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    Chiesa de St. Chiara

    March 23, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    St. Francis has his basilica. Now St. Clare gets equal time. This basilica is not nearly as large as St. Francis'. This building also dates to the 13th century and is built on the site of the former church of San Giorgio, the remains of which are incorporated into the side chapels.
    This is the mother church of the order of nuns who bear her name. Their rule is said to be the 1st monastic rule written by a woman.
    The 1st picture is the facade of this Italian Gothic church. You can see the rose window below the triangular tympanum. The 2nd picture is a close up of that window from inside.
    The 3rd picture is in the crypt with St. Clare's tomb of pink limestone and glass which is located directly below the main altar. The 4th picture is a closeup of the tomb itself.
    The 5th picture is in the nave of the church, and the 6th picture is the 12th century crucifix of San Damiano that bears Romanesque iconography. Not only is this crucifix important to St. Clare who spent time at St. Damiano, this is the crucifix that spoke to Francis telling him to "go, repair my house..."    Read more

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    Rocca Albornoziana

    March 24, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    The Rocca or castle or fortress of Spoleto dates to the middle of the 14th century. It was built by Cardinal Albornoz; hence the name. This is the same guy who built the Rocca at Assisi. The castles were built at the order of the Pope to project papal authority in the region. This was the period when the Popes resided in Avignon.
    This Rocca sits atop the hill at Spoleto and towers over the town and its valley. While originally the Rocca was richly decorated as would be expected of the seat of local authority in the late middle ages and renaissance, most of that has been lost as the Rocca was converted to a jail in 1817 and used until 1982.
    The 1st picture is the outer Courtyard of Arms and headquarters of the army. The 2nd picture is the inner Courtyard of Honor that was reserved for officials and official business. At the far end is an unique hexagonal well. The 3rd picture is an arched and decorated tunnel between the 2 courtyards.
    Inside, the Rocca has been restored and remodeled to be a museum of the Duchy of Spoleto from it's founding in the late 6th century up to the 17th century. The next 4 pictures are all in that area. The 4th picture is a former dining room that now houses several sarcophagi. The 5th picture is of a part of the largest section of surviving frescoes. The last 2 pictures are in what is a series of rooms called the winter residence as they face south. These are just a couple examples of what is here.
    An interesting tidbit:. If you saw the miniseries about the Borgias, you will remember the Pope's daughter, Lucretia. She was appointed rector of the Duchy of Spoleto for a time. It seems she was remembered for her cruelty while she was here.    Read more

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    Spoleto

    March 24, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Spoleto is an ancient town dating to at least the 5th century BCE. It is not a hill town but is located on high ground at the head of a broad valley and surrounded by mountains. I was surprised to learn that Hannibal attacked Spoletium. (as it was known then), and he and his army were sent packing.
    Spoleto is known as a center for culture and the arts, not least for its annual 3 week festival of music, theater and dance. The Festival of 2 Worlds, as it's called, was initiated by Gian Carlo Menotti in the 1950s.
    The 1st picture is taken from the castle (see another post) over looking the old town with the newer part of town in the distance. The 2nd picture is also taken from the castle and looks at a bridge and aqueduct called the Ponte Del Torre that dates to at least the 13th century. The aqueduct no longer works, but the bridge still does. The building at the far end is the garrison that guarded the bridge, and it directed water to 2 old mills.
    The 3rd picture is the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary and dates from the 12th century. Most striking in the facade of the Romanesque basilica is the mosaic of Christ giving a benediction. The 4th picture is in the nave. The altar cross also dates to the 12th century and is a Byzantine icon.
    The fountain in the 5th picture is not surprisingly called the fountain of the mask. This fountain probably dates to the middle of the 16th century. These fountains were the water source for people in the neighborhood when they do don't have plumbing into the house. The water here is still fine and tastes good.
    One of the reasons Spoleto was chosen by Menotti for the festival was its many venues, not least the well preserved Roman theater in the 6th picture. This is one of the 1st theaters I've seen that is well enough preserved that the hollows under the seats with their accessways are open (the 7th picture).
    The 8th picture is a fresco in the museum at the Roman theater. It is the only painting of the Last Supper from that period that I've seen that includes women and children.
    The 9th picture is a of a nearly completely preserved Roman house from the early imperial period.
    The last picture is a typical street . The herringbone pavement is original.    Read more

