Casa de Sefarad

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Casa de Sefarad
Calle Judios
Córdoba, September 2022

“The House of Sepharad - House of Memories, is a cultural centre situated right in the heart of the Jewish Quarter of Cordoba. There are permanent exhibitions and cultural activities aimed at arousing interest in this forgotten heritage and recovering memories of a tradition which is an essential part of our cultural identity: the Sepharad, or Hispano-Jewish tradition. The permanent exhibition, Memories of the Sepharad, is divided into nine thematic rooms, displaying: Sala de la Diáspora, Sala de la Sinagoga, Sala del Judeoespañol, Sala de Maimónides, Sala de la Inquisición, Sala de la vida doméstica, Sala de Mujeres & Sefarad, Sala de los ciclos festivos and Sala de la música sefardí.”(Casa de Sefarad, Turismo de Córdoba)

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)

San Miguel el Alto

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Church of San Miguel el Alto
Calle Corralillo San Miguel
Toledo, September 2022

“The Iglesia de San Miguel el Alto is a building of medieval origin located in Toledo (Castile-La Mancha, Spain). Dedicated to St Michael, the church served one of the old Latin parishes of the city, but is now part of the parish of San Justo. It appears that it also had some relation to the Knights Templar who are believed to have had a guest-house in Toledo. The original 12th century building was extensively remodelled in the 17th century by Juan Bautista Monegro, but retains some Mudejar features, notably its tower from around the end of the 13th century.” (Church of San Miguel el Alto, Wikipedia)

Church of Santa Margherita

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Church of Santa Margherita
Via San Francesco
Padua, May 2025

“The church of Santa Margherita is a religious building of medieval origin that overlooks Via San Francesco, in Padua. Dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch, it owes its current architectural form to the interventions of Tommaso Temanza and perhaps Domenico Rossi. Until 1797 it was the ‘Abbadia’ of the Gradenigo family , currently it is an oratory subject to the parish of San Francesco Grande. The church was founded on June 9, 1198, by the monks of the Abbey of San Cipriano in Murano . It was an important religious center for the district, which was known as ‘Santa Margherita’, but with the construction of the church of San Francesco Grande in 1416, it lost importance. The precise characteristics of the original building are unknown. In the 16th century, the assets of the Abbey of San Cipriano passed to the Patriarchate of Venice , but by order of Sixtus V, the sacred building remained with the Gradenigo patricians, who had previously assumed full patronage rights over the church and other assets of the defunct Murano Abbey. The independent church, ‘Abbadia de'Gradenighi’, which a member of the family governed with the title of Abbot, underwent various changes until its complete reconstruction, undertaken by its owners around the 1730s and 1740s. According to Rossetti (1780), the work was entrusted to a certain Domenico Rizzi, perhaps the same Domenico Rossi towards whom the critic Giulio Bresciani Alvarez was leaning. The façade was erected to a design by Tommaso Temanza in 1748. The first work of the Venetian architect, it provoked heavy criticism so much so that it risked demolition. It was saved thanks to the intervention of Giovanni Poleni, Temanza's mentor.” (Chiesa di Santa Margherita, Wikipedia)

Día y Noche

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‘Día y Noche’ (Day and Night) by Antonio López García, 2008
Avenida de la Ciudad de Barcelona
Madrid, September 2022

“Just outside Atocha Station (a transportation hub also known for its own tropical garden), a pair of gigantic, realistic baby heads greet passengers. Made of bronze, they stand 3 meters (or nearly 10 feet) tall and weigh over 2 tons each. Although they may seem slightly creepy, the story behind these sculptures is a sweet one. The baby heads, installed here in 2008, are the work of the Spanish artist Antonio López García. They represent ‘Day’ (Día) and ‘Night’ (Noche). One of them has its eyes open and the other has its eyes shut. Designed in López García's realistic style, the meaning behind the freestanding baby heads may leave viewers scratching their own heads. But actually, both are based on the face of López García's granddaughter Carmen, when she was only eight months old. Born in a rural town in 1936, López García came to Madrid when he was 13 years old to study art. He first arrived at Atocha Station, and made his name as an artist in the following years. So it's quite fitting to find his baby granddaughter here, even though most people pass by the heads without knowing their background.” (Día y Noche, Atlas Obscura)

Chimera of Arezzo

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‘Chimera of Arezzo’
National Archaeological Museum
Piazza Santissima Annunziata
Florence, January 2025

