If you visit Florence for the arts, enter Vicenza for a tour of architectural delights .Infact, an entire style, Palladian- originated here. It is the handiwork of Andrea di Pietro Della Gondola who lived out his adult life here. Even though the spark of genius is somewhat amiss, his style dominated the high Renaissance and still influences architecture the world over.
The entire city is a tribute to Palladian architecture and most monuments breathe the style. The city is also very rich literally -the affluent citizens enjoy an income far above the national average that accrues from its computer component industry and the traditional gold manufacVicenzag centers. The attractions in your travel to Vicenza are many
Piazza dei signori
The piazza stands at the center of the city and showcases architecture that were amongst the first were executed by Palladio .The larger than life Basilica Palladiana that bears his name was the first assignment for a civic life. It was a church and was to be converted into the high renaissance style to house the Palazzo della Ragione .His solution was to superimpose two galleries -the lower had Doric pillars and the upper was Ionic. The columns in the Piazza Blade has winged lions of Venice's Serene Republic and is framed by a Torre Bissara bell tower. The daily market sits behind the basilica at Piazza delle Erbe.
Corso Andrea Palladio
This is the ultimate showcase for the Palladian style.The main street has magnificent palazzo and buildings converted into modern day utilities. The wonderful begins with Palazzo Valmarana followed by Palazzo del Comunale. The Palazzo d el Comunale-the town hall- however was build by his pupil. The Contra Porti is the second most important street and displays even more of Palladian style. Palazzo Barbarano Porto, Palazzo Thiene and Gothic Pallazi have partially been converted into banks et al, but still remain their imposing presence. The Church of Santa Corona is unimpressive outside but its attractions lie inside. Bellini's Baptism of Christ and Veronese's Adoration of the Magi make your visit eminently worthwhile. It adds a spiritual note to destination Italy.
Villas and a Basilica Nearby
The villa Rotunda is perhaps Palladio's greatest work. The perfectly proportioned building is obviously influenced by geometric ideas of the Greeks and Romans and has a dome sitting on a perfect square. If you see statues in the lawns of most of the posh houses today, it is because of the Villa Valmarana also called the ai Nani, it has statues lining the garden wall. The interiors are even grander with alluring frescos by Tiepolo and his son.
Santuario di Monte Berico is explicitly inspired by Palladian style and showcases Lamentation by Montagna. The bonus is exquisite view of Monti Berici and the Alps. Destination Italy can still give still give you some ideas when you design your own dream villa.
Teatro Olimpico and Museo Civico
The Greek theatre is implanted into Vicenza and with what effect! Palladio's signature work seats 1000 in a half moon shaped classical form. The stage has a permanent stage curtain and a cloud cover thanks to faux clouds and the sky covering the dome. The optical illusion extends to the stage scene of the Thebian streets and the stage even looks deeper due to the clever use of the device trompe l' oeil. Theater is still performed here -take your fill in the original setting. The Palazzo Chiericati is the Palladio's magnum opus and today houses the Musio Civico- the municipal museum. its noteworthy f or its two tiered statuesque façade as well as a fine collection of Venetian paintings.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Travel to Verona
Enter the land of the greatest love story in Shakespearean terrain. If it is unfulfilled love you seek , you have come to the patron saint. Romeo and Juliet supposedly played in their lives in 3 romantic Acts in this land and you can join millions in paying tribute -if only to rub on Juliet's painting.
Much of the settings are gone .What remains is the diligent efforts of the townspeople to still the clock. Its renaissance glory permeates into every brick as you tour this city of splendorous medieval palazzo, towers, churches and stage like piazzas.
The attractions in your travel to Verona are many.
Arche Scalegeri (Scalegri Tombs)
Dog lovers rejoice, if you thought your canine should be lavished with luxuries, you have come face to face with a kinder spirit. The dog obsessed Scaligeri family built these tombs as ultimate funerary tribute to this departed quadrupeds. The raised out door tombs infact ritualized their contention for equal rights for dogs -in a lavish life style as well as death. Mastino I, Mastino II and Cansignorio their beloved dogs have been entombed in magnificence fit for their titles and affections. Not surprisingly, on the tomb of Cangrande I we see the Scaligeri coat of arms and the ladder symbolic of the bestowal of high honors.
Arena di Verona
The pink marble structure may be a distant second to Rome's Colosseum, but it's far better preserved. In its heyday, 2000 people congregated here to hear speeches, watch opera or big gladiatorial contests. The acoustics can do any modern concert hall proud. No microphones are needed and watching an Italian opera in this setting is a sublime experience.
Basilica San Zeno Maggiore
The church dedicated to city's patron saint is perhaps the best example of Roman architecture. It certainly is the most popular. Most of the local populace flocks here for succor, hope and thanks giving. The architects seem to have known this long ago. Accordingly they have built two pillars supported by marble doors on the outside. The doors were probably first ever castings in bronze and bronze since Roman antiquity. Even when the doors are closed crowds could learn from the illustrated scenes from the old and new testaments on the façade. The rose window Ruota Della Fortuna (Wheel of Fortune) is more sublime but equally illuminating. The cavernous interiors are filled with 12th- to 14th-century frescoes and crowned by the nave's ceiling, designed as a wooden ship's keel. Don't miss the Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints by Andrea Mantegna (1459),
Basilica di Sant'Anastasia
The largest church is done in Gothic style and is remarkable even with an unfinished façade. The 14th campanile bell tower allures with its frescos and sculptures. The interiors also follow the gothic pattern and are marked by two famous gobbi (hunchbacks) that support the holy-water fonts, an impressive patterned pavement, and 16 side chapels containing a number of noteworthy paintings and frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The chapels at the side are also adorned with frescos and paintings. Feast your eyes on Pisanello's St. George Freeing the Princess of Trebisonda
Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's House)
The story may be apocryphal and the house an invention. But Juliet- worshiping continues regardless. The simple courtyard and the sidewalks are the place to visit for the worshippers of cupid. Quotations from Shakespeare form the graffiti filled background for the simple interiors replete with ceramics and furniture. The balcony was added to the palazzo much later.
