Money back guarantee policy!

Blog

Displaying: 1 - 4 of 4

Hidden Gems of Italy - MONUMENTAL CEMETERY OF LA CERTOSA IN BOLOGNA

May 27th, 2023

Hidden Gems of Italy - MONUMENTAL CEMETERY OF LA CERTOSA IN BOLOGNA

If you are looking for a place to explore the art, history and culture of Italy, you should visit the Certosa of Bologna, a former Carthusian monastery that became the city's monumental cemetery in 1801. This cemetery, located just outside the walls of the city, near the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, is a unique museum that showcases the works of many artists from different periods and styles.

## The history of the Certosa

The Certosa of Bologna was founded in 1334 by Enea degli Ordelaffi, lord of Forlì, who donated the land to the Carthusian order. The monastery was dedicated to Saint Jerome (San Girolamo) and became a center of spiritual and cultural life. The church was decorated with paintings by prominent Bolognese artists, such as Bartolomeo Cesi, Elisabetta Sirani, Francesco Gessi and Lorenzo Pasinelli. The wooden choir stalls were carved by Biagio De' Marchi in 1538 after a fire caused by the troops of Charles V. The monastery also had a rich library and a pharmacy.

In 1797, the monastery was suppressed by Napoleon and its assets were confiscated. In 1801, it was converted into a public cemetery by decree of the Cisalpine Republic. The cemetery was designed by Ercole Gasparini, who preserved the original structure of the monastery and added new buildings and porticos. The cemetery became a place where the local nobility and aristocracy displayed their wealth and prestige through monumental tombs and sculptures. It also attracted many visitors from abroad, such as Byron, Dickens, Mommsen and Stendhal, who praised its beauty and romanticism.

## The art of the Certosa

The Certosa of Bologna is home to a vast collection of paintings and sculptures that span from the 14th to the 21st century. You can admire works by almost all the Bolognese artists who were active in the 19th and 20th century, such as Giorgio Morandi, Bruno Saetti, Lucio Dalla and Nunzio Rossi. You can also see works by foreign artists who influenced or were influenced by the local culture, such as Antonio and Bartolomeo Vivarini, Ludovico and Agostino Carracci, Guercino and Ottorino Respighi.

The cemetery is divided into several sections that reflect different artistic movements and trends. The Third Cloister (or Chapel Cloister) is the most representative of the neoclassical style, with tombs painted in tempera or made of stucco and scagliola. The Fourth Cloister (or Colombarium) is characterized by eclectic and oriental influences, with tombs inspired by Egyptian, Greek and Roman motifs. The Fifth Cloister (or Gallery) is dominated by realistic and naturalistic sculptures that depict scenes from everyday life or allegories of death. The Sixth Cloister (or New Gallery) is dedicated to modern and contemporary art, with works that express social and political themes or experiment with new materials and techniques.

The cemetery also hosts some important figures for the local and national history, such as Marco Minghetti (a statesman), Giosue Carducci (a Nobel laureate for literature), Riccardo Bacchelli (a writer), Carlo Broschi (an opera singer known as Farinelli), Giuseppe Grabinski (a Polish general), Taddeo Matuszevic (a Polish prime minister), Maserati (the founders of the car company), Ducati (the founders of the motorcycle company), Weber (the founders of the grill company) and Zanichelli (the founders of the publishing house).

## How to visit the Certosa

The Certosa of Bologna is open to visitors every day from 8 am to 6 pm (from November to February) or from 7 am to 7 pm (from March to October). You can access it for free or book a guided tour online on [the official website](https://www.storiaememoriadibologna.it/certosa) or by phone at +39 051 6153370. The entrance is located at Via della Certosa 18. You can reach it by car or by bus (lines 20, 36 or 52).

If you are looking for a hidden gem in Italy that will surprise you with its artistic richness and diversity, you should not miss the Certosa of Bologna. This cemetery is not only a place of rest for the dead, but also a place of inspiration for the living. Don't forget your camera!