“The Chimera of Arezzo is regarded as the best example of ancient Etruscan art. The British art historian David Ekserdjian described the sculpture as ‘one of the most arresting of all animal sculptures and the supreme masterpiece of Etruscan bronze-casting’. Made entirely of bronze and measuring 78.5 cm high with a length of 129 cm, it was found alongside a small collection of other bronze statues in Arezzo, an ancient Etruscan and Roman city in Tuscany. The statue was originally part of a larger sculptural group representing a fight between a chimera and the Greek hero Bellerophon. This sculpture is likely to have been created as a votive offering to the Etruscan god Tinia and is held by the National Archaeological Museum, Florence.” (Chimera of Arezzo, Wikipedia)

A la mujer cordobesa

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Monumento a la mujer cordobesa by José Manuel Belmonte Cortés, 2003
Plaza de Colón
Córdoba, September 2022

“The ‘Monumento a la belleza de la mujer cordobesa’ (Monument to the Beauty of Cordoban Women) is located next to the Merced Gardens, in the Plaza de Colón in the city of Córdoba, province of Córdoba. The work was inaugurated on April 29, 2003, and is the creation of sculptor José Manuel Belmonte Cortés. It stands as a tribute to the women of Córdoba, highlighting their elegance and the symbolism of the city's ancient traditions. The sculpture was conceived to highlight the connection with Córdoba's culture and heritage. The bronze monument depicts two Cordoban women standing on either side of a fountain. One of the figures holds a pitcher on her hip, while the other extends her hand toward the water, the pitcher at her side. Both women wear traditional Cordoban buns and combs, evoking a time of refined beauty. The work is notable for its realism and the detail in their hairstyles and traditional costumes.” (Fuente Monumento a la belleza de la mujer cordobesa, MonumentalNet)

Arche scaligere

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Arche scaligere (Scaliger Tombs)
Via Santa Maria Antica
Verona, May 2025

“The Scaliger Tombs (Italian: Arche scaligere) is a group of five Gothic funerary monuments in Verona, Italy, celebrating the Scaliger family, who ruled in Verona from the 13th to the late 14th century. The tombs are located in a court outside the church of Santa Maria Antica, separated from the street by a wall with iron grilles. Built in Gothic style, they are a series of tombs, mostly freestanding open tabernacle-like structures rising high above the ground, with a sarcophagus surmounted by an elaborate baldachin, topped by a statue of the deceased, mounted and wearing armour. According to the French historian Georges Duby, they are one of the most outstanding examples of Gothic art.” (Scaliger Tombs, Wikipedia)

Juan Pablo II

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Monumento a Juan Pablo II by Juan Manuel Miñarro, 2012
Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, Casco Antiguo
Seville, September 2022

“The monument to John Paul II is a bronze statue on a pedestal located in the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes in Seville, Andalusia, Spain. The monument represents a gesture from the city to John Paul II, who visited Seville in 1982, for the beatification of Angela de la Cruz, and in 1993, when he closed the XLV International Eucharistic Congress. The monument was designed in 2006 by the Association for the Promotion of John Paul II. It was built and displayed at the Cajasol Center in Plaza San Francisco. Various locations were considered for its placement: Plaza de la Contratación, Puerta de Jerez, and Adolfo Rodríguez Jurado Street. Finally, it was agreed to place it in Plaza Virgen de los Reyes, near Seville Cathedral and opposite the Archbishop's Palace. The statue stands on a marble pedestal with a plaque. It was inaugurated in 2012 in the presence of the mayor, Juan Ignacio Zoido, and the archbishop, Juan José Asenjo.” (Monumento a Juan Pablo II, Wikipedia)

Palazzo Sesso Zen

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Palazzo Sesso Zen
Contra' Zanella
Vicenza, May 2025

“Palazzo Sesso Zen is a 13th-century noble palace located in Vicenza, in contrà Giacomo Zanella nº 1, built in Venetian Gothic style. The building is classified as a work of art of real estate type, architecture A. Initially owned by the Lanzade family, the palace had a tower, signs of which are still evident today. It was brought as a dowry by Chiara di Lanzè, who married Palmiero Sesso, podestà of Vicenza in 1341. The palace bears traces of past constructions dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The main door does not date back to before 1460, while the construction differences between the second floor and the other two are evident. In fact, the walls of the second floor were built in local stone, while for the other two the warm red marble of Verona was used. Also on the second floor, a marked lack of construction can be noted from the mouldings of the capitals. It is probable that the latter had never been built for residential use and that it was constructed no earlier than the 17th century.” (Palazzo Sesso Zen, Wikipedia)