Teatro Romano (Roman Theater) and the Museo Archeologico (Archaeological Museum)
It is the original Roman theatre and is the oldest monument in Verona. It can still transport you back in time when the lights are switched on, the dialogues flow as actors etch out the lines. Romeo and Juliet at the theatre is an experience of another kind.
Much of the settings are gone .What remains is the diligent efforts of the townspeople to still the clock. Its renaissance glory permeates into every brick as you tour this city of splendorous medieval palazzo, towers, churches and stage like piazzas.
The attractions in your travel to Verona are many.
Arche Scalegeri (Scalegri Tombs)
Dog lovers rejoice, if you thought your canine should be lavished with luxuries, you have come face to face with a kinder spirit. The dog obsessed Scaligeri family built these tombs as ultimate funerary tribute to this departed quadrupeds. The raised out door tombs infact ritualized their contention for equal rights for dogs -in a lavish life style as well as death. Mastino I, Mastino II and Cansignorio their beloved dogs have been entombed in magnificence fit for their titles and affections. Not surprisingly, on the tomb of Cangrande I we see the Scaligeri coat of arms and the ladder symbolic of the bestowal of high honors.
Arena di Verona
The pink marble structure may be a distant second to Rome's Colosseum, but it's far better preserved. In its heyday, 2000 people congregated here to hear speeches, watch opera or big gladiatorial contests. The acoustics can do any modern concert hall proud. No microphones are needed and watching an Italian opera in this setting is a sublime experience.
Basilica San Zeno Maggiore
The church dedicated to city's patron saint is perhaps the best example of Roman architecture. It certainly is the most popular. Most of the local populace flocks here for succor, hope and thanks giving. The architects seem to have known this long ago. Accordingly they have built two pillars supported by marble doors on the outside. The doors were probably first ever castings in bronze and bronze since Roman antiquity. Even when the doors are closed crowds could learn from the illustrated scenes from the old and new testaments on the façade. The rose window Ruota Della Fortuna (Wheel of Fortune) is more sublime but equally illuminating. The cavernous interiors are filled with 12th- to 14th-century frescoes and crowned by the nave's ceiling, designed as a wooden ship's keel. Don't miss the Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints by Andrea Mantegna (1459),
Basilica di Sant'Anastasia
The largest church is done in Gothic style and is remarkable even with an unfinished façade. The 14th campanile bell tower allures with its frescos and sculptures. The interiors also follow the gothic pattern and are marked by two famous gobbi (hunchbacks) that support the holy-water fonts, an impressive patterned pavement, and 16 side chapels containing a number of noteworthy paintings and frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The chapels at the side are also adorned with frescos and paintings. Feast your eyes on Pisanello's St. George Freeing the Princess of Trebisonda
Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's House)
The story may be apocryphal and the house an invention. But Juliet- worshiping continues regardless. The simple courtyard and the sidewalks are the place to visit for the worshippers of cupid. Quotations from Shakespeare form the graffiti filled background for the simple interiors replete with ceramics and furniture. The balcony was added to the palazzo much later.
Teatro Romano (Roman Theater) and the Museo Archeologico (Archaeological Museum)
It is the original Roman theatre and is the oldest monument in Verona. It can still transport you back in time when the lights are switched on, the dialogues flow as actors etch out the lines. Romeo and Juliet at the theatre is an experience of another kind.
Travel to Venice
Venice is the city impossible that shimmers in dazzling lights and ebbs in its watery woes. Overwhelmed by overcrowding, scarred by charlatans and made putrescent by overflowing sewers, Venice is still the Queen of Adriatic-the city of palaces on canals. He mainstream chokes but just off the beaten path lie Baroque churches, Venetian floating palaces and Renaissance. The city is your escape from the Automobile. Explore instead the rocking water taxis floating to destinations and vaporettis speeding past in lanes without signals. Admire too a city rushes to hospitals on speedboats and disposes garbage in scows!
