The red umbrella

A dash of colour amid the yellow leaves. Piazza San Zeno, hazy morning.

Autumn monochrome

Piazza San Zeno. You may see the autumn colours in a monochrome photo...

Dancing in the sun

This photo was taken a few days ago in the square of San Zeno. The couple on the left was reharsing a dance. The guy was suggesting her the steps and she sounded annoyed because she couldn't remember the right sequence... It was sweet...

Please note that the facade of the Cathedral is covered with a cloth on which are printed the features of the church. The cloth hides the scaffoldings on which the restorers work.

The moment was so quiet and enjoyable... We took our midmorning coffee at the café on the corner.

Weekly market and the new veronesi

 Yesterday morning the sun shone brightly and me and my mummy (who's temporarily visiting) went for a long walk all the way to San Zeno district. When we arrived in the square we found the small weekly market just in front of San Zeno Cathedral. 

I particularly liked this stall for the bright colours and it was interesting to notice that the buyers were these two indian ladies, while the vendors were chinese. Nothing strange, so far, especially for american readers, but here in Italy immigration is a relatively new phenomenon and - especially here in the north - it is often an issue. 

I liked the contrast between the old tradition represented by the ancient cathedral and the new veronesi: people coming from far away and trying hard to build a new life in a foreign country.

Train models shop

This is the window of a tiny shop in Piazza San Zeno. I know it's been there for many many years. They sell all types of train models and accessories. Whenever we are here, we stop and observe: there are always different sets. It can be green hills and the trains, a railway station or just the trains. This time the set was quite outstanding: the square on the back of a german little town's railway station: many people, tables, a fountain, ancient buildings.

Do you know anyone who collects train models?

San Zeno

San Zeno is one of the most beautiful churches in Verona and certainly a masterpiece of the Art Roman, a phase of the medieval art, dating back the X-XI century. In this period the church was, more or less, finished as we see it now (apart from various bits such as the abside and the ceiling, finished in gothic style in 1398) but the original structure is way older: a church built on the tomb of the Saint who died in 380 a.C.

I like to visit this church and I try to imagine the scenes that may have occurred during the centuries: there are so many anectodes and legends regarding the place and the Saint, protector of Verona.

We like to come here on sunny mornings, have a coffee at a little café on the square, under the trees, while our daughter is free to run. Sometimes we also have lunch, in a typical restaurant, a few steps from the café. Once a month, on a saturday, a little antiques marquet is held here. It is very special - no furniture or big stuff - only objects, jewels, paintings, books...