Monument to Eloy Gonzalo

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Monument to Eloy Gonzalo by Aniceto Marinas, 1902
Plaza de Cascorro
Madrid, September 2025

“The Monument to Eloy Gonzalo is an instance of public art in Madrid, Spain. It is a monument dedicated to Eloy Gonzalo, the so-called Hero of Cascorro. Erected on the plaza de Cascorro, it consists of a bronze statue of the aforementioned Cuban War hero authored by Aniceto Marinas, put on a stone plinth. It is a monument dedicated to Eloy Gonzalo [es] a Spanish soldier in the Cuban War independence who, in September 1896 — during a siege by a party of about 2,500 Cuban mambises equipped with 70 mm battalion guns on a small regiment of Spanish soldiers garrisoned in the small village of Cascorro — reportedly volunteered to his superiors in a nearly suicidal mission to infiltrate the enemy lines and fire the hut used as a warehouse for the weaponry of the enemy. Reportedly equipped with a 10-liter gasoline can, a Mauser rifle, a torch and a rope (to tie himself allowing for the retrieval of his corpse in case he fell in action, as he was certain of) he succeeded against all odds, helping to demoralize the enemy until the lift of the siege by General Adolfo Jiménez Castellanos, only to die of dysentery in Matanzas in June 1897.” (Monument to Eloy Gonzalo, Wikipedia)

Borgo della Paglia

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Borgo della Paglia
Via della Paglia
Padua, May 2025

“Borgo della Paglia is a charming, narrow alleyway tucked away in the historic heart of Padua (Padova), Italy, evoking the city's Renaissance past. It's not a grand monument but a quiet slice of urban history, lined with ancient porticos, modest stone buildings, and glimpses of the Bacchiglione River. This spot is best known as the birthplace of one of Italy's most influential architects, Andrea Palladio (born Andrea di Pietro della Gondola in 1508), who lived here during his early childhood until around 1516, when his family relocated to Vicenza. A commemorative plaque marks his family's former home in nearby Via dei Rogati, part of the same neighborhood. The alley's moniker, meaning ‘Straw District’, stems from its practical origins: in medieval times, boats along the river unloaded bales of straw here to feed horses in the nearby stables of the Castello Carrarese (a 14th-century fortress). Over time, ‘paglia’ (straw) also took on a slang connotation of mockery or derision, perhaps alluding to the area's humble, working-class vibe—home to boatmen, millers, and artisans like Palladio's father, a miller.” (Borgo della Paglia, Grok)

Iglesia del Salvador

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Iglesia del Salvador
Plaza del Salvador
Segovia, September 2025

“The Church of the Savior is a Catholic temple in the Spanish city of Segovia. It is located in the city of Segovia, in the Plaza del Salvador , and is situated in the suburb of the same name. Of the original Romanesque temple, only the portico , which forms an angle with the church, and part of the tower, with closed twin windows, remain. The interior of the church has a single nave, with a Gothic ribbed vault, a transept and a main chapel, with a gilded Plateresque altarpiece, paid for by Diego Tamayo in 1587, which has a painting of the Adoration of the Kings in the center and others on the sides.” (Iglesia del Salvador, Wikipedia)

Monument to George Washington

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Monument to George Washington, 1932
Piazzale Kennedy
Parco delle Cascine (Cascine Park)
Florence, January 2025

“The monument was built in 1932 at the behest of the Americans residing in Florence, on the occasion of the second centenary of the birth of the first President of the United States of America. The work is located in piazzale Kennedy, in the central area of the Cascine Park, the largest green area in the city. The restoration was funded by: Florence Lions Club; Lions Club Florence Impruneta San Casciano; Lions Club Florence Cosimo de ' Medici; Giotto Florence Lions Club; Barberino Montelibertas Lions Club; Lions Club Le Signe. George Washington was an American politician and military. He was commander of the army in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) and became the first President of the United States of America. It is considered one of the great founding fathers of the American nation. Between the 19th and 20th centuries Florence became one of the favorite places for American artists and writers.” (Monument to George Washington, Art@Site)

Iglesia de San Martín de Tours

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Iglesia de San Martín de Tours
Plaza del Corrillo
Salamanca, September 2025

“The church of San Martín is a Spanish Romanesque church located in the Plaza del Corrillo and next to the southern wing of the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca. The church was built on a hermitage dedicated to Saint Peter in the 12th century, specifically in 1103 at the initiative of Count Martín Fernández, in the Toresanos neighborhood, during the repopulation of the city led by Raimundo de Borgoña by order of King Alfonso VI of León. At that time, in 1173, it was called the church of San Martín del Mercado or San Martín de la Plaza. The church, which currently appears wedged between modern buildings, has undergone numerous restorations throughout its history. Its medieval elements are largely masked by the successive reforms carried out in the temple and the modern buildings in the surroundings.” (Iglesia de San Martín de Tours, Wikipedia)

San Fermo Maggiore

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San Fermo Maggiore
Via Dogana
Verona, May 2025

“San Fermo Maggiore is a Romanesque and Gothic church in central Verona. It is dedicated to Saints Firmus and Rusticus, brothers who are local martyrs from the 3rd century. The exterior has a roofline with pinnacles, and the church once held the tomb of a member of the Scaligers. The interior has many medieval frescos, as well as later decoration, including the Brenzoni Monument (discussed below), an altarpiece of St Francis of Assisi by Giovanni Battista Belloti, whilst Veronese's Bevilacqua-Lazise Altarpiece was originally painted for a funerary chapel in the church. A crucifixion on the counter-façade is one of Turone's most significant works. A church at this site may has been traced to the 8th century, and by the 11th century a second story and belltower was added by the Benedictine order. There is a ‘lower church’ (chiesa inferiore) below the main church. The campanile was not completed until the 13th century, it contains six bells in F cast in 1755 and rung with the Veronese bellringing art. The presbytery hosts relics of the saints Fermo and Rustico.” (San Fermo Maggiore, Wikipedia)

Iglesia de San Pedro

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Iglesia de San Pedro
Plaza de Santa Teresa
Ávila, September 2025

“The Church of San Pedro is a Romanesque temple located in the Spanish city of Ávila. The church is located opposite the gate of the Alcázar in the walls of Ávila, next to the Benedictine monastery of Nuestra Señora de la Antigua. The first reference to it is found in a document from 1103, appearing in the ‘Chronicle of the Population of Ávila’ (1173). The building has a Latin cross plan, with three naves ending in three apses, the central nave being higher than the side ones. The three entrance doors are Romanesque; the one on the western side or at the foot features a large rose window above the façade. The complex is surrounded by a landscaped and paved area. It overlooks the Plaza de Santa Teresa, also known as the ‘Plaza del Mercado Grande’. Inside, it features, among other works of art, carvings of Saint Catherine and Saint Paul.” (Iglesia de San Pedro, Wikipedia)