Culture vultures should head to Italy this summer

After years of restoration, the former Bread Bakery Building, the Modern Art Museum has now been officially opened in Bologna. MAMbo is in Via Don Giovanni Minzoni, 4 and hosts works by Marinetti, Schwitters, Dali’, Andy Warhol, Magritte, Klee amongst others.

Find out more information at: Mambo-bologna.org.

Other Exhibitions:

PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA AND THE ITALIAN COURTS EXHIBITION, in Arezzo

This unique and major exhibition will present more than 100 masterpieces of the great Renaissance painter Piero della Francesca during the period 31 Mar-22 Jul 07.

More information is available at Mostrapierodellafrancesca.it

LUCA CAMBIASO. A MASTER OF THE EUROPEAN SIXTEENTH CENTURY, in Genoa

Luca Cambiaso is one of the internationally best-know Ligurian artists . He owes his fame to the complexity of his artistic experience, the quality of his draughtsmanship and above all this work at the Escorial in Madrid which confirmed his fame in the panorama of sixteen-century Europe. Just at the time when Cambiaso’s activity was becoming known, Genoa was going through a period of extraordinary economic and political development and Cambiaso’s was its most prominent artist. This exhibition is at the Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Rosso in Genoa
Until 8 July 2007

Find out more at Palazzoducale.genova.it

CEZANNE IN FLORENCE – PAINTINGS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, in Florence

The exhibition will highlight some of Cezanne’s most beautiful and important works and will honour the great Master “father of modern painting”. The exhibition will also focus on the story of two young and brilliant collectors who lived in Florence in the latter part of the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. This is a great chance to experience the cultural and artistic climate of the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries in Florence. This exhibition is at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence Until 29 July 2007

Find out more at Cezannefirenze.it

SARGENT AND VENICE, in Venice

For the first time in the prominent Museo Correr, and in Venice, an entire show will be dedicated to the famed artist John Singer Sargent, one of the most important American impressionists, who had a passion for Venice and a dissimilar talent. This exhibit, dedicated to the various works of Sargent, will focus on roughly 60 pieces of art dating from 1880-1913.

A friend of Monet's, Sargent was fascinated by Venice, and this allure of his is very evident in the extent of his works. Not only did he paint such famous monuments as the Doge's Palace and the Rialto Bridge, but he would also capture the traces of daily life in the Venice of that time, which showed how genuinely his heart belonged to this Italian city. This exhibition is at the Museo Correr, until 22 July.

For more information, visit Museiciviciveneziani.it

ALBRECTH DURER in Venice

More than 100 works of art by the great German artist whose work was greatly influenced by his stay in Venice are on show. At the Museo Diocesano, Chiostro di Santa Apollonia. Until 30 June 2007

For more information visit Myvenice.org

SILVESTRO LEGA in Forli’, Emilia-Romagna

This is a unique exhibition dedicated to Silvestro Lega, born in Forli’ and one of the greatest painters of the “Macchiaoli” Movement. At the Musei di San Domenico. Until 24 June 07

For more information, visit Mostrasilvetrolega.it

IMPRESSIONISM,SYMBOLISM AND AVANTGARDE in Como

The most prominent artists of these three important artistic movements are represented in this exhibition : Renoir, Degas, Toulouse Lautrec, Matisse, Picasso, Mondrian and Kandisky to name a few. At the Villa Olmo in Como. Until 15 July 07.

For more information, visit Impressionisticomo.it

ITALIAN PASSIONS: food, fashion, sport, music, folklore and more……

INFIORATA DI GENZANO, near Rome, on 16-18 June 07.

Genzano is a picturesque village on the Alban Hills overlooking the Lake of Nemi, just south of Rome. Every year on the occasion of the Corpus Domini holy feast this town, famous for its delicious charcuterie, fresh breads and white wines, hosts the Infiorata and attracts visitors from all over Italy and abroad. A gently sloping street, 200m long is decorated by master “infioratori” with pictures made of flower petals. The colourful pictures, representing mainly sacred images, are real masterpieces of imagination and skills.

Find out more info at Infiorata.it

GIOSTRA DEL SARACINO in Arezzo, Tuscany , on 23 June 07

Every year this jousting contest of medieval origins is re-enacted in the historic town of Arezzo, in the beautiful Piazza San Francesco and it is thought to derive from the time of the Cruisades and their battles against the Saracens. The week preceding the contest is full of events such as historical costume parades, medieval banquets, concerts and stalls. The streets are filled with people dressed as knights and dames, flag-bearers and trumpeters. The contest consists of scoring on a shield held by a rotating puppet called the Saracen and requires real riding and accuracy skills.

Find out more by visiting Giostradelsaracino.arezzo.it

GIOSTRA DELLA QUINTANA in Foligno, Umbria 15-16 June and 15-16 September 07

The medieval town of Foligno in Umbria hosts a colorful joust where ten knights, each one representing the ten districts of the city, compete in a contest of skill and dexterity. The challenge is to charge towards a puppet representing a medieval soldier and stick their lances through an increasingly small ring hanging form its right hand. The joust is in three rounds and it is accompanied by historical parades the day before the tournament with music, stalls and other events.

More info is available at Quintana.it

PALIO DI SIENA in Siena, Tuscany, 2 July and 16 August 07

The magnificent Piazza del Campo in Siena is still used today for the world famous Palio horse race. The Palio is run to celebrate the miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary near the old house that belonged to Signor Provenzano Salvani. The holy apparition was therefore called “Madonna di Provenzano” in whose honour the first Palio was run on 16 August 1656. The Palio is a historical tradition strictly connected with the origins of the Contradas of Siena (districts into which the town is divided). The Contradas have their own coat of arms, colours, regulations, patron saints and festivities and, naturally, there is a fierce rivalry between them.

For more information, visit Ilpalio.org

FESTA DEL REDENTORE in Venice, 16th July

The Feast of the Redeemer is a traditional event in Venice attended by thousands of tourists and Venetians performed on the waters of the lagoon in front of St Mark’s Square. Starting from the afternoon, countless crafts of all kind line up beside each other. Floodlit and filled with music and people, they await the spectacular fireworks at midnight heralded by the trumpet players on board. Huge barges are turned into dance floors and the lagoon seems like a floating carpet as revelers cross from one boat to another to meet and greet each other. The festival last until morning and the spectacle from the water or the land is unforgettable.

For more information, visit turismovenezia.it

MEDIEVAL DAYS in the Republic of San Marino, 26-29 July 07

Medieval traditions are brought back to life in this ancient Republic for four days. The streets of the old city become a sort of evening theatre where the players succeed one another in a series of processions in an atmosphere full of colours, music and emotions. Also present will be flag-waivers, crossbowmen all dressed in splendid costumes and musicians. The restaurants and taverns of the city will offer delicious menus inspired by centuries-old recipes.

Find out more at Giornatemedioevali.sm