September 2014

Madrigals and murder

Posted September 22, 2014

The other day I had the radio on while I was eating breakfast and the announcer introduced a piece by “Carlo Gesualdo, composer of madrigals and murderer.”

Madrigals and murder. Now that’s a combination you don’t usually encounter.

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In Italy, music, Renaissance

Lorenzo's galley slaves

Posted September 15, 2014

I'm always intrigued by the untold stories of the people who don't get into the history books, the ones who get sideswiped by the major players.

One of the major players of Renaissance Italy was Lorenzo de’ Medici, the de facto ruler of Florence later known as The Magnificent. In 1478, he had a rough year.

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In Ferdinand I, Florence, Lorenzo de' Medici, Naples, Renaissance Italy, story prompts, the Magnificent

A peachy combination

Posted September 8, 2014

This post has nothing to do with history or writing. It’s about cooking, another love of mine.

Or rather, in honor of a recent spell of miserably hot, humid weather, about not cooking, as in salad.

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In food, recipe

Contessa Maria della Torre

Posted September 2, 2014

The Contessa Maria della Torre was not one to sit quietly at home while great events were changing the world around her.

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In interesting people, Italy