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    Florence

    March 26, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Florence is the capital of Tuscany today. In medieval Europe, it was a wealthy economic and cultural center and arguably the place where the Renaissance got it's start. It's literary giants of the time include Dante, Machiavelli, Boccaccio and more.
    Florence was founded by Julius Caesar in 59 BCE and was an important trading center for centuries. It really came into it's own in the late middle ages when the florin (the Florentine currency) was used thoughout Europe thanks to the local bankers financing industry; monarchs and their wars; and even the papacy.
    Arguably the most prominent banking family was the Medicis. The family eventually took over the government. In fact, 2 popes we're from this family.
    The city was heavily damaged during world war 2, but the reconstruction has made the effort to retain the city's character, albeit with modern construction.
    There is so much to see here that I simply cannot do it justice in blog posts. So this and several additional posts will be a sampling of the incredible art this place is.
    The 1st picture looks to the so called parade bridge. This is the bridge that the Medicis used when they paraded from their mansion to their capital at the Palazzo Vecchio. The 2nd picture looks in the opposite direction to the Ponte Vecchio or old bridge. This historic structure was not destroyed during the war. So it is original.
    The 3rd picture looks along the Ponte Vecchio. Those are jewelry shops on both sides. Above on the right side is the "secret corridor" that ran from the Medici's palace to the Palazzo Vecchio or government palace so the rulers could traverse the city unmolested. Those jewelry shops are there because the Medicis got rid of the butcher's that worked on the bridge beforehand.
    The 4th picture is the Sassetti chapel in Holy Trinity church. These frescoes date to the 15th century and are considered a masterpiece of the artist Ghirlandaio.
    The 5th picture is a typical and perhaps the 1st Renaissance palace: 3 stories, local stone, etc. This became the pattern for later palaces of the period.
    The 6th picture is the plaza of the republic. This is the center of the city and it sits stop the ancient Roman forum.
    The 7th picture is Gilly's, a several century old coffee and pastry shop located at Republic Square.
    A chunk of Florence's wealth came from it's wool trade. This is the house of the Guild of the wool merchants. This is one of the few guild halls still remaining. It gives a sense of the wealth and power contained within it's walls at the time.
    The 9th picture is the Palazzo Vecchio that I mentioned earlier.    Read more

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    Boboli Gardens, Florence

    March 26, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    The Boboli Gardens are directly behind the Pitti Palace, the main home of the Medici family in Florence. This is probably the 1st of the Italian Gardens of the 16th century and later, setting the style for a long time. The gardens were developed for the wife of Cosimo d'Medici.
    The gardens are built up a hillside somewhat like an amphitheater, with the Palace as the focal point. As you will see, there are many terraces, fountains, views over Florence and more.
    The 1st picture is the small garden at the highest point of the park. The 2nd picture looks over the pool near the top of the hill to the city. The 3rd picture is behind the palace with a series of bas reliefs on the wall. The 4th picture is an example of the low mazes in places in the garden. This one is alongside of a greenhouse.
    The 5th and 6th pictures are 2 of the fountains. The 4th picture is the Isoleto with the Fountain of the Ocean in the center of the small pool. The 6th picture is at the other extreme and is a small fountain hidden in a glade among the trees.
    The rest of the pictures are around the garden to give a sense of the vegetation, paths and spaces here.    Read more

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    Uffizi Gallery

    March 27, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    The Uffizi is one of the most visited museums in the world. Their collection began with the Medici family's collection which was organized, at least in part and during their reign, on the top floor of the Uffizi. (Uffizi means offices as it was originally intended as office spaces for municipal officials. After the family died out, more and more of this 16th century building was used to display the art.)
    Not surprisingly, the bulk of the collection is later medieval and renaissance plus a significant number of Roman sculptures. The 1st picture looks down one long hall lined with the sculptures.
    The rest of the pictures are from around the gallery. The museum and the art is overwhelming, and I'm not an art historian. So I can't recall who is the artist in many of the works. These pictures are my attempt to capture a sense of the museum and the nature of the collection, not so much to highlight specific works or artists, though I can say that the collection includes da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Dürer, Titian and many, many more. If anyone recognizes any of these and wants to identify them, please do.
    There are also several particular rooms of several design. The last picture is an example of one of them.    Read more

