The cribs of Naples were a real discovery to me!” Together with the crib Yvonne DiPalma – born in Philadelphia – met also the sculptor Michele Attanasio. She fell in love with him, got married and with him opened the “Paul Whistler Art Gallery”, near Sorrento.

For Christmas, in a place where everybody prepares a crib, they started to make one in the Gallery: scenarios by Michele and characters by Yvonne.

This is how it has begun, by chance, the most charming and passionate adventure of the life of this artist. In the first “Installation” there are 20 characters: sculptures representing the people of the town and famous figures.

This was the start of a thirty-year experience. Every year after that debut in 1976-77 it has had more and more success; it was an opening up of a new life.

The crib emigrated to Florence where it found in Monsignor Setti a supporter and in the Basilica of San Lorenzo a home. In the town of iris the two artists found the same enthusiasm of the first time: that miracle of a sincere participation.

After San Lorenzo, it went to Loggia Rucellai (1981), then to Rome, in the Oratory of Santa Maria in Via, then back to Florence, in the church next to the Gallery of San Jacopo Sopr’Arno (1991). In 1992 the crib by Yvonne was the set in the Theatre Parioli of the programme Maurizio Costanzo Show.

Since then, the work increased “at home” until the interlude of Christmas 1999, when it was lent to the 7th International Festival “Costruimo il Natale”, in the crypt of Santa Croce of Florence.

And now let’s know better this very special crib made of characters of about 50-centimetre height. Yvonne creates the body with iron wire, fabric and stuffing.

To be noticed that all clothes are sews one by one and represent the Neapolitan models of the 18th century. The heads and hair are in terracotta; each sculpted head is a masterpiece of refinement. All characters have the features either of people the artist has met in her life or of famous figures, among them many international politicians: the presidents of United States Nixon, Reagan, Carter, then the Russian, Italian, French, Chinese ones etc. Thirty years of history of 1900 in a crib…

Beside the human characters, there is the world of international animals: in addition to the traditional ox and donkey, there are also horses, sheep, cats, elephants, cocks, baboons, rams, kangaroos, etc… all in terracotta reproduced in the minutest details.

How many are the Crib characters now? Yvonne has stopped counting when they have been more than 200!

They have got out of control and have become alive! Indefatigable, Yvonne creates different groups and expressions, always reflecting upon life and world around us.

Do not miss it in Florence, Via San Zanobi 58 – http://www.yvonnedipalma.com

Actually you don´t have to take that literally, but Venice has been one of the worlds dream destinations for centuries. “You desire to embrace it, to caress it, to possess it; and finally a soft sense of possession grows up and your visit becomes a perpetual love affair.” That is how Henry James (1843 – 1916) saw the city build in the water. What else do you need to know?

How much time do you need to visit Venice? The more the better, obviously. But if you are on a tight schedule you can actually get a feeling for the city in a day or two.

Venice really is a small town. You can walk right across it from the train depot to St. Mark’s Square in less than an hour… but that would be if you were just walking and not looking, and what you really want to do is stroll and SEE Venice…. La Serenissima herself is the main attraction.

Don´t try to visit too many sights. If you haven´t much time, rather than ticking off a large list of attractions described in your guide book, try to get a feeling for Venice. Watch, smell, imagine… Can you see Casanova stolling through the streets and muse about his last romantic encounter? Or two centuries earlier the great painter Tintoretto looking for motives and inspirations?

If you still want to get the most out of your day in Venice, you might consider booking this tour: Skip the Line: Venice in One Day. In just three hours this combined walking and boat tour gives you a pretty complete overview of the most important sights.

Don’t worry too much about your direction or getting lost…. Follow those signs that say “Per Rialto” or “Per St. Mark’s”… (Per Rialto means the direction for Rialto Bridge; Per St. Mark’s means… well, you get it…). Sometimes the signs “Per St. Mark’s” point in BOTH directions…

If you don´t feel like spending the money for an expensive drink at St. Mark’s Square, just get an ice cream cone in one of the side streets. You still can listen to the the dueling orchestras playing sentimental old favorites, while you enjoy it.

In the morning, try to see St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. You probably won’t have time to go up the Campanile for the view with only a day, but it’s your choice…

Stroll the streets, shopping along the way. There are lots of wonderful expensive things to buy in Venice, but there are some affordable Italian fashions too… and what better, easily packable souvenir could you ask for than some flamboyant Italian creation?

Find a table at one of the restaurants along the Grand Canal with a view of the Rialto Bridge for lunch. Yes, it’s touristy… it has been touristy for centuries, so you are in good company.

In the afternoon try to sample some of the art… at the Church of the Frari or the Scuola Grande di San Rocco. Or if you’re interested in the history of Venice, you could venture into the Museo Correr. If you want to see one of the grand palazzi that line the Grand Canal, see the Ca’ Rezzonico, the museum of 19th century Venice.

When you get all the way to one end of Venice, take a vaporetto to the other end… you’ll never tire of seeing Venice from the water, watching all those palazzi glide by. It takes on a different look in the morning, in the afternoon, at night.

Choose a romantic canal-side restaurant for dinner… or a wonderful little trattoria down an alley. Go to a concert in the evening… there are chamber orchestras all over vying for your money.

Two nights and a day will let you see Venice in the short time you have… and by having one or two nights there, you’ll be able to get to know a whole different face of Venice. Don´t die though at the end of your stay, you will want to come back!

Foto: stockxchnge: beriliu

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