Posted in Americans Abroad, Expat in Italy, Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, Uncategorized, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, BrowsingItaly, Insiders Guide to Orvieto, Orvieto, orvieto italy on August 31, 2015|
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I can’t believe it’s been 31 days already! Time flies when you’re having fun! What a wonderful experience it’s been to sit down everyday and write about the people, places and things that make this city so special and unique. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who inspired, participated or supported me in sharing a little bit of Orvieto with the world, day-by-day. In 2013, I wrote an article for BrowsingItaly entitled, “Insiders Guide to Orvieto”, and I thought it might be a good way to wrap things up. Remember, August may be over, but you know me….I’ll never, ever stop shouting it from the terracotta rooftops…Orvieto, Italy Rocks! Like! Share! Visit!
http://www.browsingitaly.com/umbria/orvieto-insiders-guide/972/
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Posted in Artists in Italy, Culture, Expat in Italy, Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, art and architecture, artisans in Italy, Day 30 of 31 Days of Orvieto, italian jewelry, Orogami, Orvieto, orvieto italy on August 30, 2015|
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Friends Massimo Aloisio and Tiziana O. Aloisio are the dynamic duo behind OROGAMI, an exquiste jewellery store located on Via del Duomo. What makes their work especially unique (as well as beautiful) is the fact that, along with great craftsmanship and technique, their designs contain elements of both art and architecture. Pieces are not only made of gold, silver, colorful and precious stones – each collection contains high symbolism and deep meaning: The Seed is the symbol of life; The Labryinth expresses life’s journey; Attica draws inspiration from ancient archaeological finds. Their most astounding work is found in a gold medallion reproducing the intricate details of the rose window of the Duomo di Orvieto. Although many mistake their shop’s name for the art of Japanese papermaking, it’s actually a blend of the Italian word for gold (oro) with the ancient Greek word for wedding (gamos). The two together form “Orogami” which means “union of gold”. Massimo and Tiziana are truly the ‘golden couple’, demonstrated in both their work and their personal life! I’m as ‘good as gold’ to be able to call them ‘amici’. http://orogami.it Like! Share! Visit!
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Posted in Culture, Expat in Italy, Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living abroad, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, Day 29 of 31 Days of Orvieto, Famous Orvietani, Orvieto, orvieto italy on August 29, 2015|
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ASCANIO VITOZZI (1539–1615) was an Italian soldier, architect and military engineer (and the son of Ercole lord of Montevitozzo). He was instrumental in the design and building of Palazzo Reale in Torino, where he lived until his death…Also, my vicolo is named for him! BONAVENTURA CERRETTI (1872- 1933) was made Cardinal-Priest of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome by Pope Pius XI, where he is buried. In 1930, he was painted by his friend, Swiss-born American artist Adolfo Müller-Ury (1862-1947), the portrait is believed to hang in the Palazzo Municipale di Orvieto. LUIGI BARZINI, JR., the journalist/writer/politician most famous for his 1964 book “The Italians” was NOT born in Orvieto, but his fascist-sympathizer-journalist father, Luigi Barzini Sr. (1908-1984) was. The last, is an “Orvietana” by adoption only. Like! Share! Visit!
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Posted in Americans Abroad, Coffee in Italy, Culture, Expat in Italy, Food in Italy, Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living abroad, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, Bar Montanucci, coffee in Italy, Day #28 of 31 Days of Orvieto, Italy, Orvieto, orvieto italy on August 28, 2015|
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Coffee bars in Italy are its life’s blood. For over 100 years, Bar Montanucci has been pouring caffeine-addicted Orvietani their morning cappuccinos (in my case, caffe latte) as well as offering fresh, handmade pastries, cakes and…..wait for it…chocolate! At lunch choose from fresh salads, sandwhiches and pasta. After lunchtime, the case transforms into a gelato counter, and in the evenings you can order cocktails with small plates. The terraced patio is a great place to hang-out on warm, summer days and nights, too. Like! Share! Visit!
#31daysofOrvieto#orvietoorbust #Orvieto #barmontanucci #coffeebarsinitaly #Italytravel
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Posted in Artists in Italy, Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, Loretta Lovisa, Merletto di Orvieto, Orvieto, orvieto italy on August 27, 2015|
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Day #27 of “31 Days of Orvieto features another remarkable ARTISAN, Loretta Lovisa. Loretta painstakingly and lovingly creates (by hand, of course) ‘Merletto di Orvieto‘ (Lace of Orvieto). In producing this traditional and highly intricate artistic craft, Loretta uses micro-thin threads to weave delicate trimmings, centerpieces, clothing, etc. into works of art. What makes this lace particularly typical to Orvieto is both the technique and motifs: Images of leaves of ivy, vines, flowers, figures and animals found on the 14th century bas-reliefs of the Cathedral of Orvieto are integrated into these artistic expressions. In Loretta’s dedication to this artform, she offers workshops in order to pass along the time-honored techniques to the next generation of Orvietani. She hopes, and so do we, that Merletto di Oriveto will not die, but live on and on. Like! Share! Visit!
