Music, Jazz and Concerts: Summer 2010 in Siena

Summer 2010 in Siena seems to be entirely dedicated to the music, full of important initiatives, events, concerts and brand new elements.

The 78th edition of the event “Estate Musicale Chigiana” has begun on Sunday 18th July with a concert of Sofia Festival Orchestra, and the next appointment is scheduled for Saturday 24th July with the cello Antonio Meneses, followed by Joaquin Achucarro at the piano on Tuesday 27th.

Also in August, the appointments will be many: from 4th to 25th, several concerts are scheduled, having has protagonists instruments such as viola, violin, cello, piano, double bass, clarinet and some of the greatest international artists.

But the summer dedicated to the music in Siena continues. As a matter of fact, the great Siena Jazz Festival 2010 comes back to wonder spectators with great guests from all over the world.

From Friday 23rd July until 7th August 2010, the Fondazione Siena Jazz, the institution for high quality jazz training, once again organizes this great musical event, with the presence of great artists coming from America and Europe.

Where is Siena Jazz Festival 2010? Obviously in the most charming and striking places of the city! Jam sessions and extraordinary live performance will wait for you.

This year, visitors will find on the stage great international names such as John Taylor, Aaron Goldberg, Michael Blake, Jim Snidero, John Riley, Kenny Werner, Bobby Watson, Avishai Cohen, Glenn Ferris, Seamus Blake, Drew Gress, Ferenc Nemeth, Reuben Rogers, Eric Harland, Anders Jormin, Peter Bernstein, Ben Monder, Kenny Wheeler, Joel Frahm, Scott Colley, Omar Avital and Jeremy Pelt.

In addition, also many Italian artists will be present, such as Riccardo Del Fra, Stefano Battaglia, Bruno Tommaso, Furio Di Castri, Pietro Leveratto, Massimo Manzi and many others. On Saturday 24th July, Seminari Estivi (Summer Courses) of Siena Jazz will begin with the Orchestra InJam and the guest Gless Ferris.

The last two appointments are scheduled for 5th, 6th and 7th August at Enoteca Italiana (at 9.45 pm - free entrance) with many bands and jazz artists.

Finally, we remind you another appointment with music in Siena: the 35th edition of Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte in Montepulciano (a small ancient village located near Siena). The event, which was created by the composer Hans Werner Henze, began on 15th July and will continue until 1st August 2010, offering its audience its main feature: the interaction between professional, famous artists and young talents.

Once again, among the green rolling Tuscan hills and the charming Renaissance’ buildings, operas and performances created by famous contemporary authors will be put on the stage for the first time.

This year, the event aims to experimentation and innovation through studies and workshops about techniques for composing and performances.

Tomorrow, on Thursday 22nd July, Recital per violino e pianoforte is scheduled for 6 pm with the violin Eva Thorarinsdottir, and Malcom Forbes and Peckham at the piano, whereas the Concert of Contemporary Music “Ensemble 2 Agosto” is scheduled for 9.30 pm, with an absolute premiere of contemporary music.

This and much more wait for you in the medieval city of Siena, for a summer in the pursuit of music, rich in concerts, live performances and musical courses.

For further information about events in Siena, please visit our online tourist guide to Siena: www.aboutsiena.com.

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Siena Horse Race comes back on July, 2nd 2010

Ready? Let’s go! Yes, because the first appointment with the most expected event in Siena will come back on July 2nd 2010: the Palio di Siena! A traditional horse-race that takes its origins centuries ago and still today it’s in the heart of Siena citizens.

A folkloristic traditional event, which every year draws the attention of thousands visitors, experts and curious people from every corner of Italy and the world.

The picturesque Piazza del Campo, a shell-shaped square famous in the world for its particular aspect, will host once again ten of the 17 contradas of the city. In fact, we remind you that each contradas has a horse representing it in the race.