CANAL GRANDE (GRAND CANAL)
If Venice floats on water, this is the raison d'etre. Cruise down the 3.2km long canal-the city's greatest waterway in the evening to experience the city's numerous medieval palazzos, churches, impressive republican buildings mingled with shimmering shadows of delivery boats, vaporetti and gondolas. While many of the waterfront palaces are merely condos, others have been turned into Multi national Corporation offices, government and university buildings and consulates. The ride will acquaint you with the waves, on which the city floats, gliding you into the heart of the Venetian's indomitable spirit.CA'D'ORO
Don't be taken in by the golden name -it only alludes to the gilding that originally enwrapped the façade details. But the superb Gothic structure still houses golden trove of artistic treasures-bronzes, tapestries and paintings of the period when Venice had taken over thee Renaissance leadership. Walk up to the first floor covered with religious paintings including the subliminally violent "Martyrdom of St Bartholomew". The second floor almost exclusively belongs to Titian's frescoes- except one by Giorgine. Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city from the balconies that sit atop the Grand Canal.ST MARK'S BASILICA
You can consider it only as a rip off of the Great Constantinople cathedral. Or as a palace with the most restrictions- modesty in attire is strictly enforced here. But then you will be missing the point- the Basilica is the worlds' most magnificent place of worship. Backed as it was by the newly enriched merchant classes, it is a shameless story of plunder under the domes and arches. Be dazzled by the by the church's utter ostentation, including the Pala d'oro (golden altarpiece) a Gothic artifact bejeweled with around 2,000 precious gems and 255 enameled panels. The Tesoro (Treasury) contains the booty from medieval lands -including one from Jesus crown of thorns. The Triumphal Quadriga-the four tethered, gilded bronze horses - is lodged here along with the Lion of St \Mark .Walk up to the Loiggia dei Cavall for a view of the piazzo that charmed the redoubtable Napoleon.GALLERIA DELL'ACCADEMIA
Visit this for seeing some of the finest pieces of art. Paolo Veneziano's Madonna with Two Donors and Carpaccio's Crucifixion are absolute master pieces. Begin with the Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Carita - the most ancient Scuola Grandi where Veneziano's Coronation of Mary and Carpaccio's masterpiece stand out. Other masterpieces include Madonna with Child between Saints Catherine and Mary Magdalene, Giorgione's Tempest, and works by Titian. The landscapes by Canaletto and Guardi equally delight.CHIESA SANTA MARIA DEI MIRACOL
Welcome to the finest setting for saying " I DO" The pint sized 15th century church is a perfectly proportioned and glows " jewel-like" with its shining exteriors reflected in the canal. Wait to be whisked away by gondolas after the wedding.
If you still have time -and inclination -left , explore the Renaissance marble relief inside as well as the Virgin Mary icon that is said to protect the watery city from calamities.
CANAL GRANDE (GRAND CANAL)
If Venice floats on water, this is the raison d'etre. Cruise down the 3.2km long canal-the city's greatest waterway in the evening to experience the city's numerous medieval palazzos, churches, impressive republican buildings mingled with shimmering shadows of delivery boats, vaporetti and gondolas. While many of the waterfront palaces are merely condos, others have been turned into Multi national Corporation offices, government and university buildings and consulates. The ride will acquaint you with the waves, on which the city floats, gliding you into the heart of the Venetian's indomitable spirit.CA'D'ORO
Don't be taken in by the golden name -it only alludes to the gilding that originally enwrapped the façade details. But the superb Gothic structure still houses golden trove of artistic treasures-bronzes, tapestries and paintings of the period when Venice had taken over thee Renaissance leadership. Walk up to the first floor covered with religious paintings including the subliminally violent "Martyrdom of St Bartholomew". The second floor almost exclusively belongs to Titian's frescoes- except one by Giorgine. Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the city from the balconies that sit atop the Grand Canal.ST MARK'S BASILICA
You can consider it only as a rip off of the Great Constantinople cathedral. Or as a palace with the most restrictions- modesty in attire is strictly enforced here. But then you will be missing the point- the Basilica is the worlds' most magnificent place of worship. Backed as it was by the newly enriched merchant classes, it is a shameless story of plunder under the domes and arches. Be dazzled by the by the church's utter ostentation, including the Pala d'oro (golden altarpiece) a Gothic artifact bejeweled with around 2,000 precious gems and 255 enameled panels. The Tesoro (Treasury) contains the booty from medieval lands -including one from Jesus crown of thorns. The Triumphal Quadriga-the four tethered, gilded bronze horses - is lodged here along with the Lion of St \Mark .Walk up to the Loiggia dei Cavall for a view of the piazzo that charmed the redoubtable Napoleon.GALLERIA DELL'ACCADEMIA
Visit this for seeing some of the finest pieces of art. Paolo Veneziano's Madonna with Two Donors and Carpaccio's Crucifixion are absolute master pieces. Begin with the Scuola Grande di Santa Maria della Carita - the most ancient Scuola Grandi where Veneziano's Coronation of Mary and Carpaccio's masterpiece stand out. Other masterpieces include Madonna with Child between Saints Catherine and Mary Magdalene, Giorgione's Tempest, and works by Titian. The landscapes by Canaletto and Guardi equally delight.CHIESA SANTA MARIA DEI MIRACOL
Welcome to the finest setting for saying " I DO" The pint sized 15th century church is a perfectly proportioned and glows " jewel-like" with its shining exteriors reflected in the canal. Wait to be whisked away by gondolas after the wedding.
If you still have time -and inclination -left , explore the Renaissance marble relief inside as well as the Virgin Mary icon that is said to protect the watery city from calamities.
Travel to Vatican
It is the kingdom of the Pope. The world's tiniest country where the sacerdotal meets theTemporal -in a definitive mode of power play. Overpowering the senses and the mind with a dazzling, ostentatious display of opulent grandeur, grandiloquent monuments and mind-boggling collection of perhaps the world's greatest artistic treasures. For, the Church, art was always the handmaiden of its power, a way to announce to the world its culture, sophistication and powers of appreciation far removed from the ordinary. Patronage and plunder flowed relentlessly and gathered into a humongous repository in its museums. And the greatest works are strategically - even carelessly- placed everywhere.
