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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Pompeii Villa

    13 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    This villa would have belonged to a wealthy family. It is set behind the shops and lower/middle class accommodations. This has been partially reconstructed to show more completely what such a residence was like.
    The 1st picture is in the entry and winter house. This part of the building is where guests were received. The winter bedrooms are located around the perimeter. The recessed area is under the opening in the roof to collect rain water and direct it into the cistern below. The red color is original and is the most common color used in Pompeii.
    The 2nd picture is in the back part of the house, behind the room in the 1st picture. This is where life was lived for most of the year. The dining room of this house was upstairs, but wasn't open. The 3rd picture is one of the bedrooms off of the open area of the 2nd picture. The stone bed would have been provided with some sort of mattress.
    The 4th picture is the office of the owner of the house used for work, meeting business guests, etc.
    The 5th picture is of a display of items found in the house. There are glass jars, clay oil lamps, a scale and a brazier, among others. The brazier (the largest item) was the heating system. Coals were placed in the brazier that was then put in the room to warm the space.    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Bathhouse in Pompeii

    13 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    This is one of several bathhouses found during excavation of Pompeii. Unfortunately, covid regulations have closed many otherwise available spaces.
    The 1st picture is the 1st space encountered upon entry. This is the exercise yard where folks worked out, wrestled or otherwise worked up a sweat. The 2nd picture looks at the building housing changing rooms. The decorative plaster on the wall is original.
    The 3rd picture looks into the men's bathhouse (closed due to covid). Here are the 3 rooms: hot, tepid and cold that are standard. Of special importance is the ceiling as this is the only original ceiling in Pompeii as it's the only roof that didn't collapse from the weight of the ash from the eruption.
    The last picture is an example of what might be the most famous finds here: a plaster cast of someone killed by the eruption. The people killed were buried in the ash which hardened. Over time, the bodies decayed, leaving a hollow space in the ash that formed around them. What we see are plaster casts made by filling the hollows in the ash with plaster. This is said to be a young woman.    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Brothel in Pompeii

    13 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Like buildings of other types mentioned in other posts, this is one of many brothels uncovered in Pompeii. This one has been partly reconstructed to show what these places were like in the 1st century. The building itself is much like others in that it is arranged on 2 floors, though in this case, there are only bedrooms on each floor around the central area.
    What I found interesting is the artwork which in and of itself, may not be surprising in such a place. The prostitutes were slaves brought from all over the empire. So most of the customers and the women could not communicate--they spoke different languages. So, once the customer selected his companion, he would point to a picture to show her what he wanted. These are originals of some of those pictures.    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Pompeii

    13 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Famously destroyed and buried by Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE, Pompeii is said to be the best preserved Roman city anywhere. Settlement here dates to at least the 8th century BCE, but the oldest remains are parts of the old walls dated to the 6th century BCE. Most of what remains was built in the 200-300 years before the 79 CE eruption.
    The 1st picture looks along the outer walls of the city, probably 2nd century. BCE.
    The 2nd picture look down the forum to the temple of Jupiter (the Roman name for Zeus). That's Vesuvius in the background.
    The 3rd picture is one of the best preserved mosaics in Pompeii. Notice the floor covering in the rear. This mosaic is in such good condition, it is covered during the rainy season.
    The 4th picture is one of the scores of fountains in the city where people could come for water. Most are made of volcanic rock. This is the exception, made of marble. The sculpture is the goddess Ceres.
    The 5th picture looks along a main street. You can see raised stones in the road. These are cross walks to keep people out of the slop in the streets. The stones are specifically spaced so that carts made with the wheels at a standard spacing can pass.
    Immediately to the right of where I took the previous picture is "Pompeian fast food." This is a carry out food vendor, mostly soups, bread, wine, etc.
    The 7th picture looks across the training yard of the gladiator school. That's Vesuvius again in the background.
    The last picture us one of the bakeries in the city. It is said that dozens of fossilized loaves of bread were found in the ovens around town, sealed in the closed ovens by the ash.    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Napoli Sotteranea

    13 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Underground Naples. The ground beneath Naples is honeycombed with open spaces, most purposely constructed. These spaces served different purposes at different times.
    About the 3rd century BCE, during the Greek period, these excavations were begun as quarries to extract the tufa, a firm of porous limestone. The tufa is the original building material of Neapolis (the original Greek name for this place that morphed over time onto Napoli). The 1st picture is a reconstruction of the quarrying operation. Workers were lowered into the quarry and blocks of tufa we're lifted out using a simple hoist that is represented hanging in the upper right of the picture.
    During the Roman period, the tunnels were expanded as part of the largest aqueduct system in the Roman empire, at least of what has been found so far. This aqueduct is about 400 km long. It consists of tunnels to move the water and cisterns for storage. This water supply system remained in use until late in the 19th century when it was shut down due to a cholera epidemic. Any system operational for 2,000 years is extraordinary.
    The 2nd picture is in one of the tunnels. The Roman engineers knew how to channel the water at different depths and flow rates to get it where they needed it, even being able to get water to a slightly higher elevation..
    The 3rd, 4th and 5th pictures are in cisterns: 1 dry; the others with water. Notice in the 5th picture that there is an amphora hanging from the rope coming down from the opening in the ceiling. This is how water was obtained by the people of the city.
    The 3rd use of the tunnels was as air raid shelters during world war 2. There are still some remnants such as washrooms and artifacts like toys and living materials that can bee seen.
    The last picture is somewhat different. This is an entrance to a Roman theater that was buried and has been built upon, including buildings that are still occupied. So this is not excavated nor likely to be. But several spaces are available to see parts of the ancient structure as well as how it has been used, even including windows in residences.    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Sorrento

