A few days in Venice

To sleep and to dream

Cà Maria Adele. Dorsoduro 111, Rio Terà dei Catecumeni, Tel. 041 520 3078 Ca' Maria Adele. A romantic Hotel, near Chiesa S. Maria della Salute (a masterpiece of 17th-Century architecture),with 12 rooms and 5 "concept rooms". It offers a terrace, a lounge and a gorgeous living area 1950's style.

Casa de Uscoli. Campo Santo Stefano 2818, Tel. 041 241 0669 Casa de Uscoli. A renaissance building on the Grand Canal with 3 rooms and 3 apartments. Amazing art from Lucio Fontana, objects by Castiglioni and more.

"Oltre il giardino". San Polo 2542, Tel 041 2750015 Oltre il giardino. Charming and elegant Hotel with a beautiful garden. In the heart of the city where you will feel at home.

Eat and be happy

La Zucca. Santa Croce 1762, Tel 041 52 415 70.

A great Osteria, family owned, with a vegetarian menu and some delicious meat dishes.

Anice Stellato. Cannaregio Fondamenta Della Sensa 3272 Tel 041 720 744.

Typical Venetian dishes and great fish in one of the most appealing areas of Venice.

Avogaria. Calle dell’Avogaria 1629 Tel 041 296 04 91. A small and elegant restaurant with specialties from the South of Italy. They also offer 3 rooms for overnight guests and a private garden.

After dinner drinks

Skyline bar (Molino Stucky Hilton), Fondamenta San Biagio 810. Tel 041 2723311

On the 8th floor of the Hilton, with an amazing pool and an enchanting view over Venice.

Isola d'Ischia

Ischia is a volcanic island at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, just across the island of Capri...

and it will have the honor of my presence in a few days!

The island is famous for its natural volcanic activity, its thermal hot springs, and its volcanic mud.

Negombo Park, a wellness center, near Lacco Ameno, where thermal water, Mediterranean vegetation and sea water combined cure and revitalize (so I hope...)

The Bay of San Montano is a small, protected cove. The beach is the blondest and most finely grained on an island predominantly made up of darker, volcanic soil.
Site of one of the earliest Greek colonies in the west, Lacco Ameno was once a key trading point between the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations - that of Pithecusa.
You may have seen already some scenery from Ischia since parts of the film The Talented Mr Ripley were filmed on the island.
A key personality in the economic development of Lacco Ameno was Angelo Rizzoli ( Milan 1889-1970). Orphaned at a young age and raised in poverty, Rizzoli rose to prosperity. He apprenticed in the printer trade and later became an entrepreneur in his twenties and a film producer later on ("La Dolce Vita" and many more famous movies). In 1949 he began publishing books and soon created an Italian publishing empire. One-time resident of Villa Arbusto, his influence brought a variety of stars and public figures to the island after the Second World War.

Food

Fish abounds in the Mediterranean sea and many specialties of the region are my favorites, one of them "Pesce all'acqua pazza" or fish in crazy water! Easy to make and delicious but it needs the right kind of fish.

A specialty of Naples if not THE most famous specialty? But of course...La Pizzaaaa

Vegetables and fruits, due to the long exposure to sun have a special taste.

Lemons of Ischia are famous for their sweetness, their skin is used to produce "Limoncello" liqueur but lemons are also part of several recipes for desserts (even lemon and chocolate truffles).

At times at home I even venture to make the famous "Pastiera napoletana" a cake with a lengthy preparation which is a must in Naples to celebrate Easter. Among other ingredients: Ricotta, lemon zest, presoaked grain, many eggs and it must be prepared a few days in advance to allow ingredients' flavors to blend.
One last small story...in Naples it is still in use to go to a Coffee place and after having ordered a drink pay also for another one (being coffee, tea or something else). "Caffé Pagato" declares the person at the cashier and that means someone else, with less money or no money will find a free coffee for him later on.

Just that makes me love Naples and its culture!

I can't wait...

Text and images sources: Wikipedia and Ischia website

Museo Salvatore Ferragamo

An interesting Museum in the historic Fini-Speroni palace in Florence, Ferragamo's headquarters, tells the story of the founder Salvatore Ferragamo and shows his legendary creations.

"Opened in 1995 by Wanda Ferragamo and her family, the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum was designed to show the public the history of the brand’s founder and his creations – footwear viewed by museums and experts worldwide as no less than works of art".

