copyright 2009, Maria Liberati

Editor: Marsha Huber

Italians are known to have a flair for design. Their love for their home goes above the norm. Italian homes, no matter what size, small or large, or decorated and arranged in unique and beautiful ways. The characteristics of Italian designers are open, well-lighted, airy spaces while designing to create beauty along with maximum comfort, functionality, and appeal. They have dominated the design market since the mid-forties and even carried their efforts of design into furniture design which has had a clear role as a global trendsetter.

A second characteristic of Italian designers is trying to bring as much of the exterior into the interior of a house. This is done by the use of the strategic placement of windows that open up into the garden. Also the use of floating ceilings and open kitchens gives a feeling of space. Most Italian designers like the uncluttered look of a home which adds to the appeal of a room being larger than it is.

Many of Italy’s houses have survived from the past showing their durability while not sacrificing beauty like the Tuscan Villas and the Mediterranean beach houses. Italian designers’ fine taste began as a hobby of the Italian nobility from Roman times and it has stay with them from generation to generation. This culture is dominated by beauty and creativity which we have seen though art, design, and architecture. The Italians’ idea for good design should inundate design and products for all levels of society.

Even in the smallest houses created today, Italian designers are one of a kind. They allocate space, doors, and windows to give a feeling of open space. Along with the lighting and furniture placement, these houses have an appeal for the human eye. The furniture used is often multi-functional to get the most space and use possible. For example a sofa may be used as a sofa during the day and changed into a pull-out bed in the evening.

If there is a need for a good designer, find an Italian designer and implement his or her ideas into your home. You will marvel over the creation.

Italians are known to have a flair for design. Their love for their home goes above the norm. Italian homes, no matter what size, small or large, or decorated and arranged in unique and beautiful ways. The characteristics of Italian designers are open, well-lighted, airy spaces while designing to create beauty along with maximum comfort, functionality, and appeal. They have dominated the design market since the mid-forties and even carried their efforts of design into furniture design which has had a clear role as a global trendsetter.

A second characteristic of Italian designers is trying to bring as much of the exterior into the interior of a house. This is done by the use of the strategic placement of windows that open up into the garden. Also the use of floating ceilings and open kitchens gives a feeling of space. Most Italian designers like the uncluttered look of a home which adds to the appeal of a room being larger than it is.

Many of Italy’s houses have survived from the past showing their durability while not sacrificing beauty like the Tuscan Villas and the Mediterranean beach houses. Italian designers’ fine taste began as a hobby of the Italian nobility from Roman times and it has stay with them from generation to generation. This culture is dominated by beauty and creativity which we have seen though art, design, and architecture. The Italians’ idea for good design should inundate design and products for all levels of society.

Even in the smallest houses created today, Italian designers are one of a kind. They allocate space, doors, and windows to give a feeling of open space. Along with the lighting and furniture placement, these houses have an appeal for the human eye. The furniture used is often multi-functional to get the most space and use possible. For example a sofa may be used as a sofa during the day and changed into a pull-out bed in the evening.

 If there is a need for a good designer, find an Italian designer and implement his or her ideas into your home. You will marvel over the creation

For recipes get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking:Holidays & Special Occasions

Hope to see you at some upcoming appearances including:
*Nov 2nd-Willingboro Library, Willingboro, NJ

Nov 14-Warren Twp Library,Warren NJ

Nov 21-Kuhn’s Corner Books, Perkasie Pa

copyright 2009, art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc

Editor: Marsha Baum

Sicily, which is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, has a history dating back to the Greek and Phenician colonies. The earliest of the Greek colonies was founded in 735 B.C. and the latest about 580 B.C. Today there are many of the remnants found of the great cities of this time. Many of which are rumble and debris that give evidence of the cities existence.

 The Greeks, who were known to worship the Greek Gods, celebrated their rituals while building temples that partially exist today. Given the history, Sicily with the many wars and the land being subjected to earthquakes, still has temples that are admired by tourists. Segesta, Appollonion, and Concordia are temples oftened visited.

