The Freckle, The Key and The Couple Who Weren't: July 2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Italy 2011 - Part 5

Update: Bleh.
Update2: I swear it stops here.

Gondola Ride! Venezia

Duomo, Milano (Milan)

Teatro alla Scala (The Scala Opera House), Milano

Castello Sforzesco (yes! Finally got the name right), Milano

Santa Maria delle Grazie, Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milano. This is the rather small and unassuming church which houses the original da Vinci fresco, The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano). Tickets to see it are booked MONTHS in advance though, so we lost our chance. Nevertheless, it was thrilling knowing we're standing so close to history. Next time round.

Italy 2011 - Part 4

Update: You know what to do.

Ponte Vechhio, the only bridge in Florence with shops, imitating a typical Venetian bridge. Located over Florence's solitary river, Arno.

Sculpture of Niccolo Machiavelli, Uffizi Gallery, a public open air gallery with sculptures of some of history's most illustrious people, including Galileo Galilei, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti (of course), Dante Alighieri and Giotti. Firenze (Florence)

Palazzo Vechhio, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Bell Tower, Duomo, Firenze

View of the cathedral and the rest of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

Basilica San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica), Venezia (Venice)

Basilica San Marco as viewed from its water bus stop, Venezia

Piazza San Marco, Venezia

Bell Tower, Basilica San Marco, Venezia

Piazza San Marco, Venezia

Basilica San Marco, Venezia

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Italy 2011 - Part 3

Update: You know the drill.

Piazza Spagna (Spanish Steps), Roma (Rome)

Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), Piazza Fontana di Trevi, Roma

Piazza Venezzia, Roma

Pantheon, Piazza della Rotonda, Roma

Piazza Navona, Roma

Basilica San Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica)

Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Square, as viewed from in front of the Basilica)

Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), Roma

Torre Pendente (Leaning Tower), Pisa

Italy 2011 - Part 2

Update: Same as last time.

Entrance to the Musei Vaticani (Vatican Museum)

Statue of God Anubis, Musei Gregorio Egizio (Egyptian Antiquities), Musei Vaticani

Sarcophagus. Greek hero Achilles stabbing a goddess (center). The legend goes that he fell in love with her at the exact moment he dealt the mortal blow. In both their eyes can be seen a surge of both love and death. Achilles’s front arm supports her as she falls, and the other arm behind is imagined to be operating the knife. Musei Vaticani

In the Galleria della Arrazzi, Musei Vaticani. On the right, a bronze life-sized sculpture of the god Hercules

Frescoed ceiling of the Galleria delles Cartes Geografiches, Musei Vaticani

Depiction of the disputation of truth and the subsequent realization of the actual truth in the form of religion, Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael Rooms), Musei Vaticani. Raphael was commissioned to paint these rooms for the Pope residing there at the time.

In the Apartement de Borgia, Musei Vaticani. Here resided a relatively recent Pope, Borgia.

Contemporary rendition of La Pieta on stained glass, Collection of Contemporary Art, Musei Vaticani

Our room. I realize this is not exactly a tourist spot, but I just had to put this up because it was so brilliant. So if you're ever in Rome, look up a small accommodation called Alma de Roma, near the Stazione Termini, especially if you're on a tight budget and looking for a modest but comfortable place and especially one where everyone is so helpful and the atmosphere is so congenial. I know I did. =D

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Italy 2011 - Part 1

Update: I realized after posting this that the photos might be too small, and posting them again in large format is just too cumbersome for 2:30 am in the morning. However, just clicking on them will lead you to a rather enlarged and (usually) infinitely more beautiful format. So, you know, just in case...you want to...

Cheers.