Florence art gallery

Florence art gallery - Cappella Brancacci

The Brancacci Chapel (in Italian, “Cappella dei Brancacci”) is a chapel in the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Florence, central Italy. It is sometimes called the “Sistine Chapel of the early Renaissance” for its painting cycle, among the most famous and influential of the period. Construction of the chapel was commissioned by Pietro Brancacci and begun in 1386.

Public access is currently gained via the neighbouring convent, designed by Brunelleschi. The church and the chapel are treated as separate places to visit and as such have different opening times and it is quite difficult to see the rest of the church from the chapel.

The patron of the pictorial decoration was Felice Brancacci, descendant of Pietro, who had served as the Florentine ambassador to Cairo until 1423. Upon his return to Florence, he hired Masolino da Panicale to paint his chapel.

Masolino’s associate, 21 year old Masaccio, 18 years younger than Masolino, assisted, but during painting Masolino left to Hungary, where he was painter to the king, and the commission was given to Masaccio. By the time Masolino returned he was learning from his talented former student. However, Masaccio was called to Rome before he could finish the chapel, and died in Rome at the age of 27.

Portions of the chapel were completed later byFilippino Lippi. Unfortunately during the Baroque period some of the paintings were seen as unfashionable and a tomb was placed in front of them.

Tuscan hills

Tuscan hills

The agricultural landascape of Montecarlo hills gives interesting panoramic views of the normal route that leadsto the old centre, and of buildings and the roads in the town itself, from the terrace (almost in front of the collegiate church of Sant’Andrea) which opens onto the Lucca side, from the nearby Montechiari hill, and from the top of the Fortress.

The landscape on the Lucca side mainly consists of neat rows of vineyards on the gentle slopes of the hills, olive groves, woodlands and the green areas of the “bird traps”. Various buildings, farmhouses, a few  villas and scattering of residential nuclei with their terrcotta roofs, dot the landscape and provide perspective.

Various important farming concerns are situated at different points in this agricultural landascape. For example, Fattoria del Buonamico, Azienda Agricola Enzo Carmignani, Fattoria di Cercatoia,  Azienda Agricola Belvedere….
the views from the hills of Montecarlo extend towards the former lake of Sesto and the mountains of Monti Pisani. Recognisable are: the village of Castelvecchio di Compito, Pieve di Compito e San Ginese, to the east; to the west, Lucca, and in the distance, the Panie mountains of the Apuan Alps.

The landscape on the Val di Nievole side of the plain is primarly characterised by hothouses for the cultivation of flowers, and activity that developed mainly after the Second World War and especially in the 1960s. Against the backdrop of the hills are recognisable: the cathedral and bell tower of Pescia, the Colleviti convent, the unmistakable modern buildings of the Flower Market a pescia, the village of Collodi and the slopes behind Castello dei Garzoni, the historical centres of Uzzano and Buggiani, Montecatini Alto and other centres and towns, and the vast reclaimed area of the Padule di Fucecchio.

Italy tour

Porsenna Labyrinth - Siena

Italy tour: Porsenna Labyrinth

Porsenna’s Labyrinth is located in Chiusi – Siena- in the underground of the main cathedral.

It is known as Porsenna’s Labyrinth because it is traditionally identified as part of Porsenna’s monumental sepulchre described by Roman scholarPliny the Elder.

It is formed by a close network of underground passages which formed a draining system conceived by the Etruscans in the archaic period (6th century B.C.), in order to exploit the infiltration and aquifer waters. The underground passages have different sizes and levels and are connected to the outside by wells and cisterns.

Today the tunnels can be visited, from the Cathedral Museum which is the start of a path, leading to the labyrinth, that passes through a large cistern of the 1st century BC.

Wine in Italy


Wine in Italy - Enoteca Vanni Lucca

Enoteca Vanni wine-shop in Tuscany

The Enoteca Vanni, founded in 1965, is located in Lucca’s historical center,where you can find the best wines, liquors, extra virgin olive-oils and  typical Lucchese food.

You can have a look at our products on our web-site and you can place an order through an easy automatic system . Be sure that each product comes directly from our cellars!

The Enoteca Vanni sells  wine, but also the best brands of liquors, whisky and distillates, both domestic and imported.  In addition, a large space is dedicated to wine especially to collectors.

It is the passion, typical of family traditions, which has placed Enoteca Vanni amongst Italy best stocked cellars.

It is the owners experience to deal with wine which guarantees the superior quality wanted by wine lovers.

So, if you find yourself walking in the center come and see them, please stop in for a visit

Enoteca Vanni
Piazza del Salvatore 7, 55100 Lucca
Tel. & Fax +39 0583 491902

Web-site: www.enotecavanni.com

Tuscan tours

Tuscan Tours - Antro del Corchia Grottos

Underground fun
Grottos, mines, caves, museums:an outing to land of marble.
Never been caving? In  Levignani, just up from the coast, you can and a dive into the Corchia Underground cave system is a spineshivering thrill.
The key attraction is the Antro del Corchia, a spectacular karst complex made up of 70 km of galleries, wells, and conduits: since 2001, expert guides accompany visitors on a 2 km walk through this mysterious secret world.

Some other suggestions: the Miniere dell’Argento Vivo mines, the Arabescato marble quarry, the museum of quarrying tools and equipment.

Tickets Grottos
Via IV Novembre 70, Levignani di Stazzema.
Tel. +39 0584 778405

www.antrocorchia.it – info@antrocorchia.it
www.levignani.it