Blogs from Carrara, Tuscany, Italy, Europe

I've no doubt Dickens himself would have loved the conference banquet which took place at the Studi d'Arte Cave Michelangelo. Naturally we all dressed up in our 'glad rags' determined to thoroughly enjoy our 'night of nights'. On a beautiful Italian summer's evening we enjoyed nibbles and drinks which were available outside the studio while inside, tables were set up surrounded by many marble sculptures for us to admire, Each round table of ten was named after an Italian city; ours mainly seated a mixture of Australian and New Zealander Dickensians. The food and wines were superb, there was wonderful entertainment by the students of Liceo Musicale Palma, Massa directed by Professor Paulo Biabcalana and we all enjoyed brilliant fellowship, managing to dance the night away before the toasts, speeches and singing. Oh what a night! ... read more

After crossing the Appenines from Lucca, we explored the Garfanana Valley which runs between the Appenine Mountains and the Apuan Alps. Atop one of the mountainous areas, we saw an amazing church in Barga. (St. Cristophanos, I think). It was constructed from 900 to 1200, so is probably the oldest we have seen. I noticed that the arches inside were Roman, rather than Gothic. Altar sculpture looked Byzantine. Windows were a translucent alabaster which may have predated stained glass windows; or maybe were used because they are lighter, cheaper, and less fragile than stained glass. It would have been difficult to transport such precious cargo. After lunch of local specialties (cheeses and cold meats) in Castel Nuovo, we drove up a very narrow, steep, and winding road to a marble quarry at Fantiscritti. You have heard ... read more