Ultimately however, the Vatican is the residence of the world's greatest religious power. And the fulgurous display, somehow, seems becoming.
The riches begin at the gate. Bernini's St. Peter's square (Piazza Sam Pietro) is a massive masterpiece - an ellipse enclosed by a Dove-pillared colonnade. Look above at the 140 saints emanating saintly advice in every gesture. From the vantage point , you can also glimpse St. Peter's Basilica from the entrance, as also papal apartments and the ultimate repository of western art- the Vatican museum.
As you move inside the Vatican, the incredible riches only grow in scale.Basilica di Sam Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica)
Originally, the site of St. Peter's crucification it has been built and rebuilt to ultimately showcase the best in Renaissance. The finest pieces by Bramante, Raphael, and Michelangelo jostle for space in an overwhelming medley of pomp, grandeur, gilt amidst marble and mosaic.
The center of attraction is of course Michelangelo's sublime Pieta. Employing the Renaissance technique of realism, he has suffused life in every character - as well as Mary's expressions. Most Catholics would revel at the sight of the bonze statue of St. Peter. The endlessly stacks of riches of the church is displayed in the treasury - jewel studded chalices, reliquaries ,copes and more .Move into the sacristy for a glimpse of the Historical Museum (Museo Storico) displaying Vatican treasures. Be mesmerized by the large 1400s bronze tomb of Pope Sixtus V by Antonio Pollaiuolo as well as the antique chalices.
Walk down to the Vatican grottoes to view the tombs of popes, both ancient and modern.Behind a wall of glass rests St. Peter himself!Vatican Museums (Museo Vaticani)
This is where art becomes a statement of power. One of the greatest art collections occupies labyrinths palaces, apartments and galleries that are opulent to say the least. Ultimately, you reach the jewel: the Sistine chapel. Some of the Museums inside are:
Chiara Monte Museum
Constituted into the Corridoio (Corridor), the Galleria Lapidaria, and the Braccio Nuovo (New Side)., the museum was funded by Founded by Pope Pius VII. Step inside to witness a stunning array of Roman scriptures and Greek inscriptions. Journey into the roots of the western civilization with the 800 Greek-Roman works, including statues, reliefs, and sarcophagi. The trip to destination could not be more rewarding! Pio Clementino Museum
The centerpiece of the Greek and Roman collections is the singular masterpiece the Apollo Belvedere (a late Roman reproduction of an authentic Greek work from the 4th century B.C.) .Its depiction of the human form impressed even the great Michelangelo. In fact, its exquisite craftsmanship and rich detailing had made it a worthy rival to Michelangelo's David for a while. Exhilarate in the medium as well as the message of the Laocoön and his two sons locked in eternal struggle with the serpents…. the treats are endless!Raphael Rooms
While still a young man, Raphael decorated one of apartments of Pope Julius II and left an imprint that reverberates with classical beauty and realism. His majestic School of Athens, is still one of the greatest masterpieces .Seek out Bramante as Euclid, Leonardo da Vinci (as Plato), and even Raphael himself disguised as Greek philosophers. The great Michaelangelo is left sulking on the steps. You will leave the room on the wings of delight!Sistine Chapel
The chapel's munificent murals are a labor of hate -or at least antagonism. Coerced by the Pope against his will and fighting his incessant demands of deadlines, Michaelangelo drew a masterpiece that continues to attract millions. Breaking every norm, he painted nine panels from Genesis- surrounding them with prophets and sibyls- to leave behind an immortal learning story found hidden in the quintessence of the Bible. Keep a binocular handy and you can discern the fine details in the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and the creation of man. The exhilaration of discovery, the wonderment at cracking the great code of life mingled with realization of the disastrous consequences, remain indelibly etched. The expulsion of Adam and eve keeps you riveted. But it's the "Last Judgement" where the master poured the entire life experiences as the sinners are sent to bowels of hell by an unrelenting god- that grabs you - forever!
Ultimately however, the Vatican is the residence of the world's greatest religious power. And the fulgurous display, somehow, seems becoming.
The riches begin at the gate. Bernini's St. Peter's square (Piazza Sam Pietro) is a massive masterpiece - an ellipse enclosed by a Dove-pillared colonnade. Look above at the 140 saints emanating saintly advice in every gesture. From the vantage point , you can also glimpse St. Peter's Basilica from the entrance, as also papal apartments and the ultimate repository of western art- the Vatican museum.
As you move inside the Vatican, the incredible riches only grow in scale.Basilica di Sam Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica)
Originally, the site of St. Peter's crucification it has been built and rebuilt to ultimately showcase the best in Renaissance. The finest pieces by Bramante, Raphael, and Michelangelo jostle for space in an overwhelming medley of pomp, grandeur, gilt amidst marble and mosaic.
The center of attraction is of course Michelangelo's sublime Pieta. Employing the Renaissance technique of realism, he has suffused life in every character - as well as Mary's expressions. Most Catholics would revel at the sight of the bonze statue of St. Peter. The endlessly stacks of riches of the church is displayed in the treasury - jewel studded chalices, reliquaries ,copes and more .Move into the sacristy for a glimpse of the Historical Museum (Museo Storico) displaying Vatican treasures. Be mesmerized by the large 1400s bronze tomb of Pope Sixtus V by Antonio Pollaiuolo as well as the antique chalices.
