An Ionian seaside town, Avola is a mix of old and new. The town focuses heavily on the sea, with its history as a tuna fishing port. Today, the remains of the Vecchia Tonnara at the wharf are a stone backdrop to the sandy beaches. Avola dates back to a pre-Greek people called the Sicani.…
Located about 11 kilometres north of Catania, it is the perfect little commune to visit during the ottobrata – the local festivity that occurs every October here in Sicily, celebrating the fruits of the land: frutti di terra. The first encounter went wrong already 🙂 Approaching the booth with fruit, I have noticed quince – one…
If something is worth visiting in life, it is the Aeolian islands. Becasue it makes you think about winter in the south. It makes you think about simplicity of life. And it makes you realise how not to treat the tourists: just some bags of potatoes that need to be shipped from one island to…
I haven’t had a chance to spent a bit more time discovering this city. But just a glimpse and it made me think to re-visit and make it’s due. When the time will come, I promise to update with more photos. But for now, enjoy the story 🙂 Several civilizations settled in Milazzo and left…
I didn’t expect much from this harbour city, to be honest. I knew they have a great beer – Messina cristali di sale: a great Sicilian beer brewed since 1923 and one of the most loved Italian beers. It is the third largest city on the island of Sicily, and the 13th largest city in Italy.…
Senlis is a city in the northern French department of Oise, Hautes de France. Cute, medieval and charming. It offered us great peek into history: The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived in Senlis, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly forest. Senlis is situated on the river Nonette. Senlis was known in early Roman imperial times as Augustomagus. During the 3rd century, a seven-meter…
The Château de Chantilly is one of the finest jewels in the crown of France’s cultural heritage. It is the work of a man with an extraordinary destiny: Henri d’Orléans, Duke of Aumale, son of the last King of France, Louis-Philippe. This historic French château located in the town of Chantilly, Oise, about 50 kilometres north of Paris. The site…
The Scala dei Turchi is a rocky cliff on the coast of Realmonte, near Porto Empedocle. It has become a tourist attraction, partly due to its mention series of detective stories about Commissario Montalbano. The cliffs lie between two sandy beaches and are a limestone rock formation in the shape of a staircase, hence the name. The latter part…
Picture this episode: we parked on a roundabout. Some local approached us (my brother and me) – we thought because we should have not park in a roundabout, but then again they all did, so… in fact the guy just wanted to ask if we have cigarettes. Ok Sicily, episode n. At the roundabout is…
Enna or as the Sicilians would say Castrugiuvanni; is a city located roughly at the center of Sicily, towering above the surrounding countryside. It has earned the nicknames belvedere (panoramic viewpoint) and ombelico (“navel”) of Sicily. At 931m above sea level, Enna is the highest Italian provincial capital. To arrive there is not a piece of cake. Passing the two viaducts Morello and…
From its dramatic natural surroundings to its historic churches, Sicily has something to offer every traveler. The island of Sicily is a unique part of Italy. Its craggy mountains, wild vegetation, and omnipresent sea have fired the imagination of poets, wayfarers, and visitors alike. Though it is one of 20 Italian regions, its history under…
Aci Castello and the other Acis around are destinations not to be missed in Sicily, especially for lovers of Greek myths and literature. It is here that the poets Virgil and Ovid gave birth to the myth of Galatea and Aci and their love story. In the second half of 1100 the town was destroyed…
I digged into the city not expecting so much history well presented until today and offering so much. My discovery started at Via dell’ Indipendenza where I realised the portici […]
I digged into the city not expecting so much history well presented until today and offering so much. My discovery started at Via dell’ Indipendenza where I realised the portici (engl. archades) are dominating the city. The street is a shopping path as well 🙂
Portici of Via dell’ Indipendenza
From there I came across to Piazza del Nettuno. Unfortunately, the statue was under construction and I did not manage to see it but I entered Palazzo Re Enzo, named after Enzo of Sardinia. As mentioned, I was surprised that everything in Bologna is so well preserved and actually ating from 13 century, like the palaces at Piazza Maggiore – the main square where Palazzo dei Banchi is situated as well – a former banking center of the 16 century when Bologna was a city state like most of the european cities. It is surrounded by the centers of religious and political governance, represented by the cathedral Basilica of San Petronio and the palaces and D’Accursio Palace (city hall).
As seen in the photo below, the Basilica is unfinished but it hosted a seminal event of the 16th century: the coronation of Charles V to Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Clement VII.