Francisco Pizarro

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Francisco Pizarro by Pío Mollar Franch, 1930
Plaza de Manises
Valencia, September 2022

“An ornamental element located within the current plaza and created in homage to the Spanish people. A small fenced garden defines the quadrangular setting, which houses a recent stone pedestal from which emerges a slender Doric column (from the former Provincial Hospital). At the end of this rises a bronze statue (carved by Pío Mollar Franch ) representing the conquistador Francisco Pizarro. The complex, designed by municipal architect Emilio Rieta, was inaugurated on July 14, 1969.” (Plaza de Manises, Wikipedia)

Church of the Zitelle Gasparine

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Church of the Zitelle Gasparine
Via Ospedale Civile
Padua, May 2025

“In 1598, the Paduan nobleman Francesco Gasparini, together with his wife Giuliana and daughter Virginia, willed a place ‘in the style of a monastery’ to house poor girls. It was called the Zitelle Gasparine, to distinguish it from the Zitelle del Vescovo, an institution with a similar purpose established by the Bishop of Padua Marco Cornaro in the same years. The building was constructed in the Pozzo della Vacca district (which would later become the Zitelle district, from the name of the institution), on Gasparini's property. A church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was annexed to it, on the façade of which is a plaque commemorating the founder. Currently, the church dedicated to the Holy Trinity, known as ‘delle Zitelle Gasparine’, is all that remains of the ancient complex: owned by the Padua University Hospital, this deconsecrated church has a rectangular plan with a single nave and a low barrel vault. The now bare polychrome marble altar is original from the period, as are the painted images.” (Chiesa delle Zitelle Gasparine, ArtBonus)

Noria de Safont

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Noria de Safont
Parque de Safont
Toledo, September 2022

“Juanelo's hydraulic mechanism was capable of raising water 90 meters, enough to supply the Tagus to the Alcázar and the city. Two water wheels powered the device. The simplest was a simple waterwheel like the one reproduced; the second was complex. There are descriptions but no plans. Two designs compete today: the rocker arm and Valturro's scissors. Sitting in Safont Park—next to the bus station—we can see the useless imitation of a wheel that weeps for the true jewels that once were, and that only our nostalgic imagination can reconstruct and dream about.” (La noria del parque Safont en Toledo, Turismo matemático)

Portrait from Al Fayyum

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Portrait from Al Fayyum
National Archaeological Museum
Piazza Santissima Annunziata
Florence, January 2025

“While commonly believed to depict Greek settlers in Egypt, the Faiyum portraits instead reflect the complex synthesis of the predominant Egyptian culture and that of the elite Greek minority in the city. According to Walker, the early Ptolemaic Greek colonists married local women and adopted Egyptian religious beliefs, and by Roman times, their descendants were viewed as Egyptians by the Roman rulers, despite their own self-perception of being Greek. The portraits are said to represent both descendants of ancient Greek mercenaries, who had fought for Alexander the Great, settled in Egypt and married local women, as well as native Egyptians who were the majority, many of whom had adopted Greek or Latin names, then seen as ‘status symbols’.” (Fayum mummy portraits, Wikipedia)

Puerta de Toledo

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Puerta de Toledo (Toledo Gate)
Glorieta de la Puerta de Toledo
Madrid, September 2022

“The Puerta de Toledo (Toledo Gate) was one of the access gates to the city of Madrid. There were previously three other gates called Toledo in the vicinity, the current one dates from the first third of the 19th century and was designed by the Spanish architect Antonio Aguado , which is located in the middle of the Glorieta de la Puerta de Toledo acting as a roundabout. It was erected as a triumphal arch in honor of King Ferdinand VII as a commemoration of the Spanish War of Independence after the French occupation. It was the last monumental gate erected in the old city of Madrid. It was built between 1813 and 1827 and was restored by Madrid City Council in 1995. Its location in the city provided access from the city center via calle de Toledo to the roads south of Madrid (Camino Real de Andalucía), after crossing the Manzanares River via the Toledo Bridge and the Carabancheles mountains.” (Puerta de Toledo, Wikipedia)

Romeo e Giulietta

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Romeo e Giulietta, un sogno sospeso (Romeo and Juliet, a suspended dream) by Enrico Muscetra, 2008
Piazza Indipendenza
Verona, May 2025

