An article in the International Herald Tribune discusses the restoration of a ruined village in the Val d’Orcia into villa rentals. The novelty is that the houses have been restored using original materials and techniques and furnishings have been provided and produced locally. The food served in the houses is also produced in the area and the aim is to make the village completely self-sufficient. The developer is also promoting cultural tourism, organizing concerts and artists’ residencies. Locals have noticed a new respect for the area which has been repopulating: one vintner says the young are showing a new appreciation for their traditions.
Category: News (page 13 of 24)
A comprehensive (some 130 pieces) retrospective of Maurizio Cattelan’s works is on view at the Guggenheim. Perhaps known as much as a provocateur as an artist, Cattelan’s pieces have often inspired controversy. The Guggenheim’s show is eye-catching and initially seems messy. The pieces are strung from the ceiling in the museum’s atrium in an amazing hodgepodge. As you make your way up the spiral ramp, you notice single pieces; some things come into focus, others go out. Some works are obvious, others less so. In the end it’s not so overwhelming and there is a sense of well-coreographed fun. The show (and show it is) runs through January 22nd.
From November 10 to 13 NICE is in New York at the Anthology Film Archives on 2nd Avenue. Six NY film premieres will be featured – including Lucchetti’s La nostra vita and Molaioli’s Il gioiellino. The showings will be followed by a Q and A session with the films’ directors. For the full program call Maya at 617-820-9284.
The Palazzo Quirinale, currently the official residence of the President of Italy, was built in 1583 as a papal residence and after 1871 was used as the royal residence of the kings of Italy. In 1655 the painter Pietro da Cortona received a commission from Pope Alexander VII to redecorate a wing of the palace. The resulting grand rooms – airy, light-filled and covered with frescoes – were a model for other European palaces. However in 1812, under Napoleon, the rooms were reconfigured and redecorated, covering Pietro’s work. In more recent years, during updating of the electrical system, Pietro’s amazingly well-preserved frescoes were re-discovered. Starting October 16th and following a restoration, the Galleria di Alessandro VII will be added to the areas open to the public on Sundays.
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