A meteor in Piazza della Scala

What's happening in Piazza della Scala? Why are hundreds of people patiently queueing in front of Palazzo Marino, Milan's city hall?
From November 28th to January 12th, Milano is hosting a masterpiece from the Musei Vaticani: the "Madonna di Foligno" by Raphael, the artist from Urbino who, together with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, forms the traditional trinity of great masters of the Renaissance.
It was painted between 1511 and 1513 as an offering in gratitude, after the house of Sigismondo de' Conti, who commissioned the painting, survived the strike of a lightning. A lightning, or maybe a meteor: if you look carefully at the landscape on the background, you may spot a ball of fire which, according to American astronomer H. A. Newton, is in fact a bolide, or a big meteor.

At the center of the scene, the Virgin is sitting on a cloud of angels, between Saint Frances, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Jerome. Kneeling on the right is Sigismondo himself, in what is considered one of the best portraits ever made by Raphael.
A rainbow overwhelming the distant village represents the happy ending of the event.

The painting is on display in the magnificent Sala Alessi, the main hall of Palazzo Marino, decorated with beautiful frescos and stuccos. Entrance to Sala Alessi is usually not permitted to the public: so there are plenty of reasons to join the patient queue of Milanese art lovers in Piazza della Scala.

Admission is free, every day from 9.30 am to 8 pm (10 pm on Thursdays).

Here's to you, 2013

No doubt Romans were bon vivants. This exquisite, finely engraved glass cup (photograph by Giovanni Dall'Orto - WikiCommons) was created in Northern Italy in the IV century. The letters carved on its surface read Bibe vivas multis annis, meaning "Drink and you will live for many years".
So, what better way to celebrate the newly born year!
The correct name of this amazing piece of artisanal handicraft is diatretum, or cage cup. It is on display at the Archeological Museum, and it is the only example in the world which has suffered no damage.
But the Archeological Museum not only contains treasures that testimony the rich historical past of Milano: its very location is quite surprising. Right in the middle of its courtyard, the remnants of a Roman domus lie next to the only standing tower left of the late Roman walls. In the Middle Ages, the tower became part of a monastery and its inside walls were elegantly painted.
The visit may last a few minutes, just to get a glimpse at the accurate wooden model of the city of Milano in the IV century - and to the diatretum, of course - or about one hour, if you also want to explore the sections dedicated to the Early Middle Ages, and to the Etruscan and Greek art.

Enjoy!
After the visit, go back to corso Magenta. Turn left and walk for 3-4 minutes to Bar Magenta. This one century old bar is a favourite with the students of the nearby Università Cattolica. Have a Negroni Sbagliato - a popular Milanese long drink - and you will live for many years!