Behold the tabernacolo, those lovely outdoor altars that are ubiquitous in Italy. Ecco il tabernacolo, quelle belle altari all’aria aperta che sono onnipresenti in Italia. “Talvolta con tabernacolo si indica una piccola edicola o capitello votivo o santella o altra struttura posta in luogo pubblico, all’interno della quale è inserita un’immagine sacra (dipinta o scolpita), a…
Tag: Snapshots from Italy
Contrada Bella
Just a peaceful stone archway, encountered during our summer stroll (passeggiata) in Varenna. Through the archway on one of the nearby buildings was a tile marker etched with the name of the neighborhood, fittingly named: …beautiful district The book giveaway contest is open through this Sunday, November 27! Please click here for more details on how…
Book Love, Italiano
Thankfully this bookshop in Florence was closed when Daughter and I stumbled upon it this summer, or I may have ended up facing the dilemma of carrying several fragile books back to the U.S. without being damaged en route! Although I would love a couple of these for my collection… This simple display marries two…
Framed by History
Verona’s Ponte Scaligero is a fortified bridge built in the mid 1300s. It spans the Adige River and leads to the castelvecchio (the old castle). We found it to be a delightful way to frame beautiful Verona, and couldn’t resist climbing higher for an even better view.
A Tiny Tuscan Church
Nestled in the perfectly preserved walled town of Monteriggioni in Tuscany is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Despite my love affair with Brunelleschi’s famous dome in Florence, it’s this little unassuming church which is my favorite chiesa of all which I’ve seen in Italy thus far. Built over an ancient church, Santa Maria Assunta…
In Verona
Verona, a magical city near Venice in Italy’s Veneto region. Wandering the marble streets this summer, I found all of Verona to be proudly beautiful, with the ability to turn something as ordinary as a shop selling deli meats into a work of art.
While Wandering Varenna
Varenna is a quiet little spot on the shores of Lake Como. We stayed in nearby Bellagio and took a quick ride on the traghetto (ferry) to wander and lunch in Varenna. Here’s some snapshots of what caught my attention during our passeggiata (stroll). I invite you to sign my guest book or join me on Facebook!
A Visit to Rome’s Majestic Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Basilica di San Paolo Fuori Le Mura “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – Paul the Apostle, 1 Corinthians 13:13. In the early first century Paul the Apostle Paul — one of the original followers of Jesus — was executed in Rome by order of Roman emperor Nero….
Keep Calm and Love Roma
If “all roads lead to Rome”, I’m guessing that this ancient path in front of the Colosseum is one of those roads. If it’s your first visit to this ancient city, the Colosseum cannot be missed. (Although truthfully, if I find myself in Rome, this is the first thing I want to see. For me,…
Masterpieces abound in Milan
Recently I have been writing about my newfound love of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. But this iconic painting is not the only masterpiece in Milan. Everything seems to be an incredible work of art in this fashionable metropolis. Exhibit #1: The Duomo — The fourth largest church in Europe (fifth largest in the…
Prayers & Piazzas 