Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II

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Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II by Augusto Benvenuti, 1880
Piazza del Duomo
Vicenza, May 2025

“The monument to Vittorio Emanuele II is located in Vicenza, in Piazza Duomo. It was inaugurated on 18 November 1880 (14th anniversary of the decoration of the flag of Vicenza, awarded the gold medal for military valour for the events of 1848, by the sovereign). The work is by the Venetian sculptor Augusto Benvenuti. At the inauguration ceremony, in addition to the city and provincial authorities, there were also Prince Amedeo, son of the late sovereign and the then Minister of Public Works, Alfredo Baccarini. The monument depicts Vittorio Emanuele II in military uniform in the act of placing his helmet with his right hand on a fragment of Roman architecture on which the motto SPQR is carved. On the pedestal of the monument rests (sitting) another statue depicting the City of Vicenza who with his right hand holds the coat of arms of the City and with the other supports the flag of the Municipality which was decorated for military valour by Vittorio Emanuele II himself.” (Monumento a Vittorio Emanuele II, Wikipedia)

Monumento a la Infanta Maria Luisa

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Monumento a la Infanta Maria Luisa, 1972
(bronze copy of a work by Enrique Pérez Comendador, 1928)
Parque de María Luisa
Seville, September 2022

“The monument to the Infanta María Luisa is a bronze copy of the sculpture made in stone by Enrique Pérez Comendador in 1929, which is located in the María Luisa park in the city of Seville (Andalusia). It was installed by the Seville City Council in the park as a token of gratitude to Infanta María Luisa Fernanda de Borbón for donating some land from the San Telmo Palace to convert it into the current park. The first commission for the statue was made to the sculptor Antonio Susillo on March 23, 1893, who presented a project on December 17 of the same year, but on March 20, 1894 the Academy of Fine Arts of Santa Isabel de Hungría (Seville) decided not to approve the sculptor's project, and his unexpected death left him out of the project. It was not until 1929 that the work was completed, commissioned by Enrique Pérez Comendador, who made a stone statue representing the Infanta with a flower in her hand, which seems to symbolize her daughter María de las Mercedes. The statue was placed on Avenida Rodríguez Caso, within the park. In 1965, it moved its location a few meters within the same park and was placed next to the Lotus Pond. Later, the stone statue was stored in the Convent of Santa Clara and a bronze statue was placed in its place. Original statue in the gardens of the Orleans-Borbón Palace in Sanlúcar de Barrameda. In 1972 the stone statue was moved to the Plaza de los Cisnes in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cádiz), where her husband, the Duke of Montpensier Antonio de Orleans, also had a palace. In 2008 the stone statue was moved from the Plaza de los Cisnes to the gardens of the Orleans-Borbón Palace in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, which is now municipal.” (Monumento a la Infanta María Luisa, Wikipedia)

Teatro Verdi

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Teatro Verdi
Via dei Livello
Padua, May 2025

“The Teatro Nuovo, now the Teatro Verdi, is the main theatre in Padua. The building, commissioned by a society of Paduan nobles, was built by the Paduan architect Giovanni Gloria based on a design by the architect Antonio Cugini from Reggio. In 1751, it was inaugurated with a melodrama by Metastasio and was called the ‘Teatro Nuovo e della Nobiltà’. In 1847, its exterior was renovated by Antonio Monte based on a design by Giuseppe Jappelli. In 1884, its interior was modernized by the Milanese architect Achille Sfondrini, who had designed the Rome Opera House. The vault, which depicts the Dance of the Hours, was painted by Pietro Paoletti and later redone by Giacomo Casa. The inauguration took place on June 8, 1884, under its current name. The music for the opening of the modernized theater was composed by the Paduan musician Angelo Tessaro. Originally, the theater was flanked by the narrow Vicolo dei Subiotti; in 1958, this layout was disrupted with the opening of Corso Milano. Furthermore, some houses leaning against the building were demolished, revealing three large lancet windows that served to illuminate the stage.” (Teatro Verdi, Wikipedia)

St Mark's Regents Park

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St Mark's Regents Park
St Mark's Square, Camden
London, May 2023

“St. Mark's Church is located in the Borough of Camden, London, near Regent's Park on Prince Albert Road and Regent's Park Road in Primrose Hill. Built in 1851-2, it was consecrated in 1853 and belongs to the Diocese of London within the Church of England. Originally designed by Thomas Little, alterations in 1888-90 were made by Arthur Blomfield, it is constructed of Kentish ragstone in the early English style. The church was destroyed during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and the restored church was consecrated in October 1957, the first completely rebuilt Anglican church in London. It is listed Grade II on the National Heritage List for England. The church contains stained glass (1957) depicting St Peter and St Mark by Brian Thomas. It also contains a reredos by Sir Ninian Comper.” (St Mark's Regents Park, Wikipedia) k

Pescheria Vecchia

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Pescheria Vecchia (Old Fish Market)
Piazzetta Pescheria
Verona, May 2025

“This is an unusual place: perhaps one of the most charming little squares in the city, home to bars with lovely outdoor seating, some of the city's most popular restaurants, and... a supermarket! It's not just any supermarket, however, as it's located inside the beautiful Pescheria Vecchia (Old Fish Market) of Verona. It's worth walking around the building to discover, beyond the beautiful battlements and the intact sign on the front, the side overlooking the Adige River with its unique decoration. Inside, however, there's nothing to suggest its original purpose. This supermarket is located in the city center, making it a great choice for anyone craving a drink or a sandwich at a reasonable price!” (Pescheria vecchia, Minube)

Santo Cáliz

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Santo Cáliz (Holy Chalice)
Catedral de Santa María
Plaza de la Virgen
Valencia, September 2022

“The Holy Chalice (Santo Cáliz) is an agate cup preserved in the Cathedral of Valencia. The chalice is commonly credited as being the actual Holy Grail used by Jesus during the Last Supper and is preserved in a chapel consecrated to it, where it still attracts the faithful on pilgrimage. The artifact has seemingly never been accredited with supernatural powers. The cup is made of dark red agate which is mounted by means of a knobbed stem and two curved handles onto a base made from an inverted cup of chalcedony. The agate cup is about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) in diameter and the total height, including base, is about 17 centimetres (7 inches) high. The base, stems and handles are later additions purportedly medieval, with the lower part added 'Arabic looking' inscription. The red agate cup itself (the chalice) was most likely produced in a Levantine or Egyptian workshop between the 2nd century BC and the 1st century AD.” (Holy Chalice, Wikipedia)

Bell tower of Santa Maria Annunciata

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Bell tower of Santa Maria Annunciata
Contra' Graribaldi
Vicenza, May 2025

“It is slightly detached from the church and located across the road that runs along the southern flank of the cathedral. It is clearly a disjointed structure, the result of additions and modifications made in different periods and using different materials, as is still clearly evident, especially in the external base. The construction of the base probably dates back to the period of the Hungarian invasions, in the second decade of the 10th century, at the time of Bishop Vitale, Archchancellor of Emperor Berengario I. It was probably a tower to defend the cathedral and the bishop's palace, with perimeter walls 4 metres thick, made of conglomerate covered with trachyte slabs, fill materials from the Roman era. Above this tower – clearly pollarded – a brick tower approximately 20 metres high was added in the first decades of the 12th century, with a bell tower of typical Romanesque appearance. The bell tower was restored and brought to its current appearance in 1995-98.” (Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunciata, Wikipedia)