“The monument called ‘Romeo e Giulietta, un sogno sospeso’ (Romeo and Juliet, a suspended dream) represents the two Shakespearean lovers in a stylized form. It was made in Poland in 2008 by the sculptor Enrico Muscetra (Alezio, 1946); then it was placed in piazza Indipendenza in 2012. The work was created for the exposition ‘Romeo e Giulietta, un sogno sospeso’ organized in 2009 for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall; the exposition ended an international project organized to remember the most famous European myths. Critics said that Enrico Muscetra’s sculpture was representative of the whole event. It isn't a coincidence that in this work Romeo and Juliet’s bodies are represented as two hearts: in fact, Muscetra became famous for his bronze sculptures and for “hearts”, his leitmotif. The heart is not only a human organ but it is also the symbol of spirituality. The work is in quite a good state of preservation and it is well valued thanks to its isolated location in the garden and its closeness to the main squares of the city.” (Statue of Romeo and Juliet, VisitVerona)

Marcus Claudius Marcellus

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Marcus Claudius Marcellus by Marcos Augusto Dueñas, 2015
Calle Claudio Marcelo
Córdoba, September 2022

“Marcus Claudius Marcellus (died c. 148 BC) was Roman consul for the years 166 BC (together with Gaius Sulpicius Gallus), for 155 BC (with Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum), and for 152 BC (with Lucius Valerius Flaccus). He was apparently the son of Marcus Claudius Marcellus (consul 196 BC), censor in 189 BC and the grandson of Marcus Claudius Marcellus, the five-times consul. He founded Corduba (Córdoba, Spain) in 169 BC.” (Marcus Claudius Marcellus, Wikipedia)

Church of San Gaetano

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Church of San Gaetano
Corso Palladio
Vicenza, May 2025

“San Gaetano is a Roman Catholic church located on Corso Palladio #147 in the city of Vicenza, region of Veneto, Italy. The church was erected between 1721 and 1730 using designs of Girolamo Frigimelica Roberti and commissioned by the Theatine order. The church underwent reconstruction after bombardment during WWII in 1944. The church still houses a St Cajetan painted by Francesco Solimena.” (San Gaetano, Wikipedia)

Edificio Pedro Roldán

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Edificio Pedro Roldán by José Espiau, 1927
Plaza de Jesús de la Pasión, Casco Antiguo
Seville, September 2022

“It is located next to the building that was built years earlier on the corner between Siete Revueltas and Alcaicería streets. This building, named after the Sevillian baroque artist Pedro Roldán, is one of the main examples of regionalism. The Arabic lines that can be seen on its façade are made with a combination of brick and tile, as well as the author's use of ornamental ironwork. José Espiau also adds one of the identifying elements of Second Regionalism, the panoramic tower, using again the dome that he already used in other previous constructions such as the Adriatic building and the City of London building that we can later see.” (Edificio Pedro Roldán, Visita Sevilla)

Cattedrale ex Macello

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Cattedrale ex Macello
Via Cornaro
Padua, May 2025

“This exemplary industrial archaeology complex was inaugurated in 1908, designed by engineer Alessandro Peretti, to replace Jappelli's slaughterhouse, built in 1821 and converted into an Art Institute. The entire complex expanded over an area of approximately 17,000 square meters. The main entrance consisted of a colonnaded portico, and inside, all the buildings were arranged along a central axis. This unique and innovative layout was modeled after the Offenbach slaughterhouse in Germany. The original function of the slaughterhouse was suspended in the early 1970s and in 1984 the cattle slaughterhouse, which is the main room of the complex, was restored in accordance with the original structure and used as an exhibition space. It is also called ‘cathedral’ due to its characteristic shape with three ‘naves’.” (Cattedrale ex Macello, Comune di Padova)

Rafael Guastavino

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Rafael Guastavino by Alfredo Llorens, 2022
Plaza de la Reina
Valencia, September 2022

“Rafael Guastavino Moreno (March 1, 1842 – February 1, 1908) was a Spanish building engineer and builder who immigrated to the United States in 1881; his career for the next three decades was based in New York City. Based on the Catalan vault, he created the Guastavino tile, a ‘Tile Arch System’, patented in the United States in 1885, which was used for constructing robust, self-supporting arches and architectural vaults using interlocking terracotta tiles and layers of mortar. His work appears in numerous prominent projects designed by major architectural firms in New York and other cities of the Northeast. Guastavino tile is found in some of New York's most prominent Beaux-Arts landmarks and in major buildings across the United States. It is also used in numerous architecturally important and famous buildings with vaulted spaces.” (Rafael Guastavino, Wikipedia)

