Episode 39: Exploring Etruria with Mary Jane Cryan

Posted: April 6th, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Episodes | 5 Comments »
Episode 39: Exploring Etruria with Mary Jane Cryan [ 41:49 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hosts Sara, Jessica, and Michelle talk about the latest in Berlusconi’s legal battles as well as Italy’s role in the ongoing Libyan conflict. Then we’ll talk to Mary Jane Cryan, art historian and long-time resident of Italy, about Etruria and Etruscan culture.

Eye on Italy News Stories:

Special Guest

Mary Jane Cryan is an American-Irish writer and historian who has been living in Italy since 1965. An educator and administrator at international schools in Rome, Genoa and Moscow, she also directed Elderhostel’s Rome program, and set up and taught for numerous study abroad programs, tour operators and adult learners. Her byline appears in scholarly journals, guidebooks, and print and online magazines. She is the author of several books, including Eturia – travel, history and itineraries in central Italy, as well as the website Elegant Etruria, blog 50 Years in Italy, and Facebook group Elegant Etruria Friends.

Eye on Italy Angolo d’Italiano:

  • Non basta una vita.
    • A lifetime is not enough (to explore Rome, for instance).

Eye on Italy Picks of the Week:

Video of the week:

  • How does Venice work?

Venice Backstage. How does Venice work? from Insula spa on Vimeo.

Eye on Italy: Art & Culture

Posted: August 5th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Art & Culture | No Comments »
Caravaggio's The Crucifixion of St Peter (Photo by John McNab on Flickr)

Caravaggio's The Crucifixion of St Peter (Photo by John McNab on Flickr)

Although we’re away from the podcast for all of August, we don’t want you to miss out on important news coming out of Italy. So throughout the month, we’ll be posting short roundups of articles and blog posts we hope you’ll find as interesting as we do.

In recent Art & Culture news in Italy:

>> Arts guide: exhibits in Italy: Ansa has shared a wonderful listing of museum attractions throughout the country running now through October. Cities covered include Florence, Genoa, Milan, Pompeii, Rome, Rovereto, San Severino, Tivoli, Trento, Turin, Udine, and Venice.

>> Verdict on suspected Caravaggio disappoints fans: It’s been a news-filled summer for Caravaggio admirers. Back in June, excavators uncovered his bones and subsequent tests showed he died of lead poisoning. Then a stolen $100 million Caravaggio was found in Berlin, but the huge news was that a “lost” Caravaggio may have been uncovered in Rome! Or not, as experts from Rome’s Museum Authority and lead Vatican art historian concluded the painting was nice and all — just not Caravaggio’s work. Harumph.

>> Italy seeks private sponsors to restore Colosseum: The Colosseum needs a serious facelift, and Italy is looking for some serious cash to get things moving. The Culture Ministry estimates about €25 million (about $32 million) will be required to restore this ancient treasure; interested sponsors can bid between August 4 and September 15. Don’t be startled, by the way, come January 1 when you’re asked to pay a bit more in taxes around tourism-related ventures (hotels, double-decker buses, museum fees, etc.) in Rome — those revenues are also expected to help pay for the Colosseum’s touch-ups.

>> Veteran Italian screenwriter Cecchi D’Amico dies: In sad news, we mark the passing of one of Italy’s finest screenwriters of Italian cinema, particularly considering she was a woman in an extremely male-dominated field. D’Amico contributed to classic films such as The Leopard and Bicycle Thieves and was awarded a lifetime achievement “Golden Lion” at the 1994 Venice Film Festival. She was 96 years young.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the stories, so please share!

And if you haven’t become a fan yet on Facebook or follow us @EyeonItaly on Twitter, now is a great time — this way you’ll be sure to be caught up when we return to podcasting in September.

Thanks for listening . . . and reading!