Celebrations World Cup Finale – This weekend, the eyes of the world will be focused on South Africa as the month long World Cup comes to a close. Once again, two European teams will battle for first place; last World Cup four years ago saw a gripping, head-butting, finale between France and Italy while this year The Netherlands and ... Read More »
In a daring chain of events reminiscent of a scene from Oceans Eleven, a Caravaggio painting stolen two years ago from the Odessa Museum of Western and Eastern Art has been recovered in Berlin by German and Ukrainian police. The painting, called “The taking of Christ” or “The kiss of Judas” by scholars, is considered the most valuable painting ... Read More »
For the past few months, we’ve been closely following the saga unfolding in Porto Ecrole, Italy as scientists test the remains of whom they believe may be the long dead Caravaggio; bones tossed into an ossuary in the 1950s after being dug-up from the cemetery of San Sebastiano. In 2001, an Italian researcher came across a document he believed ... Read More »
A distant shore, a desperate man, the promise of redemption, in other words, just another year in the life of the painter and rogue, Caravaggio. In 1607, in an attempt to outrun the law, Baroque painter Caravaggio headed south to Naples. The year before, Caravaggio had killed a man in a bar brawl in Rome and fled to ... Read More »
There isn’t a better time to live out your Under the Tuscan Sun dreams, rent a car and explore Italy than during Settimanna della Cultura, or Cultural Week. For the past twelve years, the Italian Ministry of Culture has opened all state operated museums, archaeological sites, historical homes, monuments and various other places around the country free to the ... Read More »
To absolutely no one’s surprise, recent reports have it that “The Hangover”—the raunchy, dizzy Las-Vegas-based gross-out flick that quickly became the most profitable comedy in box-office history—is going to be giving birth to a sequel, set to debut late this year. Already, rumors have it that the second round of mystery and debauchery will take place in Thailand—a logical ... Read More »
Being travel guides, we always advocate putting your heels to the pavement and seeking out art, music and film locations yourself. Flipping through a coffee-table book of Caravaggios naturally pales in comparison to seeing his Contarelli Chapel murals up close and in person. But even we have to admit that one can’t see every worthwhile piece of art or ... Read More »
Yes, the mystery of Caravaggio’s death is reaching its semi-exciting climax as blood drawn from likely decedents of the chiaroscuro painter with the rock-star reputation are even now being compared to DNA samples taken from bones found in the ossuary underneath the church at Porto Ercole on the Tuscan coast, commonly believed his last resting place. And where did ... Read More »
MUSEYON BOOKS Smart City Guides for Travel, History, Art and Film Lovers