Walk down to the Vatican grottoes to view the tombs of popes, both ancient and modern.Behind a wall of glass rests St. Peter himself!Vatican Museums (Museo Vaticani)
This is where art becomes a statement of power. One of the greatest art collections occupies labyrinths palaces, apartments and galleries that are opulent to say the least. Ultimately, you reach the jewel: the Sistine chapel. Some of the Museums inside are:
Chiara Monte Museum
Constituted into the Corridoio (Corridor), the Galleria Lapidaria, and the Braccio Nuovo (New Side)., the museum was funded by Founded by Pope Pius VII. Step inside to witness a stunning array of Roman scriptures and Greek inscriptions. Journey into the roots of the western civilization with the 800 Greek-Roman works, including statues, reliefs, and sarcophagi. The trip to destination could not be more rewarding! Pio Clementino Museum
The centerpiece of the Greek and Roman collections is the singular masterpiece the Apollo Belvedere (a late Roman reproduction of an authentic Greek work from the 4th century B.C.) .Its depiction of the human form impressed even the great Michelangelo. In fact, its exquisite craftsmanship and rich detailing had made it a worthy rival to Michelangelo's David for a while. Exhilarate in the medium as well as the message of the Laocoön and his two sons locked in eternal struggle with the serpents…. the treats are endless!Raphael Rooms
While still a young man, Raphael decorated one of apartments of Pope Julius II and left an imprint that reverberates with classical beauty and realism. His majestic School of Athens, is still one of the greatest masterpieces .Seek out Bramante as Euclid, Leonardo da Vinci (as Plato), and even Raphael himself disguised as Greek philosophers. The great Michaelangelo is left sulking on the steps. You will leave the room on the wings of delight!Sistine Chapel
The chapel's munificent murals are a labor of hate -or at least antagonism. Coerced by the Pope against his will and fighting his incessant demands of deadlines, Michaelangelo drew a masterpiece that continues to attract millions. Breaking every norm, he painted nine panels from Genesis- surrounding them with prophets and sibyls- to leave behind an immortal learning story found hidden in the quintessence of the Bible. Keep a binocular handy and you can discern the fine details in the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden and the creation of man. The exhilaration of discovery, the wonderment at cracking the great code of life mingled with realization of the disastrous consequences, remain indelibly etched. The expulsion of Adam and eve keeps you riveted. But it's the "Last Judgement" where the master poured the entire life experiences as the sinners are sent to bowels of hell by an unrelenting god- that grabs you - forever!
Travel to Tuscany
The lovely, mountainous lands of Tuscany Italy stretch over the slopes of the Apennines and touch the Tyrrhenian Sea. But its undoubted natural beauty is dwarfed by its artistic heritage - it is the cradle of art. Explore all kinds of art and artifacts when you travel to Tuscany- beginning from the Etruscan civilization (Fiesole, Chiusi, Volterra, Populonia), eye opening Roman monuments and ruins. It is also the birthplace of the Renaissance and a "must-stop" in destination Italy.
Florence (Firenze) Home to the famous Medici princes who "handheld and mentored " the greats of the Renaissance period, Florence is the place where you can still walk the ground where geniuses like da Vinci and Michelangelo stood and David still rests. Florence's centerpiece is the original Renaissance wonderland with its shop-lined Ponte Vecchio, towering Basilica di San Lorenzo and the well-endowed Uffizi Gallery. The people here are pleasant and warm, and more interestingly, Florence also flaunts an invigorating nightlife combined with festivals, fairs, where you can even savor the live performances. Here is the essence of your travel to Tuscany. Pisa Enter into a land of leaning towers. When the soft soil was overwhelmed with the thousands of tonnes of marble and bricks and mortar, something had to give way. Pisa abounds with these leaning wonders. Leaning Tower Of Pisa : Marvel at one of the world's wonders in Pisa . Started in 1173, its tilt was corrected by intentionally curving the structure back toward the perpendicular, giving the tower its slight banana shape. Galileo Galilei made it world famous when he questioned the world and the Church by dropping some mismatched wooden balls. The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), Piazza del Duomo began the Pisan Romanesque style and is laid out in all sorts of unique geometrical figures.San Gimignano
The "towering "skyline of San Gimignano that dominates the hills of the Upper Elsa Valley is world famous. Revel in the commanding view over the town from the surviving tower of the 14th-century pentagonal Fortress. Get enamored by the beautiful Piazza della Cisterna (1327). Step into the Podesta's palace before perambulating to the Town Hall and the Romanesque/Gothic Church of Saint Augustine - all of which house some scintillating art.
The city is also famous for its Vernaccia wine, and the numerous activities and cultural events, capped by the prestigious international festival in July.Arezzo
Located at the northern end of the Valdichiana, the town can be easily accessed through road or rail. The Chimera, an Etruscan bronze statuette today symbolizes the town and is a fair giveaway of its origins. The Archeological museum overlooking the Roman Amphitheatre takes you through the Etruscan, Italic, Roman and Greek eras. The Church of S. Francesco is adorned with shrines, chapels and frescoes. Traveling to Tuscany gets a different dimension here.Livorno
If you are cruising around, don't forget to drop anchor here. The second most important city has a commercial port and is an ideal stopover for going to the islands. You can luxuriate at the Quercianella and Montenero resorts. The Fattori museum and Villa Mimbelli are also a must see. Relish the luxuries of the seas on your travel to Tuscany.Lucca
It is a magical city that still breathes the air of the Renaissance era. The superlative San Michele and San Martino churches intermesh organically with the noble palaces that were built much later. The magnificent local specialties, the wine taverns, the indigenous trattorias and the delicacies only add to the pleasures of your travel to Tuscany, Italy.
