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Another shot of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
If you've been before then you'll know that as most of the grass is roped off people line this particular bit of path to get their perfect Pisa photo. Most people were content with the classic 'pushing the tower over / propping it up' shot but the woman on the left here went for the 'classical statue' option.
More photos from Tuscany here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157714689304067
From Wikipedia "The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Italian: Torre pendente di Pisa) or simply the Tower of Pisa (Torre di Pisa) is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa, known worldwide for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation. The tower is situated behind the Pisa Cathedral and is the third-oldest structure in the city's Cathedral Square (Piazza del Duomo), after the cathedral and the Pisa Baptistry.
The height of the tower is 55.86 metres (183.27 feet) from the ground on the low side and 56.67 metres (185.93 feet) on the high side. The width of the walls at the base is 2.44 m (8 ft 0.06 in). Its weight is estimated at 14,500 metric tons (16,000 short tons). The tower has 296 or 294 steps; the seventh floor has two fewer steps on the north-facing staircase.
The tower began to lean during construction in the 12th century, due to soft ground which could not properly support the structure's weight, and it worsened through the completion of construction in the 14th century. By 1990 the tilt had reached 5.5 degrees. The structure was stabilized by remedial work between 1993 and 2001, which reduced the tilt to 3.97 degrees."
© D.Godliman
Tags: Italy - Tuscany - Pisa - Strike a pose 01_DSC8830 Leaning Tower of Pisa Leaning Tower Field of Miracles Piazza dei Miracoli Piazza del Duomo Pisa Tuscany Toscana Italy Italia Europe Europa NikonUK
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Quite similar to a previous upload of the Stupinigi Palace but it it's just too amazing a space not to upload a few more of before I move on.
What may not be apparent from the photos, mainly thanks to how convincing it is it that most of this decoration is actually Trompe-l'œil, i.e. it's actually a flat surface painted to give the illusion it's three dimensional.
Click here to see more of my photos from various trips to Italy : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157603213111374
From Wikipedia : "The Palazzina di caccia of Stupinigi (Italian: "The hunting residence of Stupinigi") is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy in northern Italy, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Built as a royal hunting lodge in the early 18th century, it is located in Stupinigi, a suburb of the town of Nichelino, 10 km (6 mi) southwest of Turin.......
The original purpose of the hunting lodge is symbolized by the bronze stag perched at the apex of the stepped roof of its central dome, and the hounds' heads that decorate the vases on the roofline. The building has a saltire plan: four angled wings project from the oval-shaped main hall.
The extensions resulted in separate pavilions linked by long angled galleries and a long octagonal forecourt enclosed by wings, extended forwards in two further entrance courts."
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© D.Godliman
Tags: Italy - Turin - Stupinigi Interior 17_DSC4142
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Some beautiful early evening sunlight illuminating the Torre del Mangia clocktower on the main Piazza del Campo in central Siena. If I remember correctly (or zoom in on the clock) it was taken at about 6.05pm.
As was the nature of our trip to Tuscany, we never had very long in any one place. Siena was no different as we arrived at about 5pm and spent about two hours there. Whilst it was a great time to wander round the city unfortunately the famous tower and most churches etc were already closed. I'd definitely like to go back some time and spend a few days there.
More photos from Tuscany here : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157714689304067
From Wikipedia : "The Torre del Mangia is a tower in Siena, in the Tuscany region of Italy. Built in 1338-1348, it is located in the Piazza del Campo, Siena's premier square, adjacent to the Palazzo Pubblico (Town Hall). When built it was one of the tallest secular towers in medieval Italy. At 102 m, it is second tallest after Cremona's Torrazzo (112 m (367 ft)), the Asinelli tower in Bologna at 97 m being third.
The tower was built to be exactly the same height as the Siena Cathedral as a sign that the church and the state had equal amounts of power. Literally meaning "Tower of the Eater", the name refers to its first bellringer, Giovanni di Balduccio, nicknamed Mangiaguadagni ("Eat-the-profits", that is "Profit eater") either for his spendthrift tendency, idleness or gluttony."
© D.Godliman
Tags: Italy - Tuscany - Siena - Piazza del Campo 02 v3_DSC9171
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This view of the 'Mole' isn't the most flattering but it does give a good idea of the scale of Turin's most famous building.
Click here to see more of my photos from various trips to Italy : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157603213111374
From Wikipedia : "The Mole Antonelliana is a major landmark building in Turin, Italy, named after its architect, Alessandro Antonelli. A mole in Italian is a building of monumental proportions.
Construction began in 1863, soon after Italian unification, and was completed in 1889, after the architect's death. Originally conceived of as a synagogue, it now houses the Museo Nazionale del Cinema, and is believed to be the tallest museum in the world. A representation of the building is featured on the obverse of the Italian 2 cent euro coin."
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Tags: Italy - Turin - The Mole 03_DSC3891
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Another photo of Florence's most famous nude person......
David is apparently looking towards Rome (Goliath....), apparently as a warning to them. Presumably it's the same for the lion.
As before when I've uploaded photos of naked statues I'm unsure whether they should be set to Moderate or not. I suppose at least this one doesn't feature full frontal nudity.....
To do so would mean I wouldn't be able to add it to most travel groups on flickr which would seem slightly strange given how many millions of tourists take photos of it every year.
Click here to see more photos from Tuscany and Florence : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157714689304067
From Wikipedia : "David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture created between 1501 and 1504, by Italian sculptor, painter, architect, poet Michelangelo.
It is a 4.34-metre (14.2 ft), 5.17-metre (17.0 ft) with the base marble statue of a standing male nude. The statue represents the Biblical hero David, a favoured subject in the art of Florence. Originally commissioned as one of a series of statues of prophets to be positioned along the roofline of the east end of Florence Cathedral, the statue was placed instead in a public square, outside the Palazzo della Signoria, the seat of civic government in Florence, where it was unveiled on the 8th of September, 1504.
Because of the nature of the hero it represented, the statue soon came to symbolize the defense of civil liberties embodied in the Republic of Florence, an independent city-state threatened on all sides by more powerful rival states and by the hegemony of the Medici family. The eyes of David, with a warning glare, were turned towards Rome. The statue was moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence, in 1873, and later replaced at the original location by a replica."
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Tags: Italy - Tuscany - Florence - David and the tiny lion_DSC9302
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