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    Duomo of Florence

    March 27, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    The Cattedrale de Santa María del Fiore is the famous cathedral with Brunelleschi's dome that they say they still don't really know how he did it. Construction began in the late 13th century and continued for 140 years when the dome was completed. This building replaced predecessor churches dating to the 4th century when the 1st was consecrated by Ambrose of Milan.
    The 1st picture is the facade of the cathedral. The multicolored building is not painted those are all natural marble from different quarries nearby. The 2nd picture shows the facade and the bell tower. The 3rd captures parts of the baptistry, the cathedral facade, the bell tower and the Palazzo Vecchio in the background.
    The 4th picture is the famous golden door of the baptistry that Michelangelo is reported to have said that the door is so beautiful, it must be the door to heaven. The name has stuck.
    The last 2 pictures are in the nave. Being a Sunday, I didn't get to spend any more time between masses. I'll definitely be back to explore more, not least the construction of the dome.    Read more

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    Pisa

    March 28, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Pisa is another Tuscan city located downriver from Florence near the sea. This city dates back to at least the Etruscans, but its importance is really tied to it's maritime industry, not least during the middle ages when its fleet was involved in numerous battles. Many of these battles occurred as part of the great rivalry with Genoa. Eventually they were defeated and later were taken over by Florence.
    Pisa is probably best known for its iconic tower in the 1st picture. This is the bell tower or campanile for the cathedral. The 2nd picture is some of the bells atop the tower to prove I actually did climb up. The 3rd picture looks down on the cathedral from the top of the tower. The baptistry is to the rear and the Camposanto is the arcaded area to the right.
    The 4th picture is the cathedral facade. The 5th picture looks along the nave of the cathedral, and the 6th picture is a set of monumental bronze doors, now in the museum with a replica in place at the cathedral. These originals by Bonanno date to the 12th century and depict scenes from the lives of Jesus and Mary.
    The 7th picture is taken inside the baptistry, It's the largest in Italy with it's octagonal font. I don't recall seeing a raised and carved pulpit in a baptistry before this one. 2 tidbits: The dome is acoustically perfect; and the baptistry leans, too, but not as much as the tower.
    The other significant feature at the cathedral plaza is the Camposanto. This is a large cloister that has many large frescoes on the walls and many burials beneath the marble floor. This is a long structure in a rectangle around a central area. The 9th picture looks down one of the sides showing the frescoes and marble floor. The last picture in the central yard area.    Read more

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    Siena Duomo

    March 29, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    The Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption dates to the 13th century but is built on the site of previous churches dating to at least the 9th century. In the 14th century, when Siena was at the height of it's power and wealth, an attempt was made to enlarge the cathedral to make it the largest in the world. Work was begun but was stopped due to the Black Death that killed as much as 80% of the population. It was not continued.
    The 1st picture is the facade of the cathedral today. The round window up high has been covered for protection. The 2nd picture is that window from inside.
    One of the particularly unique aspects of this cathedral is its floor. The 3rd picture shows just one small section. That is not a mosaic. The design is accomplished by pieces of various colored marble specifically cut to fit to create the picture.
    The 4th picture looks down the nave of the church. The 5th picture is in the Piccolomini Library with it's collection of ancient choir books of chant and extensive frescoes by Pinturicchio. The 6th picture is in one of the chapels.
    The 7th and 8th pictures are in the museum that houses many of the original works of art that have been replaced by copies to protect the originals. One looks down a gallery of sculpture to a round window while the other is a Donatello Madonna and child.
    The last picture is in the baptistry. That is part of the Donatello font. It is encased for renovation    Read more

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    Siena

    March 29, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Siena was a long time rival to Florence, that is until Florence won and took over the city. Where Florence is essentially of the Renaissance, Siena retains it's medieval character.
    Siena is another Etruscan hill town dating to early in the 1st millennium BCE. Legend has it that Siena was founded by a son of Remus and nephew of Romulus.
    The 1st picture looks over old Siena built of typical brownish brick. The 2nd picture is of the main street. This street has extra importance as it is part of the Via Francingena, the 2,000 km pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome. The 3rd picture is of the Porta Romana where the road to Rome and the pilgrims leave the city.
    The 4th picture is the church of San Domenico where the head of St. Catherine of Siena's head is kept as a relic.
    The 5th picture is the Piazza Salimbeni, the name of the family that live here. The building at the rear is the headquarters of the Monte dei Paschi bank, said to be the oldest as it has been in continuous operation since 1472.
    The 6th picture is of a building I'm told was built solely to prove the power of the Medici when they took over.
    Now we come to the other event Siena is famous for: the Palio. This is a horse race dedicated to St. Mary that happens twice each year where the city neighborhoods compete. 10 of the 17 contrades as the neighborhoods are called have a horse. This is a big deal. Each contrade has its colors, symbols and pride. The race lasts about 90 seconds with the horses running around the Piazza del Campo in the 7th picture. The 8th picture is a local street in one contrade, but the art above is of the horse that won the Polio for that contrade. Each contrade has a small stable where it's horses stays for 3days before the race (picture 9), and each has an Oratory church like the one in the corner that is used for the Palio.    Read more