Wanna see more? click the link

Hidden Gems of Italy - THE NINFA GARDENS

May 27th, 2023

Hidden Gems of Italy - THE NINFA GARDENS

my pictures of the place:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/luca-lorenzelli/art/ninfa

If you are looking for a place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in nature and history, you should visit the Ninfa Gardens (Giardino di Ninfa) in Lazio, Italy. This enchanting garden, built on the ruins of the medieval town of Ninfa, has been declared a Natural Monument by the Lazio Region and one of the most beautiful and romantic gardens in the world by the New York Times.

The history of Ninfa

The name Ninfa derives from a Roman temple dedicated to the water deities, which is still located in the garden. The town of Ninfa was part of a larger territory called Campagna and Marittima, and had a strategic role due to its position on the route that connected Rome and Naples. In the 11th century, the town was governed by various noble families, such as the Conti di Tuscolo and the Frangipani, under whom the town's architecture flourished and its economic and political importance grew. In 1298, Pope Boniface VIII bought Ninfa and other neighboring territories for his nephew Pietro II Caetani, marking the beginning of the presence of the Caetani family in the Pontine region. In 1382, Ninfa was sacked and destroyed by the troops supporting the anti-Pope in the Great Schism. The city was never rebuilt, also because of the malaria that infested the nearby plain, and became a ghost town with only its ruins remaining.

The creation of the garden

In the 16th century, Cardinal Nicolò III Caetani, a lover of botany, created a 'garden of delights' at Ninfa that included a walled garden, hortus conclusus, situated next to the medieval castle. He planted rare citrus varieties, tulips and ornamental fountains. In the late 19th century, Ada Bootle Wilbraham, the wife of Onorato Caetani, and her sons built an actual Anglo-Saxon style garden, by draining the swamps, planting cypress trees, oaks, beeches, and restoring some ruins. The care of the garden was continued by the descendants of the Caetani family, until the last heir, Lelia, who added various botanical species and established the Roffredo Caetani Foundation, which still deals with protecting the Giardino di Ninfa and the castle of Sermoneta.

The beauty of Ninfa

The garden covers eight acres of landscape and hosts 1300 botanical species. You can admire nineteen varieties of deciduous magnolia, birch, water iris and several Japanese maples. The ornamental cherry trees that bloom in the spring, apple trees and the tulip tree are also spectacular. There are many varieties of roses that climb on trees and ruins along the river and streams, making this a particularly romantic place. Tropical plants such as avocado, banana trees and Gunnera manicata can also be admired.

The garden is also home to a rich fauna that includes 152 species of birds, such as peregrine falcons, barn owls and grey herons. The river Ninfa rises near the city and flows for 30 km towards the Pontine plain, forming a lake whose waters house a peculiar species of trout imported from Africa by the Romans thousands of years ago.

How to visit Ninfa

The garden is open to visitors only on certain days of the year (usually from April to November), with guided tours that last about an hour. You can book your tickets online on [the official website](https://www.giardinodininfa.eu/) or by phone at +39 06 9263427. The entrance fee is 15 euros for adults and 8 euros for children under 12 years old. The garden is located about 80 km south-east of Rome and can be reached by car or by train (from Roma Termini station to Latina station).

If you are looking for a unique experience in Italy, you should not miss this hidden gem that will make you feel like you are in a fairy tale. The Ninfa Gardens are a perfect destination for nature lovers, history buffs and romantics alike. Don't forget your camera!

Hidden Gems of Italy - THE TRABOCCHI COAST OF ABRUZZO

May 27th, 2023

Hidden Gems of Italy - THE TRABOCCHI COAST OF ABRUZZO

my pictures of the place:

https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/luca-lorenzelli/art/vasto
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/luca-lorenzelli/art/trabucco
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/luca-lorenzelli/art/aderci

If you are looking for a unique and authentic experience in Italy, you should not miss the Trabocchi Coast of Abruzzo. This stretch of coastline is dotted with ancient wooden fishing platforms called trabocchi, which are still used by local fishermen today. You can admire these structures from the shore, or even better, book a visit and enjoy a delicious seafood meal on one of them.

