Country, Genoa, Italy

Genoa, Italy: Our one-day tour

The capital of Liguria, Genoa, is one of the twenty regions that make up the Italian Republic and the largest seaport in Italy for several centuries. Genoa is located in the northwest of Italy and is famous for its old quarter, its splendid palaces and its busy squares. Moreover, for obvious reasons, all the stories in Genoa are linked to the sea, being the birthplace of Cristoforo Colombo, the great discoverer of the Americas. And not least, Genoa is known as the kingdom of pesto and focaccia. Continue reading “Genoa, Italy: Our one-day tour”

Blog English, Country, Italy, Tivoli

La Villa d’Este, much more than fountains

Before starting the work to create the fabulous fountains of the “Villa d’Este”, it was necessary to convert into a great palace what had been, the monastery and cloister where Benedictines and Franciscans lived. The official residence of the governor of Tivoli needed to be a dignified palace, not only to accommodate renowned families such as the D’Estes and Borgias, but also worthy of a Cardinal who aspired to be Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Continue reading “La Villa d’Este, much more than fountains”

Blog English, Country, Florence, Italy

“Complesso di San Firenze”

In the 17th century, the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Phillip Neri in Rome arrived at Firenze when Pope Urban VIII presented them with a plot of land in “Piazza San Firenze” that included a church of the same name. The Oratorians or Philippians Fathers had the mission of building a large complex on the spot. The “Complesso di San Firenze” is located in front of the “Palazzo Gondi” that has it posterior facing the “Piazza della Signoria”. Continue reading ““Complesso di San Firenze””

Blog English, Country, Italy, Rome

Chiesa Santa Maria ai Monti, Rome

The “Chiesa Santa Maria dei Monti” or “ai Monte” is located in the Monti district in Rome, one of the oldest and largest sections of the city. The Monti rises from the foot of four of the seven hills of Rome; Esquiline, Viminal, Quirinal and Coelian. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the Celio sector and the Coelian hill were separated to form a separate district. Continue reading “Chiesa Santa Maria ai Monti, Rome”

Blog English, Country, Florence, Italy

Holy Trinity, Firenze

Originally outside the city walls, the “Chiesa and Badía Santa Trinita” (Holy Trinity) was founded by the Vallombrosian monks at the end of the 11th century, in Firenze, Italy. Currently, it is located on Via de’Tornabuoni and in front of a small piazza that bears its name. The Vallombrosianos order was founded by the Benedictine Saint John Gualbert in the early eleventh century, in the town of Vallumbrosia located in the northern part of Italy. Continue reading “Holy Trinity, Firenze”