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    Accademia Gallery

    March 30, 2022 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    The Galleria dell'Accademia dates to the late 18th century and houses works by Florentine artists primarily from the 13th to the 17th century. Arguably the most famous work held here is probably one of the most famous and recognizable sculptures in the world: Michelangelo's David. That is, of course, the 1st picture. There are other scriptures by Michelangelo here, including several unfinished pieces, but they are covered for some gallery renovation as you can see in the 2nd picture.
    The museum houses more than David. The 3rd picture is an unusual Tree of Life. The 4th picture is the sculpture by Giambologna called the Rape of the Sabine Woman.
    The 5th picture is Jesus being taken down from the cross. The 6th is an interesting crucifixion scene with a clearly trinitarian motif with father, son and spirit all together in the center with a lot of cherubs around.
    The 7th scene is an annunciation scene. This is an early example of the annunciation in a loggia. The 8th is a Florentine wedding. It is interesting as the location can be discerned. Notice the Duomo of Florence (see another post) in the background.
    The 9th picture is another example of Jesus being taken from the cross. The last picture looks into another gallery with a collection of sculptures in the center and paintings on the walls.
    As at the Uffizi, I'm not able to identify all the artists (beyond Michelangelo, that is). The art is simply stunning. Again, please feel free to add any information you would like to share about any of this.    Read more

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    Santo Stefano, Bologna

    March 31, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    The St. Stephan complex in Bologna is sometimes called the 7 churches. Legend has it that the 1st church was built over a temple to Isis.
    The 1st picture is from the front of the buildings. Everything except the building at the left edge is part of the complex. The 2nd picture is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that dates to the 5th century and is intended to be a copy of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (see another post).
    The next 3 pictures are at various places in the complex, dating from at least the 5th century and perhaps earlier.
    The next last picture is in the cloister with it's historic well. The last picture is a small bit of the museum showing some of what's preserved here.
    I found this place fascinating with it's many eras of architecture.    Read more

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    Bologna

    March 31, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Bologna is a north central Italian city with human habitation dating to at least the 3rd millennium BCE, although as a city, it is essentially Etruscan in origin. World war 2 saw extensive damage to the city, including the historical center. The Roman road the Via Emilia passes through Bologna and was a significant factor in it's early development.
    After world war 2 a significant effort was made to restore the historic buildings that had been damaged, and a careful restoration and conservation protocol is in place to help preserve it.
    Bologna is a city of loggia, arched and covered sidewalks like in the 1st picture. These are throughout the historic city center. The 2nd picture is the Piazza Maggiore or large plaza that is the center of town. The church to the right is the Basilica of San Petrino. The 3rd picture is in the nave of San Petrino.
    The 4th picture looks at an older version of the loggia. These are old houses where the 1st story extends over the street.
    The 5th picture are the iconic 2 towers that are located where the ancient Via Emilia entered the old city. The towers date to the early 12 the century. Yes, one is leaning badly, so much so that Dante made it famous in the Inferno.
    The 6th picture is the Archiginnasio of Bologna that dates to the 16th century as a building where all the medieval disciplines could be studied under one roof instead of separate buildings.    Read more

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    San Marino

    April 2, 2022 in San Marino ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C

