Arttrav.com - Latest Comments

Re: Michelangelo’s Laurentian Library, Mannerist Tendencies

Claudio Beatrici — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 09:55:38 -0000

Alexandra,
I`ve been at the vestibule but was 5pm and they asked me leave. I hope to be back sometime. Sharp text, tanks.

Re: My Top Cinque Terre Travel Hacks

Courtney — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 11:44:52 -0000

Just got back from my trip to Cinque Terre , and this post is super helpful! I spent a couple of days wandering through Manarola and Vernazza, relaxing at Monterosso beach, and ending the day in Riomaggiore. Taking it slow really lets you enjoy the charm and beauty of each town. Can’t wait to go back!

Re: The astonishing restoration of Lucca’s Volto Santo

Marion — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 06:33:03 -0000

What a wonderful story of the Volto Santo of Lucca — reading about its restoration, its many layers, and the hands that gave back to the sculpture an ancient, almost forgotten face, is something that truly stays with you.
Thank you for recounting this restoration with such precision and poetry: it is an invitation to look with new eyes, to seek beauty beneath the surface, and to listen to the silence that follows every gesture of care.

#LadyPapavero

Re: Getting a bra that fits… in Italy

arttrav — Sat, 24 May 2025 10:10:38 -0000

The question is, why are you reading this blog post from 13 years ago?
The problem is a real one, enough for other commenters to agree, and for this article to be taken up by CBC News.
As for the Panda, the old ones still plough on... the "new panda" we bought in 2004 objectively broke down beyond repair at 4 years and 9 months so one does draw conclusions.

Re: Getting a bra that fits… in Italy

lou — Fri, 23 May 2025 09:39:52 -0000

I'm italian and honestly I never found a problem in finding a bra that fits me. Nor I heard any of my friends lamenting any lack of variety.

I also have a Fiat Panda that my mother bought when I was in kindergarden and I had been using that same car for more than a decade before it passed to my brother which is still using it today.

I don't know what you do with your bras and your cars, whatever you do it must be wild XD

Re: Do you “like” Raphael?

The Introvert Traveler — Fri, 16 May 2025 08:25:39 -0000

Excellent post, truly. First of all, I really liked the idea of using a poll with pie charts. Beyond that, I often find myself reflecting on my lukewarm enthusiasm for Raphael — whose unsurpassed graphic quality I nonetheless fully acknowledge — and I was pleased to see that I’m not the only one who questions such a major name. At the same time, I also appreciated the thoughtful insights shared by his admirers.

Re: Ravenna: the power of mosaics

Cindy — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:31:51 -0000

I have been dreaming of a few days in Ravenna for years. This is really making me want to go even more than I did before. Exceptional blog for Art history lovers, thanks for the email❤️

Re: Where to play tennis in Florence

arttrav — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 01:49:50 -0000

Hi Brandon. The clay courts here are really great! This is not an easy question as it depends where you're going to be located in Florence and if you have a car to reach the tennis courts. If you're staying downtown and don't have a car, I'd suggest tennis La Carraia, not far from piazzale Michelangelo. The club does not look spectacular but it's actually where Florentine nobility plays. If you reach out to them they would likely be able to accommodate you though you may have to register for a FITP card (around 30 euros) in order to be sure you're covered by insurance while playing. That is our tennis federation.
You can ask them to set up play for you, but consider that July is very very hot in Florence. It's regularly 40 degrees celcius and hotter in the sun so you can only really play at 8am or 10pm. You'll also want to determine the ranking conversion from USA to Italy. It looks to me like 4.0 in USA is 5.0 in Italy as the scales seem to be inverted. We don't use ranking unless we are officially ranked (starting at 4.6 FIT) so you could just say you're a solid club player, or indicate if you regularly do tournaments etc.
The other option is to contact MatchBall Firenze, which is a swank full service tennis center (and will have some rackets for you to borrow) and many members. Maybe you can ask to pay a set amount for your stay and ask if they can include pool access. They also have a lot of pros if you'd like a lesson as a way to avoid setting up member play.
Best of luck! Alexandra

Re: Where to play tennis in Florence

Brandon S — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 17:52:52 -0000

Hello Alexandra,
I'm going to be in Florence for 4 weeks this July and hoping to finally get to play on some clay courts. I'm a 4.0 player from California. Do you have a place you would recommend? Are there any websites to find players, preferably English speaking? Any help would be super appreciative. Trying to decide if I should fly to Europe with my racket or not, I imagine the clubs have demos. Thanks for your article! Super helpful!

