Highlights of Italy 2017

I have now come to the end of  this remarkable first visit to Italy. I would just like to record (as a diary and photo album all in one)  some of the highlights. It seems that I have visited most of the well known sites.(I need to create a  record  because of the difficulty in remembering names with ones aging brain). Firstly Rome - The Colosseum, the Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Vatican museum, the Sistine chapel and St Peter’s Basilica, the Galleria Borghese. In the latter there was exposure to Bernini’s sculptures and Correggio’s paintings. Rome is remembered for the huge crowds but excellent guides. Also for figuring out how to get around by different means of transport. There was also a wonderful performance of the opera Tosca.

Then there was Florence - staying in an Airbnb in the middle of the city. The Uffizi Gallery with its remarkable collection of paintings and sculptures, the Ponte Vecchio, then the Galleria dell’Accadaemia with the famous Michelangelo’s David. I was fortunate to get a ticket to hear Puccini’s opera La Rondine at a very modern Opera House.

Then there was Mantua (Mantova) - in the steps of Monteverdi although I was not able to hear any music there. More museums and history going back at least to the 14th century.

In Venice at the Basilica San Marco I visited on a Sunday and sat through most of a Catholic Eucharist. What was so special was the choral music in this amazing building.

On the second day I took the ferry (about an hour) and visited Burano. It is on an island and officially part of Venice. The history of lace making, the colorful housing, the canals and a very enjoyable lunch made for a relaxing day.

Traveling on the Vaporetto to the Rialto market where I purchased a fish (dorado?) and cooked it myself in the Airbnb.

Italian design, Italian leather (Florence), Italian food (Prosciutto), Italian wine (excellent Rose and Prosecco) and remarkably cheap. The history of Italian art over the centuries. Modern Italian technology - particularly in appliances in the Airbnbs.

The book  " Medici Money" and the role the bank played in the church and in the development of art during the Renaissance.  

Here are a few food scenes to preserve the memories of part of the reason to visit Italy.

  

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

On my last day, for a change of pace, I decided to visit the Peggy Guggenheim (1898-1979) Collection. She first opened a gallery in London in January 1938, moved to New York in October 1942 (in the middle of WW2). "Peggy Guggenheim and her collection played a vital role in the development of America's first art movement of international importance."  In 1949 she bought Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal in Venice and in 1949 first opened her collection to the public.

Ca’Rezzonico Palace

This Palace and its collection of art is one of the top places to see in Venice. One becomes somewhat overloaded with spectacular art. Much too much religious art etc. However this remarkable collection is preserved and displayed in the very best settings with lighting etc. Just a few samples here of a very few of the paintings.

The Rialto market

It was fun to take the Vaparetto to and from the Rialto market. Wonderful displays of fish, vegetables, meat etc. Two little Daschunds that would have liked to say hello to Lucy!  Every part for Venice has these narrow streets, canals, bridges and many stores, cafes/restaurants. It is interesting to watch how everything is supplied by boat/barge and trolleyed through the narrow streets. There are no cars, no bicycles are allowed, no scooters, no motorcycles - just hand carts and many sorts of water transport.

Burano

Burano is an  island that is part of Venice. It was the center of lace making. It has wonderful colorful painted houses. The narrow canals are full of personal watercraft. To get there you take the Vaporetto - different types of vessels. It takes about an hour. On the way home the crowds were such that I had to wait at least three ferries to get the No 1 to near the AirBnb. It was enjoyable to watch the Gondoliers navigating out of their berths - they were very busy and the Grand Canal was crowded with Vaporettos, water taxis and Gondoliers.