L'Arringatore

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The ‘Arringatore’ (The Orator)
National Archaeological Museum
Piazza Santissima Annunziata
Florence, January 2025

“The Orator, also known as ‘L'Arringatore’ (Italian), Aule Meteli (Etruscan) or Aulus Metellus (Latin), is an Etruscan bronze sculpture from the late second or the early first century BC. Aulus Metellus was an Etruscan senator in the Roman republic, originally from Perugia or Cortona. The Aulus Metellus sculpture was found in 1566. The exact location is debated, but all sources agree the sculpture was found either in or around Lake Trasimeno in the province of Perugia on the border between Umbria and Tuscany, 177 kilometers (110 miles) from Rome. The statue is exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum of Florence. The statue is 179 cm in height and wears a toga exigua, consisting of a short sleeved tunic underneath a close fitting toga, slung over the left arm and shoulder while leaving the right arm free for movement. The hem starts over the right ankle and heads diagonally upwards to above the left calf. The statue also wears a pair of boots called calceus senatorius, a type of footwear worn by senators and high ranking magistrates made of red leather. The statue stands in a contrapposto pose with one leg supporting the bulk of its weight. The hair of the statue is cut short and combed to the left. The left arm rests at its side with the hand raised and opened slightly, while the right arm is stretched out, bent at the elbow, its palm open and the fingers spread out. The statue wears a ring on its left ringfinger, which is believed to be a scarab ring. Since the statue was made out of seven parts, you can see the seams, where they were attached to each other.” (The Orator, Wikipedia)

Hospital de Tavera

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Hospital de Tavera
Calle Duque de Lerma
Toledo, September 2022

“The Hospital de Tavera, also known as the Hospital de San Juan Bautista, Hospital de afuera, or simply as Hospital Tavera, is an important building of Renaissance architecture located is in the Spanish city of Toledo. It was built between 1541 and 1603 by order of the Cardinal Tavera. This hospital is dedicated to John the Baptist and also served as pantheon for its patron, Cardinal Tavera. Initially it began to be constructed under the supervision of Alonso de Covarrubias, being succeeded by other architects, with Bartolomé Bustamante finishing the work. The remoteness with the old part of the city made it known as el hospital de afuera, since within the walls there already existed the Hospital de Santa Cruz. Currently the building remains the property of the House of Medinaceli and inside it is the Museo Fundación Lerma, which houses part of the artistic collections of this lineage, as well as the Section of the Nobility of the National Historic Archive.” (Hospital de Tavera, Wikipedia)

Santa Maria della Scala

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Santa Maria della Scala
Via Scala
Verona, May 2025

“The church of Santa Maria della Scala is a Catholic place of worship located in the historic centre of Verona, a few steps from Via Mazzini; it is part of the diocese of Verona. In 1324 Cangrande della Scala donated a building in the heart of the ancient city of Verona to the Servants of Mary, after he had made a vow to the Virgin to overcome a serious illness: that was the first of a long series of donations that allowed the Servants to settle in the centre of the city by building a church with an adjoining convent, next to the Franciscans of the church of San Fermo Maggiore, the Hermits of Sant'Eufemia and the Dominicans of Santa Anastasia. However, they encountered strong opposition from the Franciscans of the nearby convent of San Fermo. The construction of the church building in 1329 must have already been well underway, so much so that it was consecrated on 6 December, but the building site (contemporaneous with that of the convent) continued for a long time: in 1341 the first cloister of the convent and the sacristy were built, following the fire that had occurred inside a dormitory three years earlier; in 1362 the right apse of the church was completed, the bell tower was finished and the altar of the Virgin was renovated; in 1371 an organ with its choir had already been placed while a portico was built on the road in front of the church; in 1388 the central apse was finished; in 1416 the left apse was also completed; In 1423 a second cloister was built and the new dormitory of the convent was completed, built across the street from the first.” (Chiesa di Santa Maria della Scala, Wikipedia)

Statue of Isabel II

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Statue of Isabel II by José Piquer, 1850
Plaza de Isabel II
Madrid, September 2022

“That same year, 1868, the statue of Isabel II, commissioned and paid for by Manuel López Santaella and the work of José Piquer y Duart, was placed in the center of the square. A year later, the statue was removed from the center of the square and placed in the Teatro Real, until 1862, when an allegorical sculpture of the Comedy, the work of Francisco Elías Vallejo, was placed in its place. However, Isabel II did not return to the square until 1905. Valentín Gutiérrez de Miguel in the newspaper La Voz of February 3, 1922, gives a long account of the events and vicissitudes of the statue, its various locations and the pedestals needed, as well as the stinginess of the repeated operations to finance the works.” (Plaza de Isabel II, Wikipedia)