This year, the 10 contradas running in the Palio are the following:

AQUILA (Eagle)
BRUCO (Caterpillar)
GIRAFFA (Giraffe)
LEOCORNO (Unicorn)
NICCHIO (Seashell)
SELVA (Forest)
TORRE (Tower)
ONDA (Wave)
ISTRICE (Porcupine)
DRAGO (Dragon)

The Palio, an event that has become part of Siena citizens’ life, takes its origins in 1644, when the first palio with horses was held.

From tomorrow, on Tuesday June 29th, there will be four days for preparing initiatives and events for the palio. As traditions says, the burst of the firecracker will ratify the going out of the horses from the Entrone.

The horses will have to complete three laps around the picturesque square (about 1 km). The winning Contrade will be the one whose horse, with or without jockey, will get before and win the famous Drappellone or Palio, which every year is designed by a special artist.

We remind you that it is advisable to arrive at Piazza del Campo about half an our before the Historical Parade. At Piazza del Campo it is possible to watch for free the race.

For further information about Siena and other events in Siena, please visit the website www.aboutsiena.com

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Siena is “La Città del Sì”, until May 31st 2010

Since September 2009, Siena has been celebrating one of the most important recurrences in the city history: the 700th anniversary of its “Costituto”, the first constitutional document written in vulgar language and not in Latin, in other words, the first symbol of democracy for the city of Siena. Finally, also common people could understand it.

It is for this reason that the city of Siena celebrates this recurrence with an event including several fields that aim to involve all the city with many initiatives: children, adults and elderly people.

Such an event will go on until May 31st 2010…so if you are in the neighborhood (more…)

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The XII Italian ‘Week of Culture’ is upon us!

Italy, world renound for its incredible history and dedication to the arts, is opening the doors of its countless and historically important state operated sites including museums of art and history, monuments, archaeological areas, archives and libraries … for FREE!

For the next ten days (April 16-25th) Italians and foreigners alike will enjoy this unique opportunity to experience the beauty and culture that exists within the walls of its most prestigious and visited locations without having to pay a dime.

Each city has its gems, and here’s a breif description of a few: Click on the citiy names for a more in depth description of the museums, monuments and more!

Florence: City of Renaissance art. He’re you’ll find the incredible Uffizi Gallery with its incredible collection of famous art from the middle ages all the way through the 18th century (featuring two of Botticelli`s greatest works), the Galleria dell’Academia – with Michelangelo’s famous statue of  ‘David’ …

Venice: The city of Venice is basically a museum its self, but it you’re in the area and looking to visit some interesting places, be sure to see the Peggy Guggenheim Museum which is the most important museum of European and American contemporary art in Italy …

Siena:  Looking for museums filled with fine examples of paintings and sculpture from the Romanic, Gothic and Pre-Renaissance periods? Be sure to see Siena’s wide array including the Museo Civico (Civic Museum) where a great selection of incredible frescoes are displayed…

Milan: This city has much more to offer than just fashion! When in Milan you will want to be sure and see the Brera Art Gallery - one of the greatest galleries containing several masterpieces of Italian art from the 14th to the 20th century such as: Raphael’s “Marriage of the Virgin” …

Turin: the fourth largest city in Italy, Tourin, holds within its land some incredible places to visit. Among them you will find the Museum of Contemporary Art, Castello di Rivoli (which has a permanent collection that gathers works of great European and American artists), and yearly exhibitions with prestigious and international artists.

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Villas of your Dreams in the Wonderful Tuscan Landscape

Since ever Tuscany has been renowned all over the world not only for its wonderful landscapes but also for its magnificent villas: the Medicean villas around Florence, those in Liberty style in the province of Lucca and the farmhouses in the Chianti district and in Maremma.

Not to mention the aristocratic palaces and the historical residences in the centre of many cities of art, including Arezzo, Siena, Pisa, etc.

Even the famous tenor Enrico Caruso, at the apex of his career, decided to buy two villas located on Florentine hills. In short, Tuscany is really rich in villas.

And in the last few years, an increasing number of tourists chose to spend their holidays in a villa in Tuscany.

Would you like to spend pleasant holidays in a villa in Tuscany? (more…)

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About Italy is on Facebook! Become our FAN!

