Milan
Sunday, 15th April 2012
Duomo Square looking towards Milan’s main cathedral (Duomo di Milano). Construction of the massive late Gothic cathedral began in 1386. The façade is made of white marble and is decorated with hundreds of spires and thousands of statues.
Looking towards the Palazzo dell’Arengario. A symmetrical pair of buildings at the side of Duomo Square, which currently house the Museo del Novecento (Museum of the Twentieth Century). Construction of Palazzo dell’Arengario began in 1936, but it was not completed until 1956 due to damage from World War II bombing and other delays.
The façade of the Duomo di Milano.
Marble statues, reliefs and other exterior decoration near the cathedral’s doorway.
One of five massive bronze doorways into the cathedral. This one dates from the mid-20th century. It contains a number of panels containing reliefs depicting Biblical scenes.
Tatiana touching decoration on the doorway.
Inside the cathedral looking towards the main altar. There are tall and colourful stain-glass windows above it.
Tony and Tatiana inside the cathedral.
Tony and Tatiana with a cathedral staff member.
Tony and Tatiana with another staff member, the two gentlemen briefly helped them explore the cathedral.
View inside the cathedral – pews, stone columns and a side altar beyond.
Tatiana by one of the cathedral’s stone columns.
Another view looking up at the cathedral’s exterior. Statues and other elaborate carving on the front façade.
Visitors leaving the cathedral.
Interior courtyard of the Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace). The palace dates back to the Middle Ages, with the Neoclassical design seen today originating from a renovation performed by Giuseppe Piermarini at the end of the 18th century. The interior was badly damaged by bombing during World War Two. Today the building is a cultural centre hosting exhibitions and events.
Corridor inside the Palazzo Reale.
Outside the entrance to the Palazzo Reale at the edge of Duomo Square.
Side view of the cathedral looking from the Palazzo Reale entrance.
Duomo Square. It’s raining. Buildings reflected on the wet paving slabs.
Duomo Square – looking at the corner of the cathedral and Palazzo Reale beyond.
Verona
16th-18th April 2012
Outside the church of San Luca.
Tatiana by a stone column, part of a colonnade at the front of a shopping arcade near Piazza Bra.
Rows of café and restaurant tables at the edge of Piazza Bra. Verona’s largest square, located in the city centre.
Looking towards the gate into Piazza Bra. The gate is made up of two stone arches, with a clock face in the middle, and a tower to one side.
Tatiana, Piazza Bra.
Outside the Arena at Piazza Bra. This large and spectacular Roman amphitheatre was built in AD 30. It is the world’s third-largest amphitheatre to survive from antiquity.
Entrance tunnel into the amphitheatre.
A corridor going around the perimeter of the Arena.
View across the Arena. Rows of seats surround the oval-shaped stage in the middle.
Rows of seats. Some modern seating has been installed and is used for opera performances.
Another view across the Arena.
Stone arches on the outside of the arena. Entrance/exit gates.
Tony and Tatiana outside the Arena.
Tatiana by a bronze statue of Juliet. Courtyard outside Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta). This is supposedly the location of the famous balcony from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Tony and Tatiana in front of the Juliet statue.
Juliet’s House entrance.
Tatiana sitting at a café table.
Shops on Via Cappello. A narrow pedestrian street.
Looking towards Piazza delle Erbe. This square was once the Roman forum. The Torre del Gardello, a clock tower, can be seen at the far side.
Historical buildings near Piazza delle Erbe.
A market in Piazza delle Erbe.
Market stalls.
Tatiana by the fountain in Piazza delle Erbe. The fountain dates from the 14th century, however, the statue in the middle, called Madonna Verona, is a Roman sculpture dating to 380 AD.
The fountain and market stalls beyond.
Tony and Tatiana by the fountain.
Inside Verona Cathedral. Looking across rows of seats towards the altar.
Verona Cathedral (Italian: Cattedrale di Santa Maria Matricolare, or simply Duomo di Verona), built in Romanesque style, was consecrated on September 13, 1187.
Side altars decorated with paintings and carving.
A large bronze candle holder (or maybe an incense burner?)
Large painting above a side altar.
A font. ‘Assumption’ by Titian can be seen hanging above an altar behind.
Verona Cathedral exterior wall.
Doorway to Verona Cathedral.
The old wall of a building on Via Pieta Vecchia, near the cathedral.
Ravenna
19th-20th April 2012
Dante Youth Hostel foyer.
Via Armando Diaz. Shopping street in Ravenna.
A side street in the centre of Ravenna.
Inside the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, looking along the nave towards the altar. The basilica dates back to the 6th century.
Looking up at mosaic decoration on the upper wall of the nave and the carved wooden ceiling.
The altar, plus more mosaics in the top left of the picture.
The altar.
Looking towards the main doorway. Again mosaic decoration can be seen above the nave.
A tall bell tower dating from the 9th or 10th century next to the basilica church.
San Marino
20th-21st April 2012
Tatiana sitting at a bus stop, Borgo Maggiore, San Marino.
Looking through Porta della Fratta (Fratta Gate) into the walled centre of San Marino’s capital. The capital, like the country, is called San Marino. It is located high up on Mount Titano with excellent views of the rest of the country, and Italy beyond.
Tatiana at Porta della Fratta.
Heading up hill along a shopping street.
A street in San Marino. Souvenir shops.
Outside a tobacconist’s shop – hundreds of different cigarette packets displayed in the window.
Street going through a stone archway.
Busy narrow street.
Piazella del Titano (Titano Square). There is a bust of Guiseppe Garibaldi in the centre, but it is hidden in the photo.
Another narrow street going uphill from Piazella del Titano.
View along the aisle inside the Basilica di San Marino (Basilica of Saint Marino). The current church was constructed between 1826 and 1838, although churches have stood on the site since the 4th century.
The altar.
A side altar dedicated to Mary Magdalene.
A row of candles and a cross on the side altar.
View of the ceiling.
Stone columns outside the basilica, looking down towards the small square in front.
Tony and Tatiana on the steps of the basilica.
The front of the basilica. Steps lead up to the entrance porch, supported by eight tall stone columns.
Outside the basilica. Tourists heading up a steep, narrow street.
Chiesa di San Pietro (Church of Saint Peter) – a small 16th century church beside the main basilica.
Tatiana outside the basilica.
Tourists walking the steep climb up to Guaita Tower. Souvenir shops at the side.
The entrance to Guaita Fortress (also known as Guaita Tower or First Tower). The fortress was constructed in the 11th century and is one of three that stand on pinnacles of rock above the city of San Marino.
Tony and Tatiana at the fortress entrance.
Inside the fortress.
The high castellated walls of the fortress and a tower at one end.
A small chapel inside the fortress.
Tony and Tatiana by a canon within the fortress.
Tatiana. A view of the fortresses walls behind.
Outside the fortress. Street down into the city.
Looking out at the surrounding countryside.
Heading down hill along a shopping street back towards Fratta Gate.