Pagello Altar

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Pagello or Santa Maria Maddalena Altar
Santa Corona
Contrà Santa Corona
Vicenza, May 2025

“The majestic altar in the second bay on the left was built—likely by the Pedemuro workshop—in the early 16th century and bears the Pagello family crest at the center of the entablature, commissioned by the family. In 1529, the Vicentine writer Luigi da Porto—author of the novella that inspired Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet—stipulated in his will to be buried in front of this altar. The altarpiece, painted between 1514 and 1515 by Bartolomeo Montagna, depicts Saint Mary Magdalene with Saints Jerome and Paula on her left, Saint Augustine and Saint Monica on her right. The depiction of Saint Monica, the widowed mother of Saint Augustine, is likely a portrait of the patroness Piera da Porto, widow of Bernardino Pagello.” (Santa Corona, Wikipedia)

Custodia de Arfe

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Custodia de Arfe (Arfe monstrance) by by Enrique de Arfe, 1518
Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba
(Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba)
Calle Cardenal Herrero
Córdoba, September 2022

“The ‘custodia de Arfe’ (Arfe monstrance) is the processional monstrance of the Cathedral of Córdoba, carved by Enrique de Arfe between 1514 and 1518. Its base was made by the Cordoban Bernabé García de los Reyes between 1734 and 1735. Its function is to process the consecrated host which, according to the Catholic faith, is the body of Christ on the feast of Corpus Christi, an annual celebration. Bishop Martín Fernández de Angulo commissioned Enrique de Arfe, a goldsmith of Germanic origin, to create the Corpus Christi monstrance. Arfe had already built one in León and was already working on the one in Toledo. He began work on it around 1512, with the prelate leaving 500 ducats in his will for its completion. Archdeacon Francisco de Simancas also contributed 100 marks. The exquisitely finished work was premiered on June 3, 1518 under the pontificate of Cardinal Alonso Manrique, the year in which it was carried in procession for the first time. It is fair to point out that it was not only Arfe who made this magnificent jewel, but that he was assisted in its making by several Cordoban silversmiths (among them Juan Ruiz el Vandalino) who, trained by the German master, perfected their art and were thus able to replace him on his frequent trips to Toledo, where he was also sculpting the monstrance for that capital.” (Custodia procesional de la Mezquita-catedral de Córdoba, Wikipedia)

Francesco Petrarca

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Francesco Petrarca by Luigi Ceccon, 1874
Piazza Petrarca
Padua, May 2025

“Luigi Ceccon is the sculptor of the statue of Francesco Petrarca located in Piazza Petrarca in Padua. The work, carved from Vicenza stone, dates back to 1874 and was erected on the fifth centenary of the poet's death. The base bears the inscription ‘To Petrarca / Five centuries after his death / Padua — XVIII LUGLIO MDCCCLXXIV’, accompanied by three medallions depicting Cola di Rienzo, Iacopo da Carrara, and Laura di Noves. A plaster model by the same sculptor is preserved in Petrarca's house in Arquà Petrarca.” (Statue of Francesco Petrarca, Grok)

Basílica del Cristo de la Expiración

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Basílica del Cristo de la Expiración
Calle Castilla
Seville, September 2022

“The Basílica del Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración (Basilica of the Most Holy Christ of the Expiration), also called the Basílica del Cachorro or Basílica del Patrocinio, is a Catholic temple located in the Triana neighborhood of the city of Seville (Andalusia, Spain). The original Chapel of Sponsorship dates back to the late 17th century. In 1689, the Brotherhood of Sponsorship and that of Christ of the Expiration merged here, giving rise to the current Pontifical, Royal and Illustrious Brotherhood and Confraternity of Nazarenes of the Most Holy Christ of the Expiration and Our Mother and Lady of Sponsorship in Her Pain and Glory. The current chapel consists of two temples adjoining each other. The first of these temples dates from the 17th century, and was renovated around the middle of the following century, following the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.” (Basílica del Cristo de la Expiración, Wikipedia)

San Pietro in Archivolto

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San Pietro in Archivolto
Via San Giusto
Verona, May 2025

