Scuola Leonardo da Vinci Siena
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SCHOOL
New Mini course in Art History: Siena and Florence in the Middle Ages.
This short course will provide an overview of the art of Siena and Florence between the Romanesque and Gothic periods. In three sessions, each an hour and 45 minutes in duration, 45 minutes will be spent in the classroom introducing the day’s topic, then an hour will be spent making an on-site visit to the monuments, palaces and/or museums that illustrate the material covered. Topics will include:
- Architecture (palaces, churches and squares)
- Sculpture (the Cathedral Museum – museo dell’opera del Duomo)
- Painting (Siena’s town hall -- the Palazzo Pubblico)
You can register for this course in person, after arrival at the school. Requirement: intermediate knowledge of Italian
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Siena Events
MERCATO MEDIEVALE Coming again in March!
 Market day in the Middle Ages was an exciting event, full of colors, sounds and visual delights. Amid the hustle and bustle of the crowds were the cries of farmers with fresh produce to sell, craftsmen hawking their wares and hunters proudly displaying their recently caught game. The bleating of livestock filled the air, as clowns and musicians entertained young and old alike with stories, tricks, dancing and puppetry.
To recall Siena’s importance as a flourishing economic center on a major trade route, the Piazza del Campo hosted its first spectacular medieval market last November.
The Piazza easily returned to its 700 year-old roots, with live music, folk dancers, fire breathers and townspeople in medieval dress. Thousands of visitors crowded the event to view and purchase a wide variety of local products: Tuscan cheeses and meats, olive oil, honey, truffles and artisanal goods made of wool, wood, iron and ceramics.
If you missed this fantastic experience don’t worry! There will be another medieval market on Saturday, March 13th 2010 in the Piazza del Campo, from 8:00 am to 8: pm. Come one and all!
 EASTER CONCERT BY THE “RINALDO FRANCI – CITTA’ DI SIENA” ORCHESTRA: Requiem by Mozart
During your stay in Siena, don’t miss this exceptional event: Mozart’s gorgeous and moving Requiem performed by the Rinaldo Franci – Citta’ di Siena Orchestra under the direction of Michele Manganelli. Maestro Manganelli will conduct in the Chiesa of S.S. Anunziata, located in the historic Ospedale of Santa Maria della Scala.
Date: Monday, March 29, 2010 Time: 9:00 p.m. Place: Church of S.S. Annunziata, Ospedale of Santa Maria della Scala (Piazza del Duomo) Entrance: Free.
Information: tel no. 0577 288904 fax 0577 389127 website: www.istitutofranci.it
e-mail: franci@franci.comune.siena.it
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Early Renaissance Art in Siena
 Did you know that Siena was an important artistic center during the early years of the Renaissance? The elegant refinement of artists such as Duccio, the Lorenzetti and Simone Martini can still be seen in many of the city’s museums, churches and palaces. Later artists such as Giovanni di Paolo, Sassetta, Sano di Pietro and Vecchietta brought flowing figures and mathematical perspective into their art, while maintaining the harmony, detail and exquisite colors of the Sienese style.
Beginning March 26 visitors to the museum complex of Santa Maria della Scala will be able to see the evolution of the Sienese style in an important exhibition called “Early Renaissance in Siena.” Organized by Max Seidel, the celebrated director of the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz (-Max-Planck Institut) this show is the latest in a series of exhibitions that were projected to create a complete overview of Sienese art in the 13th to 16th centuries. This edition will cover the years 1400-1460.
When: March 26-July 11, 2010
Where: Santa Maria della Scala museum Complex, 2 Piazza Duomo, Siena
Information: Segreteria SMS, tel no: 0577/534511 – 534501-534502, fax 0577/534517 |
Vernice Prog. Culturali (coordination), tel no: o577/226405, fax 0577/237659
Website: www.verniceprogetti.it, www.santamariadellascala.com
e-mail: info@verniceprogetticulturali.it, infoscala@sms.commune.siena.it , stampa@comune.siena.it
 A taste of Siena
recipe: RIBOLLITA (in Italian!)
Ribollita is a typical Sienese dish made with a variety of vegetables and bread. It is a “zuppa” that has many of the qualities of a soup, yet is much denser. Everyone has their own “secret” recipe. Here is Signora Isa’s :
Ingredienti:
Bietola, 4 etti
Cavolo nero, 4 etti
Cipolla, 1
Sedano, 1 costa
Carota , 1
Patata, 1
Pomodoro, 1
Fagioli cannellini, un barattolo o 500 grammi
Pane duro
Olio d’olivo extravergine
cipollotti
Fasi di Preparazione
- Tritare la cipolla, la carota e il sedano e mettere il battuto in una pentola con un po’ di olio d’olivo extravergine. Far soffriggere 5 minuti.
- Aggiungere il cavolo nero, fatto in pezzetini e la bietola fino a quando vengono appassiti.
- Aggiungere il pomodoro e la patata tritati.
- Far passare 250 grammi dei faggioli in un passatutto per creare una crema. Poi mettere questa crema in pentola con tutte le verdure.
- Aggiungere 3 bicchieri di acqua, sale e pepe e far bollire a fuoco lento per due ore.
- Dopo un’ora della bollitura aggiungere l’altra meta (250 grammi) dei faggioli (interi).
- Poi, affettare Il pane e mettere I pezzi in un tegame. Quando il brodo e’ fatto, metterlo sopra. Ecco una minestra di pane.
- Adesso far ribollire il brodo per 10 minuti per far riamalgamare tutto.
- Si mangia la ribollita con un filo di olio e piccoli pezzi di cipollotti sopra.
Glossario:
- Bietola is a leafy vegetable common in Italy but less well-known elsewhere. It can be substituted by spinach.
- Cavolo nero is a very dark form of cabbage.
- Fagioli cannellini are an important ingredient. These white beans can be purchased dried or in cans.
- Pane duro Because it contains no salt, Tuscan bread never spoils. After a few days it becomes hard, which is the perfect moment to use it for Ribollita. If the bread is not hard, fresh bread can be sliced and lightly grilled in order to dry it out.
- Cipollotti --- scallions
- Titare – to chop
- Soffriggere --- to fry
- Aggiungere --- to add
- Affettare – to slice
- Passatutto --- a hand mixer or vegetable mill, similar to that used for apple sauce or baby food.
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Did you know...
The western world’s first Traveler’s Check was issued by the Banca Monte dei Paschi of Siena! Founded in 1472, Monte dei Paschi developed the “lettera di cambio” (letter of credit) to satisfy the needs of merchants who needed to give or receive payment for goods and services in distant lands. The first checks were hand-written and stamped with a special seal. From the mid-1600s on, printed versions were made. The Bank still owns and displays a variety of these early checks in its beautiful palazzo on the “Banchi di Sopra” Street. (Banchi refers to the tables or counter tops that were set up in the street for the earliest banking transactions!).
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