This afternoon was remarkable. Michael and I went down to the Palazzo Pongelli (which I had seen several years ago; see http://encoreitaly.blogspot.it/2014/05/down-for-count.html) because Florence's class had somehow coordinated with the FAI group (a group that opens special monuments or locations annually) and created a special day in which the students would be the docents for the three locations.
Oddly enough, it was coordinated by Jeremy's art history teacher. This becomes important shortly.
To provide ambiance, there were also to be musicians performing in the palazzo. Including Jeremy and the orchestra/string ensemble.
So, let's put this in perspective: our American kids have had the opportunity to guide locals around monuments that were built before our country existed as such AND to perform in a gorgeous reception room dating back 450 years. Wow.
Michael and I were lucky and unlucky in our efforts: Florence was our tour guide, along with her friend Kaotar. However, the musicians who were performing while we were there happened to be the flutes. Drat. But Jeremy's group was up next! Florence said they would have her hide if we were to linger in the reception room (and we didn't want to miss Florence's part of the presentation!), so we moved to the next room. And then the strings started. Grr!
We were ushered out into the rooftop garden, where I saw Jeremy's art teacher. She asked if he was about to play, and Florence said that, in fact, he was playing right then. She DASHED back into the house, and I asked if I could follow. Sure!
Jeremy's concert was great, and I stayed as long as I could given that Michael hadn't followed me. When I went back out, Michael was chatting with the fellow who is renovating the castle in Fiore (http://encoreitaly.blogspot.it/search?q=castles+in+the+air), so we happily caught up.
At that point, things got weirdly amazing. Roberto asked what we were up to. "Not much, just going back to the house." "Come with me!" As we walked, I could hear him chatting on the phone..."Hey, I wanted to bring some people over...well, actually, we're under the house right now!"
It turns out that a few years ago, they discovered an Etruscan well in their basement. Three meters across, 15 meters deep, and nearly full. The well had been hidden behind a brick wall, but not filled in; Roberto told us that only slightly more than a kick had been required to expose everything! The house also included a military museum: helmets, field glasses (and what really looked more like opera glasses), lira coins (the diameter of a pencil!), lira notes (ONE lira, worth approximately nothing) that were only about 2 inches by 3 1/2 inches, and more! The collection had been created by his father-in-law (now deceased), and was really amazing.
Michael and I are continually struck by the wealth of secrets in this town: every time you turn around, you are confronted by the unexpected.
Love,
Alexandra
p.s. The next day (Palm Sunday), Jeremy's orchestra played in front of the Medieval washbasins...
Oddly enough, it was coordinated by Jeremy's art history teacher. This becomes important shortly.
To provide ambiance, there were also to be musicians performing in the palazzo. Including Jeremy and the orchestra/string ensemble.
So, let's put this in perspective: our American kids have had the opportunity to guide locals around monuments that were built before our country existed as such AND to perform in a gorgeous reception room dating back 450 years. Wow.
Michael and I were lucky and unlucky in our efforts: Florence was our tour guide, along with her friend Kaotar. However, the musicians who were performing while we were there happened to be the flutes. Drat. But Jeremy's group was up next! Florence said they would have her hide if we were to linger in the reception room (and we didn't want to miss Florence's part of the presentation!), so we moved to the next room. And then the strings started. Grr!
 |
| Conte Pongelli is behind Jeremy |
Jeremy's concert was great, and I stayed as long as I could given that Michael hadn't followed me. When I went back out, Michael was chatting with the fellow who is renovating the castle in Fiore (http://encoreitaly.blogspot.it/search?q=castles+in+the+air), so we happily caught up.
At that point, things got weirdly amazing. Roberto asked what we were up to. "Not much, just going back to the house." "Come with me!" As we walked, I could hear him chatting on the phone..."Hey, I wanted to bring some people over...well, actually, we're under the house right now!"It turns out that a few years ago, they discovered an Etruscan well in their basement. Three meters across, 15 meters deep, and nearly full. The well had been hidden behind a brick wall, but not filled in; Roberto told us that only slightly more than a kick had been required to expose everything! The house also included a military museum: helmets, field glasses (and what really looked more like opera glasses), lira coins (the diameter of a pencil!), lira notes (ONE lira, worth approximately nothing) that were only about 2 inches by 3 1/2 inches, and more! The collection had been created by his father-in-law (now deceased), and was really amazing.
Michael and I are continually struck by the wealth of secrets in this town: every time you turn around, you are confronted by the unexpected.
Love,
Alexandra
p.s. The next day (Palm Sunday), Jeremy's orchestra played in front of the Medieval washbasins...
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