Due mille tredeci (2013)...

Wow - It's 2013 already....
Buon anno, Felice anno nuovo, capodanno (actually capo d'anno but they run it all together)...
All ways the Italians wish you a Happy New Year! And wish them all to you!

One of my Christmas presents and our wish to all!

Tom & I had a very quiet New Year - we spent the evening at home, had a nice dinner of Fetticini con tartufo (with truffles), watched some TV, at midnight we went out on the terrace, popped a bottle of champagne and watched the fireworks all around Rome. It was cold but beautiful - and a new year begins...

We were very lucky, between Christmas and New Years, Tom had off and we decided to go north and visit a few towns known for their holiday spirit and amazing art. We were up in the Umbria & Tuscany area and visited Gubbio, San Marino, Ravenna and Arezzo. All had their own style and charm - it was a wonderful trip and great to get away. I will give a brief description of each, show a few pictures but I wanted to show you all the beautiful Nativities (Presepe) we found - in many different shapes & styles!
Let's start at the beginning -

Gubbio...is in the northeastern part of the Perugia province. It is on the lowest slope of Mt. Ingino. We chose this town because it is the home of the worlds largest Christmas Tree (Mt. Ingino Christmas Tree). It is an illumination built into the side of Mt. Ingino in the shape of a Christmas tree. The town is also known for its ceramics, life-size nativity, living nativity and for being the quietest town in Italy. Most beautiful...

A little foggy...

...but huge and amazing!

The church (left) and town
hall  (right) directly across
from our hotel.

Christmas lights...

...quiet streets...

...very Quiet!

The Living Nativity...

...the Angel had an attitude!

And the life-size...

...old town market...

...cute but creapy!

San Marino...officially the Republic of San Marino. It is the oldest surviving sovereign and constitutional republic in the world (founded in the year 301) and the smallest population of all the members of the European Council. Being sovereign has its advantages - everything is duty free and there are gun stores on most corners (it was a little freaky but very beautiful)...

They have their own license plates...

Built into and on top of
a mountain...

...a great lunch...

& gun (weird)

Tom & Christmas Tree

San Marino's...

...Presepe (Nativity)

Ravenna...is an amazing little town in Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It is most well known for its Mosaic work. Truly outstanding mosaics, take a look...

Churches covered...

...in the most intricate...

...we have ever seen!

The Tamo Museum...

...of Mosaics!

Beautiful ancient floors, 

...wall pieces and...

...marvelous art!

Ancient Religious... 

...to Modern Religious!

The town was not just mosaics - they had wonderful holiday decorations and great food!

Over-sized candles...

...a tree in the town square

Great street art...

...of course a wedding...

...and a decoupage cow!

Lastly an amazing miniature Nativity at a local church! 

Arezzo...on the way home we decided to drive to this lovely little town known for antiques, frescos and ceramics. Arezzo is about 80 kilometers from Florence in the Tuscany region. We had a lovely little lunch in a local taverna (very busy, very crowded and very good). Take a look...

From a Nativity in an aquarium...

...to a wood & reed modern one!

A local church in Arezzo...

...with great fresco's

Gold-leaf frescoes and...

...a metal bust to San Donato

More amazing frescoes...

...everywhere you look!

Here more great art...

at Pieve di Santa Maria...

right off the main square

Many store fronts...

...filled with hundreds &
hundreds of antiques!
Great shopping!

After those wonderful days away, we came home and just relaxed.
Now we are back to the daily grind - Tom was lucky and returned to work while most of the others were still on vacation so he had a quiet first week! I went back to my ceramic endeavors... I just finished sculpting a piece I started before Christmas - it now waits to be baked then I will paint it. I just started on a new base-relief. This time of the streets of old Rome - which I will paint with oils. Should be a lot of fun...

Pre-baking...

New piece muse...

...status so far...

The details...

...are going to kill me!
Long way to go but should
be fun!

Well, for now I will sign off - we hope everybody had a wonderful, safe and happy New Year!
May 2013 be a GREAT YEAR for us all!
One last thing - tomorrow is Tom's birthday! I want him to know I love him and wish him the happiest of days/years!
I will try and be as good this year as I was last with keeping up with my blog posts...
Ciao for now!
Abbracci a tutti!
Ron & Tom