For my October 31st ZOOM talk (my twelfth!), olives and olive oil in Italy’s art, history, cuisine, medicine, folklore – and not only! – will take the stage. I’ve decided to write a few blog notes prior as an introduction. Let’s get started. Since ancient times, a symbol of peace, wisdom, prosperity, fertility, and victory,…
Standing proudly like a stately sentinel, a medieval tower welcomes you to Spello, ancient olive trees sprouting out of the top of the tower. What better welcome to la Citta’ dell’Olio? Even the roundabout you’ll pass before entering Spello encircles and ancient olive tree. And as you stroll Spello, you’ll see shops selling that “Umbria gold,”….…
Logicamente, lustre maiolica wine goblets, flasks, plates with the wine and Bacchus motif figured in my October 20, 2020 ZOOM presentation, “Italy’s Wine Mystique in History and Art.” But my “wine motif” subject was vast and the lustre ware in Umbria and the Marches truly merits exclusive attention, even – a talk on its own. (If…
Although now nearly extinct in the wild, grapes (vitis vinifera) grew throughout the Mediterranean world and in Italy, grapes were cultivated both in northern and central Italy by the Etruscans and in the south (Magna Grecia) by the Greeks. The grapevines often intertwined in trellises as in this Roman mosaic of Cherchell, Algeria (3rd- 4th-c. A.D.): In…
My October 17, 2020 ZOOM presentation, “Italy’s Wine Mystique in History and Art” included – logicamente! – an exploration of the cult of the Roman god Bacchus, so often depicted in triumph as in the 3rd-c. A.D. Roman mosaic of Setif, Algeria (see above). Wine flourished in the Greek and Roman worlds with the Greek Dionysius…
I hadn’t seen Giuseppa in many months, for I haven’t been guiding visitors through the wonders of Umbria in many months due to global travel restrictions. Perugia/Deruta was always a much loved tour – and lunch at the farmhouse near Deruta of Paolo and Giuseppa was a highlight of that day. We’d often have a taste…
The mystique of wine originates in pre-historic times as the fruit of the vitis vinifera – the Euro-asiatic grapevine cultivated in all continents except the Antarctic – was first turned into wine in about 8500 BC. Probably accidentally. wine is endowed with strong significances, threading through the history of ancient peoples – even prior to…
For my upcoming ZOOM presentation (October 10th) on the art and cultural history of wine from pre-Roman times to the present, I wanted to include a vineyard visit in the Montefalco area where one of Umbria’s coveted indigenous grapes, il sagrantino is cultivated. The maiolica cups with the grape motif in Luca’s Assisi store launched…
For my next ZOOM (October 10th) on the culture, folklore and artistic traditions of wine from the Romans until today, an interview with Peppa on wine’s use in rural cultures must be included. Recently, Peppa enthusiastically shared with me rural wine lore over lunchtime pasta at her farmhouse. When she was a child and…
Flags and banners are integral to the celebration of Calendimaggio in Assisi and not just those representing the two districts, La Magnifica Parte di Sopra and La nobilissima Parte de Sopra…. ..but all those colorful banners flung, twirled, hurled upwards in an astounding show of acrobatic splendor by Assisi’s sbandieratori: The sbandieratori (literally, “wavers…