Since he was a kid he loved shoes and played with cardboard and scissors in his modest house near Naples. Being part of a 14 children family he very early had to stop playing and started working as one of the humblest job's figure at the time: " il ciabattino" (repairing shoes). At 13 years of age he opened a tiny store in his family's house working with 5 more children around shoes. In 1914 he embarked on the "Stampalia" with his brothers to follow the "American dream".
His name rapidly became famous in the world of Cinematography and many important actors and actresses like Mary Pickford, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford and Rodolfo Valentino, fell in love with those shoes made by hand and smoothly embracing their feet, created with the most extravagant materials, oriental silk, feathers, brocade.   He returned to Italy and opened his own store in Florence in 1927.

Ferragamo with Joan Crawford in his store on Hollywood Boulevard, 1928

with Sophia Loren, 1950's

with Audrey Hepburn in Florence, 1950's

Since the beginning he wanted to make a statement and shoes became a primary element of fashion, not just of secondary importance as before. He was definitely a precursor of time! But style was not the only thing he was interested in, comfort was always his priority (he had study anatomy at the University of South California, while there).
Going back to the Museum...Since there are about 10,000 shoe's models in the collection they are exhibited in biennial rotations following different themes.
This year is the time of "COLOR" and the use of it in Ferragamo's fashion accessories since the 30's.
Strong, bold colors breaking the tradition of blacks, browns or whites: emerald greens, sunny yellows, intense blues and, his favorite color, ruby red, symbol of energy and life.

Note the Cubist inspiration of the shoe on the right.

 

1938 Chinoiserie (which will be trendy even today)

Sandal 1938 Upper in black silk and gold kid. Wedge heel in cork covered by mosaic of gilded glass. The model was created for Carmen Miranda

Invisible sandal, 1947 Upper formed of a single nylon thread and green kid.F-shaped wedge heel in wood covered with green kid.

Sandal made of black silk with a silk sock either black, red or gold. The model was called "Kimo" and created in 1951 !!! How contemporary can it be..

Sandal, 1955 Upper in black satin. Brass cage heel.

"Viatica" is the shoe created for Marilyn Monroe in the Billy Wilder's movie

 "Someone like it hot" 1959.

Court shoe, 1958-59 Upper in brown crocodile.Stiletto heel. The model was created for

Marilyn Monroe.

Boot, 1964-65 Zebra upper with leather sole

 

Sandal in synthetic raffia, 1967

 

Sandal created for Charlotte Rampling in 2001

 2001 Sandal in black satin with ‘Gancino’ ornament studded with diamonds, created for the event 'White Tie and Ball' for the Elton John AIDS Foundation

Another image of the Museum with the medieval coffered ceiling.

A beautiful book about the history of Palazzo Spini Feroni and its Museum, which today acts as the headquarters for Salvatore Ferragamo. The book has numerous illustrations and explains the artistic works contained within the building. (Milan, 1995)

Images from Ferragamo website and from Ufficio stampa Salvatore Ferragamo

From Milan: Salumeria Peck

I am in Milan ( about 40 degrees today...but happy to be here!) at the temple of gluttony and pleasure. The building Liberty facade is a testimonial of the history of "Salumeria Peck" now known around the world since they export some of their specialties in different countries but when I grew up it was just for Milanese like me. Founded in 1883 and still at the top.
Restructuring the store was a very complex job, says Arch. Roberto Beretta, since the space is made of four different buildings and required important structural changes. Food preservation and lighting were also a priority. Three levels, 3300 mq. all furnished by Poliform custom made inch by inch.

Main floor gastronomy space with butcher, bakery, the best cheeses, prosciutti, cold meats, take away delicatessen, sweets.

First floor with Patisserie and Coffee and tea shop, also a place for a lunch break meal.

Cotto floor and furniture made of Pear wood for the enoteca with about 5000 different wine labels.

Heaven on earth for food and wine connoisseurs.

From Milan: Moschino Maison

Italian label Moschino (please always pronounce the Italian CH as it was a K... more like Moskeeno) found inspiration in the work of Salvador Dalí and put in the windows (always among the city's best windows' displays) of the via Sant' Andrea boutique, in Milan, a living-room scene taken from Salvador Dalí "Soft construction with boiled beans". Of course Moschino Maison's humor called the installation "Soft construction without boiled beans". Textiles and metals, beiges and browns, tilted chairs and table, weird angle of the drapes' rod, a painting of clouds, sagging walls, colors and smooth contours... all relate to the original artwork.
The hand-made furniture is available upon request.
It is also now Moschino’s turn (after Armani, Missoni and Versace) to open its luxury hotel. The building will be a former neo-classical style railway station, transformed in a surreal space, with 50 rooms and 15 suites, a garden, a spa and a gym. The hotel will be designed by the artistic director of Moschino, Rossella Jardini who said of the project: "The ordinary world is painted with a brush of surrealism.".

