday to Sunday.
Closed Mondays, till 10 November.
The Desco
Obviously winter is the season of serious eating, and in November and December, Lucca has the perfect showcase for everything local that is good to eat and drink. The sixth edition of Il Desco opens on 20 November at the Real Collegio (see article opposite) and runs through successive weekends until 12 December.
This food fair, to which entry is free, has established itself as a wonderful way to sample the very best that lucchesia has to offer-indeed, there are those who have been known to give up making lunch at home enterely for severl weekends, and settle instead for a gentle graze around these fabulous food stalls.
This year, although the entire range of products will be available over the full run of the fair, one product will be available over the full run of the fair, one product in particular will be highlighted each weekend; on 20-21 November it will be fagioli followed on 27-28 November by farro.
Chestnuts have pride of place on 4-5 December, and connoisseurs of oil and bread should head for the Desco on 11-12 December.
In addition on 8 December, which is of course a national holiday in Italy, and the day on which pre-Christmas preparations officially get under way, there will be a special session devoted to chocolate and cigars – just how wicked can you get?
Each weekend, there will be a forum of experts debating the merits and ssalient features of each highlighted product, and discussing how best to cook them.
And look out for local alimentari and restaurants joining in the fun. There will be no escape!
Artimino
Resembling a perfect painting, Artimino is picturesque and beautiful. Nestling in the green hills of Tuscany, Artimino is quaint and medieval and has been known for its famous Medici ‘Villa La Ferdinanda’. Ranging over the wine producing area of the Vino di Carmignano, the wine of this region was declared s a noble wine by the Grand Duke Cosimo III de’Medici.
The Etruscans named the area as Artumeno in the 8th century BC. History has recorded Artimino in its annals as numerous Etruscan burial chambers were found in the areas of Comeano and Poggio a Caiano around Artimino. The Roman style is still found in the names of the villages and the farmhouses in this area. The Castle of Artimino was constructed in the Middle Ages during the 10th century. Due to the focal strategic point of Artimino there were constant tussles between Florence and Pistoia. In the middle of the 14th century, Artimino came under the rule of Florence.
Beautiful as a natural park, Artimino and the areas around it was bought by Cosimo I de’Medici. He named the area as ‘Barco’, and desired to create a game reserve there. The park stretched over the hilly regions of Artimino till the edges of Vinci and was called the ‘Parco Reale’. The Medici family considered it their hunting grounds and constructed a wall around the park to prevent the game from escaping. Hunting was considered an enjoyable sport as well as a lucrative form of entertainment due to the fact that the skin and meat of the game was valuable.
The Grand Duke Ferdinand appreciated the beauty and value of Artimino and took charge of the cultivation areas and the houses of Artimino to create the royal ‘fattoria’ or the estate. The royal architect Bernado Buontalenti, was commissioned to build a beautiful palazzo that could house the entire court. What transpired was the gorgeous Villa La Ferdinanda in 1594. With incredible architecture, this amazing villa was structured at Poggio a Caiano. The lovely villa is just 15 minutes away by car from Prato, the capital of the province and also from Montelupo Fiorentino and Vinci. The awesome city of Florence is just 20 minutes away from the villa.
The village of Artimino is guarded by a huge tower that was used as a look-out by the “protezione civile” or the civil authorities for fires or if they were going to be attacked by enemies. With the harmony of linear form and lovely features, the Villa La Ferdinand possessed the fantastic architecture of a 100 chimneys built at various angles in different forms and shapes. This was incorporated as one of the villa’s incredible features due to the fact that Ferdinand who loved to hunt could keep his guests warm always. The Villa houses grand ballrooms, enormous suites, small chapels, wine cellars and the Etruscan Museum.
Adorned by lovely frescoes by Pontormo, Andrea del Sarto and other famous artists, the Villa La Ferdinand has two adjacent buildings. One of the buildings called the ‘Corridoio’ or Corridor housed the grooms, valets, and servants, but has been converted into the Hotel Paggeria Medicea as seen today. The second building is the “Palazzo del Sig. Biagio Pignatta” is constructed in the same style as the first building. The Palazzo del Sig. Biagio Pignatta has been named after the valet of the Grand Duke Ferdinand I, who lived on the first floor. The ground floor was originally the riding stables of the noble family but has been transformed into the famous Restaurant Biagio Pignatta offering delicious international and traditional cuisines and the wines of Artimino.