 Seguesta was on the northwest mountainous coast of Sicily and was near the city of the Sicilian Elymi 2000 feet above the sea. The Doric dedicated to Aphrodite, is the only building left and stands among the hills with its columns that were never finished most likely due to the war between Segesta and Selinus. The city was abandoned in the Middle Ages, but the temple is one of the best preserved in Sicily.

 In southwestern Sicily, by the Selinus River, stands the ruins of seven ancient Doric temples. The city of which was known as Selinus. The largest of the temples, the Apollonion, dedicated to Apollo, is 371 feet in length and was unfinished due to the take over by the Carthaginians in 409. Because of the wars with Segesta the city never regained its strength to prosper.

The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, on the southern shore of Sicily, was built on the crest of several hills. These buildings have survived 2,500 years despite earthquakes, volcanoes, and wars. There were fifteen temples built by the Greeks in Agrigento. One of which was dedicated to Zeus and another to Hercules, but the only temple left standing is the Temple of Concordia. The temple was preserved when it was rebuilt into a church in the 6^th century A.D.

 Although the beauty of the past surrounds Sicily, the evidence of the destruction by wars, earthquakes, and famine are apparent. Imagine the ancient times of prosperity when the cities were filled with people of all classes who lived, worked and breathed. A person visiting these ancient cities builds an awareness of the time when life was different.

  Hope to See you at These Appearances:

Oct 21-Lower Southampton Twp Library-Feasterville, Pa  7PM  Book signing, reading, sampling from The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions

Nov 5th-7th-Christmas in Italy weekend, Harvest Moon Bed & Breakfast, Lancaster, Pa. www.harvestmoonbandb.com cooking classes, wine pairings and more!

You can get a copy of the best selling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking at the Horsham Library in Horsham, Pa and it benefits the  friends of the library.

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene,

Maria

Get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions

copyright, 2009, art of living,PrimaMedia,Inc;Maria Liberati

Editor: Marsha Baum

On a dreary, rather chilly day on the East Coast my therapy is to think about the colorful gardents of the Amalfi coast.

 The Amalfi coast, protected by the shoreline between the mountains and the sea, is formed by jagged cliffs overlooking the sea with wild growing Mediterranean shrubs. Everywhere seems to be the perfect scenery of sea and vegetation. Even the homes and villas are worked into the natural surroundings of the land and are placed between rocks or cut out into the cliffs. The villagers’ gardens co-exist with the natural vegetation of the land. An Amalfi garden is a connection of the house to the outside vegetation. The people are part of the land that surrounds them providing a sense of tranquility to travelers from all over.

The vegetation of the Amalfi Coast is typically Mediterranean and includes trees such as the orange, lemon, palm, olive, and citron along with poppies blooming consistently. The cliff road with its narrow lanes and hairpin turns offers a captivating view of the landscape and sea or you may choose to walk along the coast for an aspiring adventure. The smell of citric and the sight of rare wild flowers, herbs, and the sight of amphibians invite you to keep walking. The jagged cliffs have been terraced to cultivate lemon and olive groves contributing to this wonderful view.

The lemons are among the best in the world and they have been admired from poets and artists of the ages, who often mentioned them in poems and songs. The lemons have been popular since the Roman times when they were introduced during the Crusades to provide vitamin C on long sea voyages in order to prevent scurvy.

Upcoming appearances/book signings, for info email: events@marialiberati.com

* ThursdayOctober 15th- 7 PM-Words Bookstore-Maplewood, NJ

*Oct 16-18- Philly Food & Wine Fest at the Philly Expo Center, Oaks, Pa

* Monday,Oct 21, 6:30 PM- Feasterville, Pa-Lower Southamnpton Twp Library

Get your copy of The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays & Special Occasions with over 140 recipes, menus, wine pairing tips and short stories about Holidays spent in Italy.

You can also add Horsham Township Library in Horsham, Pa to the places that you can purchase the bestselling book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking. Purchases benefit Friends of the Library.

Mangia Bene, Vivi Bene

Maria

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