An Anniversary for Brunelleschi’s Dome
“On August 30th, the dome was closed and furnished, and all the bells of Florence rang, and the Te Deum laudamus was sung, thanking the Lord for […]
Chiuso per Ferie (An Insider’s Italy Rome in August)
As summer wanes and Romans slowly return to their city rhythms, it feels like the perfect moment to revisit one of my favorite times on […]
In the Footsteps of the Etruscans: An Insider’s Italy Family Journey
My father, Howard Shaw, was a superb, agile writer, an avid delighter in life — especially in all things preposterous — and among the most […]
Insider’s Italy: A Fresco, a Peach, and the Art of Looking Closely
There is no single perfect fresco, but if there were one that most touches me at this moment, it is this. Still Life with Peaches […]
Buon Ferragosto !
Italy wide, everyone today celebrates Ferragosto. This ancient festival — ” feriae Augustae” in Latin — was decreed a multiple-day holiday throughout the Roman Empire […]
Finding Joy in History’s Everyday
If the grandeur of Italy’s contemporary sights and architectural heritage has left you searching for something more intimate, I suggest turning your attention to the […]
Spring in Italy Begins with a Poppy
What is it about poppies ? From my earliest childhood I have loved them, even though they have for decades eluded me when I have […]