Santa Maria della Rosa

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Santa Maria della Rosa
Via della Rosa
Lucca, June 2024

"Santa Maria della Rosa is a Gothic- style, Roman Catholic church located on Via della Rosa in central Lucca, region of Tuscany, Italy. The church as we see it dates from a 1309-1333 construction at the site of an older oratory devoted to an icon of the Madonna, holding a Rose, and with St Peter and St Paul. The church was adjacent to the Roman walls of Lucca. One of the portals has sculpted ornaments of a Dragon breathing roses. The facade remained incomplete till the end of the 15th century. The main altarpiece is the famous icon of the Madonna of the Rose. The church was visited frequently during 1900 to 1903, by Saint Gemma Galgani. Every April 11, the anniversary of her death is celebrated." (Santa Maria della Rosa, Wikipedia)

Fastnachtsbrunnen

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Fastnachtsbrunnen (Carnival Fountain) by Georg Grasegger, 1913
Gülichplatz, Obenmarspforten
Cologne, September 2024

“The carnival fountain created in 1913 by the Cologne artist Georg Grasegger is a dedication to the carnival. The dancing couples depicted represent the farm labourers and maids who represent the peasantry during carnival. The putto is enthroned on the fountain, beating a drum and smoking a pipe. The pipe refers to the sponsor of the child figure, the neighbouring former tobacco factory Haus Neuerburg. Finally, the fountain is adorned with a poem by Goethe, which reveals the poet's ambivalent relationship to the carnival activities. In the context of the fountain, Goethe's lines suggest that there is a carnival that is less orderly and tidy than the depiction of the fountain conveys and urges moderation. Even after more than 100 years, the carnival fountain embodies the question of how excessive the carnival activities can be.” (Carnival fountain, Cologne Tourism)

Church of San Giorgio

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Church of San Giorgio
Via Farini
Modena, May 2024

“Designed by architect and court designer Gaspare Vigarani in the mid-1600s, the Church of San Giorgio houses a number of Baroque paintings. Its high altar, dating back to 1666 and attributed to Antonio Loraghi, was embellished with an image of the Virgin, added some 30 years later. Vigarani also taught his sons the art of architecture and design – Modena-born Carlo later worked in the court of Louis XIV at Versailles. The facade, designed by Antonio Loraghi, was built in 1685. The cycle of marble statues are the work of Giovanni, Andrea and Tommaso Lazzoni.” (San Giorgio church, VisitModena)

MyZeil

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MyZeil by Massimiliano Fuksas, 2009
Zeil
Frankfurt, September 2024

“MyZeil is a shopping mall in the center of Frankfurt, Germany. It was designed by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas. It is part of the PalaisQuartier development, with its main entrance on the Zeil, Frankfurt's main shopping street. It was officially opened on 26 February 2009 by the city mayor Petra Roth.” (MyZeil, Wikipedia)

Palazzo del Monte

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Palazzo del Monte
Piazza Prampolini
Reggio Emilia, May 2024

“The Palazzo del Monte was the first seat of the Municipality of Reggio, which endowed it with the soaring tower in 1216. Sold to the Monte di Pietà in the 15th century, its hall remained the center of social life in Reggio: in fact, it was transformed into a theater in 1564 and inaugurated in the presence of Barbara of Austria, wife of Alfonso II. The hall was renovated over the centuries by Gaspare Vigarani and the Bibiena brothers, but was unfortunately destroyed by a fire in 1740.” (Palazzo del Monte di Pietà, TourER)

Der Jahrhundertschritt

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“Der Jahrhundertschritt” (The Step of the Century) by Wolfgang Mattheuer, 1984
Grimmaische Straße
Leipzig, September 2024

“The Step of the Century (in German: Jahrhundertschritt) is a bronze sculpture that was created by Wolfgang Mattheuer in 1984. It is considered one of the most important works of art in the GDR at the time of the division of Germany and is a parable of the turmoil of the 20th century.” (The Step of the Century, Wikipedia)

Palazzo Gotico

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Palazzo Comunale (Palazzo Gotico)
Piazza del Cavalli
Piacenza, May 2024

“Palazzo Comunale (also called Palazzo Gotico) is a Gothic style palace located facing Piazza del Cavalli in the historic center of Piacenza, northern Italy which now serves as the seat of municipal administration. The facade is flanked by two bronze equestrian statues sculpted by Francesco Mochi and depicting the Farnese Dukes of Parma: Ranuccio (1612–20) and his father, Alexander (1620-1629). Across the piazza is the late-Baroque or early neoclassic Palazzo del Governatore (1787) designed by Lotario Tomba. Recessed and to the right is the 17th-century Collegio dei Mercanti.” (Palazzo Comunale, Wikipedia)