Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Roma

If you've ever been to the Sistine Chapel , you'd know I'm not suppost to have this photo. However, Michelangelo did such a good job I couldn't pass it up. If you're unfamiliar with this ceiling painting, it depicts the Last Judgement. It was painted by sir Michelangelo under Pope Julius II, from 1508-1512. It was unremarkable and by far one of the most beautiful things i've seen in Europe thus far. Left in the picture, you can see the well noted creation of Adam, which was great to see in person. It was not as easy to spot this, as I had thought, as the elaborateness of Michelangelo's  work stretched along the entire ceiling. 
Also created in the 18th century by Michelangelo was the Pieta. It is the body of Jesus on Mother Mary's lap after Crucifixion. This is the only piece of art Michelangelo had signed, and there is quite a bit of history behind this particular piece.
This is the ceiling of the dome at St. Peter's Basilica. It was quite a sight, and very beautiful. When we were in the Basilica, the sun was shining through the dome which contrasted behind the dark walls... amazing to see.
We were lucky enough to catch the Pantheon just as the sun set. Inside, the dome was amazing, especially the Oculus, which was just open to the elements. The concept of the Oculus is also very fascinating, and it's interesting to see how it still works today. However, the overall Pantheon was "Commissioned by Marcus Agrippa as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in about 126 AD". When we arrived to the Pantheon, they were holding mass within, which was amazing to think that it is still standing and still used today.
The view from atop St. Peter's Basilica was awesome, really putting the city of Rome into perspective.
Taken in Piazza Navona, this is Sant'Agnese in Agone, built in the 17th century. Piazza Navona was once a stadium used for festivals and sporting events, then paved over in the 15th century. Something that blew my mind was the fact that, "From 1650 to the late 19th century the square was sometimes flooded in summer and used for aquatic games and staged naval battles".
This is a photo taken in Piazza Venezia, which sits next to Capitoline Hill, an important area in Rome. The statue on the steps of Capitoline Hill looks as if they are protecting an angel, not quite sure but it looked interesting. 
This, of couse, is the Trevi fountain. We visited this fountain both in the day and night, and it was far more beautiful at night with the lights illuminating the water. I threw a coin into the fountain, and according to the legend, i'll be returning to Rome in the future - which is perfectly fine with me. 
After some research, I found out this is the Tiber Island. The island was apparently once the, "location of an ancient temple or Aesculapius, the Greek God of Medicine and Healing". The amazement in Rome, for me, comes by stumbling upon endless monuments like this, all with a rich history associated with them.

Monday, March 18, 2013

 Here's the city of Lucca, Tuscany. The city is preserved by behind a wall, which completely surrounds the city and is still intact.
 We ended up going to the Carnival in Viareggio, Tuscany. The city is on the ocean and hosts the world's most renowned carnival celebrations in the world.  
Here is a picture that shows how elaborate the floats were. It was 60+ feet tall, and (im assuming) made from paper mache. 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

 These Gondolas were two of many we saw that weekend. It is crazy to think that gondolas were the main means of transportation within Venice for centuries, but is is understandable once you've been there to see the practicality of them.
I got this shot out of luck, as an Italian woman was looking outside her window for whatever reason. Personally, I think this is a good depiction of an older italian woman.
 This photo was taken from the Ponte di rialto (Rialto Bridge) looking over the Grand Canal in Venice. We went for Carnevale di Venezia, and you can see two elaborately dressed women in the bottom left of the photo.
I cannot describe the beauty of Venice, nor can a few photos justify what Venice was like. It was truly unlike anything i've seen before. There were no roads for vehicles, only canals for boats, seen here. 
 This is one example of the elaborateness seen in Venice for Carnival. There were many more, much even more elaborate than this. This person was near Piazza San Marco, the main public square in Venice.
The history of Venezia is mind boggling.  From the origins of the city being where it is geographically, to aqua alta (Which we saw partially around 2AM on night), Venice is hands down the most beautiful city i've ever been to. This particular canal holds more of a story than others for me. I snapped this shot minuted before my buddy Tripp accidentally fell into the water, trying to get closer to the water for a 'better shot'. 
"Born in Syracuse, since an early age she distinguished herself for her virtues. She dedicated her life to God, and she showed great inner strength against the pagans persecuting her. On December 13th, 304, at the age of only 23 she heroically died foreseeing better times for the church. Her body was buried in the catacombs by he Christians. She accomplished so many miracles that soon (in 314) the believers built a temple in her honour on the site of her martyrdom. Her remains were taken to Constantinople (1038); at the time of the 4th Crusade they were moved to the Basilica of St. George Major in Venice (1204), then to the church built for her during the Republic (1313) and finally into the church of St. Jeremiah (1806). Here they still rest, venerated by the faithful from all over the world, who consider her the Protectress from eye diseases."  This is what the sign read in the church of St. Jeremiah in Venice.
Before going to Pisa, which is about 30 minutes from Florence by train , I was told you can spend 3 hours there and be content. We spent 3 hours there and were content. Besides the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Piazza del Duomo, there is not much else to see. However, the city's history is very interesting. Pisa fought many battles, and was once a naval port, but now does not sit on the coast as it once did. The Arno River has been depositing silt for centuries, furthering the distance the city of Pisa lies from the ocean.
This picture was taken by a complete stranger, but you get that a lot when you're traveling. We were at the Boboli Gardens when this was taken. The gardens are behind the Palazzo Pitti (Pitti Palace), whose construction started in 1458.
When we made it to the top of the Duomo, the view was spectacular. This is a shot looking towards the Basilica of Santa Croce.  This basilica is the final resting place of many influential people, such as; Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and Foscolo.