Walking along the Paseo el Prado and just in front of the Royal Botanic Garden, there is a very particular garden, the Green Wall of the CaixaForum in Madrid, Spain. It is specifically located at Paseo del Prado # 36. Continue reading “The Green Wall of Madrid”
In the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, is the city of Bologna, which is also the capital of the region. Named by the European Union as the European Capital of Culture for the year 2000, Bologna is undoubtedly a city of the highest order. When strolling through the city you can see why the distinction was given. Continue reading “Bologna – the Notai and Podesta Palaces”
Atop of one of the seven hills of Rome, the “Capitoline Hill” and facing the “Piazza Venezia”, one finds a large monument of white Botticino marble. It is the “Altare della Patria” of Italy, a national monument to King Vittorio Emanuele II (Victor Manuel II of Italy), who was king of Sardinia. Continue reading ““Altare della Patria” – Rome”
Traveling through unknown places could be a great challenge. Every city, large or small, can quickly become a great maze if we do not identify points of reference that helps locate ourselves on the route. For example, a city like Siena, in the Tuscany region, can create some anxiety. Continue reading “Deciphering Labyrinths in Siena”
Thousands of visitors to Bologna arrive at the spot where the “Strada Maggiore” meets “Via Zamboni”, here one finds “Le due Torri: Garisenda e degli Asinelli”. Under the shadow of these towers, we also find the “Chiesa dei Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano”. Continue reading ““Chiesa Santi Bartolomeo e Gaetano””
The “Rialto” area of the San Polo district in Venice, Italy, was the center of all economic activity among the 118 small islands that together are known as the City of Venice. As the city grew, so did the need to reach the “Rialto” markets by means other than “gondolas.” Continue reading “From San Polo to San Marcos – Venice”
The “Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze” is best known for being the house of David, Michelangelo’s great sculpture. However, the permanent collection of this gallery shows that it is much more than the sample of that great sculptural work, this despite the fact that the original intention was directed to have a museum dedicated exclusively to Michelangelo’s work. Continue reading “The Galleria dell’Accademia, much more than David”
On top of a hill above the “Cuartel de la Montaña” Park (formerly a military installation) and inside the West Park in Madrid, there is a piece of Egypt. The temple of Debod, an Egyptian structure dating from the second century B.C.
It is said that the Tuscan city of Siena (or Sienna) was founded by the “Saina” tribe of the Etruscans sometime between 900 and 400 BC. C. It is between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries that the golden age of Siena occurs, the culminating point of medieval times. Reason why it is recognized as the “ideal medieval city” by UNESCO. Continue reading “Piazza del Campo – Siena”
Mother of the gods of Mount Olympus and symbol of the earth and fertility, Cibeles welcomes all who pass through this place, while she rides her charriot pulled by the Atalanta and Hypomenes lions. The sculpture is located at the head of “Paseo del Prado” and “Calle de Alcalá”. Continue reading “The goddess Cibeles of Madrid”