Great to be back home

Hi this is Dr Rob, a beautiful hello to all and great to be back home. My trip to Italy with my friend Claire Affleck and Rachel Harms was more fantastic and better than I could of ever imagined. The people, art,
history, architecture and the energy were positive and amazing where ever I went. Our friend Rachel Harms invited Claire and myself to visit Florence and the Medici Archive Project. This is a non-for profit organization in the field of historical research of the Medici Grand Dukes of Tuscany (1537-1743), housed in the Archives in Florence, Italy. I learned so much of the art and people that make up the remarkable Florentine culture and Renaissance that the Medici family was instrumental in creating. I want to send a special thanks to all of the people that made this visit possible. To: Ippolita (Lilly) Morgese, for her energetic approach to all and the details of setting up such a fantastic and most memorable trip. Also a thanks to Martha McGeary Sneider, chair of the board of trustees, for her amazing approach to life and making our visit most fantastic (She and I also share the same birthday along with Carla D’Artista Grampton, (march 12th) just so you know). In addition to my 11 new best friends in life, I learned new
and exciting things from Carla Amato-Milligan, Michelle Carchedi Hill, Susan Burns, Rose Olshan and Ashley Wells Lewis. They were all fun to be with on the trip and offered wonderful insights to all of our lives and made the Florentine trip even better.

The meals were all amazing and I have not eaten so much pasta in years. Somehow I only gained 2 pounds. The wine was exquisite along with the food, which was always fresh and prepared from the heart. The visit to the Uffizi gallery and Vasari Corridor viewing spectacular art and the stories of the time. Recognizing how little we humans have changed in our cultural experiences and lust for this most wonderful life. The experience of viewing the art and the stories of the people responsible for them enriches all of our lives. The tour focused on the Medici family, beginning with Cosimo I, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, and how through the arts and focus on every detail of life, they promoted the power of their family and sculpting the cultural life of Florence.

We took a day trip to Castegneta Carducci, to visit the ancestral home of the della Gherardesca family. A beautiful hill top village and home near the sea side one and a half hours from Florence (pictured above). The villa has been home to the della Gheradesca family for over 12 centuries. Sibilla, the sister of Manfredi della Gheradesca, advisory board member, was gracious to give us a tour of the home along with a spectacular lunch for 12. We also had the pleasure of walking the streets of the village and visiting a local Tailor (pictured below), (Martha did get a fitting for a wonderful coat) and enjoying gelato and espresso in the streets of the centuries old village. We also went on a tour of the Pitti Palace and viewed the telescope that Galeo Galeli, which first viewed the heavens and identified the moons of Jupiter and developed his theories of the universe. We also visited the Boboli Gardens, commissioned by Eleanora di Toledo, wife of Cosimo I, the inspiration for the gardens at Versailles.

Claire and I took a great Saturday trip to Sienna and the Chianti region of Tuscany. The drive through the country side was always picturesque. The rolling hills, forests fields of grape vines and olive trees were
spectacular with the fall changes just beginning. Our first stop in Sienna with the narrow streets, historical old buildings and central square were fantastic. We then took a great drive to the Chianti region and visited
two wineries with tours and tastings. The ancient history of the wine and land added to the visit. We had lunch at one of the wineries along with a tour of the facility. All adding to the beauty of the day and the love of culture in life.

Again thanks to all of the people that made this fantastic trip possible including those at the home front that kept the office and house intact.

Love to all,

Roberto

See more Italy photo’s here