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Umbria, A Harmony of Art and Nature: Gubbio, Perugia and Lake Trasimeno with Kate Bolton-Porciatti
Learn with Kate Bolton-Porciatti

Umbria, A Harmony of Art and Nature: Gubbio, Perugia and Lake Trasimeno with Kate Bolton-Porciatti

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A series of ‘armchair journeys’ exploring the astonishing wealth of important art, historic architecture, and spectacular natural scenery in Umbria – an area popularly known as the ‘green heart' of Italy which boasts numerous UNESCO-protected sites. Seminars may be taken as a series or individually, but each one is devised to be a feasible itinerary for anyone planning to visit the area.
Guided by cultural historian Kate Bolton-Porciatti, each conversation will interweave history and cultural context into a richly evocative virtual tour, taking in famous art cities and also wandering off the beaten path to offer the discerning visitor insights into places where man and nature coexist in serene harmony.
Today’s armchair tour begins in the ancient capital of Umbria: Gubbio, with its remarkably preserved medieval center. Gubbio’s origins take us back millennia when the Italic people known as the ‘Umbri’ first settled this area around the 9th BC. Later conquered by the Romans, Gubbio brags the second-largest surviving Roman theatre anywhere in the world, and the town went on to play a fundamental role in the history of the Crusades.
We then travel south to the modern capital of Umbria: Perugia, one of the great cities of ancient Etruria. The pages of its story turn through Etruscan, Roman, medieval, and Renaissance history; exploring its defensive walls, its splendid streets, and buildings adorned by Perugino, Pinturicchio, Raphael, is an extraordinary cultural journey.
Finally, we enjoy the serene waters of Lake Trasimeno and its islands, including Isola Maggiore – a place of spiritual retreat for St Francis of Assisi and today home to a clutch of residents who preserve many ancient religious and folkloric traditions.
This conversation is part of a five-part series on Umbria with Kate Bolton-Porciatti. Each session is designed as a stand-alone seminar as well as part of a five-week series.

Kate Bolton-Porciatti is a professor of Italian cultural history and music at the Istituto Lorenzo de'Medici in Florence, where she teaches BA and MA courses in the humanities. She also lectures at the British Institute, Florence, and at the Chigiana Music Academy in Siena. Kate has published extensively as an academic and a journalist; she is a music critic for BBC Music and a travel writer for The Daily Telegraph, UK. Before moving to Italy permanently in 2005, she was a senior producer and broadcaster for BBC Arts & Classical Music in London and has won prestigious Jerusalem and Sony Awards for her programs. She did her M.Phil. thesis in Italy, exploring the musical culture of early Renaissance Florence.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 26 reviews
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(26)
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k
k. (Chicago, US)

I felt Kate did an excellent job exposing us to the many facets of this area. I look forward to one day visiting it.

C
C. (Boulder, US)
Great introduction to this area of italy

We are planning on traveling to this region in October and welcomed the information and the visual experience of the area. Great introduction.

A
A. (Orinda, US)

Guest did not leave comment

A
A.P. (Lake Stevens, US)
More Beautiful Umbrian Hill Towns

As usual, Kate has a terrific and interesting presentation with video of the places she describes very well done and that add a lot to the seminar. I try to catch all her presentations. They are among the best that Context offers....

C
C. (Des Moines, US)
Another excellent presentation by Kate

As usual, Kate's presentation was well-planned with a good mix of talk, photos, and on-site videos.

123

Customer Reviews

Based on 26 reviews
100%
(26)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
k
k. (Chicago, US)

I felt Kate did an excellent job exposing us to the many facets of this area. I look forward to one day visiting it.

C
C. (Boulder, US)
Great introduction to this area of italy

We are planning on traveling to this region in October and welcomed the information and the visual experience of the area. Great introduction.

A
A. (Orinda, US)

Guest did not leave comment

A
A.P. (Lake Stevens, US)
More Beautiful Umbrian Hill Towns

As usual, Kate has a terrific and interesting presentation with video of the places she describes very well done and that add a lot to the seminar. I try to catch all her presentations. They are among the best that Context offers....

C
C. (Des Moines, US)
Another excellent presentation by Kate

As usual, Kate's presentation was well-planned with a good mix of talk, photos, and on-site videos.

123