“The church of San Pietro in Archivolto is a former Catholic place of worship located in the heart of Verona's historic center. Built on commission from the Lord of Verona, Cangrande della Scala, and consecrated in 1359 by Bishop Pietro della Scala, it is currently used as a multipurpose hall. The church, built in the 12th century, took on the characteristic Gothic forms that still distinguish it today in the first half of the 14th century, at the behest of Cangrande della Scala, Lord of Verona. The works were directed by Bono di Lanfranchino and the building was consecrated by the bishop of Verona Pietro della Scala on 12 and 13 September 1359. Of the church, positioned at an angle, the eastern façade and the northern side are visible, both with exposed brick facing. The gabled façade is characterised by a central tympanum portal and two lateral rectangular windows and ends with a decoration of hanging arches. The side, marked by pilasters and also ending with a decoration of hanging arches, has a lateral entrance protected by a porch supported by small columns in red ammonite, inside which is placed a statue of Saint Peter.” (Chiesa di San Pietro in Archivolto, Wikipedia)

Blue chimneys

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Blue chimneys
Calle Santa Matilde
Benalmádena, March 2025

Graziani Garzadori Altar

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Graziani Garzadori Altar
Santa Corona
Contrà Santa Corona
Vicenza, May 2025

“Attached to the wall of the fifth bay on the left is the Garzadori Altar, the most sumptuous in the city, built in the early 16th century by the workshop of Tommaso da Lugano and Bernardino da Como, with contributions from Rocco da Vicenza, designed vertically with a mixed order of columns, pilasters, and pillars. Framing the arch are four ringed columns, adorned with garlands at the base; the upper shafts of the two more prominent ones have Corinthian capitals, while the two recessed ones have Ionic capitals spiraling upward. Flanking the arch are two narrow recessed pilasters with the Garzadori crests adorned with an imperial eagle and animal heads in the capitals. At the ends, two wider pillars with sphinges in the capitals support the entablature, above which, aligned with the columns, four small pillars hold a wide lowered arch pediment, with a coffered and rosette-decorated intrados and an extrados enriched with bicaudate Nereids and topped by the Redeemer. Within the tympanum, under a garland of flowers and fruit, is a medallion depicting the Virgin nursing the Child; on either side of the attic, two pairs of facing dolphins hold flaming vases. Throughout are embedded small and large paterae of polychrome marbles brought by Graziani from Palestine, like the black touchstone inserted in the pedestals or those forming a cross adorning the altar frontal of the table. The altar houses Giovanni Bellini's masterpiece, Baptism of Christ, which was painted around 1500–1502.” (Santa Corona, Wikipedia)

Al pueblo del 2 de mayo de 1808

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“Al pueblo del 2 de mayo de 1808” by Aniceto Marinas, 1891
Jardines del General Fanjul, Calle Ferraz
Madrid, September 2025

“‘A los héroes del dos de mayo’ or ‘Al pueblo del dos de mayo de 1808’ is an instance of public art in Madrid, Spain. A sculptural work by Aniceto Marinas, the monument is an homage to the role of the Madrilenian people during the 1808 Dos de mayo uprising. Originally sculpted in Rome by Aniceto Marinas in 1891, the sculptural group depicts a winged statue holding a banner that emerges on top of a soldier, a cannon, a small boy and a number of corpses, male and female alike.” (Al pueblo del dos de mayo de 1808, Wikipedia)

Porta Molino

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Porta Molino
Vicolo Ponte Molino
Padua, May 2025

“The Porta Molino or Porta dei Molini was the main of the four royal entrances that opened into the medieval walls of Padua. Facing north, it stands at the end of the Roman Ponte Molino bridge that crosses the branch of the Bacchiglione called the Tronco Maestro. Until 1884, thirty-three wheels of as many mills mounted on boats operated, giving the gate and bridge their name. Nearly 26 meters high, it was built of stone and brick in the 13th century and was intended as a formal entrance to the Stra' Regia or Stra' Maggiore (now Via Dante), Padua's most important street. The tower rises externally on a sort of Romanesque triumphal stone arch (also decorated with a pair of lions), while inside there are two arches (the wider and more evocative one is pointed ) that allowed the defense mechanisms to be operated, including the large doors hinged in stone recesses that are still visible. Of interest is the Baroque access to the upper tower, a 17th-century construction adjacent to the internal façade, on the left. Sections of the municipal walls unravel on the sides, which continue westward along Via del Casin Rosso. The pedestrian access is the result of 19th-century renovations. At the end of the 19th century, the upper part of the gate was used as a storage tank for the city's first drinking water distribution network. The rumor that Galileo Galilei, during his time in Padua, used the gate as an astronomical observatory is probably false (although supported by a plaque by Carlo Leoni).” (Porta Molino, Wikipedia)

