A compendium of interesting places, hidden wonders, Beautiful Places, strange travel destination, tourist attractions.
Tuesday 9 January 2024
Baths of Caracalla in Rome, Italy.
Friday 29 July 2022
Palazzo Fortuny–Venice
Venetians called this place “The House of the Magician.” It’s where Mariano Fortuny, who became world famous for his outrageously gorgeous fabrics, gowns, and lamps, set up his home and workshop in 1907. There was a woman behind his success: Henriette Negrin, who he met in Paris in 1897 when she was a French widow, a model, and a seamstress. She became his muse, collaborator, and wife—after they lived together for twenty-two years.
You’ll see Fortuny’s paintings of Henriette here—some nude, others with her dressed elegantly with her hair swept up, along with photographs of their trips to Greece and Egypt, where Fortuny got lots of inspiration. In the museum where they once lived and worked together, you enter the world of this eccentric, twentieth-century Renaissance man. Fortuny was born in Granada in 1871, to both a father and grandfather (on his mother’s side) who were highly acclaimed painters in Spain.
His father died when he was three, so his mother took him to live in Paris, and also traveled about, until they finally settled in Venice, because Fortuny was horribly allergic to horses, and this was the only place around without carriages. After his early artistic endeavors in painting and photography, and success in designing sets and lighting for theater, Fortuny, at thirty-six years old, began his work on printed fabrics here with Henriette. He’d already had an attic studio in the thirteenth-century palazzo, and then bought the building that had been cut up into apartments and gutted it, turning it into a free-flowing creative space.
The walls of the first floor’s large rectangular room are covered with Fortuny’s patterned fabrics, creating a warm, exotic, colorful ambiance. His paintings and lamps surround displays of his gowns and capes that were worn by such illustrious women as Eleanora Duse, Sarah Bernhardt, and Isadora Duncan. Fortuny broke into the woman’s fashion world in 1907 with his Delphos gown, inspired by tunics from ancient Greek statuary.
It was simple and finely pleated, in soft, shimmering colors. Women happily tore off their corsets to put on the sensational dress that elegantly draped their bodies. He packaged it rolled up in a hatbox, so it was easy and light for travel. The second floor of the museum gives you an idea of what life was like when 100 workers were there producing Fortuny fabrics, under Henriette’s supervision. In contrast to what’s below, it’s stripped bare with only huge worktables.
Off to the side is Fortuny’s library and personal workshop, where you’ll get a hit of the practical side of this free-spirited artist. It’s packed with volumes of books about artists who came before him, lots of journals where he cataloged designs and colors, his paints and tools. Fortuny’s preferred entrance to this palazzo was climbing through the skylight, straight into his workshop. Fortuny’s fabric designs, of intricate swirls, animals, and geometric prints, on cotton, silk, or velvet, clearly show his influences from Spain and travels to Greece and farther east.
But ultimately, they’re completely Venetian, reflecting the cultural melting pot of the city, with rich colors muted by the city’s fog, or glistening in gold or silver sunlight. He was called “the magician” because nobody could figure out exactly how he produced these fabrics, and his techniques are still kept secret. You’ll be so tempted to reach out and touch them in the museum, but you can’t.
For a tactile experience, head to the Fortuny Showroom on Giudecca, or one of the Venetia Studium stores in Venice, where you can even buy a scarf, pillow, purse, or lamp to take home and keep a little bit of the Venetian magician in your life. Palazzo Fortuny Museum: Campo San Beneto (San Marco), 10-6, closed Tuesday.
Sunday 23 February 2020
Scola Tower - Italy
Italy has a rich history of the fortress; hence every town has many ancient places to see. Scola Tower is one of them, a military building located in the province of La Spezia. The tradition and architecture of Scola Tower showcase rich history. It was built in the 17th century with large blocks of square stone that still stands 42ft tall in the sea. The main object to build this tower for the defense system of the senate of the Genoa in order to protect the coast, surrounding towns and villages.
The historian believed, the Scola Tower was made to accommodate 8 to 10 soldiers, comprising a Captain, a bomber, commanders, and their guards. Earlier this tower was also called “Torre di San Giovanni Battista” and “Tower of St. John the Baptist”. Early chronicles claim the tower was built at the cost of 56,000 Genoese liras.
The pentagonal shape tower has 4 feet thick wall. That is why the architecture of this tower still stands in the sea. In the 18th century, the naval battle between the British and Napoleon badly damaged the structure, eventually no other option to left it abandoned. As time passed, the tower lost its defense purpose, and authorities found the structure useless. In 1915, it was planned to demolish. But luckily Socla Tower kept saving by Ubaldo Mazzini an official of the Ministry of Public Education by realizing its historical value and make some structure improvement.
For many years, the tower was a place for the Italian Navy target practice. In the 20th century, travelers realized the value of old buildings and paying visits regularly. Therefore, the Italian government realize the importance of this historic tower and systematically restored between 1976 till 1980 to save the structure for future generations.
Eventually, it becomes a popular tourist attraction in Palmaria (island) in Porto Venere in the Gulf of Poets. The loneliest nature creates an opportunity for tourists to come here and enjoy the unforgettable surroundings of water. They can relax their mind and body to view the history of this beautiful tower. The dramatic and fascinating beauty is one of the most characteristic features in the Gulf of poets.
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