    The Republic of San Marino is the 5th smallest country in the world and claims the titles of oldest sovereign state (dating to 301 CE) and oldest constitutional republic.
    San Marino sits on and around Monte Titano with its eponymous capital city near the top. 3 towers dating to the 11th century are along the ridge at the very top of the mountain.
    The 1st picture is the Gate of St. Francis, one of the 12 historic gates and the main gate to the city today.
    Just inside the gate is the church of St. Francis and adjoining convent that date to the 14th century. The convent now houses a museum.
    The 3rd and 4th pictures are of the main church in town: the Basilica of St. Martin (San Marino). Saint Marinus established a self governing monastic community that evolved into the republic. He also built the 1st church located where the current building (19th century) is located.
    The 5th and 6th pictures are of the 1st tower called Guaita. This is the oldest and largest of the 3 towers. The 5th picture is inside the tower walls, looking across the yard. The 7th picture looks out to the 2nd tower called Cesta. Both the 2nd and 3rd towers are more watchtowers than fortresses. Only the 1st tower is open
    The 8th picture is of the inside of the fortification wall between the 1st and 2nd towers. Notice the walkway for defenders behind the crenellations. It strikes me as narrow especially where warriors need to pass each other.
    The 9th picture is of the Palazzo Publico or town hall (the building to the left directly on the square).
    The last picture is the Cava de Balestrieri when demonstrations such as flag waving and crossbowmanship are held. There are annual festivals and special occasions when crossbows (balestriri) are demonstrated.    Read more

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    St Mark's Basilica

    April 3, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of St. Mark is the principal church of Venice. The current form of the church dates mostly to the 11th century, though there were predecessor basilicas on the site that can still be identified in parts of the building. Not surprisingly, additional modifications were made over the centuries.
    While this is a Roman Catholic church, the architecture is more Byzantine than western with barrel vaults, Arabic influences, multiple domes, Byzantine style mosaics and more. During the time of the republic, the Doge was the head of the church as St. Mark's was his chapel. Even afterwards, decisions about the building, clergy, administration, etc. all resided in the government of Venice, not in Rome. The local and eastern influences can be seen throughout.
    The 1st picture is the side facade facing the Doge's Palace and the lagoon. The rest of the pictures are taken in the narthex and inside the basilica. I spent so much time being awed by the mosaics that I don't think I can safely identify the locations of each of these. Nor can these pictures do justice to the artistry. Perhaps you can identify the scenes in the mosaics. Think of biblical stories and events. You might just recognize some.    Read more

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    Venezia

    April 3, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    What can I say about Venice? A beautiful city. A great power in the late middle ages through the Renaissance and thereafter. Lots of canals. Arguably the 1st banking center.
    There is some evidence that the founders of Venice may have been refugees from Rome or escaping onslaughts from other areas. That kinda makes sense. People trying to escape or hide often go to swamps or islands, and Venice is built on what were marshy islands in the middle of a lagoon.
    For more than 1,000 years, Venice was a republic, up until Napoleon showed up at the end of the 17th century. The republic's focus was commerce, even to the point that they saw war as commerce by another route.
    There is no way I can capture this city in a few photos. Let these whet your appetite to visit.
    The 1st picture looks across St. Mark's Square, the large piazza in Venice that is the center of all things Venetian. That's the famous Basilica of St. Mark in the distance. To the right of the bell tower you can see a bit of the Doge's Palace. The 2nd picture is the balcony of the Doge's Palace overlooking the Square. The 3rd picture is the back of the Doge's Palace, or more accurately, that's the Bridge of Sighs (the higher one) where convicted prisoners were transfered from the court in the palace to the prisons in the buildings to the left.
    The 5th picture is the famous Grand Canal, and, by way of contrast, the 6th picture is one of the narrow side canals. If you envision Venice's large canals as avenues, this is an alley.
    The 7th picture catches a small local square, a small canal, gondolas and a bell tower. I don't not recall the name of the square. Likewise in the 8th picture. This is one of the larger churches built of typical brick, but I don't recall the name. The 9th picture is a church whose name I've forgotten, but I do recall that this is said to be the only completely marble church in Venice: that's inside and out.
    "What news on the Rialto?" I confess that I didn't once hear that question in all of the time I spent on and about that famous bridge in the last picture.    Read more

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    Lake Garda

    April 5, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is near the Dolomites and said to be scenic, but the weather when I was there, while sunny, was so hazy that the mountains were not visible, much to my disappointment.
    There are numerous towns and villages around the lake. In my short visit, I had time to see only a few. These are pictures from the lake and in the villages.
    Of particular interest to me are the last 2 pictures. These are in the Church of San Zeno in Bardolino. This is a Carolingian church, dating to the 8th or 9th century. There are only about 3 buildings of this era in all of Italy. The fragments of frescos are original. There is something special about such an old, small church that I don't usually sense in the large, monumental churches, even if they're older. I'm not sure how to describe it: maybe intimacy, warmth, even a sense of being embraced. Whatever it is or how it might be described, it is most assuredly holy.    Read more