One of the most scenic and famous trabocchi is the Trabucco of Punta Aderci, near the town of Vasto. This trabucco is located in a natural reserve, where you can also find a beautiful sandy beach, a rocky cliff and a pine forest. The view from the trabucco is stunning, especially at sunset, when the sky and the sea turn into a palette of colors.

The Trabocchi Coast of Abruzzo is a hidden gem that offers a glimpse into the history and culture of this region. You will be enchanted by the charm and simplicity of these wooden constructions, which have survived for centuries and are still part of the local identity. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover a different and fascinating side of Italy.

Hidden gems of Italy - ROCCA CALASCIO

May 27th, 2023

Hidden gems of Italy - ROCCA CALASCIO

my pictures of the place: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/luca-lorenzelli/art/rocca+calascio


If you are looking for a place where history, nature and magic come together, you should visit Rocca Calascio, a medieval village and castle in the province of L’Aquila, Abruzzo. Rocca Calascio is one of the highest fortresses in Europe, located at 1460 meters above sea level, and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. It is also a popular destination for movie lovers, as it has been the set of several films, such as Ladyhawke, The Name of the Rose and The American.

The castle of Rocca Calascio dates back to the 12th century, when it was built by Roger II of Altavilla on the ruins of a Roman fortification. It was part of a defensive system that stretched from the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea, and served as a lookout point and a communication tower with other castles in the area. The castle has a square plan with four corner towers and a central keep. It was damaged by several earthquakes and attacks over the centuries, and was abandoned after a major quake in 1703. In the 1980s, it was restored and opened to the public. Today, you can visit the castle and admire its architecture and its panoramic position.

The village of Rocca Calascio is adjacent to the castle, and consists of two parts: an upper part, which is older and mostly in ruins, and a lower part, which is more recent and partially renovated. The village was inhabited until the 18th century, when most of the population moved to the nearby town of Calascio after the earthquake. Some of the houses have been converted into hotels, restaurants and shops, where you can enjoy the local cuisine and hospitality. You can also explore the narrow streets and alleys of the village, and discover its ancient charm.

On the opposite side of the castle, facing Campo Imperatore plateau, there is a small church dedicated to Santa Maria della Pietà. The church was built in the 17th century on a prehistoric site, and has a simple but elegant structure. It has a single nave with a wooden ceiling and a semicircular apse. The interior is decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of Mary and Jesus. The church is surrounded by a cemetery, where you can find some interesting tombstones carved with symbols and inscriptions. The church is also a perfect spot to admire the sunset over the mountains.

How to get there
Rocca Calascio is located about 30 km from L’Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo. You can reach it by car or by bus from L’Aquila or from other towns in the region. If you are driving, you can park your car at Calascio or at Campo Imperatore, and then walk or take a shuttle bus to Rocca Calascio. The walk takes about an hour and is not very difficult, but it can be challenging in winter or in bad weather conditions. The shuttle bus runs only on weekends and holidays, and costs 1 euro per person. If you are taking public transportation, you can take a bus from L’Aquila to Santo Stefano di Sessanio or Castel del Monte, and then change to another bus that goes to Rocca Calascio.

Why you should visit
Rocca Calascio is a place where you can experience the beauty and the history of Abruzzo in an authentic way. You can immerse yourself in a medieval atmosphere, enjoy breathtaking views of nature, taste delicious food and wine, and feel like you are in a movie. Rocca Calascio is also a great base for exploring other attractions in the area, such as Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Castel del Monte, Campo Imperatore and Gran Sasso National Park. Whether you are looking for adventure, culture or relaxation, Rocca Calascio has something for everyone.