    14 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Sorrento, the 1st stop on a one day visit to the Amalfi coast, south of Naples, has been inhabited since at least the 8th century BCE, and probably long before. This lovely town sits out near the end of the eponymous peninsula that forms the south side of the Bay of Naples. Sorrento sits atop tufa cliffs that give wide views over the Bay to Naples, Vesuvius and the rest of the region.
    The 1st 3 pictures are at the top of the cliffs, looking west, then north over one of the marinas and finally east. Given the shadows, it's hard to see the tufa cliffs, but it is clear how high they are.
    The last 3 pictures are in the old town. The 4th picture is the Piazza Tasso, the main square in Sorrento. The statue, I understand, is San Antonino Abate.
    The remaining 2 pictures are of narrow streets typical of the old town. The street in the 5th picture frames a church whose name I didn't find.    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Positano

    14 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Positano, the 2nd stop in my visit to the Amalfi coast, is a village built up a cliff side from the beach. I'm told that when the well to do began to feel that Capri was getting to crowded, they began to head to Positano. Today, this is an expensive, high end town.
    Settlement here dates to prehistoric times, but remains date to the Roman period when the wealthy began to build villas in the region. It grew significantly beginning in the 15th century as a trading port of the Amalfi Republic (see another post).
    The 1st picture looks down along the beach and across the cliff side village. I'm told this view become almost magical around sunset and into the evening. The next 2 picture are taken from the beach, looking up at the town. These give a good sense of just how steep this town is. I'm also told that one of the reasons for building like this was that pirates often visited these trading towns. So the wealthy kept moving uphill for better protection.
    The next 2 pictures are in the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. This church is most famous for the mosaic in the 4th picture. It is Byzantine in style, and nothing like it exists anywhere nearby. No one knows how it got to Positano, but one legend says that pirates stole it. When they were passing, a violent storm erupted, and they heard a voice saying pit it down. So they left it, "put it down," in Positano, and the storm abated.
    The last picture is of islands off the coast near Positano. These are private islands owned by wealthy and famous people. Yes, such places do exist, and no, tourists can't visit    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    A Short Cruise Along the Coast

    14 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    The Amalfi coast, named after the city of Amalfi (see another post), is famous for its scenery and has been for centuries. This is where wealthy Romans retreated to as Rome was falling. It has been a favorite destination for the wealthy for centuries. Not least, this was a typical stop on the Grand Tour of young aristocrats.
    These photos give a different view from those taken on land. They intend to give you a sense of the beauty of the place. There are many villages, ancient towers, beaches grottos and more.
    All I can say is come and see.    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Amalfi

    14 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    Amalfi was the 1st maritime republic in Italy, and during the 9th to 11th century controlled the trade with the east. The others that came later are Genoa, Pisa and Venice. As such, Amalfi was a wealthy town.
    The 1st picture looks across the main square to St. Andrew's Cathedral at the top of the stairs. St. Andrew is the patron saint of Amalfi. Unfortunately, the cathedral that dates to the 11th century was closed. The architecture has a lot in common with the Arab-Norman architecture seen in Sicily (see other posts) as this cathedral dates to that time.
    The 2nd picture looks down from the cathedral porch over the main piazza. The 3rd and 4th pictures are typical street scenes.    Leia mais

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  • skip's retirement travelskip's retirement travelItaly

    Blue Grotto and More

    15 de março de 2022, Itália ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    The blue grotto is arguably the most famous point on the Isle of Capri, located off of Naples in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The only way to get there is by boat. I took a short, small boat cruise that circumnavigated the island to get there.
    Once there, it's a transfer to small rowboats as that's all that will fit into the grotto. The 1st picture shows why it got its name. Light reflecting off the white bottom is refracted, rendering the water blue. This grotto was also known as emperor Vespasian's private swimming pool as he had a villa atop the island with a tunnel directly to the grotto.
    The 2nd picture is a long distance picture of the Punta Carena lighthouse. This is the 2nd oldest lighthouse in Italy, built in the 1860s. In ancient times, a fire was lighted here for the same purpose.
    The 3rd picture is of the faraglioni rocks of Capri. I understand that these formations are known as stacks, coastal geologic formations eroded by wave action. The arch is large enough for local tour boats to pass through, which we did.
    The 4th and 5th pictures are 2 more named grottos of Capri: the green grotto and the white grotto respectively. Much like the blue grotto, light is refracted in the former causing the water to appear emerald green. The white grotto is named for the white limestone rather than refracted light. The white light plus stalactites and stalagmites, though not clearly visible here, are said to make an intriguing sight. The sea was too rough on this side of the island to get a good picture.
    The last picture looks straight up at the limestone cliffs on the south side of the island. Capri is an extraordinarily beautiful place.    Leia mais

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