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Silvia
Silvia Bonacini In Memoriam
Interpreter of the history of the stones
Silvia was our very first guide when we launched Cornucopia Journeys in 2013. She guided every one of our clients around Florence who visited here between 2013 and 2017, with only one or two exceptions when she was overbooked and had to pass the tour to one of her colleagues. Everyone was enthralled and awed by her passion for Florence and Italy, for art, and for history. She made it all come alive as she introduced you to places and people, works of art and monuments, Tuscan traditions and crafts, its cuisine and wines. Her incredibly in-depth knowledge and joy shone through as she imparted to her guests “the history of the stones,” as she liked to describe her mission.
She loved it. And she loved life. And she was taken from us way too early.
In return she demanded your attention. She didn’t linger but made sure you saw, appreciated, and remembered the treasures she unveiled. She loved questions and took inspiration from her guests, following their interests. She loved kids and had a special talent in making all of this “adult stuff” come alive for them.
And she put it all in context — in its era, in the political and cultural environment of the times, in the societal realities, in its historical relevance—connecting the dots so that you came away with a deepened understanding of the culture of the times and how that impacts on the culture of today.
Silvia had a profound knowledge of the richness, of the multiple facets and principal artifices of the art of the 1800’s as exhibited in Pitti Palace in Florence. Demonstrating her particular attachment to this period of art, she requested that people make donations in her memory to restore one of the works of this collection. Many people generously gave to realize Silvia’s dying wish. Her husband Erik collected enough funds to restore two works of art in the collection.
“P. Tenerani, 1842. Moved by sentiments of friendship, this portrait was sculpted of the
auditor Francesco Forti, a true light of civic wisdom, gone from us at the age of 32,
February 17th, 1838”
The second piece, Giuditta e Oloferne
by Jacopo Ligozzi, part of the collection in Pitti’s Galleria Palantina, is currently under restoration and will be unveiled soon. Initially executed for Duke Vincenzo Gonzaga, the Grand Duke Fernando I of Tuscany, who was an ardent patron of Ligozzi, acquired it and had a duplicate sent to Gonzaga in Mantova. It will soon be restored to its proper glory in Silvia’s honor and memory.
In addition, her guide colleagues in Florence have, every first Sunday of February since her death, offered free guided tours of the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, honoring her passion for the period, her contribution to bringing alive the culture of Florence, and her inestimable friendship.
From Anne & Barbara
What a year! Our busiest yet!!
We discovered that everyone was really ready to travel in 2022!!
Celebrating a 50th wedding anniversary
It's been a long two years of not going anywhere...time to get going!
Ringing out the old year, ringing in the new!
It is almost too strong to resist, this itching to go! We not only agree and encourage your dreaming of your next trip, but are here and ready to help you plan it! It's never too early to start planning. And while regulations will be shifting for some time to come, it is good to be and stay informed about what is possible and what not at the destination you have in mind. Are hotels and restaurants open? Museums? Workshops and other activities? Are guides available to deepen your understanding of what you are seeing? Can one move from one part of the country to another without encountering obstacles? What kind of protections can be built into your trip in case of cancellation or interruption? The situation in Europe is very slow to improve. While England is beginning to open up, the rest of us are behind in vaccine rollout and openings. In Italy, for example, at the moment in orange zones you can eat in a restaurant at lunchtime but only take out is available at dinner, and there is a 10pm curfew in place at least until the end of April. Pressure is building on the Italian government to open more quickly, but given the slow momentum of the vaccine rollout and the explosion of variants, it is questionable how safe further openings are.
Sharing artworks created by our clients from their journeys.
2021 is upon us! We longed for it, we waited for it, seemingly endlessly, and here it is! Uncertainties still abound, but new hope is in the air. Time to PLAN!!!! What new adventures would you like to undertake this year? Where would you like to travel…first? …second? Are you ready to think about traveling in the fall of 2021? Planning is a more active pursuit than dreaming. We all did that in 2020. It’s such a therapeutic activity. But planning, if you want to travel in 2021, is more essential than ever. Venues will open slowly, perhaps limited in capacity. Forethought, reservations, calculations, leaving room for improvisation and regrouping are imperative to be sure that your journey is as memorable as you envision. We’re here. We are eager to help you realize your dreams. It’s what we do. Well. Happy, healthy, joyous new year to all!!! We deserve to realize the hope it brings. And to venture forth on the promised adventures!!
December, 2020 Dear Friends, The year 2020 is not one many of us wish to remember in detail. We have struggled individually and collectively with many issues, some urgently life-threatening or emotionally devastating. So to adopt a cheery, devil-may-care attitude looking back over this unprecedented time seems utterly inappropriate. But we have individually and collectively accomplished things in this period that are worth remembering. Here at Cornucopia Journeys we launched our new web site last March — exquisite timing, to be sure! The new site includes a Journal that gives us time and space to reflect on journeys we have planned or taken or might take, experiences awaiting us, and reflections on moments and people that are worth remembering. So instead of highlighting the journeys people took in 2020 — and of course, there were none this year — we are offering this year’s Journal stories for your perusal, to visit or revisit as your time and inclination may allow. Just click on one below and enjoy. And please note, we are always looking for new topics that might interest you, so please let us know your suggestions for future posts. You know how to reach us! We look forward to "seeing" you in the new year and to helping some of you create new adventures. Remember, it's never too early to start planning! And it's never too late to ask for a helping hand. As we all begin to look forward to a future without Covid, we are eager to help you expand your horizons! It's what we do. Well. Our very best, from our hearts to your homes, Barbara & Anne
