The Art of Loving Italy is a website about art, but it is also a mentality — a way of seeing the world and all the beauty in it.
Are you curious about art?
Did you study Art in school — loved it —
but now can’t remember the difference between
Renaissance and Baroque? Do you want to know more about so many arty things?

No worries! I’ve got you covered!
Hi! I’m Melissa… an artist, Italian language blogger, author, and an art historian. In fact, I love art history so much, I studied it in college and went on to grad school to earn a Master’s degree in the subject. This site came into being after I published my first book Dreaming Sophia, a novel set in Italy, focusing on Italy’s colorful pageant of artists, musicians, and actors.
Follow me and I’ll take you on an “art-fantastical” journey to dive deeper into the art world!
My posts on the Art of Loving Italy site are meant to be informative, but also fun and entertaining. I like discovering oddities and absurdities, in the art world. It is my belief that art doesn’t have to be boring or stuffy and the more I learn the more I realize that each artist or painting has an incredible story to tell. Being an art historian is a bit like being a detective. All you need to do is scratch the surface of a painting, and you will be surprised by what you will learn!
Did you know art will actually TALK to you if you are open and stop to listen?
I firmly believe if you take the time to really look around you, you will discover there is beauty everywhere, from the light filtering through the trees to the tattoo of the person sitting next to you on the bus. If you open your eyes and ears you will find that paintings will actually talk to you and you will learn fascinating truths.
As Picasso once said:
“Art is the lie, that makes us realize the truth.”

Come along with me on my journey to explore the art world and pictures that decorate our lives. It will be a fascinating exploration!
For more information about my novels
visit my author website
Books available on Amazon
You will also find me blogging in Italian on the
Studentessa Matta Dual language website