Sienna Fountain
This is a detail from the fountain in the main square in Sienna. The pigeons would actually line up for a drink.
In the fall of 06 we spent three glorious weeks in Italy. I've selected some of my favourite shots and incuded them in this album.
This is a detail from the fountain in the main square in Sienna. The pigeons would actually line up for a drink.
This angel is on the Ponte Sant'Angelo, the bridge leading across the Tiber River to the Castel Sant'Angelo. Each of the 10 angels is holding an instrument of the Passion. This one is holding the veil or shroud.
This is a copy of the statute of David by Michaelangelo. It stands where the original stood in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence. Unfortunately we were not able to see the original on this trip - we had reserved a time at the museum but when we went for our reservation the museum was 'closed' for a staff meeting!
This quiet area was on teh grounds of our villa southwest of Florence. This table was surrounded by a thick laurel hedge offering privacy and peace. We spend many a night in there writing in our journals and sipping lemoncello.
IN Italy it was our motto to climb all towers we could. This is the view from Torre dei Guinigi.
Volterra was one of our favourite Tuscan towns. While we wandered the streets this house took my fancy - I loved the contrast between the stone and the shutters.
This was our first close up of San Gimignano. We had spent 45 minutes trying to find parking and were happy to be actually getting to the town! I liked the way the plants and vines grew out of the walls.
San Gimignano is famous for its' medieval skyscrapers. During its height (no pun intended *smile*) in the 13th century there were 76 of these towers, today 14 survive. Again I was struck by the contrast of the vegetation clinging to the medieval stronework.
Monteriggioni is known as the 'perfect Tuscan hilltown'. It is totally encircled by high walls with 14 fortified towers. Within the walls is a gem of a town.
While we were wandering the town we came upon a tranquil garden in which grew this tree. It is an ancient specimen of an olive tree. We were fascinated by the manner in which its roots were raised out of the ground. Much of the tree was dead but there was life in a branch jutting out of the gnarled trunk.
About 200 metres form our villa was an 800 year old winery. We toured it one morning and inside the walls the grapes still hung on the vines.
The winery was really a castle. Inside the fortified walls was a medieval village dedicated to the production of wine and olive oil today. This is the church.
This outdoor staircase is a rarity in Venice. Today it is the only surviving circular outside staircase in the city. We never would have found it on our own but our amazing guide Christina took us to see it on our walking tour.
These gondolas are tied up at Piazzetta San Marco. The sea is risinga dn the aqua alta is flooding the piazzetta. The church in the distance is San Giorgio Maggiore.
This castle was built to protect the popes when Rome was overrun by Vandals, Goths, and Huns. Here it is reflected in the Tiber River.
