by Dianne Hales | Sep 15, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, culture, Dante, Florence, history, Italian language, Italy, Language, literature, Tuscany, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Celebrating Dante’s 755th Birthday Dante Alighieri was born in Florence in September, 1265. As a boy, he glimpsed a lovely girl named Beatrice in a local chapel. Despite Dante’s unrequited, undying crush, the two rarely met and barely spoke. Both wed others in...
by Dianne Hales | Sep 1, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, food, history, Italian language, Italy, Language, Religion, Sayings and expressions, Social behavior, Travel, Web/Tech, Weblogs, wine
Even though we may not be able to spend September in Italy, we can enjoy its sayings and stories. Settembre In the ancient Roman calendar, the year began in March. September, the seventh month, took its name from the Latin septem. During this pivotal month, the hours...
by Dianne Hales | Aug 25, 2020 | african American history, Books, books on Italy, history, Italy, Travel, Tuscany, Uncategorized, Web/Tech, Weblogs, worldwarII
In 1975 Solace Wales and her husband, both artists, began living part of every year in Sommocolonia in the coastal mountains of Tuscany. There she learned about her neighbors’ harrowing experiences in World War II and about the African American troops who had been...
by Dianne Hales | Jul 28, 2020 | Books, books on Italy, history, love in Italy, Social behavior, Travel, Tuscany, Web/Tech, Weblogs
Monte Argentario “I want to come back here every year for the rest of our lives.” I made this declaration to my husband thirty years ago on our first trip to Monte Argentario on Tuscany’s western coast. We did indeed return annually—until this Covid-cursed year. When...
by Dianne Hales | Jun 9, 2020 | art, art history, Books, books on Italy, coronavirus, culture, Italian language, Italy, Language, Leonardo da Vinci, Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa, Renaissance, Travel, Tuscany, Web/Tech, Weblogs, women
Leonardo’s muse, Mona (Madame) Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, was born 541 years ago on June 15, 1479. Few art works have experienced more adventures—and misadventures—in and out of the frame. The Florentine matron has shed her stately robes and appeared in...
