Bolsena Infiorate to Celebrate Corpus Domini
Bolsena celebrates in floral splendor the Feast of Corpus Domini, for after all, this feast promulgated in the 13th-century –... View article
Anne's Blog / Italian ‘Passione’
In Assisi, Crafting One’s Own Lutes
As a child growing up in Assisi, craftsman of medieval stringed instruments, Luca Piccioni, would have been familiar with such... View article
In Assisi, Wood-working Artisans, Past and Present
The creative output of many Assisi artisans is owed to the inspiration of family members of past generations. And so... View article
Renaissance Masterpieces Live On in Deruta’s Museo della Ceramica
In Deruta, a sacred spot of the Middle Ages holds sacred treasures. In this small Umbria hilltown, a 14th-century Franciscan... View article
Deruta: a Hymn to Maiolica
Deruta, an Umbria small hilltown south of Perugia….. …..is a veritable open-air museum peppered with maiolica touches in the piazzas,... View article
Deruta’s Maiolica Wonders: the Key Ingredient?
What’s absolutely essential to the production of bellissima glazed earthenware, maiolica? Passione. I very recently spoke to five young women in “la citta’ della... View article
Assisi’s Good Friday Morning Procession: Remembered
I hadn’t missed Assisi’s evocative morning Good Friday procession in years. Until last year, due to COVID restrictions. And, ahimè... View article
A14th Century Holy Thursday Ritual in Assisi
I dropped in recently at Assisi’s Cathedral of San Rufino: I needed a couple photos. Built in the 12th-century on... View article
Gubbio’s Good Friday: Living Medieval Street Theater
Easter liturgies have incorporated early forms of performances and role-playing – varying from short text passages to long presentations –... View article
Mercato delle Gaite: Medieval Majesty in Bevagna
It all started with a celebration of roast suckling pig, la porchetta. As of the 1970’s, the Sagra della Porchetta had gathered the... View article
Agenzia Viaggi Stoppini in Assisi handles all technical support for my guided visits (bus transportation, organization of meals, etc)