Marella

Maggio risveglia i nidi, maggio risveglia i cuori; porta le ortiche e i fiori, i serpi e l’usignol. Schiamazzano i fanciulli in terra, e in ciel li augelli: le donne han ne i capelli rose, ne gli occhi il sol. Tra colli prati e monti di fior tutto è una trama: canta germoglia ed ama l’acqua la terra il ciel. E a me germoglia il cuore di spine un bel boschetto; tre vipere ho nel petto e un gufo entro il cervel. 🌸🐦‍⬛🌸🦉🌸👁️🌸 (Maggiolata, Giosue’ Carducci, 1876)

Great to see Simon Watson’s photo of Paolo and Carolina’s china pantry on the cover of the June issue of THE WORLD OF INTERIORS - a big thank you to Emily @emily.k.tobin , to Simon @simonpwatson and to the super team at @theworldofinteriors for the great work. And to Paolo and Carolina @vincenti.carolina for the trust. Head to my BIO for more images and for Carolina’s story that adds an extra beat 💥 to these stunning rooms 🔝

Remembering Raniero Gnoli one year after his passing at the age of 95. Revered Sanskrit scholar and professor, ancient marble collector, author of the seminal MARMORA ROMANA volume, poet, painter, cabinet maker, flower enthusiast, cat lover (the border collie in the video is mine). Beloved father of Sofia @sofiagnoli and Umberto, grandfather of Teodora and my own father’s fraternal friend. Missing his humour and eccentricities, his taste, his formidable memory, especially for italian verses, his wisdom and his kindness. #ranierognoli To know more about him, click the link in my BIO 🔝

Glimpses from a brief trip to Mexico City in March. Thank you to Michelle @mi.hobart for the good tips and for introducing me to Caroline @duchessofdiscovery who organized some great visits. Thank you Rodman @rodmanprimack and Manolo @manolo.mestre for a delicious and fun evening and to Diego @diegoderomay for an adventurous afternoon and evening with Costanza at San Angel. 🙏 to Paulina for her hospitality and for introducing me to @colorindiomx the woman-led brand of high quality hand woven Mexican textiles. Thanks to @mexicocitymodern @artfulish @anfitriona_mexico_ A huge thank you to Victoria @victoriaetery and to Michelle @galaislove 🎉 I am in love with Mexico City. its architecture and museums; its trees, its food; its creativity; its happy looking dogs. In love with music and dancing in the squares; with rhe markets and with all the wonderful people I met there. Hasta luego Mexico 🇲🇽

Places and things I saw and liked during a very quick visit at Milan’s Fuorisalone

Unexpected family encounter at Fuorisalone: Sandro Chia’s 1987 oil on canvas on view with other works of art including a magnificent Domenico Gnoli at Tivioli, the iconic couture shop designed by Gae Aulenti on Via Santo Spirito. These pieces are part of Clemente Tivioli’s private collection and @suzannedemisch curated the installation. The portrait of Sandro in his New York studio is by Jeannette Montgomery Barron @jmontbarron and it dates more or less from the same period this work was painted. A big thank you to Gianluca Longo @gianlucalongogg for telling me about it! 🩵🌿

This year we were joined for Easter weekend by Coralla Maiuri’s SIRENASINO. Half donkey/half mermaid, this shimmering porcelain beauty has brought joy, light and good humour to our table. GRAZIE Coralla @corallamaiuri 🩵🌿 Happy Easter Monday to every one from us and from 🧜‍♀️ 🫏

Glad to be part of yet another rich and varied issue of The World of Interiors with the story of a state of the arts apartment ensconced inside a 16th century palazzo on Rome’s historic Via Giulia. This work-in-progress, and all its hair splitting details, is the result of an ongoing conversation between architects Claudio Lazzarini and Carl Pickering @lazzarinipickering and their longtime client and friend, the designer Guja du Chene de Vere. Check out the April issue for this and many other stories. Thank you @emily.k.tobin and the whole team @theworldofinteriors and a very special thank you to @simonuptonphotos for this great shoot 💥 LINK IN BIO 🔝

