Works in progress

Works in progress near my office, Verona industrial district.

Bar Matineé

Mattia at Bar Matinée with my coffee iced cream. Yum!

Sacred geometries

Santa Maria del Paradiso, XVI century. Veronetta district

The scaliger tombs #2

Close up on one of the Scaliger Tombs. Saturday, sunny morning.

Possibly I've been a bit obsessed with the beauty of the Scaliger Tombs lately....well, I hope you like it!

Flying cables

Old building in serious need of restoration. Veronetta district.

Arco dei Gavi

Like many other monuments and sculptures, the roman Gavi Arch is ruined by graffiti. Is this uncivil habit popular in your country or is it only one of the many italian bad things for which my country is renowned for? Uhm... I am being nasty today...

Reflection

Reflection of the brick building that appeared on my post "Ghostly house", on the mirror set against the Church of San Pietro Incarnario on a sunny day.

On the river bank

The Doge's hat

Marble sculpture of a Doge's hat. Museo degli Affreschi

Talent show, rain, summer!

After days of pouring rain and thunderstorms, I am glad to officially welcome summer 2010! I took this photo yesterday, at around noon. At that time (and I suppose even earlier), a crowd of boys and girls stood in front of the stage where, many hours later, sang and danced the winners of one of the most famous italian talent shows, "Amici" (friends). I have never watched it but I know that it is extremely popular and some of the winners have actually become famous, especially singers.

The scaliger tombs

Detail of the Arche Scaligere (more posts here) against the Palazzo del Podestà.

Backstreet alley

Gone shopping

Below the clouds

Palazzo della Ragione, 1138.

Monumental

Detail of a particular building a few steps from my home.

Toy car #2

Toy car

See my "Fiat 500" series here!

Magic gate

Of course it's not magic, but I like to think it is... You are in Piazza Erbe, under the arches of the Domus Mercatorum and you are attracted by the black curly gate, so you step closer and closer and push it. In a flash of light you swirl into the past... back into the centuries when the Domus Mercatorum had just being built in stone (1301 as you see it now) and it was of key importance in the development of the merchants corporations over the centuries.

Against the sky

Bronze sculpture, Piazza Erbe

Souvenirs

Romeo & Juliet glasses, souvenir shop at Juliet's house.

Waiting for Aida

Waiting for to go on stage next 19 june with G. Verdi's Aida, golden sphynxes rest right out of the Arena walls, under a hot sun.

Click here to see the Opera calendar and buy your ticket for an unforgettable evening at the Arena!

Church of San Nicolò, Lazise #2

A few weeks ago I posted a close up on a very impressive fresco, you can see it here.

This is a larger view of the tiny San Nicolò church in Lazise, on the Garda Lake.

It's so simple but yet so particular in its poor features.

My favourite balcony

Among the many beautifully flowered balconies in the city centre, this is definitely my favourite!

A day on the hills

Yesterday we drove over the hills of Valpolicella, towards the mountains near Verona. We stopped in this little tiny village called Torbe di Negrar to have a coffee in the bar across the road from this panoramic terrace, overlooking the valley. It was sunny and bright, with the scent of jasmine in the air...

A private garden

A lovely little private garden enclosed in a XVI century villa. Pescantina, a few miles from Verona.

Aviator Memorial

A colourful flock of birds flying towards the clouds and the "skyscraper" (Verona's tallest building...). Aviator Memorial by Lorenza Pagano Bonvicini, Renato Simoni Square.

...just one more from Tuscany..!

...just one more, ok? This is the ancient and picturesque village of Sovana (have a look, it's really interesting!), on the soft hills of southern Maremma, a few miles from the sea.

Every time we go back home in Argentario, we never miss a nice drive inland through the most beautiful villages such as Pitigliano, Sovana and my favourite one: Sorano, among whose green surroundings are to be found archeological treasures like etruscan (and beyond) necropolis hidden in the woods and the mysterious vie cave...

Break the rules

Hi everyone, I'm back from a bite of summer holidays! Back in my hometown in Tuscany, Monte Argentario precisely. It's so beautiful there... so I thought I'd break the rules and show you another tiny bit of it (my other "break the rules" entry is here). This is Ansedonia, on the "Tagliata" side, facing south. Oh, and that's my little princess!