The area of Artimino comprises of 732 hectares out of which 72 hectares face the South and are used as the wine growing area with the cultivation of Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Trebbiano, San Colombana, Mammolo, Occhio di Pernice varieties of grapes. About 400 meters away from the Villa La Ferdinand, the fattoria in the medieval village produces the famous Barco Reale and the Vin Santo wines. The olive groves evolve over 180 hectares with the fattoria producing the renowned cold pressed oil. Visitors can enjoy traditional snacks served at restaurants in the village of Artimino with its ancient stone buildings, quaint shops and Romanesque churches. Artimino offers the spirit of the medieval ages and the essence of natural beauty.
TUTTI I LUNEDI’, MARTEDI’ E MERCOLEDI’ DEL MESE /EVERY MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH
SPECIAL CONCERTS
“PUCCINI AND MOZART”
(always with different performers and programmes)
TUTTI I VENERDI’ DEL MESE – EVERY FRIDAY OF THE MONTH
MOZART & PUCCINI
Arie e duetti da/arias and duets from LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, COSI’ FAN TUTTE, DON GIOVANNI, MADAMA BUTTERFLY, LA BOHEME, TOSCA
TUTTI I SABATO DEL MESE – EVERY SATURDAY OF THE MONTH
UNA NOTTE ALL’OPERA/A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Arie e duetti dal repertorio lirico di Puccini, Verdi, Leoncavallo, Donietti, Mascagni ed altri/arias and duets from the Italian operatic repertoire
TUTTE LE DOMENICHE DEL MESE – EVERY SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
PUCCINI E LA CANZONE TRADIZIONALE NAPOLETANA – PUCCINI & THE NEAPOLITAN TRADITIONAL SONGS
LUNEDI’/MONDAY 29th November 2010 – at 21.15 BASILICA DI SAN GIOVANNI
CONCERTO DI GALA NELL’85thMO ANNIVERSARIO DALLA MORTE DI GIACOMO PUCCINI
GALA CONCERT FOR THE 85th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF GIACOMO PUCCINI
Programma da stabilire/ Programme to be announced
Massarosa is famous for its splendid natural environment. Well-known since prehistoric times, Massarosa was inhabited during the Roman period and was so important that we still today find evidence of the ancient Roman Baths at Massaciuccoli. The environmental outings all along the famous Lake Massaciuccoli are amazing. There are the important habits connected to the ancient traditions.
Roman villa and old thermal baths Antiquarium
In Massacciuccoli Antiquarium are shown evidences of roman history, among which a beautiful mosaic floor. The visit to the museum is linked to the visit of the Roman villa within the thermal baths where in the summer takes place the review “Lune di Musica” (Music Moons). Already during the Roman period, the place was the seat of an harbour that afterwards became a marsh due to the withdrawal of the sea. the Massaciuccoli lake became a L.I.P.U. oasis. The lake, that was once an ancient coastal lagoon, became today the most important damp area in Tuscany (2.000 hectares).
Nature park of Migliarino San Rossore
The vast lake that the town stands on is the Lago di Massaciuccoli, a unique bird reserve that is part of the nature park of Migliarino-San Rossore. Boat trips around the lake are on offer on Piazzale Belvedere Puccini, usually with a Puccini soundtrack.The oasis can be visited on foot going along a pile-work pathway that goes across the marsh and allows to observe the most characteristic environment of the lake, ideal for bird-watching lovers. Visits are possible on canoes, small boats and even on boats (departure from Viareggio).
Gastronomy
The area boasts numerous traditional food festivals, including pupporina, tordello, porcini mushrooms and polenta. We can eat there as well some interesting special dishes from Roman times :
Garum (sause from fish)
Mulsum (wine with honey)
Pane ficatum (bread with figues)
Torta di farro (cake from farro cereal)
Castagnaccio (cake from nuts)
Leslie Halloran
Please check out my website at: www.lihdesigns.net “A frog in the well does not know the sea.”- Japanese Proverb