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    Milano

    April 6, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Milan is a major world city with strengths in finance, fashion, R&D, and many more. It has the 3rd largest economy in Europe and is considered the industrial and financial capital of Italy.
    There is evidence of settlement here as early as the 7th century BCE and possibly before. Eventually, it became part of the Roman empire. When Diocletian divided the empire, Milan (then known as Mediolanum) was made the western capital.
    The 1st picture is the Metropolitan Cathedral- Basilica of the Nativity of St. Mary. Construction began in the 14th century and continued for almost 600 years. This is the largest gothic cathedral in the world. The facade is most recognizable and is a symbol of Milan.
    The 2nd picture is the Piazza del Duomo, taken from the cathedral, looking back across the main square of Milan.
    The 3rd picture is what for many of us is the most famous buildings in Milan. This is La Scala, one of the top.opera houses in the world.
    The 4th picture is the castle. This castle was built in the 15th century upon older fortifications. This castle was the seat of the Sforza family. You might consider them to be the Milanese equivalent of the Medici in Florence.
    The 5th picture is the Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio (better known as Ambrose), patron saint of Milan. This 4th century church was formerly known as the Church of the Martyrs as many martyrs are buried here. It is said that there are relics of one of the magi here as well.
    The 6th picture is the courtyard of the Biblioteca di Brera. Brera is the artistic area of Milan, and this building houses many studios where artists learn and sharpen skills.
    The 7th picture is in an inner courtyard and is said to be an excellent example of typical Milanese housing, especially before all the destruction of world war 2.
    The 8th picture is a bit of a surprise for me. I didn't know that Milan was a port and a city of canals. Ships came up the Po River from Rimini and then by canal to this point where duties were paid. Goods went on from there either by canal or overland.
    The 9th picture would have been a common sight in past centuries. This is the city laundry. Those sloped stones by the water were washboards.    Read more

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    Torino

    April 7, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C

    Turin, as we know it, is an important industrial center in northwest Italy. It has been a significant political player, as well. It was the Savoy capital. It was the heart of the 19th century movement that resulted in the unification of Italy as much of the intellectual and political leadership for the movement originated here. Turin was also the 1st capital of the united Italy. Likewise, Turin was a hotbed of the resistance in world war 2. Today, it is motor city Italy with FIAT, Lancia and Alfa Romeo headquartered here.
    The 1st picture is a view over the city from a hill across the Po. The tall spire is the MOLE Antonelliana that has become a symbol of Turin. It sits atop the cinema museum.
    The 2nd picture is the facade of the Turin Cathedral that is dedicated to John the Baptist. Both the cathedral and bell tower date to the 15th century. The 3rd picture looks down the nave of the cathedral. Of special interest is the glass enclosed chapel above and behind the main altar. That is the Chapel of the Shroud in the 4th picture where the Shroud of Turin is kept.
    The 5th picture is one of the many rooms open in the Royal Palace. They are all this ornate. Please see some of the many other posts I have that show similar rooms in other palaces. The 6th picture is the inner courtyard of the palace. Part of the palace is now an art museum. The 7th picture is just a small sample.
    Just out the "back door" of the palace is the Royal Gardens, now a public park. The 8th picture is a glance.
    Turin was also a Roman city, and some ruins have been preserved. The 9th picture looks over them, including a part of a theater.
    Turin also has a bit of a tradition of street art. Not defacing graffiti (though that is here too), but good art. The last picture is just one example.    Read more

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    Lake Como

    April 8, 2022 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    It's hard to imagine a more beautiful place for my last day in Italy. Lake Como is a very deep glacial lake carved in what we call the foothills of the Alps. ISTM that if it were along the coast, it would be a fjord.
    The lake has been a get away, resort area since at least Roman times, and over the centuries, a fair number of interesting villages and large villas have grown up. The best known is probably Bellagio.
    I took a day trip on the lake-wide navigation system. It visits the villages along the lake kind of like a transit system. These pictures are of the alpine scenery plus a few of the villages and villas. Most if the photos were taken from whichever of the boats I was on at the time.
    A good day in good weather.    Read more

    Trip end
    April 8, 2022
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