Culture: April 2003 Archives

Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris was born in La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland, 1887. Trained as an artist, he travelled extensively through Germany and the East. In Paris he studied under Auguste Perret and absorbed the cultural and artistic life of the city. During this period he developed a keen interest in the synthesis of the various arts. Jeanneret-Gris adopted the name Le Corbusier in the early 1920s.

Guerlain was established in 1828. This house of perfume is the quintessential perfume of Paris. Here you can investigate the entire line of fragrances from this classic producer of Shalimar.

There is also a new and exciting tradition being born.

Motta, Autogrill, Fini and Giuditta can be found along the Italian autostrade. They provide gasoline and diesel fuel along with shopping emporiums filled with everything one could possibly crave.

This selection of the top Blue Flag beaches (spiagge) and marinas (approdi) of Italy must meet 27 different standards in water quality, safety and services.

This is the oldest and largest of the Paris flea markets covering 15 acres near the Porte de Clignancourt.

Visiting Tuscany? The Valley of the Orcia River is an area that deserves your attention.

The Mall was opened on August 4, 2001, and now houses outlets by Bottega Veneta, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Loro Piana, Sergio Rossi and Yves Saint Laurent.

This 18th century auberge is tucked away between a lush vineyard and the 12th century Royal Abbey of La Celle, whose cloisters and courtyard are adjacent to the vaulted dining room. This is now an Alain Ducasse “rustic” country inn.

These vast formal gardens owned by the Italian Government, studded with fountains and surrounded by wilderness, date from the 1500’s and are considered among the most beautiful in Italy.

When touring the Oltrano area of Florence stop by Caffé Ricchi and treat yourself to a gelato and an espresso to keep you going. While you are there however....

Cinephiles may have seen this wonderful hotel in Jonathan Demme’s film, “The Truth about Charlie” starring Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton. The film is a re-make of "Charade" with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. (If you rent the DVD, you can see both films.)

The area of Parco Naturale della Maremma in Tuscany stretches along the Tyrrhenian coast from Principina a Mare to Alberese, and up to Talamone.

The gardens and estate of La Foce constitute one of the most important and best kept early twentieth-century gardens in Italy.

Valensole comes from the Latin "vallis" and "solis" meaning the valley of sun.

Movie producer Marin Karmitz has just opened a giant MK2 Bibliothèque multiplex in Paris: 14 screens, 2 boutiques and exhibitions with artists from the rue Louise Weiss galleries. The 320 meter long/ 30 meter wide theater also houses 3 restaurants.

Billed as "The Path of the Gods" this route lives up to its name with dramatic views of a rugged coastline, and distant sightings as far as the island of Capri.