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Braschi-Quarenghi

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Benedictine and Franciscan Monks: Forgotten Inventors

   Usually, when we think of religious orders, these things come to mind: a cloister, an abbey, a library, prayer in solitude, detachment from the world… All this in the cradle of a period defined as "dark" by historiography up to Romanticism: the Middle Ages . In this period the monks - especially the Benedictines of the various orders - were the custodians of Judeo-Christian but also classical culture, since thanks to their patient and meticulous transcriptions as scribes we have received almost all of the Greek and Latin works which we study today. Today we are grateful to them first of all for this.   However, many do not know that many products - material and immaterial - that we consume and use every day, come from monks who, using their ingenuity nourished by a profound spirituality, invented them due to practical necessities.    Personally, I find it amazing!    Let's begin…   The heavy plow   Plows were a primary agri...

Iceland: a real life fairy tale (part 2)

  Finally, you might be saying to yourself…after a long time, this one is posting again! Writing out stages for an hypothetical trip is no small feat, and anybody who has ever organized one will understand me. So sorry, but let's not waste time and get started! You undoubtedly remember the extraordinary Icelandic wonders I talked about previously, and I bet that once read this itinerary you will immediately go and pack your bags. Hurry up then, don't delay and scroll through this article instead, because flights are not infinite and this will absolutely be the most beautiful journey of your life if I manage to convince you! READ PART I So…without too much chatter, let's start straight away in order: if I were you I would certainly opt for a week-long adventure, with 7 intense days starting and ending in Reykjavik, the state capital, during which, with short stops to rest or take incredible souvenir photos, I would visit the island counterclockwise. My writing will t...

Origami, a divine and therapeutic art

 Have you ever created any artwork? Are you fond of art but undecided about which form to practice? Are you looking for a new, satisfying hobby?   Let me suggest: make origami!   Where does “origami” come from?   The etymology of the name derives from two  Japanese terms: ori , from the verb oru ( 折る ), “to fold”, and kami ( 紙 ) , which means “paper”. A noteworthy aspect of this is homophony, a characteristic linguistic phenomenon: kami, written with another ideogram , 神 , means “god”. So origami could mean something like “ giving a concrete shape to divinity by folding paper ”.   What is its history?   The story of the Japanese art of folding paper into certain shapes dates back to about one and a half thousand years ago, but it spread in Italy only in the 1970s. As with several aspects of Japanese culture imported from China (first of all the writing), paper and the first forms of folding also came from that country. Nevertheless, th...

Five Unmissable Stops in London

Hi everyone. Today I will talk about London. Walking the streets of this city will make it seem like anything is possible: you can wear a yellow and purple checkered skirt, or an elegant pinstriped suit, and still feel comfortable. This is just one example of how you can feel free here. London will satisfy the tastes of every type of traveller. For example, if you are an art lover, you cannot miss the British Museum, the National Gallery, or the Tate Modern. If you love London's history, you must take a tour of Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and Big Ben. If you enjoy walking to discover the most unique neighborhoods, then organize a day between Soho, Piccadilly Circus, and Notting Hill. So let's discover together what to see in London and set off for this magnificent city that will surely become one of your new favourite capitals! Here are the five unmissable stops on your next trip to London. 1. Buckingham Palace This spectacular neoclassical style palace is none other...

Glitchtale: a corrupted Undertale timeline

Similar to the other fan based alternatives to the Undertale world, Glitchtaleis, an animated series created by Camila Cuevas, builds on the foundation of Undertale while introducing new, intricate plotlines. It expands the original game's narrative, delving into unexplored themes and conflicts. The series masterfully balances action, drama, and emotional moments, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. Each episode reveals new layers to the story, making it a captivating and unpredictable journey for both new and long-time fans. If you want to watch it, go see Camila Cuevas's channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@CamilaCuevas (If you don't know what Undertale is...go check our previous blog!) Traumatized Characters! Glitchtale excels in developing its characters beyond their original portrayals in Undertale. Characters like Frisk, Sans, and Chara are given deeper backstories, motivations, and emotional arcs. This development makes them more relatable and complex, enhancin...

When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?

Have you ever experienced the terrifying sensation of not being able to move when you wake up from sleep? That's called sleep paralysis, and it's a phenomenon that can be both scary and confusing, but it’s actually quite common. During sleep paralysis, your mind wakes up before your body and leaves you temporarily paralyzed. This can go on for just a few seconds or a few minutes. During that time, you may feel like you can’t breathe, hear strange noises, or even see hallucinations. No wonder some people find it to be a truly scary experience! But what if I told you that sleep paralysis can also be a way to achieve something incredible? That’s where lucid dreaming comes in! Lucid dreaming is the ability to become aware that you are dreaming while you are still in the dream. This awareness allows you to control the dream and even interact with it in ways you never thought possible. Some people have reported experiencing lucid dreams during episodes of sleep paralysis. They were a...

Breaking Barriers: The Art and Struggles of Artemisia Gentileschi

   Who is Artemisia Gentileschi? Artemisia Gentileschi was a great artist of the 1600s, who made a name for herself thanks to her extraordinary talent and determination, despite being a woman. Daughter of Prudentia Montoni and the painter Orazio Lomi, she followed in her father's footsteps and then created her own style. Born on July 8, 1593, in Rome, she was a great artist, very underrated because she was a woman, but she continued to pursue her passion. Thanks to her talent, she became a pupil of her father, despite the rarity of women practicing trades such as painting, which were considered purely male domains. Traumatic event that influenced her art In 1612, she was raped by the painter Agostino Tassi, who had raped her the previous year and promised to marry her even though he was already married. Tassi was sentenced to exile, and to avoid the "disgrace," Artemisia married Pierantonio Stiattesi. This horrible event did not stop her from continuing her painti...

A Journey Back To The Past

  Every time I’ve seen a child in this period, I felt a mix of feelings that I couldn’t keep under control. Why did I feel like that? Memories come back to my mind making me feel nostalgic for past times and filling my brain with regretful thoughts. I am envious because children live their childhood unaware of how lucky they are. Adulthood is filled with problems, sadness, anxiety and fears that you have to deal with. Life seems to be made up of a series of labyrinths full of obstacles. You can’t escape them or run away, but you have to try to overcome every obstacle in front of you and find the exit. Taking inspiration from what I have felt in the latest months, I want to focus on one aspect of my childhood that makes positive memories come back to my mind: cartoons and entertainment.  The Impact of TV-Series What kind of cartoons or TV-series did you watch in your childhood? What were your favourite ones? In the last years, cartoons have greatly changed: 3D characters an...