Hot on the Trail: 1820s letters of life in ROME
I have been burning the candle – quite literally: Up late most nights these last weeks. It paid off immensely last Thursday, with the discovery of a small batch of letters IN ROME!
Mamma Mia!
The BIGGER surprised came when I realized the KEY to knowing these letters were in fact having anything to do with my batch of Smiths was the name involved: LANTE turns up in a letter I actually bought (thanks, Craig!) a couple of years ago.
And Villa Lante (in Gianicolo) still exists, as this GORGEOUSLY illustrated blog post on Rosa Arcium attests. I can’t help but believe that Charles, Augusta, Emma, and Fanny visited here – perhaps quite often, during their winter in Rome (1822-1823).
In addition to Rosa Arcium, gain views of the house from:
- l’Orecchio di Giano (I wanna go to a concert …) [the picture (above) cheats: see info on the opera]
- Villa Lante al Gianicolo (history in English)
- Villa Lante al Gianicolo (youtube) [29:34]
- Photos
Two Teens in the Time of Austen 
Craig in Australia said,
June 30, 2014 at 9:38 am
This is great news Kelly, I expect you were very happy when you found them.
Janeite Kelly said,
June 30, 2014 at 12:23 pm
I was — and yet: they’re in Italy, and… in Italian (and French). Mamma mia, there too!
k