Bedroom Petals

Hall "The Dream"

Contemporary design and fairy tales are the themes. Each room will tell a fable, with humor and optimism, the same "joye de vivre" that is the spirit of the collections of Moschino.

The Hotel should open before the end of 2009 near the trendy Corso Como area in Milan.

Images source: Art News and Coutureinthecity.com

Anonimo Veneziano

Since I will be in Venice soon, to visit friends, to enjoy its timeless beauty and also to check the "Biennale", I feel I should share this with you!

"Anonimo Veneziano" an award winning drama is one of my favorite movies and I could watch it many times over. It was filmed in 1970 by Enrico Maria Salerno (a very famous Italian theater actor at the time) in his debut as a director in a magnificent Venice without tourists as a background (and should I say foreground too).

Listen to the music... and enjoy some images of the city.

Salerno's script, co-written with Giuseppe Berto, features Tony Musante and Florinda Bolkan as an estranged couple reunited for a day. They wander around Venice reminiscing about the ups and downs of their marriage, wondering what drove them apart. Extraordinary photography of the best Venice has to offer, some scenes were also filmed at the centuries old Bevilacqua Textiles factory, where Bolkan was surrounded by the most luxurious damasks and silks in an explosion of colors.
The most fascinating music "Adagio from Oboe concert" by Alessandro Marcello (1669-1747 and brother of Benedetto) makes some scenes even more romantic.

A real Venice, a hymn to desperate love, a man dying in a dying city...a movie, at least for me,

 impossible to forget.

From the movie script:
"Do you really fear the past?"
"No, it is not the past...it is that I can't tolerate anymore the smell of this city. She is dying, she is going back to mud...but it is just this that makes her beautiful: she is dying".
The same year (1970) we had "Love story" movie (another impossible, desperate love) which I saw once and never felt like I have to see again...it must be my fascination with Venice or the intensity of this particular movie or perhaps just the memory of who I was at the time!!!

On a more prosaic note:

When in Venice I always go once to "Locanda Montin" Dorsoduro 1147 where a famous scene of the movie was taken. A good restaurant with local specialties and a charming atmosphere, especially if in season you can sit in the courtyard under the canopy of greenery.

Very romantic indeed... and the distance between tables allows intimate conversation...

You may also like to read:
Venice Biennale

What Opaline says about Brillante

I received a very nice comment today from a blogger I did not know:

"You have one of the coolest blogs I've found in a while. I hope you don't mind if I "steal" from you often (with credit, of course) for my Sucasa design sites"

so I went to check their site... please go and read Opaline, you'll find many interesting things.
It was also great to see my own photography on their blog! All my images are for sale and they can be found on my website, on my blog and many more in my portfolio.
For any information please contact me via Email, I will be pleased to provide you with details.

Image by Albarosa Simonetti
You may also like to read Home decor Fornasetti style

Fino Lino

"Linens are my favorite keepsake and should be handed down from generation to generation." Lauren Persson

Owned and operated by Lauren and William Persson, the design style of Fino Lino and its luxurious product mix is a direct reflection of their taste and design sensibility. Always on the cutting edge the store was designed for the comfort of the customers and their visual pleasure. Soothing color marries with bold exchanges of antique and new fabrics lending a sense of well lived in a grand room.
Fino Lino specializes in European woven jacquard bedding, luxury down duvets and pillows, custom designed bed frames from antique wrought iron, accessory pillows, porcelains and hand cut mosaics.
Fino Lino has sought out some of the finest linen houses in the world to create an extensive collection of the finest quality available today. Specializing in natural fibers, fabrics are exposed to the least amount of chemicals to maximize their wearability; in some cases the fabrics are completely chemical free. The fiber, quality of yarn, the weave, the thread count and the finishing, all contribute to the quality and comfort of the bedding.

Fino Lino (2715 Arbutus street, Vancouver) is having the Annual Summer Sale

from August 1st through 29th with 20% to 50% off select in store stock.

Visiting the store will be a great opportunity to meet the beautiful and gracious Lauren, admire her taste in selecting luxury items (among them Anichini bed linens, a favorite of Michael Smith, Vicente Wolf and many other top designers) and in displaying them to perfection.

If you still have time after shopping pause at "La Petite France" a few doors down for delicious pastries, brioches or a Proustian madeleine.
Today I ordered a cappuccino (not too foamy, just perfect) and a "choc aux poires" a luscious and rich pear and chocolate pastry, savored while talking with Lauren about traveling, one of our passions.

Italian Linens and French Pastry, what a perfect combination...

(it would be perfect also the other way around!)

Images and Italic text from Fino Lino website