Florence (Firenze) Home to the famous Medici princes who "handheld and mentored " the greats of the Renaissance period, Florence is the place where you can still walk the ground where geniuses like da Vinci and Michelangelo stood and David still rests. Florence's centerpiece is the original Renaissance wonderland with its shop-lined Ponte Vecchio, towering Basilica di San Lorenzo and the well-endowed Uffizi Gallery. The people here are pleasant and warm, and more interestingly, Florence also flaunts an invigorating nightlife combined with festivals, fairs, where you can even savor the live performances. Here is the essence of your travel to Tuscany. Pisa Enter into a land of leaning towers. When the soft soil was overwhelmed with the thousands of tonnes of marble and bricks and mortar, something had to give way. Pisa abounds with these leaning wonders. Leaning Tower Of Pisa : Marvel at one of the world's wonders in Pisa . Started in 1173, its tilt was corrected by intentionally curving the structure back toward the perpendicular, giving the tower its slight banana shape. Galileo Galilei made it world famous when he questioned the world and the Church by dropping some mismatched wooden balls. The Campo dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), Piazza del Duomo began the Pisan Romanesque style and is laid out in all sorts of unique geometrical figures.San Gimignano
The "towering "skyline of San Gimignano that dominates the hills of the Upper Elsa Valley is world famous. Revel in the commanding view over the town from the surviving tower of the 14th-century pentagonal Fortress. Get enamored by the beautiful Piazza della Cisterna (1327). Step into the Podesta's palace before perambulating to the Town Hall and the Romanesque/Gothic Church of Saint Augustine - all of which house some scintillating art.
The city is also famous for its Vernaccia wine, and the numerous activities and cultural events, capped by the prestigious international festival in July.Arezzo
Located at the northern end of the Valdichiana, the town can be easily accessed through road or rail. The Chimera, an Etruscan bronze statuette today symbolizes the town and is a fair giveaway of its origins. The Archeological museum overlooking the Roman Amphitheatre takes you through the Etruscan, Italic, Roman and Greek eras. The Church of S. Francesco is adorned with shrines, chapels and frescoes. Traveling to Tuscany gets a different dimension here.Livorno
If you are cruising around, don't forget to drop anchor here. The second most important city has a commercial port and is an ideal stopover for going to the islands. You can luxuriate at the Quercianella and Montenero resorts. The Fattori museum and Villa Mimbelli are also a must see. Relish the luxuries of the seas on your travel to Tuscany.Lucca
It is a magical city that still breathes the air of the Renaissance era. The superlative San Michele and San Martino churches intermesh organically with the noble palaces that were built much later. The magnificent local specialties, the wine taverns, the indigenous trattorias and the delicacies only add to the pleasures of your travel to Tuscany, Italy.
Travel to Turin
You could come here to see the Motown of Italy- and you would not be disappointed. The FIAT and PIRELLI act as a magnet for business visitors who are highly visible entertaining and visiting factories. The formality and corporate- often blue collar - culture is unmistakable. But as a culture aficionado - the city is worth a visit as well. It was always the center of Francophile movement- the pronunciation changes here and the tongues begin to roll. The house of Savoy that made Turin its capital introduced the subtleties. It was also the center of Risorgimento movement that ultimately led to the unification of Italy. Incidentally, the Italian communist movement and terrorism were also born in the Turin factories.
Turin offers a cultured society that prides in its museums and exudes a charm that descends directly from its French legacy. The attractions in your travel to Turin are many
Basilica De Superga
Raised in gratitude to Virgin Mary for saving the city from its French tormentors, it's a luxuriously baroque basilica located outside the city. The neo classical porch and the drum dome piercing the sky prove to be the focal point. Inside, it is as gloomy as a tomb with a vast circular chamber opening out to six side chapels. As a matter of fact, the church served as a tomb for the house of Savoy whose luminaries are buried deep inside the crypt of the kings. You can enjoy a fabulous view of the breathtaking Alps from the terrace in front and a trip to the basilica on the quaint railway could be etched in your mind forever. It adds a spiritual note to destination Italy.
Cattedrale Di San Giovanni Battista
Most people flock to Turin for the controversial shroud- Santissima Sindone. Just as well, because apart from the mysterious shroud, very few artifacts are displayed in the ostentatious Capella Della Santa Sindone. But the shroud makes up for everything. A subject of intense scientific scrutiny, it is perhaps one of the few signs of faith actually taking form. For, the shroud is supposed to have been worn by Jesus and contains tell-tale signs of torture, blood and grime that accompanied the Lord's crucification. The entire scientific community is suitably skeptical. Even carbon dating has been inconclusive and it is your faith that will ultimately decide. It could prove to be a renewal of faith in your destination Italy. The cathedral faces two important landmarks- the remains of a theatre and the Porta Palenina a roman era city gate flanked by six sided towers.
Galleria Civica d' Arte Moderna e Contemporanea GAM
The contemporary art gallery impels you to look beyond the perfection of forms of Italian Renaissance. See the illusions that illustrates individual reality with arts by Modigliani, Giorgio de Chirico, Serverini, Otto Dix and Andy Warhol amongst others .If renaissance art was equated with Italy, then this museum gives a fresh new perspective. The magnificent colors superimposed on everyday graphics , mind stream consciousness painting forces you to rethink on every aspect of classicism including the eternal question what is art?
