Hello, we went to the amazing Teatro delle Rocce in Gavorrano on Wednesday and it was awesome. The theatre is hewn from an old quarry and the views are breathtaking. The medieval hilltop town of Gavorrano is in Grosseto about 25 kms from its more famous glitzier seaside resort of Castiglione della Pescaia where I had a super fresh grilled Sea bass for dinner.
At about 6 pm the fishermen return to the port and you can jostle with evryone else for a tasty little fish to throw on the barbie ! Choose any of the seaside restaurants and you will be guaranteed fresh fish !
Closer to home,Lucca is absolutely heaving with tourists, most of them making a beeline for Anthony Moman's exhibition "Oh My God !" at Lu.C.C.A museum. If you haven't been yet and are in Tuscany during the summer you must go ! It is well worth a little detour from Via Fillungo plus it is free entry !! There is also rather a good restaurant about 50 metres away called Ammodonostro that serves Lucchese food with a little twist,plus the service is polite (unusual in many restaurants in Lucca) and the prices are very reasonable - what are you waiting for ?!
Living in Lucca after living in London
Friday, August 5, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Amazing views around Lucca Part 1
Just when you think you have seen the best vista or view of Lucca another one blows you away !
I had dinner at my friend's hotel Villa Albergo Casanova in Balbano,Lucca and it was fabulous.
The meal entirely fish based was exquisite...starter was artistically presented and the taste did not disappoint either, the lobster was fresh and delicate and the pasta and sea bream was out of this world....the views of Castello Nozzano from the terrace and infinity pool are eerily ethereal. Another view of Lucca that must rank in the top ten.
The hotel has just been restored and now has 5 stars (it used to be a 2 star B&B and they still get the odd back packer turning up wanting to book a room for € 25....if only !) The newly refurbished rooms are all suites and measure about 60 sqm and the marble clad bathrooms are about the same size so no poky shower cubicles here. Much of the artwork is by Anthony Moman who is currently exhibiting at Lucca Centre of Contemporary Art until the 28th of August.His show is entitled "Oh My God !" and is really the best art exhibition on at the moment for sheer entertainment.
Look at www.anthonymoman.com or www.luccamuseum.com press the lounge and underground tabs.
I had dinner at my friend's hotel Villa Albergo Casanova in Balbano,Lucca and it was fabulous.
The meal entirely fish based was exquisite...starter was artistically presented and the taste did not disappoint either, the lobster was fresh and delicate and the pasta and sea bream was out of this world....the views of Castello Nozzano from the terrace and infinity pool are eerily ethereal. Another view of Lucca that must rank in the top ten.
The hotel has just been restored and now has 5 stars (it used to be a 2 star B&B and they still get the odd back packer turning up wanting to book a room for € 25....if only !) The newly refurbished rooms are all suites and measure about 60 sqm and the marble clad bathrooms are about the same size so no poky shower cubicles here. Much of the artwork is by Anthony Moman who is currently exhibiting at Lucca Centre of Contemporary Art until the 28th of August.His show is entitled "Oh My God !" and is really the best art exhibition on at the moment for sheer entertainment.
Look at www.anthonymoman.com or www.luccamuseum.com press the lounge and underground tabs.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Oh My God - Exhibition by Anthony Moman
Hi, last night I was at the vernissage of the fantastic new show at the Lucca Centre of Contemporary Art....it was rocking ! Fellow artists, art appreciators and investors, friends and quite a few journalists joined us and it was THE PLACE TO BE in Lucca....I hear even the James Blunt concert was delayed to accomodate late arrivals leaving Anthony's exhibition to take their VIP seats at the concert !!
If you haven't been yet to see the show at Lu.C.C.A (www.luccamuseum.com) you have to go...this show is picking up momentum !
There are 26 works of art ranging from large oil paintings of a priest lolling on a cloud smoking a cigarette, another sleeping on a bed of dollar bills, yet another dressed as an American football player....again some other very cool looking priests roaring through the Tuscan countryside on flaming Harley Davidsons !! This ex investment banker turned artist is onto something big.
If you haven't been yet to see the show at Lu.C.C.A (www.luccamuseum.com) you have to go...this show is picking up momentum !