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Posted in Culture, Expat in Italy, Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Oriveto, Day 26 of 31 Days of Orvieto, Duomo di Orvieto, Luca Signorelli, Oriveto, Orvieto, orvieto italy, Pope Urban IV on August 26, 2015|
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…And what a church it is! The Duomo (cathedral) of Orvieto is nothing less than breathtaking. Built by order of Pope Urban IV to house the Corpal of the Miracle of Bolsena, the Duomo broke ground in 1290 and was completed in 1591. The Gothic facade features a large rose window, golden mosaics and huge bronze doors. Inside the black and white basalt and travertine interiors you’ll find alabaster windows, ancient frescoes and, the ‘pièce de résistance’, the Chapel of the Madonna di San Brizio. This chapal contains one of the most important and beautiful Renaissance masterpieces in the world, “Judgement Day” by Luca Signorelli. Like! Share! Visit!
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Posted in Artists in Italy, Culture, Expat in Italy, Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, Compagnia Mastro Titta, Day 24 of 31 Days of Orvieto, Orvieto, orvieto italy, Paola Cecconi, Teatro Mancinelli on August 24, 2015|
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Some might say that Orvieto is a sleepy little town with not much going on…but there’s one group of citizens that would beg to differ. Compagnia Mastro Titta, under the direction of Paola Cecconi, is a community theatre group comprised of 54 ‘kids’ (ages 10 to 83) that presents musicals and comedies that are anything but ‘amateur’. Recent sold-out productions include: Sister Act 2, Mamma Mia, Grease, Flashdance and Hello Dolly. Check the calendar at Teatro Mancinelli (see Day #5) for upcoming shows! Bravi, Bravi! Like! Share! Visit!
#31daysofOrvieto#orvietoorbust #compagniamastrotitta #Orvieto #musicalsorvieto #Italytravel
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Posted in Culture, Expat in Italy, Italian Culture, Italy, Living abroad, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, Day 22 of 31 Days of Oriveto, Gelateria Pasqualetti, gelato, gelato in Italy, Gelato Paqualetti, Orvieto, orvieto italy on August 22, 2015|
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What can you do when temperatures top 38C (100F)? Eat gelato of course! But don’t settle for just any old ice cream…head to the world-renowned Gelateria Pasqualetti (http://www.ilgelatodipasqualetti.com). This family-owned and operated artisan gelateria makes the real thing: Whole, natural and delicious gelato with the colors and the scents of real fruit – without gimmicks, chemicals or thickeners. You’ll find them at 1 of 2 locations: 10 Via del Duomo and a summer-only shop at 14 Piazza del Duomo. Go out and ‘lick’ the heat….FYI: Gelato is great in the dead of winter, too!
#31daysofOrvieto #orvietorbust#iloveorvieto #orvieto #gelato #gelatopasqualetti
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Posted in Culture, Expat in Italy, Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, Day #20 of 31 Days of Orvieto, Etruscans, Il Museo Claudio Faina, Oriveto, orvieto italy on August 20, 2015|
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Before it was Orvieto, this Etruscan city was called Velzna (circa 3rd century B.C.). The Etruscans may have been short in stature, but they were long on engineering and cultural sophistication. They were adept winemakers, perfected the terracotta potter’s wheel and were stellar metalworkers. Etruscan authority, Professor Claudio Bizzarri, says Etruscan sculptors were called to Rome to decorate the Temple of Jupiter. “They taught Romans to use civil engineering instruments to survey and build their famous roads”. Etruscan innovation is astounding, especially considering they didn’t have the benefit of modern machinery. Their civilization survived from 900 B.C. until its decline and integration into Roman culture around 100 B.C. Learn more by visiting the archeological and Etruscan collections at Il Museo Claudio Faina in Piazza del Duomo. http://www.museofaina.it. Like! Share! Visit!
#31daysofOrvieto#orvietoorbust #Orvieto #iloveOrvieto #Italytravel #etruscans
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Posted in Italian Culture, Italians, Italy, Living in Italy, Orvieto, Orvieto Italy, Travel, Travel to Italy, Umbria, tagged 31 Days of Orvieto, Kelly Medford, la confaloniera, Orvieto, orvieto italy, Piazza del Popolo on August 19, 2015|
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La confaloniera (a promenade on the northern edge of the wall) is not a ‘secret’ exactly, however many visitors don’t often find themselves in this part of town…but they should. It’s a lovely place for a morning walk, to sit on the bench, sketch countryside scenes or read a book in solitude. From Piazza Del Popolo, walk away from the center of town on Via Pza del Popolo to where the street ends. There are two shady childrens’ playgrounds, and at night, the glow of lamplight creates a romantic atmosphere – perfect for lovers. Like! Share! Visit!
Sketch by Kelly Medford
#31daysofOrvieto#orvietoorbust #Orvieto #iloveorvieto #Italytravel #Italy
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Orvieto or Bust: 