Of course, also the original and up-to-date Blog about all the news & events in Italy and the main Italian cities is now on the most famous social network in the world: Facebook!

Now you can find all the information you need also on the page of About Italy on Facebook! It’s really easy, become our fan and you will receive real-time updating about events, exhibitions, performances, sport and cultural events in the most beautiful Italian cities: Florence, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Siena, Turin, Venice…and don’t forget about the valley of Mugello, the Versilia coast and the Region of Liguria!

Italy is full of wonderful places to discover and visit among mountains and the sea, from the North to the South…you will be spoilt for choice! In order to know the events of the week, you need just (more…)

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Still a few days for Francesca Woodman’s Photography in Siena

You will have still a few days to visit Francesca Woodman’s exhibition at Sms Contemporanea, the contemporary art center of Santa Maria della Scala Museum in Siena.

In fact, the exhibition, which is under way since last September, will end on 10^th January 2010, and until then visitors will have the chance to marvel at 114 pictures, among which there are some unpublished pieces. So, if you intend to give a look at it in these days, we would like to give you a short introduction to the artist.

She was born in 1958, daughter of the artists Betty and George Woodman, and she began to work in the field of photography when she was just 13 years old, when she created her first self-portrait. Later on, the artist kept on taking pictures of herself in domestic settings, in the nature, alone or with friends, during actions and planned performances. Francesca committed suicide in January 1981, at the age of just 22 years old.

The artist’s creations focus on the relation (more…)

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Celebrate this New Year’s Eve in Italy!

Where are you gonna spend this New Year’s Eve?

In the Belpaese, you will be spoilt for choice! We would like to remind all our visitors the best events and parties organized in the most beautiful Italian cities, where you will find great celebrations, fireworks, music at full volume, dances and delicious wine and food.

The cosmopolitan city of Turin, in the region of Piedmont, in 2010 will be elected “European Capital of Youth”. In order to show such a merit, the young city of Turin for the New Year’s Eve 2010 organizes a special evening with loud music, a concert which will take place in Piazza Vittorio Veneto from 9.30 pm, an event dedicated to people under 35! The absolute protagonists of the night will be the famous English group Groove Armada and the American group Juliette Lewis and New Romantics, followed by many other artists until midnight, when it will be time for spectacular fireworks.

In Milan on the other hand, (more…)

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It’s Time for Christmas Markets 2009 in the charming Italy!

Hey folks, the moment has come!

With no doubts people love and hate them, but the season of Christmas markets has come and it will be in all the Italian cities!

Colored lights, stands full of sweets, traditions and handicrafts products, toys and decorations will be placed along the streets and in the most famous (and not) squares in Italy. So, get ready to snoop around, nibbling and why not, to purchase the first Christmas gifts!

From Sicily to Valle d’Aosta, Italy in this period is full of such nice markets which welcome many Italians and foreign visitors, who come here to just take a look at the stalls rich of curious and original things. The list is endless, but we want to remind you the most unique noteworthy ones.

So…how not to mention the very famous Christams markets typical of (more…)

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“Tuscany Feast” 2009. When the past teaches the progress

Tuscany can boast of several records, especially one: this region was the first in the world to abolish the capital punishment. In fact on November 30^th 1796, the enlightened Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo banished confiscation, torture and death penalty through a single law.

Since 2001, Tuscany has been celebrating this historical occurrence with an official feast, which even schedules a holiday for the schools of the ancient Grand Duchy and a program rich of events spread on all the regional area.

This initiative aims not only to remind and celebrate a defining moment of modern history, but in particular to reflect on the present and the future of the whole mankind. It’s important to notice, in fact, that the capital punishment is still applied in many countries in the world, and that Italian State is fighting for its abolition with an international moratorium at UN.

Hence this topic is a living matter, together with other related issues as democracy, peace, equality and justice all over the world.

Tuscany Feast so deals with values which are not only strictly related to death penalty, but also to other current problems, such as dialogue among different cultures and inclusion, sexual equality and deaths on-the-job. For this reason, during the event, congresses, lectures and official meetings are scheduled, to which (more…)

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