Museo del automobile
The Motown even has a museum dedicated to lifestyle toys. It houses the Italian style of car-making mainly from Fiat - where functionality is often superimposed with clever designs. It you are obsessed with the hot wheels, head for the Bell lighter exhibition hall that exhibits classic 1960s design. The free flowing curves captured the imagination of the world and represent an entire way of life. Lancias, Isotta Frashinis , Ferraris and Alpha Romeos jostle for attention and display evolving technology high on style. You can see the Itala that entered the 1907 Peking to Paris rally as well as Gloria Swanson's roadster in Sunset Boulevard.
Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi
The royal palace of the Savoy's brims with its French connections. A love for all things French leads to a largely ostentatious palace -opulently decorated and overflowing with gold colored decorations. Their love of art redeems it somewhat and the priceless collection is displayed at Galleria Sabauda. Even the tapestries attract attention with themes like Goblins depicting Don Quixote's life .The Chinese and Japanese vases are a treat. There is even a manual driven elevator.
Turin offers a cultured society that prides in its museums and exudes a charm that descends directly from its French legacy. The attractions in your travel to Turin are many
Basilica De Superga
Raised in gratitude to Virgin Mary for saving the city from its French tormentors, it's a luxuriously baroque basilica located outside the city. The neo classical porch and the drum dome piercing the sky prove to be the focal point. Inside, it is as gloomy as a tomb with a vast circular chamber opening out to six side chapels. As a matter of fact, the church served as a tomb for the house of Savoy whose luminaries are buried deep inside the crypt of the kings. You can enjoy a fabulous view of the breathtaking Alps from the terrace in front and a trip to the basilica on the quaint railway could be etched in your mind forever. It adds a spiritual note to destination Italy.
Cattedrale Di San Giovanni Battista
Most people flock to Turin for the controversial shroud- Santissima Sindone. Just as well, because apart from the mysterious shroud, very few artifacts are displayed in the ostentatious Capella Della Santa Sindone. But the shroud makes up for everything. A subject of intense scientific scrutiny, it is perhaps one of the few signs of faith actually taking form. For, the shroud is supposed to have been worn by Jesus and contains tell-tale signs of torture, blood and grime that accompanied the Lord's crucification. The entire scientific community is suitably skeptical. Even carbon dating has been inconclusive and it is your faith that will ultimately decide. It could prove to be a renewal of faith in your destination Italy. The cathedral faces two important landmarks- the remains of a theatre and the Porta Palenina a roman era city gate flanked by six sided towers.
Galleria Civica d' Arte Moderna e Contemporanea GAM
The contemporary art gallery impels you to look beyond the perfection of forms of Italian Renaissance. See the illusions that illustrates individual reality with arts by Modigliani, Giorgio de Chirico, Serverini, Otto Dix and Andy Warhol amongst others .If renaissance art was equated with Italy, then this museum gives a fresh new perspective. The magnificent colors superimposed on everyday graphics , mind stream consciousness painting forces you to rethink on every aspect of classicism including the eternal question what is art?
Museo del automobile
The Motown even has a museum dedicated to lifestyle toys. It houses the Italian style of car-making mainly from Fiat - where functionality is often superimposed with clever designs. It you are obsessed with the hot wheels, head for the Bell lighter exhibition hall that exhibits classic 1960s design. The free flowing curves captured the imagination of the world and represent an entire way of life. Lancias, Isotta Frashinis , Ferraris and Alpha Romeos jostle for attention and display evolving technology high on style. You can see the Itala that entered the 1907 Peking to Paris rally as well as Gloria Swanson's roadster in Sunset Boulevard.
Palazzina di Caccia di Stupinigi
The royal palace of the Savoy's brims with its French connections. A love for all things French leads to a largely ostentatious palace -opulently decorated and overflowing with gold colored decorations. Their love of art redeems it somewhat and the priceless collection is displayed at Galleria Sabauda. Even the tapestries attract attention with themes like Goblins depicting Don Quixote's life .The Chinese and Japanese vases are a treat. There is even a manual driven elevator.
Travel to Siena
Siena would have been the greatest wannabe Florence. Throughout its illustrations past , it direct competed. But its inner temperament produced its own genius that even surpassed the great Florentine achievements. If the latter was extrovert, always cogent and deeply thoughtful, Siena was extrovert fluid and often decorous. While Florence produced genius of artists, Siena had artists like Duccio, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers who invented a distinctive Sienese art style, a highly developed Gothicism that was an excellent artistic foil to the emerging Florentine Renaissance.
Yet, what makes Siena different is its "red tilescape" that tops Gothic palaces cake shops and altarpieces of unsurpassed beauty. Your trip to destination Italy would be incomplete without a visit to this unique brick red city.
On Il Campo--The Heart of Siena
In Siena, all roads including Vie Branch lead to Loggia della Mercanzia This is where the city merchants argued their respective cases against an absolutely fair tribunal . Instead you can take the tunnel like stepped alleys Piazza del Campo (Ilcampo) , arguably the most beautiful piazza in all Italy. Resembling a sloping scallop shell, even the pavement pattern is symbolic - it divides into 9 sections denoting the city's ruling body, the council of nine. And the engineers designed the Campos tilt and fan shape judiciously- it meshes with the city's water system and subterranean canal network. The Palazza Publico - the townhall is the finest piece of gothic architecture, while Museo Civico displays sienna's best art. The tall brick church tower called the tall Torre Del Mangia (1338-provides a breath taking view of the city provided you can climb its 503 steps.
