Daoiz and Velarde

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Monument to Daoiz and Velarde by Aniceto Marinas, 1910
Plaza de la Reina Victoria Eugenia
Segovia, September 2025

“The Monument to Daoiz and Velarde (Spanish: Monumento a Daoiz y Velarde) is an instance of public art in Segovia, Spain. Designed by Aniceto Marinas, it is a memorial to Luis Daoiz y Torres and Pedro Velarde y Santillán, two Spanish artillery officers who fell fighting against the French army at the 1808 Dos de Mayo Uprising, in the context of the Peninsular War. It is located near the Alcázar of Segovia. The laying of the foundation stone was held on 6 May 1908, on the occasion of the festivities taking place in early May for the 100th anniversary of the Dos de Mayo uprising.” (Monument to Daoiz and Velarde, Wikipedia)

Cathedral and Baptistery

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Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption and Baptistery
Piazza Duomo
Padua, May 2025

“Padua Cathedral, or Basilica Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption (Italian: Duomo di Padova; Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta), is a Catholic church and minor basilica located on the east end of Piazza Duomo, adjacent to the bishop's palace in Padua, Veneto, Italy. The cathedral, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, is the seat of the Bishop of Padua. The church building, first erected as a cathedral in the 4th century, has undergone major reconstructions over the centuries.” (Padua Cathedral, Wikipedia)
“The Padua Baptistery, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a baptistery on the Piazza del Duomo next to the cathedral in Padua, Italy. Preserved inside is one of the most important fresco cycles of the 14th century, a masterpiece by Giusto de' Menabuoi. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Padua's fourteenth-century fresco cycles, inscribed in 2021 for its outstanding cultural and artistic significance.” (Padua Baptistery, Wikipedia)

Convento de las Dueñas

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Convento de las Dueñas
Plaza del Concilio de Trento
Salamanca, September 2025

“The Convento de las Dueñas is a Dominican convent located in the city of Salamanca. It was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. The convent was founded in 1419 by Juana Rodriguez de Monroy in the palace that was property of her husband, Juan Sánchez de Sevilla, a prominent converso. The church and the cloister were built around 1533. The convent preserves some of the original mudejar gates of the palace. One of them leads to the cloister. The capitals of the upper storey are among the more prominent examples of the Plateresque.” (Convento de las Dueñas, Wikipedia)

Taras Shevchenko

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Taras Shevchenko by Oleg Pinchuk, 2021
Biblioteca delle Oblate
Via dell'Oriuolo
Florence, January 2025

“Florence has a long-standing relationship with Kyiv, having been twinned with the capital of Ukraine since July 27, 1967, when Catholic Mayor Piero Bargellini sought diplomacy with his Communist counterpart during the Cold War, a year after the devastating Florence flood of 1966. Sharing a history based on culture, in 2015, Florence gave a statue of Dante to Kyiv and, in 2021, the capital of Ukraine reciprocated by gifting a statue of the poet Taras Shevchenko to Florence, which continues to stand in the courtyard of the Oblate library. Just step through the gate and turn to the right. The base bears the powerful inscription: ‘Great Ukrainian poet, painter, thinker and humanist. Defender of freedom and civic duty. Fight and you will win’.” (Florence and Kyiv stand side by side, The Florentine)

Iglesia de San Juan

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Iglesia de San Juan
Calle Martín Carramolino
Ávila, September 2025

“The Church of San Juan is a Catholic temple located in the Spanish city of Ávila, in Castile and León. The building is located in the Plaza del Mercado Chico in Ávila, where it has one of its doors, although the main one is the one that opens onto San Juan Street. Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada was baptized in this church and over the years became known as Saint Teresa of Jesus. It was declared a national historical-artistic monument on April 13, 1983, by a decree published on June 11, 1983 in the Official State Gazette , with the signatures of King Juan Carlos I and the then Minister of Culture Javier Solana.” (Iglesia de San Juan, Wikipedia)

Corte Sgarzarie

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The 4th century Mangano loggia
Corte Sgarzarie
Verona, May 2025

“Corte Sgarzerie is a monumental complex located in the heart of the old town of Verona, at a short distance from Corso Porta Borsari and Piazza delle Erbe, consisting of a square by the same name and a late-medieval loggia. Under the square are located the remnants of the Veronese ‘Capitolium’. It is a place deeply rooted to wool production, as the toponym itself attests – ‘sgarzarie’ is a Veronese form of the word ‘scardasserie’, places dedicated to the carding activity. During the thirteenth century the Veronese wool industry activity increased significantly, to the point that the techniques of production and the production itself became highly sought after in several markets of northern and central Italy. During the principality of Mastino II della Scala, the activity reached even higher levels of production, and several measures were taken to better organize the whole manufacturing effort, concentrated mainly at Corte Sgarzerie. Therefore, it was likely that during his government that the so-called Mangano loggia was built; this was located in the center of the square and still gives its unique characteristics today; this was in fact necessary to give more space to wool workers, as it could measure, weigh and stamp products and gave opportunity to negotiate and haggle.” (Corte Sgarzerie, Wikipedia)

Fuente de Reding

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Fuente de Reding (Reding Fountain), 1675
Paseo de Sancha
Málaga, March 2025

“The Reding Fountain is a historic 17th century fountain located in the Andalusian city of Málaga, Spain. It has been reproduced countless times by local painters. It is located at one end of Príes Avenue and, although it is currently connected to the public water supply network, it previously channeled spring water from Mount Gibralfaro. It is a drinking fountain built in marble and attached to a pediment between pilasters that give it a monumental appearance. At the bottom, above the basin, there is a figurehead in the shape of an imaginary fish surrounded by acanthus and borders, from whose mouth the fountain's single spout flows. Above this figurehead is a marble plaque with an inscription relating to the road renovation that gave rise to the current Paseo de Reding, as well as the completion date of the work. Between the basin and the figurehead is an inscription relating to the construction of Paseo de Reding itself and the restoration of the fountain during the time of Theodore Reding.” (Fuente de Reding, Wikipedia)