Re: Fiesole: the Complete Guide

arttrav — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 02:50:37 -0000

Hello and thanks for this contribution. I never came across anything about Leonardo owning a vineyard in or near Fiesole; about Leonardo and wine there is much, but mostly revolving around Anghiari (the family's original farmland), Vinci, and Milan where he was given a now-urban vineyard that they put back into production. Now that you mention it, I found the following reference:
"Non è quindi così difficile immaginare il fatto che oltre ad amare il vino, lo producesse: non solo wine lover, ma anche un autentico wine maker, diremmo oggi. Ne è la prova una lettera inviata nel 1515 al fattore del suo Podere di Fiesole, dove Leonardo dà precise indicazioni tecniche per ottenere un vino privo di difetti, semplicemente e genialmente buono. Questo scritto altro non è che un vero e proprio trattato di viticoltura, tanto che, per dirlo con le sue parole: “Conciosiacosache si voi et altri faciesti senno di tali ragioni, berremmo vino excellente”." in this article by wine news https://winenews.it/it/leon...
With regard to a farm in Fiesole, you're right that he had one: apparently he purchased 2 pieces of land "sotto le mura di fiesole" (according to a 2005 article in Il Giornale) in 1503 - probably these are now not farmland but apartments as the area along the walls is all built up; then in 1505 a controversy began about the inheritance of "some farms" from the uncle, which concluded in 1520 with life rights to use the farms, but the article I found (about an exhibition of documents) does not say which farms, where. Happy to know more!

Re: Fiesole: the Complete Guide

tucumcaritonight — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 15:17:47 -0000

Thank you for the very informative blog re: Fiesole. But, I found one thing strangely missing. While you write of Leonardo's presence at Monte Ceceri, you make no mention of his home in Fiesole, the small farm (and I believe, a vineyard) that he inherited from his Uncle Francesco. It was a major thorn in Leonardo's side as he struggled in the courts to keep it from his greedy, entitled half-siblings, c. 1504-1509-ish. In fact, I believe that once the court case was settled (in his favor, but only after promising the half-brothers and their descendents that they would inherit it), he left Firenze forever. I'd have to dig in my files, but I believe it was along what is now the Via delle Via Estruche. Perhaps some of the locals know.

Re: Fiesole: the Complete Guide

arttrav — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:58:28 -0000

Hello! But who is this mysterious "A" ?! There IS a "small" antique market once a month on first Sundays. They don't really sell furniture, just little things.

Re: Fiesole: the Complete Guide

af — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 14:32:54 -0000

Ciao Alexandra - long time :)
Does the antique market still happen? No one seems to have up to date info on this. Hope you are well! A.

Re: How not to let public transportation ruin your holiday in Florence

Carolina — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 11:56:08 -0000

Dear Alexandra, I wish I had read your article and/or other articles about Ataf before coming to Florence. I got harrassed badly by ataf inspectors today and I wanted to file a complaint, but the email adress on the fine ticket they gave me does not work. By any chance, do you know where to find the right email adress?

Re: Florence Museum News 2024

Nan Brucker — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 12:27:36 -0000

Thank you so much for this post. Have just returned from a visit to Orsanmichele, with all new appreciation. It is a wonderful experience and beautifully done.

Re: How not to let public transportation ruin your holiday in Florence

arttrav — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 09:46:10 -0000

Well Peter, here's the thing. Much of Europe runs on this system. It's a matter of being familiar with how it works.
This is not a system invented for tourists. It's been like this from before tourism was a thing.
PS this article is now out of date, though the system (buy a ticket and validate it) is still the same.

Re: How not to let public transportation ruin your holiday in Florence

Peter — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 08:52:15 -0000

That is such a moronic system.
Why don't these stupid people don't sell the goddamn ticket already validated?
This is a classic tourist trap from people who wants to take away money from tourists.
I hope all these cities perish.
They depend on tourism and treat tourists like garbage.
In my country is real easy:
You get into the f*cking bus
You pay your fare into the f*cking bus with f*cking money.
And that's all.
Pathetic.
So much for the "first world."

Re: Florence in the Summer: How to Visit in the Hottest Months

arttrav — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 03:28:38 -0000

Why yes! Are you able to suggest anything better? And don't say "supermarkets".

Re: Naples Italy: So Many Things To Do!

arttrav — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 03:28:16 -0000

Fabulous! Feel free to add links here - Naples deserves a ton of love. I am a bit afraid that it's "getting discovered" - apparently tourism is way up - and I don't have a lot of faith in their ability to immediately put into place policies that would limit overtourism and its effects...

Re: Naples Italy: So Many Things To Do!

Cristina — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 00:23:43 -0000

Ciao Alexandra
Since writing my comment 6 years ago, I've been to Napoli 4 times and I love it! I've written 4 posts as well-on Caravaggio, Napoli Street Art, 'un giorno a Napoli' and the new Gallerie d'Italia Napoli. Cant' wait to go again-I have 1 more Caravaggio to visit. I normally don't like tours, but may have to check out that Context Caravaggio one. Ciao, Cristina

Re: Florence in the Summer: How to Visit in the Hottest Months

arttrav — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 22:12:53 -0000

Oh yes I am serious. Can you suggest anything better, other than not going outside at all?

Re: Florence in the Summer: How to Visit in the Hottest Months

ALEG — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 06:56:50 -0000

You mean to stay fresh you suggest to go into the churches? LOL.

Re: Florence in the Summer: How to Visit in the Hottest Months

ALEG — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 06:55:48 -0000

You mean if you want to find a fresh palce in the Summer while in town, you suggest to go into the churches? L O L

Re: It must be a sign: Driving in Italy

Sajede — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 01:48:36 -0000

Aha. Thank you.

Re: It must be a sign: Driving in Italy

arttrav — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 15:13:49 -0000

Hello, there is no case in which anyone is allowed to run a red light in Italy (I think also in most countries that is a no!).