There are 26 works of art ranging from large oil paintings of a priest lolling on a cloud smoking a cigarette, another sleeping on a bed of dollar bills, yet another dressed as an American football player....again some other very cool looking priests roaring through the Tuscan countryside on flaming Harley Davidsons !! This ex investment banker turned artist is onto something big.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Trying to keep cool in Lucca
Without looking like a nerdy tourist !
Lesson 1 - Do not wear "hiking sandals" in Lucca...yes there are cobbled streets but you are not hiking in the Lake District.
2) Shorts are acceptable only on children and teenagers and definitely not on women but if the mercury goes above 33 C(91.4 F) men can get away with knee length linen shorts but only if worn deck shoes or moccasins (without socks !)
3) Women should wear loose linen dresses or skirts - you will feel much cooler,especially if they are not lined with polyester.
4) Speaking of polyester or any other synthetic fabric(and this is not a point of style)only wear the lightest natural fabrics...cotton,linen etc unless you want to cook,have a face like a radish and emit an unpleasant odour.
5) Hats are fine,but do not wear baseball caps (unless you are a teenager)and risk looking like William Hague. A panama is fine for men (and women) but enormous wide brimmed hats on women make you look like a tea picker and are ill advised in crowded restaurants or shops.
6)Do wear sunglasses but not the flip up ones,or the reactolite rapid ones....
7) Try to learn some basic italian- please/per favore,thankyou/grazie,buongiorno/good morning or good day and after about 3pm buona sera/good evening....a little goes a long way !
Finally,if you don't want to be given the table by the loo or in the corridor,say so but try
to be polite but exude an air of confidence.
Easy after a few lessons in Lucca etiquette....
Tip on what to do in the evening - grab an early pizza at Sbragia,in via Fillungo...very hectic and very basic but has the best pizzas in Lucca followed by a gelato and a glass of Prosecco or a cafe (but no cappucino after 11 am,I know - even I love my cappucino after dinner, some habits die hard !)from any of the outside bars around Piazza Grande (also known as Piazza Napoleone -just to confuse you) and then head off to Lu.C.C.A Museum or Lucca Centre of Contemporary Art ( Lu.C.C.A - geddit ?!!) where Friday nights are jazz night and you can catch the new exhibition by Anthony Moman "Oh My God !" of his take on religion - italian style but with an irreverant English eye...a little Father Ted meets Angels and Demons !
Have fun...divertiti !
Luccalover....
Lesson 1 - Do not wear "hiking sandals" in Lucca...yes there are cobbled streets but you are not hiking in the Lake District.
2) Shorts are acceptable only on children and teenagers and definitely not on women but if the mercury goes above 33 C(91.4 F) men can get away with knee length linen shorts but only if worn deck shoes or moccasins (without socks !)
3) Women should wear loose linen dresses or skirts - you will feel much cooler,especially if they are not lined with polyester.
4) Speaking of polyester or any other synthetic fabric(and this is not a point of style)only wear the lightest natural fabrics...cotton,linen etc unless you want to cook,have a face like a radish and emit an unpleasant odour.
5) Hats are fine,but do not wear baseball caps (unless you are a teenager)and risk looking like William Hague. A panama is fine for men (and women) but enormous wide brimmed hats on women make you look like a tea picker and are ill advised in crowded restaurants or shops.
6)Do wear sunglasses but not the flip up ones,or the reactolite rapid ones....
7) Try to learn some basic italian- please/per favore,thankyou/grazie,buongiorno/good morning or good day and after about 3pm buona sera/good evening....a little goes a long way !
Finally,if you don't want to be given the table by the loo or in the corridor,say so but try
to be polite but exude an air of confidence.
Easy after a few lessons in Lucca etiquette....
Tip on what to do in the evening - grab an early pizza at Sbragia,in via Fillungo...very hectic and very basic but has the best pizzas in Lucca followed by a gelato and a glass of Prosecco or a cafe (but no cappucino after 11 am,I know - even I love my cappucino after dinner, some habits die hard !)from any of the outside bars around Piazza Grande (also known as Piazza Napoleone -just to confuse you) and then head off to Lu.C.C.A Museum or Lucca Centre of Contemporary Art ( Lu.C.C.A - geddit ?!!) where Friday nights are jazz night and you can catch the new exhibition by Anthony Moman "Oh My God !" of his take on religion - italian style but with an irreverant English eye...a little Father Ted meets Angels and Demons !
