POETRY IN SIENA, September 2012

For a change the stARTers series organized by the Siena Art Institute won't host a visual artist but a poet. Visiting artist in Siena this September, Jo Shapcott is still fresh from her experience at the Poetry Parnassus, an event organised alongside the Olympic Games in London.
Shapcott is the former president of the Poetry Society and has won various awards (in 2011 the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, which must be similar to Olympic gold).

Siena Art Institute, Tuesday 4th September 6pm stARTers - artist talks

Via Tommaso Pendola, 37 - Tel 0577 532001

Presentation in English. The meetings are for free.

On Thursday 6th September more poetry is on its way. This time in Italian. Enjoy a warm summer's night out at the Orto de' Pecci to listen to sonnets and verses composed by Italian poets: ARTE NELL'ORTO

Orto de' Pecci (access by foot via porta Giustizia on piazza del Mercato), dinner and poetry, 25€. From 7.30pm. Only on reservation: +39 0577 222201 or info@ortodepecci.it

WHAT IS THE PALIO? SIENA'S HORSE RACE IN A NUTSHELL

The twelve must-knows for people wanting to impress fellow travelers with their thorough knowledge of the Palio di Siena, the world’s oldest continually hold sporting event. 1. WHAT IS THE PALIO? Italy's most famous horse race takes place twice a year o n piazza del Campo, Siena’s shell shaped medieval square. 2. WHEN IS THE PALIO? Each year on the 2nd of July and the 16th of August . The July race called Palio della Madonna di Provenzano starts at 7.30 pm, the Palio dell'Assunta in August at 7 pm. However, both races are proceeded by a pageantry procession, so prepare to access piazza del Campo three to four hours before the start of the race. The festival lasts for a total of four days each time, which are made up of trial races and neighborhood dinners. Piazza del Campo and Palazzo Pubblico during Palio 3. WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? Siena has 17 neighborhoods ( contrade in Ialian), but only ten of them can ...

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SECRET SIGHTS IN SIENA: HIDDEN FRESCOES AT PALAZZO PUBBLICO AND CO.

Fresco by Sano di Pietro in one of Palazzo Pubblico's six secret rooms STANZE SEGRETE / SECRET ROOMS at PALAZZO PUBBLICO, piazza del Campo Upcoming dates: March 22/23, 2014; May 21/22, 2014 If you've been to Siena countless times, you may think you know it all. But you don't. Because you couldn't. Not even I - the famous writer of an arty-farty blog about Siena - have seen all of the Renaissance frescoes at Siena's civic museum yet. For a reason. Palazzo Pubblico in piazza del Campo may be one of Siena's main sights (think famous frescoes by Ambrogio Lorenzetti and Simone Martini), but many of its beautifully adorned rooms are normally off-limits to the general public. Unless you happen to be in town for one of the guided visits which take place only a couple of times a year and grant you access to the hidden rooms with frescoes by Sienese masters like Sano di Pietro, Lippo Memmi and Il Sodoma. Guided visits at: 1 0:30 - 11:30 - 12:30 - ...

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VINTAGE MARKET AND 1930s PARTY IN SIENA: Saturday April 5, 2014

Considering how much Italy's image is linked to its 20th century icons (from Sophia Loren, Fellini and Marcello Mastroianni to Vespa and Fiat 500), it always surprises me how difficult it is to find a decent vintage store. Gucci and Fendi outlets may be thriving in Tuscany, but y ou're better off in London or Zurich, if you're after a dress Gina Lollobrigida or Eleonora Duse could have worn. Whether baby clothes or evening gowns, the majority of Italians prefer new to second hand, and whilst antique furniture markets are a monthly staple of many a Tuscan town, garage sales and vintage stores have never really gotten off the ground in this country. In Siena Aloe & Wolf is an exemption to the rule. The vintage shop in via Porrione has become a well loved staple in town and has every reason to celebrate its successful 10th year in business (yes, Kate Moss stopped and shopped here too). SWINGING ON PORRIONE: SATURDAY 5th of APRI...

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