Experience a truly enchanting holiday in one of my Tuscan Villas
Pievana at San Pancrazio in Tuscany
The Church of San Pancrazio in Tuscany is a 10th century baptisimal church. It is situated in Lucca area.
It is built in stone and has a nave and no aisles; the apse and the facade are surmounted by suspended arches. Its current layout is the result of restoration work carried out in 1855 which eliminated the additions that had been made throughout the century.
TEATRO VERDI Via Ghibellina 91 – Tel +39 055 212320 or +39 055 2396242
www.teatroverdionline.it
Opera y Flamenco 2 May
Jun’ichi Hirokami directs the Orchestra della Toscana, Brahms op. 77 – 5 May
Orchestra della Toscana with soloists.
Strauss Dance of the Seven Veils and Finale from Salomè op 54 Stravinsky The Firebird (1919 version) 14 May
Giovanni Allevi premiere. Italian composer and pianist 17 and 18 May
Teatro del Maggio 73rd Season
Full programme and information on www.maggiofiorentino.com
TEATRO COMUNALE Via Solferino 15 – Tel. +39 055 27791
Die Frau Ohne Schatten Three act opera by R. Strauss Zubin Metha directs the Maggio Orchestra 15.30 on 2 may, 19.30 on 5 and 8 May.
Saechsiche Staatskapelle Dresden Zubin Metha conducts Brahms Piano Concerto n. 2 in B Flat Major Op. 83 Strauss Also Sprach Zarathrusta Op. 30.20.30 on 10 May.
Rufus Wainwright 21.30 on 13 may.
Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail Mozart’s Turkish opera 20.30 on 14, 19 and 21 May, 15.30 on 16 May.
Daniel Barenboim (piano) Chopin 20.30 on 24 May.
Zubin Metha conducts with Daniel Barenboim (piano) Bartok and Chopin 25 May.
Long Yu conductor and Saleem Abboud Ashkar (piano) Tan Dun Internet symphony, Mendelssohn, Dvorak 20.30 on 29 May.
Gerswin Songs for Jazz quintet and orchestra with Enrico Rava Quintet, 20.30 on 1 June.
Lucca Elegance
May the pagan month. But also the month when spring sunshine flooding into rooms can get you thinking about replacing tired fabrics or furniture. If you’re feeling the nestbuilding urge, you could do worse than spend the weekend of 14-16 may at Lucca Elegance, the art, antiques and interior design fair at the Real Collegio in the centre of Lucca.
This is the second year of Lucca Elegance which attracted over 4000,00 visitors in 2009 drawn by the chance to see and buy paintings, furniture, fabrics and jewellery from top suppliers from all over Italy.
Clearly, living in houses that are often 300 or 400 years old has its responsibilities, and modern furniture will not always seem quite right.
Lucca Elegance strives to recreate the look of the typical 17th century salotto lucchese, displayed to perfection in the spacious rooms of the Real Collegio.
Whether you’re in acquisitive mood or not, the fair is an artistic experience in itself, where you can learn much about good art and design.
For example, there will be an exhibition feauturing many of the major Italian artists of the 19th and 20th centuries, especially those local to Tuscany.
In short, a great way to experience gracious living at its best.
Lucca Elegance will be at the Real Collegio (behind the Church of San Frediano, in the centre of Lucca) on:
Friday 14 May (3 pm – 11 pm)
Saturday 15 May (10 am – 11 pm)
Sunday 16 May (10 am – 7.30 pm)
Web-site: www.luccaelegance.it
Walks thorough the Massaciuccoli marshlands 10, 16, 24 May.
In the San Rossore Estate, 22, 23 May. Walking in the Alpi Apuane. Guided tours of nature trails. Visit the caves, see phenomenal stalactites and stalagmites at the Equi terme Spa in Fivizzano, the Antro del Corchia (Levignani di Stazzema) and Grotta del Vento (Fornovalasco).
For full details of conferences, bird watching, flower and fauna activities and much more go to www.tuscanywalkingfestival.it
The name is Longobard in origin and comes from Massagrausi (the farm of Grauso), a wealthy man who owned most of the land in the area. In 932, king Hugo of Provence donated Massagrausi to the priests of the cathedral of Lucca.
Thanks to this, Massarosa was saved from expansionist ambitions of the Cattani family of Bozzano and Montemagno, but it was frequently under attack from Saracen pirates and the inhabitans of Massarosa obtained the right to construct a castle on a small rise in the north of the village.
Subsequently, they also obtained the status of castrum from Henry IV, Frederick I and Otto IV, according to which priests were the proprietors of a fief. The political and economic importance of the Jus of Massarosa therefore grew. In the 13th century the feudal potentate had to handle the political and military claims of the inhabitans who had formed a free municipality in the 12th century.
The disputes were so bitter that they required the intervetion of emperors and popes. In 1799 the State of Lucca took over the direct administration of the municipality of Massarosa, leaving only the ownership of land to the canons.
The parish church of Massarosa was probably built round about the 16th century, and over the years it underwent continuous modifications until it was completed in 1895. Inside there is a fine 16 th century altar-piece with the Madonna col Bambino benedicente tra i Santi Jacopo e Andrea, and 15th century marble shrine for hly oils.
Web-site: www.aptversilia.it