Church of San Pietro Martire

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Church of San Pietro Martire
Via Sant'Alessio
Verona, May 2025

“The church of San Pietro Martire, also called the church of San Giorgetto, is a deconsecrated Catholic church located in Verona; built on the churchyard of the Basilica of Santa Anastasia, it constitutes an interesting scenic backdrop to the Gothic square. Construction work began in 1283 and it was consecrated on 24 April 1354. From the mid- 14th century it was granted to the ‘Brandenburg’ knights following Cangrande II della Scala; subsequently it passed to a lay brotherhood, to a noble family and to the nearby Dominican convent. Suppressed during the Napoleonic occupation, today it is owned by the Municipality of Verona. Predominantly Gothic in style, its composition appears relatively simple but harmonious. The façade features a portal embellished with a suspended porch, while inside there are numerous frescoes by unknown artists, as well as works by Domenico Brusasorzi and Gian Maria Falconetto . Outside, on the rear wall, are set several finely crafted early medieval arches.” (Chiesa di San Pietro Martire, Wikipedia)

Torreón de los Guzmanes

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Torreón de los Guzmanes
Plaza Corral de las Campanas
Ávila, September 2025

“The Torreón de los Guzmanes is a Renaissance building located in the Spanish city of Ávila (Castile and León). The building is also the current headquarters of the Provincial Council of Ávila. It was built in 1513 by order of Garcibáñez de Mújica, on another building that previously belonged to Sancho del Águila.In 1878, King Alfonso XII, during a visit to the city, stayed in this palace. The Argentine writer Enrique Larreta set part of his 1920 novel ‘La gloria de don Ramiro’ (The Glory of Don Ramiro) in this building.” (Torreón de los Guzmanes, Wikipedia)

Gian Giorgio Trissino

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Gian Giorgio Trissino by Giuseppe Zanetti, 1950
Giardini Salvi
Corso SS. Felice e Fortunato
Vicenza, May 2025

“Gian Giorgio Trissino (8 July 1478 – 8 December 1550), also called Giovan Giorgio Trissino and self-styled as Giovan Gi?rgio Trissino, was a Venetian Renaissance humanist, poet, dramatist, diplomat, grammarian, linguist, and philosopher. He first proposed adding letters to the Italian alphabet to distinguish J from I, and V from U. Trissino was born of a patrician family in Vicenza. He sided with Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian whose army entered Vicenza in June 1509, accompanied by members of Vicentine nobility including the Thiene, Chiericati, and Porto families. When Venice reconquered Vicenza on 12 November 1509, Trissino was punished for his betrayal and sent into exile. He then traveled to Germany and Lombardy and was pardoned by Venice in 1516. He eventually came under the protection of Pope Leo X, Pope Clement VII, and Pope Paul III. He had the advantages of a good humanistic training, studying Greek under Demetrios Chalkokondyles at Milan and philosophy under Niccolò Leoniceno at Ferrara. His culture recommended him to the humanist Pope Leo X, who in 1515 sent him to Germany as his nuncio; later on Pope Clement VII showed him special favour, and employed him as ambassador.” (Gian Giorgio Trissino, Wikipedia)

Plaza de la Merced

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Monumento a Torrijos
Plaza de la Merced
Málaga, March 2025

“Plaza de la Merced is a public square located in the barrio La Merced in central Málaga, Spain. The plaza has been a part of the city since the city of Málaga's Roman era, and has been operating as a town market place since at least the fifteenth century. It is one of the largest public squares in Málaga’s city center, and is also known for containing Pablo Picasso's childhood home.” (Plaza de la Merced, Wikipedia)

Museo Antoniano

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Museo Antoniano
Piazza del Santo
Padova, May 2025

“The Antoniano Museum, annexed to the Basilica of the Saint in Padua, is a permanent exhibition of historical-artistic objects linked to the life and cult of Saint Anthony of Padua. In 1895, during the restoration of the basilica and the entire Antonian complex, it became necessary to give a home to the relics that were scattered in the Antonian Library, in the cloisters and in other areas of the convent: these were artefacts that the basilica had abandoned or received as gifts. Opened at the beginning of the twentieth century, the museum was closed in 1940 with Italy's entry into the Second World War, to be reopened in 1995 when eight centuries had passed since the birth of the Saint.” (Museo Antoniano, Wikipedia)

Puerta de Alcalá

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Puerta de Alcalá
Plaza de la Independencia
Madrid, September 2025

“The Puerta de Alcalá is a Neo-classical gate in the Plaza de la Independencia in Madrid, Spain. It was a gate of the former Walls of Philip IV. It stands near the city center and several meters away from the main entrance to the Parque del Buen Retiro. The square is bisected by Alcalá Street, although the street does not cross through the monument, and it is the origin of the Alfonso XII, Serrano and Olózaga streets. Its name originates from the old path from Madrid to the nearby town of Alcalá de Henares. Madrid in the late 18th century still looked like a somewhat drab borough, surrounded by medieval walls. Around the year 1774, King Charles III commissioned Francesco Sabatini to construct a monumental gate in the city wall through which an expanded road to the city of Alcalá was to pass, replacing an older, smaller, gate that stood nearby. It was inaugurated in 1778. The ornamental details were sculpted by Francisco Gutiérrez and Roberto Michel, and made of white stone from Colmenar. The architectural elements are chiefly made of granite from Segovia.” (Puerta de Alcalá, Wikipedia)

Carlo Maggiorelli

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Monument to Carlo Maggiorelli, 1966
Anconella water treatment plant
Via Villamagna
Florence, December 2024

“The Monument to Carlo Maggiorelli (Italian: Monumento a Carlo Maggiorelli) is a memorial dedicated to Carlo Maggiorelli, an aqueduct worker and the first victim of the devastating 1966 Florence flood (Alluvione di Firenze). It honors his heroic sacrifice during the disaster. Maggiorelli (1915–1966) was an operaio (worker) employed by the municipal aqueduct service in Florence. On the night of November 3–4, 1966, during his night shift at the Anconella water treatment plant (Impianto di Potabilizzazione dell'Anconella) on the banks of the Arno River, the river burst its banks, flooding the city with up to 6 meters (20 feet) of water and mud in some areas. Instead of fleeing, Maggiorelli stayed at his post to secure the facility and protect the water supply for Florence. He was tragically swept away by the torrent and drowned, becoming the flood's first confirmed casualty. Unveiled in 1996 at the initiative of the association Firenze Promuove, the monument is a simple yet poignant bronze plaque and bust sculpture depicting Maggiorelli in his work uniform, symbolizing labor and heroism. It was created to preserve his memory as a local hero. Situated at the main entrance to the Anconella Water Treatment Plant. Originally inside the adjacent Parco dell'Anconella, it was relocated and restored in 2016—marking the 50th anniversary of the flood—to improve visibility from the street. The site overlooks the Arno, tying directly to the events of his death.” (Monument to Carlo Maggiorelli, Grok)