The 14 century Basilica of San Petronio contains an interesting moment of 15th-century Gothic fresco showing Mohammed being tormented by devils in hell.This exact fresco has been an intention of Al-Qaida and other islamic terrorist groups to attack. The painter was inspired by Dante who defined the last circle of hell for infidels and blasphemers. And that was the answer to my question why the military guy stands at the entrance the church with machine gun.
Piazza Galvani shows the statue of Luigi Galvani, a famous bolognese scholar mainly known for his research about bioelectricity, while observing the famous frog he used to study.
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To be more specific, Galvani studied in Bologna at the prestigious university as Bologna has the oldest university of the western hemipshere. This Palazzo dell’ Archiginnasio was founded in 1088. I was pretty impressed by the aula of Teatro Anatomico where anatomy lessons were once held.
After observing the beginning of Bilogna’s history, was ready to taste local dishes. So, by the recomendation of my friends, I went to the district called Quadrilatero. It has an ancient tradition with its greatest development in the Middle Ages that kept its trade vocation throughout the years. The main craft guilds of the city such as goldsmiths, butchers, fishermen,”salaroloi” (workers who salted meat to cure it), the Furriers, Barbers and the Society of Painters, had their headquarters in this area. With its hidden streets and nagging houses, today is a huge attaction to the tourists with the market and restaurants.
Bologna is home of mortadella , tortellini … and great wine of Emilia Romagna region. I enjoyed the San Giovanni.
Then it was a time to visit some of the many many churches and its clousters, like Basilica and Sanctuary of San Domenico and Tombs of the Glossatori. It is one of the major churches in Bologna, builded by Order of Dominicans buried inside the exquisite shrine, re-constructed by Michelangelo.
Basilica of San Domenico with the statue of the santo Domenico
Somehow, I entered behind the church to the gardens of orators and captured this:
Next churh I captured was Basilica of Santo Stefano. Like with many churches in Rome this buidling was temple of the goddess Isis, but during the times of Crusades, it was re-builded and called ”New Jerusalem.”
The innerside is great and 13 century historic dedicated to the Holy Jerusalem. Notice the portici again, on every photo that I took. 🙂
Cloister of San Stefano
From there I ended up in the former Jewish Ghetto. The layout of Bologna’s 16th century ghetto can still be precisely traced amid the narrow streets in the medieval heart of the city: here, a maze of alleys, covered bridges and small windows tells the story of a whole community forced to live in a specific area of the town by order of the Papal State beginning from 1556. In Bologna, Jews lived in the ghetto until 16 century, when they were expelled for the first time. Few years later, they were allowed to come back to town and lived here again until end of same 16 century, when their final expulsion happened: 900 people left Bologna and no Jewish community was allowed into town for more than two centuries.
Fnally, I arrived to the main cityscape of the city and its main recognition: Towers of Bologna, a group of medieval structures.
The reasons for the construction of so many towers are not clear, but what is clear that one of them is leaning and looks scarry. The towers are called Garisenda and Asinelli standing right in the middle of Porta Ravegnanna.
I finished my trip at Piazza della Merchanzia with beautiful 16 century building of commerce. Frome this square via Santo Stefano led to Milano since mediaval times as it leads today.
Bologna is the city of Lambourghini. So, not to forget this important thing for all the lovers of car speed. 🙂
That fresco is wild. The food and wine look beautiful and delicious. And I had no idea the Lamborghini was from Bologna. Such interesting history you talk about, I love to tour an exciting destination and learn so much at the same time.
Thanks for this excellent article. One more thing to mention is that almost all digital cameras come equipped with the zoom lens that permits more or less of a scene to be included by ‘zooming’ in and out. These kind of changes in the aim length usually are reflected within the viewfinder and on significant display screen on the back of the camera.
Hi! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Thank you!
I have wanted to go to Bologna for such a long time! Hopefully in the autumn this year.
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That fresco is wild. The food and wine look beautiful and delicious. And I had no idea the Lamborghini was from Bologna. Such interesting history you talk about, I love to tour an exciting destination and learn so much at the same time.
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I remember learning about Bologna in my culinary classes and always wanted to visit it. Would love to try the food there, especially mortadella!
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Sounds like a great walking route for a day in Bologna!
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Thanks for this excellent article. One more thing to mention is that almost all digital cameras come equipped with the zoom lens that permits more or less of a scene to be included by ‘zooming’ in and out. These kind of changes in the aim length usually are reflected within the viewfinder and on significant display screen on the back of the camera.
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Hi! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My blog covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
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some genuinely nice and utilitarian information on this website , too I believe the style has got superb features.
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Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Thank you!
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