Located on the site of a former military barracks, the grey concrete structure of the MAXXI museum is a stark contrast to its residential surroundings. It’s situated in the Flaminio district of Rome, just north of Piazza del Popolo, where the majority of the neighborhood’s buildings are multi-story palazzos with muted beige, orange and […]
I‘m headed into Trastevere to talk with director Douglas Dean about his newest theater production of Hamlet. I cross the Tiber and head towards the statue of poet Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli, who surveys the piazza in his top hat and coat, gripping his cane maybe a bit too tightly. There is a slight irony […]
It’s a bright, blue-sky day and I’m standing outside the old Testaccio slaughterhouse. Built in the late 19th century, it was a busy, industrial part of town, home to the hard-working people of Rome. In use for almost 100 years, it closed in 1975 and was then left abandoned. As weeds and ruin crept in, […]
“In Italy, creativity is very important and recognized in everything, in all that is produced here.” – Leo Pizzo In 1971, Sara Di Giorgio Pizzo and Leo Pizzo started a jewelry brand together. Forty-five years later, the family business is going strong with a second generation poised to add their expertise to the ever-changing landscape […]
People will stare. Make it worth their while. – Harry Winston Harry Winston clearly had an eye for precious stones from a very young age; in a way, his career as a jeweler began when he was 12 years old. The year is 1908 and Jacob Winston asks his son Harry to run an errand […]
It’s Valentines Day and I am meeting Antonella Salvucci at Zanzara, a trendy bar near the Vatican. We are standing outside when Keanu Reeves walks past us and gets into the passenger side of a vintage Fiat 500. I look at Antonella and she exclaims, “This is Rome!” Antonella Salvucci’s interest in […]
“Jewelry is not fashion. It has to last, not be discarded as soon as something else comes along.” Elsa Peretti, world class jewelry designer, has been with Tiffany & Co more than 40 years. At 76 years of age, her life has been an epic adventure. She ran in the same circles of art giants such as Dali, […]
The luxury retail experience is nothing new in Rome. Everyday, shoppers flood into the center and crowd the streets around Piazza di Spagna and beyond. High-end garments finished with the finest embellishments and partnered with the most coveted catwalk accessories adorn the windows of the biggest fashion houses. Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Versace, all the big […]
From artists following The Grand Tour, to Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, the Bernini marbles, and Caravaggio masterpieces, art in Rome has a long and enduring history. Today, the typical tourist itinerary takes in the wealth of classical art the Eternal City has to offer. Cast your net a little further however, and you’ll discover […]
“It’s not about us and our style, it’s about the customer’s.” – Irene Garau I’m late when I arrive at the AMG studio. A beautiful young woman pauses her phone conversation to welcome me. While I wait, I admire the store. It’s a small space, intimate, elegant. Honey-colored light filters in through tall windows. Handmade […]