A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the travel journeys and the discoveries along the way.
Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.
Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.
Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.
A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Tracey Emin at The Palazzo Strozzi in Florence - A Travel Story
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
"All I wanted was time" - Tracey Emin, Strozzi Gallery Documentary
Welcome to Episode #133
Today I share a travel story for International Women’s Day about a glorious art and life moment in Florence from 2025.
There are beautiful things that happen along the way that stay with you. I reflect on my experience and joy while walking in the Centro Storico of Florence and discovering that there was an exhibition of Tracey Emin's work on that week at the Palazzo Strozzi. It had been a long time since I had seen her work and remembered her brilliant exhibition in Sydney in the early 2000s.
Today I honour Women and Art and the creative genius of Tracey Emin. I describe the effect of seeing her work in real life as "subtle and profound" and always significant. When you see Emin's work in real life you don't forget. You remember everything.
These days the Palazzo Strozzi has some wonderful exhibitions - Mark Rothko opens next week and more recently there was Fra Angelico. So make time to see what is happening at The Strozzi Gallery if you visit Firenze.
And they have a nice cafe downstairs too that you can enjoy in the renaissance court yard.
Enjoy, Michelle x
A Florentine Cafe & Musings on Women and Art in Italy
Musical Scores by Richard Johnston
A Writer in Italy is about travel and life. A place to share the beautiful travel journeys and the discoveries along the way.
Italy has many attractions - art, design, architecture, history and the wonderful food culture. Michelle shares her love of books on Italy and the places and regions that have inspired her along the way.
Michelle started 'A Writer in Italy Podcast’ to share personal stories and the love of books on Italy that would lead to beautiful conversations with people and like minded souls who share a deep love affair with Italian Culture and the country as a place of beauty and spiritual renewal.
Michelle Johnston lives in Australia with her family.
© 2026 A Writer In Italy - travel, books, art and life
Music Composed by Richard Johnston © 2026