I am partial to this story because @paolodelgallo Paolo del Gallo’s surrealist penchant for surprising and delighting is coupled with a steely determination to persevere on his creative path no matter what. I am grateful to @emily.k.tobin and to @theworldofinteriors for their generous curiosity towards young creatives. And to @ellycparsons @alice__inggs and @donnasalek for their amazing work on the digital frontline. Beautiful 📸 by Paola Pansini @paolapansini Link to this story in bio 🔝

Join us this spring by the sea in Tuscany! Write at Garavicchio is a week-long course this May in a magical villa in Tuscany, for writers who want to take their prose and voice to a new level of ambition. Led by me – Julian Evans – with the award-winning @mirandalfrance and celebrated and much-loved @rachelaliceroddy , our all-inclusive week at Garavicchio, 90 minutes from Rome, is for writers at all stages and interested in all sorts of creative non-fiction: autobiography, biography, memoir, travel, food, nature and more. The course is organised around morning workshops and writing sessions designed to lead you into new approaches to how and why you write. In the afternoons you have time for writing and reading, and for exploring, relaxing and swimming (the beach is 5 km away and the villa has a wonderful pool). You’ll stay in the charming airy comfort of the Garavicchio estate, eating and working at the villa of the Italian writer @marellacaracciolo , author of the much-praised biographical portrait The Light in Between.  Write at Garavicchio is the perfect opportunity to step back from the madding crowd and shape the story you’ve always wanted to tell, capture your experiences, and strengthen your style and confidence on the page in wonderfully relaxing surroundings. Our early bird price of £2375 is still available. For more details, 🔗in bio or contact [email protected]! #creativewriting #writeatgaravicchio #garavicchio #capalbio #inspiration #writing #newwriting #writingcourse #lifewriting #foodwriting #travelwriting #writeinitaly #tuscany #writingretreat #nonfiction #creativenonfiction

La Locanda Sospesa @locanda_sospesa is much more than just a base for experienced travelers who want to explore this little known area of southern Tuscany or relish some slow time in this peaceful oasis. It is the proof that, sometimes, curiosity and hard work are all it takes to infuse new life into an old family home. Thank you to Johnny and Elizabeth for sharing how they transformed a period of hardship into a new adventure filled with floral motifs: painted, carved, woven, embroidered and, yes, gardened. Thank you to Emily @emily.k.tobin and to her wonderful digital team @alice__inggs @ellycparsons and @donnasalek at @theworldofinteriors And what a treat to be back on the road with one of my forever besties, the great photographer Oberto Gili @obertogili who shot all the pictures except for the black and white portrait of Johnny and Elizabeth Petrucci. Link to this story and more pictures in BIO 🔝 💪🏼🩵🌿

The immersion into Matta’s surrealist interiors continues with this narrow house in Edwarde’s Square, Kensington, where he lived in the Seventies with his Italian wife Germana and their young daughter Alisée. The purpose of this move was dictated by love: he was determined to provide his daughter with a multicultural education. The result was a riveting exploration of London’s exciting artistic, literary and musical scenes and a rekindling of old friendships from the time he spent there in the Thirties. Thank you Emily @emily.k.tobin and the digital team at @theworldofinteriors for this opportunity. I love @oskar.proctor ‘s moody photos. A huge thank you to Alisée @matta_archives who entrusted us once again with stories and images that throw new light on her father’s legacy. And to Steven Dp Richardson @culigrams for sharing memories and making the shoot possible. Thank you to @ashleyhicks1970 for setting the record straight regarding his father’s minimal intervention in these interiors. Matta must have appreciated the many David Hicks touches if he kept them all. This story provided the perfect excuse to go and visit Norman Rosenthal @rosenthal.norman and Manuela Mena Marqués at their home in London and take note of some great stories and fun memories from Matta’s London years. Thank you to them both for the warm welcome. Link to this story in BIO 🔝