Museo Civico
Walk straight into Sala del Risorgimento, where you can see the illustrious career of Italy's first king Vittorio Emanuele II illustrated. On the other hand the Sala di Balia beyond the foot of the stairs was frescoed (1407) by Spinello Aretino and his son Parri, with scenes from the Life of Pope Alexander III, including an exceptional naval battle. Amble across to Anticamera del Concistoro that has a detached Ambrogio Lorenzetti fresco on the entrance wall and a Matteo di Giovanni Madonna and Child. The issues of governance are tackled repeatedly especially in the frescoed Sala del Concistoro . The vestibule has a masterpiece on its altar - Madonna and Child with Saints by Sodoma.
However its the Sala della Pace that steals the show with its spectacular fresco Allegory of Good and Bad Government and Their Effects on the Town and Countryside by Ambrogio Lorenzetti Employing art for cure purposes, it clearly demarcates the virtues and vices respectively of good and bad governance in dazzling fresco that stretches for an incredible distance.
Casa di Santa Caterina
The woman saint of Sienna, Caterina Benincasa, daughter of a rich Sienese dyer , was remarkable in every respect. She was marked by stigmata and Christ's wounds; became Siena's ambassador, won over Pope Gregory who returned to Rome leaving Avignon. . Not surprisingly, she was canonized and was declared the patron saint of Italy.
Her natal house remains simple, masonry with a small brick layered courtyard. The Loggia just beyond and leads to the old family kitchen. It has been made into an oratory with paintings by the masters. The church is opposite and gives the pleasure of "crucifixion" where the woman saint received the stigmata. It gives a spiritual twist to your travel to destination Italy.
Oratorio di San Bernardino e Museo Diocesano
This the abode of St. Bernardine when he stepped into the role of the monk . The oratory stands over the exact spot of the prayer place . The two lower levels are stunningly frescoed by eminent Siennese artists and reveals a dazzling Madonna by Sano di Pietro. the upper level has frescos by artists Sodoma, Domenico Beccafumi, and Girolamo del Pacchia
Yet, what makes Siena different is its "red tilescape" that tops Gothic palaces cake shops and altarpieces of unsurpassed beauty. Your trip to destination Italy would be incomplete without a visit to this unique brick red city.
On Il Campo--The Heart of Siena
In Siena, all roads including Vie Branch lead to Loggia della Mercanzia This is where the city merchants argued their respective cases against an absolutely fair tribunal . Instead you can take the tunnel like stepped alleys Piazza del Campo (Ilcampo) , arguably the most beautiful piazza in all Italy. Resembling a sloping scallop shell, even the pavement pattern is symbolic - it divides into 9 sections denoting the city's ruling body, the council of nine. And the engineers designed the Campos tilt and fan shape judiciously- it meshes with the city's water system and subterranean canal network. The Palazza Publico - the townhall is the finest piece of gothic architecture, while Museo Civico displays sienna's best art. The tall brick church tower called the tall Torre Del Mangia (1338-provides a breath taking view of the city provided you can climb its 503 steps.
Museo Civico
Walk straight into Sala del Risorgimento, where you can see the illustrious career of Italy's first king Vittorio Emanuele II illustrated. On the other hand the Sala di Balia beyond the foot of the stairs was frescoed (1407) by Spinello Aretino and his son Parri, with scenes from the Life of Pope Alexander III, including an exceptional naval battle. Amble across to Anticamera del Concistoro that has a detached Ambrogio Lorenzetti fresco on the entrance wall and a Matteo di Giovanni Madonna and Child. The issues of governance are tackled repeatedly especially in the frescoed Sala del Concistoro . The vestibule has a masterpiece on its altar - Madonna and Child with Saints by Sodoma.
However its the Sala della Pace that steals the show with its spectacular fresco Allegory of Good and Bad Government and Their Effects on the Town and Countryside by Ambrogio Lorenzetti Employing art for cure purposes, it clearly demarcates the virtues and vices respectively of good and bad governance in dazzling fresco that stretches for an incredible distance.
Casa di Santa Caterina
The woman saint of Sienna, Caterina Benincasa, daughter of a rich Sienese dyer , was remarkable in every respect. She was marked by stigmata and Christ's wounds; became Siena's ambassador, won over Pope Gregory who returned to Rome leaving Avignon. . Not surprisingly, she was canonized and was declared the patron saint of Italy.
Her natal house remains simple, masonry with a small brick layered courtyard. The Loggia just beyond and leads to the old family kitchen. It has been made into an oratory with paintings by the masters. The church is opposite and gives the pleasure of "crucifixion" where the woman saint received the stigmata. It gives a spiritual twist to your travel to destination Italy.
Oratorio di San Bernardino e Museo Diocesano
This the abode of St. Bernardine when he stepped into the role of the monk . The oratory stands over the exact spot of the prayer place . The two lower levels are stunningly frescoed by eminent Siennese artists and reveals a dazzling Madonna by Sano di Pietro. the upper level has frescos by artists Sodoma, Domenico Beccafumi, and Girolamo del Pacchia