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Tag: Photos

  • Pictures from Padova

    Pictures from Padova

    We took a day trip to the city of Padova and discovered some interesting and beautiful historical architecture and artwork.

    No visit to Padova would be complete without a visit to the majestic Basilica Sant’Antonio.

    The frescoes inside of the basilica are incredibly ornate and visually stunning.

    As are the incredible sculptures and statuary. The way the sculptor made the marble look like flowing banners of cloth is simply amazing. As is my wont, I managed to find some nice examples of “Momento Mori” to photograph. Notice the “Tempus Fugit” symbol at the top.

    Let’s take a closer look at this stunning sculpture.

    Is he heralding the Day of Judgement and the Call to Resurrection, or just playing a jazzy tune?

    This knightly fellow lies in sepulchral repose.

    After the Basilica, we went to see the frescoes in the Cappella Scrovegni. The master Italian painter, Giotto, finished this masterpiece of medieval art in 1305.

    The style, details, and colors of these frescoes are beyond anything else I have seen from this period. The city of Padova has done a great job of preserving this artwork from the ravages of time. Looks pretty damn good for being just over 700 years old!

    And when I mentioned “damn”, I meant really damned. Giotto completed his masterpiece by painting this weird and wonderful view of the torments of hell. It’s almost like some kind of underworld theme park where the damned line up for their turn on the next devilish amusement ride of hanging, flaying and scourging. Really puts the “carne” in carnival!

  • The Abbey of Pomposa

    The Abbey of Pomposa

    Before our impending move, we decided to visit some local sites that we haven’t visited before. One of them was the lovely Abbey of Pomposa. This beautiful and ancient site (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomposa_Abbey) is a real treasure of the Emilia-Romagna region that isn’t well known to foreign tourists.

    The verdant grounds are bisected by a small river and towered over by the imposing campanile.

    The abbey grounds are lovely and serene and one can easily imagine the Benedictine monk’s calm and contemplative life here in medieval times.

    The interior of the abbey’s church is a truly stunning example of Romanesque art and architecture.

    The serenity of the monastic setting and the beauty of the artwork is charmingly juxtaposed by the lurid frescoed scenes of the Inferno reminding the viewers of their fate should they not walk the path of righteousness.

    You can tell that the artists who created the frescoes were probably having some fun with their artistic assignment.

    Of course, what ancient church would be complete without a reliquary containing the bone of a saint.

    There are many curious and interesting corners to investigate and explore.

  • Journey to Volterra and San Gimignano

    Journey to Volterra and San Gimignano

    As a post-Christmas treat, we took an overnight trip with friends to Tuscany to visit the towns of San Gimignano and Volterra. I was looking forward to escaping from the Winter fog of Ferrara and visit the beautiful rolling hills where the ancient Etruscans built their fortified cities. Luckily for us it is an easy two-and-a-half hour car ride over the Apennines.

    The town of San Gimignano in the province of Siena is famous for its spectacular medieval towers. Built by rival families over the centuries as signs of wealth and power, there were at one time up to seventy-two towers in the city. Alas, due to war, catastrophe and civic reconstruction, only fourteen of the towers now remain.

    We took the opportunity to climb the Torre Grossa and see a panoramic view of the town and surrounding countryside.

    San Gimignano vista

    The views were spectacular and well worth the 200+ stairs we had to climb.

    We left San Gimignano in the late afternoon and arrived in the Etruscan town of Volterra where we checked-in to our hotel, had a nice pizza dinner and had a walk around the town.

    Volterra by Night

    The next morning we went exploring. The town is wonderful example of a Etruscan hill town and there are many lovely vistas…

    Volterra vista

    …and quintessential slices of Italian life to be seen.

    Volterra Cinquecento

    My favorite historical sight to see in Volterra is the two-thousand four-hundred year-old Etruscan Gate: the Porta all’Arco.

    Overall, it was a great experience and I am looking forward to our next Tuscan trip; hopefully in a few weeks from now.