Monday, November 30, 2015

Michelangelo's David



Michelangelo sculpted the statue of David at the age of 26.  It was sculpted between the years 1501 and 1506.  Originally commissioned for the Cathedral of Florence, it was decided by a committee that the 14 foot statue was too perfect to place high in a cathedral.  After much discussion is was decided to place it in the Piazza della Signoria in front of the Palazzo Vecchio.  It is truly magnificent.  It is on exhibit in the Gallerie dell'Accademia in Florence.  The information about this statue and its history is better told by the curators of the museum itself.  


David was removed form the Piazza dello Signoria in 1853 to the Gallerie dell'Accademia to prevent further weathering.  This is a reproduction of Michelangelo's David in the Piazza della Signoria, the center of the Florentine Republic in the 14th century and continues to be today.  



And from the Piazzale Michelangelo, overlooking the city of Florence you will find a bronze reproduction of David.  It was hard to leave Florence.  There is so much more to say.
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View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

We'll have to return here later in the week.  My goodness there is so much beauty in this city! I could have stayed there forever!  And the spaghetti and meatballs, Florentine lasagna and OH! the gelato was just out of this world!
Oh, and did I mention the wine?  Oh, my goodness!  It was just delicious.  I also had my first taste of pecorino cheese (cheese made from sheep's milk).  It was wonderful.
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~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Cathy
Please visit Judith at Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday and share in the beauty offered there.



Mosaic Monday



I have found a new place to play and invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  Should be fun!
And as an added treat perhaps stop by NC Sue's Image-in-ing.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

The Glow of Assisi




I offer up thanks
Gratitude of all you give
Thanks be to our God!

~~~~~~~

I have many photos I want to share from our trip to Italy, but this photo just spoke to me.  This photos is just as  you see it.  It has not been enhanced and it speaks to me of the Glory of God.

Wishing all a most blessed Thanksgiving!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!


Please visit Rebecca at recuerda mi corazon for Haiku My Heart. There is always more beautiful words  there to enchant and encourage!!! 



Finally, I am joining A Soulful Life for Soulfood Friday





Monday, November 23, 2015

Treasures of Italy





We were in Italy for 10 days.  It was not nearly long enough to travel this beautiful country.  I'm still recuperating from jet lag.  So today, because there are literally hundreds of photos, I thought I'd show you photos of our first  introduction to Italy.  The town in called Montepulciano.  It is part of Tuscany and so we stopped here to get our first taste of Italy, no pun intended.  We had a tour of a winery.  

It was amazing!  The winery itself was once an ancient castle. And it was built over the remains of an Etruscan burial site.  It was quite an adventure.  Going down into the lower levels of the winery and seeing the artifact that have been found there. 



Largest of the wine casks


And it all begins here.


The Etruscan burial chamber


Steps to the tomb.

It was amazing to see how the remains of two thousand years of history can be maintained and continued in use at the same time.  

Oh, and did I mention the wine?  Oh, my goodness!  It was just delicious.  I also had my first taste of pecorino cheese (cheese made from sheep's milk).  It was wonderful.

When we had finished our stop in Montepulciano we were off to some serious touring. . .Florence.    I will try to share this adventure in more detail, but right now my head is still spinning!

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!!


I have found a new place to play and invite you to join Mersad at Through My Lens.  It's inviting and fun!





And as an added treat perhaps stop by NC Sue's Image-in-ing.