Siena & Italy Tours with Anna

01/04/2025

Just a 20-minute train ride from Florence is Signa, a charming town with an incredible history. A group of lovely guides and I were welcomed by the mayor, and after a lovely breakfast, we were shown magnificent frescoes in two churches, one which houses the Blessed Giovanna (d. 1307), a healing ‘saint’ with many devotees. In San Lorenzo, we saw the unveiling of a newly restored Madonna and Child Enthroned between Saints Stephen and Anthony, a beautiful 15th-c fresco to which the citizens of Signa are greatly attached.

🌾Most surprising, however, was the Museo della Paglia (Straw Museum). Did you know that the Panama hat is not from Panama? Or that the “trecciaiole” (weavers) were amongst the first women to be emancipated, then the first women to strike? Or that straw hats in England were called ‘Leghorns’, after the Port of Livorno whence these hats were shipped? The only hat that truly suited me, though, was the one CHER wore in ‘Tea with Mussolini’ (yes, really!!), but alas, it was not for sale. 👒

29/03/2025

In 1419, Brunelleschi (of dome fame) received his first architectural commission from the Silk Guild to make a structure to house the ever-growing number of abandoned children in Florence. The first “innocent” was received in 1445, and thousands more followed throughout the centuries. Boys and girls had their own courtyard for outside play, and they received an education so that, despite their unfortunate circumstances, they could still grow up to be contributing members of society.

Many medieval cities had provisions for caring for children, from the hiring of wet nurses and educators to providing dowries for girls and apprenticeships for boys, but Florence can truly boast the first purpose-built orphanage. No longer functioning as such today, it still provides services to families and is now the headquarters of UNICEF. Not only does the museum house beautiful artworks and stories of heartache and hope, but it also has a fabulous cafe with a gorgeous view of the city. Add this this to your list!

25/03/2025

If you add 9 months to today, what do you get? That’s right, Christmas Day! So March 25th is the Feast Day of the Annunciation, which, until 1749, was the Sienese New Year. This was also the tradition in Florence, Pisa, and Lucca, and in other places beyond Tuscany too, but these towns preserved the tradition the longest (making dating documents sometimes confusing!). Ma perché? The Annunciation is when the Angel Gabriel comes down to the Virgin Mary and says, “Hail Mary, full of grace, God is with you.” This is the Incarnation, the Word made flesh, and the start of the Salvation cycle, which culminates in the Resurrection, Easter Sunday. In Christianity, therefore, it marks a new season of hope, as all mankind now has the chance to be redeemed.

If you’re anywhere in Tuscany, look out for people in historic dress processing towards the cathedral. In Siena, you’ll hear the drums and see the flags of the 17 Contrade as they go to the church of the Santissima Annunziata (Most Holy Annunciate) in the Hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, directly across from the Cathedral.

16/03/2025

Perhaps you don’t think of putting “contemporary art” and “Siena” in the same sentence, but from now on, you should! The Palazzo delle Papesse has finally reopened its doors and will feature multiple modern and contemporary art exhibitions though you the year. I had a fantastic time just being in this 15th-century palace (built for Caterina Piccolomini, Pope Pius II’s sister); the view from the roof terrace alone is worth the price of admission! Galileo even observed the moon from up there. 🌖 And, as a lover of both colour and bold black and white patterns, the works in Julio LeParc’s “Discovery of Perception” were truly a feast for the senses.

The next exhibition (11 April-19 Oct) will feature the work of Hugo Pratt: “Creator of 20th-century literary icon Corto Maltese, Pratt explores travel as a metaphor for freedom and meeting cultures, turning every adventure into an experience of discovery.”

Something else to add to your list of things to see in Siena! 📋

27/02/2025

A weekend getaway to Palermo? Sì, grazie! Beautiful Arab-Norman and Baroque architecture? ✅ Lively markets? ✅ Local artisans? ✅ Gorgeous art? ✅ Incredible history? ✅ Great weather? ✅ Entertaining street performers? ✅ Fresh sea air? ✅ Inspiring street art? ✅ AMAZING FOOD? ✅✅✅

17/02/2025

Siena by night; Siena, my heart.

09/02/2025

A visit to Arezzo is always a good idea, especially if you can time it with the antiques market (first Sunday of every month and the Saturday before) and a special exhibition! Excellent show about Giorgio Vasari (1511-1574) and his circle, making this the second post featuring this artist/architect/biographer this year (remember the Corridor?)! No offense to Vasari, but it was the Etruscan Chimera (unearthed in 1553) that truly stole the show; however, his letter to Michelangelo and numerous sketches were also captivating. Had an absolutely fabulous lunch at i Briganti Toscani “la Tavernaccia” (shout out to Nicholas, who was an incredible host!), then attempted to walk some of it off whilst looking at antiques. All in all, a perfect day!

26/01/2025

Just call me “Anna la Magnifica” as I live out my Medici fantasy! I know I know, I give the family a bad rap in Siena (they earned it, to be fair), but in Florence, it’s another story! I took advantage of low season to visit the Vasari Corridor, which was built in 1565 and connects the Palazzo Vecchio to the Uffizi, passes over the Ponte Vecchio, then it goes around a tower and through a church before emptying out into the Boboli Gardens. Just 750 meters long, it’s a journey through centuries, and I was grinning the entire time.

Commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici, the corridor was built by Giorgio Vasari and allowed the Medici safe passage between home and office. It also granted them the feeling of being quite literally above other Florentines, and, I must confess, I felt the same! However, the threat of assassination back then was real, and after Pope Clement VII de’ Medici had to run for his life using the “passetto” (linking St Peter’s to the Castel Sant’Angelo) during the Sack of Rome in 1527, his relatives thought a similar escape route might be prudent. The family could even observe mass from a safe distance in a private box in Santa Felicita. As the 1478 Pazzi Conspiracy proved, however, nowhere was ever truly safe! (History recap: Lorenzo the Magnificent’s brother, Giuliano, was killed in the Duomo on Easter Sunday. Lorenzo adopted Giuliano’s illegitimate son, who later became Clement VII!)

The guards who accompanied us were lovely and allowed us plenty of time to look out the windows and take pictures. We exited at Buontalenti’s Grotto, where you can see copies of Michelangelo’s prisoners (the originals are in the Accademia).

Yes, I’m a huge dork, but I just had the best time today! I had walked through the Corridor once before, in 2009 or 2010, when it was lined with the Uffizi’s impressive collection of artists’ self-portraits. Now, these can all be seen on the first floor of the Uffizi (I’ll show you my favourites in a later post!).

How to book? Just go here: https://www.b-ticket.com/b-ticket/uffizi/ Your ticket grants you entrance to the Uffizi 2 hours before, just enough time to hit the highlights and even have a WC break!

05/01/2025

Correte - run! - to the Met to see “Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350”, only on through 26 January (or plan to get to the National Gallery in London between 8 March and 22 June)!! 🤍🖤🤍🖤This is a beautifully curated exhibition with dramatic lighting and informative explanations of why Siena truly was an artistic center in the first half of the 14th c. The Big Four (as I like to call them) are the stars: Duccio di Buoninsegna, Simone Martini, and the brothers Lorenzetti, Ambrogio and Pietro. Other artists in their circle are also included, as are some French works which may have inspired them. The best part was seeing how interested all of the visitors were, patiently waiting their turn to get close to the paintings to admire the exquisite details. Had some lovely chats about the art, iconography, even the medieval ivory trade, and, ovviamente, about Siena, my home for more than a decade. What a joy to see so many Sienese works together, some of which I had never seen in person (including a few parts of Duccio’s Maestà; one of the predella panels even lives in Fort Worth, Texas, where I was born!). The final painting was a fantastic surprise, as it is one of my all-time favourites (and I had forgotten it would be here!): Simone Martini’s “Christ Discovered in the Temple”. A selfie with this just wouldn’t do, so a lovely mother of an adolescent boy offered to take a picture, making sure I emulated that teenage angst just right. Was really hoping for an exhibition catalogue, but alas…they did, however, have Rick Steve’s guidebook there! Hope to see you in Siena soon so we can admire more of the city’s 14th-c splendour together! 🤍🖤🤍🖤

Comune di Siena Pinacoteca Nazionale di Siena Siena News Radio Siena Tv Rick Steves' Europe

25/12/2024

Happiest of holidays to you all! Thank you for being a part of my life; I am so very very grateful ❣️

18/12/2024

Met a man on a horse in Florence yesterday, a man and a horse I have seen multiple times over the years. Plucked up the courage to introduce myself, and we had a lovely chat. Zoltan (great name!) then invited me to take a little ride on Fulmine (Lighting ⚡️)…well, how could I refuse?!

11/11/2024

Very rarely (never?!) do I post anything about modern art, because, truth be told, I am completely out of my comfort zone after 1650. But there is a wonderful exhibition at Santa Maria della Scala in Siena (through 30 March) featuring Italian art from two important collections (Monte dei Paschi and Cesare Brandi) spanning the years 1915 to 1960. We were lucky enough to walk through with the curator, Prof. Quattrocchi, who explained how the collectors chose the works and how they reflected particular periods in 20th-c Italian history. I did recognize a few of the names, but I shall just let the works speak for themselves in these pictures.

03/11/2024

I’ve been a bit quiet on the socials lately, but that’s because all of my energy has been dedicated to students and guests! Nothing like a bit of countryside and friends to help reset 🥰

31/10/2024

A huge GRAZIE to my “top fans”! 💎 Thank you for your continued support over the years!! 💎

Bob Kane, Caterina Balletti, Stefano Pastorelli, Dave Gartley, Kathy Saunders, Gayle Jensen, Ross Lindsay Jacobsmeyer

27/10/2024

If you'd like to see LUPA win the August 2024 Palio (with commentary by yours truly), click on this link! It's a long "mossa" (time in between the ropes), so just go to the 46-min mark for the race and keep an eye on the 🐺🤍🖤🧡!

the Palio of August 16, 2024 won by the Contrada della Lupa

29/09/2024

Winning isn’t everything, but it sure is fun!
🖤🤍🧡🐺🧡🤍🖤

14/09/2024

I’m still trying to figure out that work-life balance, but I do have two days off in September. 😅 But what better way to spend one of those free days than by trying a whole bunch of organic wines in Panzano in Chianti?! 🍇Silly me only got a picture with my pink G&T (I mean, doesn’t everyone start a wine day with gin?). 🍸 Also met the most famous butcher in the land, Dario Cecchini, although was a bit too star-struck to ask for a photo. 🥩Did manage to get one of Elliot sipping on some vino though! 🍷