Have fun...divertiti !
Luccalover....
Thursday, July 7, 2011
" Oh My God ! " Art show at Lu.C.C.A by Anthony Moman
Hi anyone know Lu.C.C.A Museum aka Lucca Centre of Contemporary Art (www.luccamuseum.com) well it is having a great art show called "Oh My God" painted by Anthony Moman (www.anthonymoman.com) starting from 15th July to 28th August so basically right through the summer.
The show is based on the theme of religion but...hang on a minute before you yawn and switch off...this is exciting, funny and also just a little bit scary....as well as Anthony's exhibition there is also a bar - chilled glass of prosecco to cool off, and a kiddies corner for those budding Jackson Pollocks to exercise their creative skills.... What are you waiting for ??
The show is based on the theme of religion but...hang on a minute before you yawn and switch off...this is exciting, funny and also just a little bit scary....as well as Anthony's exhibition there is also a bar - chilled glass of prosecco to cool off, and a kiddies corner for those budding Jackson Pollocks to exercise their creative skills.... What are you waiting for ??
Friday, March 18, 2011
150 years old...Italy celebrates its reunification......
So we all trundled into Lucca, armed with umbrellas and raincoats (its was raining cats and dogs). Our expectations were low but as we neared Lucca, the children entertained themselves by counting the number of flags outside peoples houses....we were up to 76 as neared the walls. We saw pasticceria (bakery shops) displaying huge cakes decorated with the tricolore colours (ugh - all those food dyes, all those E numbers...did you know that red dye (E 120) is usually derived from the cochineal insect...anyone know what it looks like ? Better not....)
So back to the celebrations in Lucca...we passed children clutching balloons and waving flags and no.2 bambino said "can we get some some too?" well after countless stops in edicolas (newsagents) advertising flags,we discovered there was not a flag to be bought in the whole of Lucca (such a patriotic bunch) except one that had a 2 x 1 metre one for € 45....no way I said to bambino no.2....we then went to Piazza san Michele ( such a beautiful church) and there were hundreds of people and balloons !! I went up to a stern young signorina guarding a column of ballooons and asked if I could buy one...."non e in vendita ! " was her cruel reply....and I would have paid up to € 5 for one at this stage....but no,she would not budge....despite her company badge pronouncing she worked for Balloon Express....not a great ambassador I fear.
No.1 bambino started up his " I want McDonalds" whine so we abandoned our futile search for flags and balloons....and went off in search of something to eat that was not in the shape of a tricolore flag.
On the way we passed assorted calm grandparents and harassesd parents all murmuring the same thing, "of course we can buy you a flag/balloon darling " I wanted to let them know,really I did....but I couldn't bring myself to be the bearer of bad news....they always shoot the messenger !
More of the same tomorrow !
So back to the celebrations in Lucca...we passed children clutching balloons and waving flags and no.2 bambino said "can we get some some too?" well after countless stops in edicolas (newsagents) advertising flags,we discovered there was not a flag to be bought in the whole of Lucca (such a patriotic bunch) except one that had a 2 x 1 metre one for € 45....no way I said to bambino no.2....we then went to Piazza san Michele ( such a beautiful church) and there were hundreds of people and balloons !! I went up to a stern young signorina guarding a column of ballooons and asked if I could buy one...."non e in vendita ! " was her cruel reply....and I would have paid up to € 5 for one at this stage....but no,she would not budge....despite her company badge pronouncing she worked for Balloon Express....not a great ambassador I fear.
No.1 bambino started up his " I want McDonalds" whine so we abandoned our futile search for flags and balloons....and went off in search of something to eat that was not in the shape of a tricolore flag.
On the way we passed assorted calm grandparents and harassesd parents all murmuring the same thing, "of course we can buy you a flag/balloon darling " I wanted to let them know,really I did....but I couldn't bring myself to be the bearer of bad news....they always shoot the messenger !
More of the same tomorrow !
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