Walled Cities and Towers of Tuscany: Lucca, Pienza and San Gimignano with Kate Bolton-Porciatti
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Join an expert for a cultural journey exploring the origins and architecture of three of Italy's most evocative cities, Lucca, San Gimignano, and Pienza, and how they have defined the landscape of Tuscany.
Many of the most beautiful towns and cities of Tuscany have grown up around medieval defensive structures: watch-towers, fortifications, and battlements that stand witness to the turbulent history of this area. Cultural historian Kate Bolton-Porciatti traces the origins and growth of the medieval cities of Lucca and San Gimignano and reflects on how their evocative skylines have indelibly shaped the Tuscan landscape. We also explore the walled town of Pienza – the jewel of the Orcia Valley - a place conceived as an 'ideal Renaissance city' whose balanced architectural lines create a perfect harmony with the surrounding scenery.
Led by an expert on Italian cultural history, Kate Bolton-Porciatti, this interactive seminar will explore the needs, ideas, and ideologies that form the foundations of Tuscany’s communes and city-states. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of the social and cultural context of Tuscany’s historic towns.
Kate Bolton-Porciatti is a professor of Italian cultural history and music at the Istituto Lorenzo de’Medici and at the British Institute in Florence. She has published extensively as an academic, a critic, and a journalist, and is a regular contributor to BBC Music and The Daily Telegraph. From 1989, for 17 years, she was a producer and broadcaster for BBC Arts & Classical Music in London. She did her MPhil thesis in Italy, exploring the musical and cultural landscape of 15th-century Florence.
This conversation is not suitable for children under age 16
90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.
We have spent a significant amount of time in Lucca and Kate’s seminar re-connected us in a special way. This was our second lecture with Kate and we especially enjoyed the in situ video clips she introduced - an excellent touch that really brought some of the unique elements of these 3 walled cities to life.
Looking forward to Sardegna!!
I have traveled to these three beautiful walled Tuscan cities but, unfortunately, not with Kate as a guide. Now, due to Kate's wonderful presentation I have an historical context. So impressive that Kate traveled to the sites and gave us a glimpse of the cities through videos.
On our next trip to Italy we will be equipped with so much more information, thanks to Kate's abundance of knowledge and her skill in conveying it to others.
This is the third time I've taken one of Kate's sessions. They are inevitably excellent. She's a great story teller and guide.