Casa de los Picos

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Casa de los Picos
Calle Juan Bravo
Segovia, September 2025

“The Casa de los Picos is a building in the Spanish city of Segovia, home to the Segovia School of Art and Design. It is located on Calle Juan Bravo, in the historic center of Segovia. It was built in the last third of the 15th century as a fortified house by Don Pedro López de Ayala, in order to defend the Puerta de San Martín, demolished in 1883. The house was later acquired by Alonso González de la Hoz, Chief Accountant of the Kingdom, and passed by inheritance to his son Juan de la Hoz, Councilor of Segovia. It is known for its façade, with 617 granite peaks, and its Renaissance courtyard. The heraldry of the de la Hoz family can be seen on the lintels of the five balconies and on the entrance door. The entrance hall and courtyard are decorated with Talavera tiles depicting various Segovia buildings.” (Casa de los Picos, Wikipedia)

Holy Fire Stones

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Reliquary of the Holy Fire Stones
Santi Apostoli
Piazza del Limbo
Florence, January 2025

“The church houses three flints (Pietre del Santo Sepolcro) putatively from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. These were putatively used to light the lamps of the tomb when Jesus was buried. Tradition holds that they were acquired in 1101 by Pazzino dei Pazzi, who was among the first Christians to scale the walls and lead to the capture of Jerusalem during the First Crusade. From then on, the Pazzi included a flaming cup in their coat of arms. The flints are linked to the ceremony of ‘Lo Scoppio del Carro’ and the lighting of fireworks from the ‘Portafuoco’ after a celebratory mass.” (Santi Apostoli, Wikipedia)

Colegio de Calatrava

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Colegio de Calatrava
Calle Rosario
Salamanca, September 2025

“The Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción de Calatrava, commonly known as Colegio de Calatrava, is the only college founded in Salamanca by the military orders whose building still survives; it belonged to the Order of Calatrava. Instituted as an imperial college in 1552 by Charles V and incorporated into the University of Salamanca in 1554, the construction of this building did not begin until 1717, by Joaquín de Churriguera who directed the works until his death in 1724. In 1750 the works were resumed under the direction of Jerónimo García de Quiñones. He was forced to eliminate the baroque ornaments of the original project due to the neoclassicist ideas prevailing at that time, especially those that Francisco Ibáñez de Corbera, rector of the school when it was consecrated in 1790, wanted to impose. During the War of Independence, the Goya canvases in the altarpieces disappeared. The facade has two bodies and is articulated by pilasters of giant order and topped with a balustrade. The decorative elements that adorn it are mostly of Renaissance inspiration. We notice in the decoration baroque mixtilinear elements around the main doorway, in the doors of the side towers and in the moldings that surround all the windows of the facade. Today it is the seat of the Casa de la Iglesia, an institution that houses the offices of the Diocese of Salamanca.” (Colegio de Calatrava, Wikipedia)

Santi Siro e Libera

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Santi Siro e Libera
Lungadige Rigaste Redentore
Verona, May 2025

“The church of Saints Siro and Libera is a Catholic place of worship located in the Veronetta district of Verona, within the archaeological site which includes the Roman theatre and the museum of the same name; it is part of the diocese of Verona. According to tradition, the first mass in the city of Verona was celebrated in an archway of the Roman theatre, and it was right above this archway that in 913 the church dedicated to San Siro was built by Giovanni, bishop of Cremona and chancellor of the emperor Berengario; the same bishop donated the building to the nearby Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria in Organo in 922. Towards the beginning of the 14th century the dedication to "Santa Libera" was added, in reference to Liberata of Como, however the reasons which led to this double title are unknown. In the same century the building was transformed in Gothic style, but from this construction phase only the entrance portal and the hanging porch which protects it remain, together with the frescoes which adorn it.” (Chiesa dei Santi Siro e Libera, Wikipedia)

Los Cuatro Postes

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Los Cuatro Postes
Calle Cuatro Postes
Ávila, September 2025

“On the left bank of the Adaja River, overlooking the city from the west, stands the San Sebastián shrine (a small chapel on the outskirts of town), popularly known as Los Cuatro Postes (The Four Posts). The complex consists of four monolithic Doric columns joined by an architrave bearing the city's coat of arms, with a granite cross in the center. It was built in 1566, and some authors maintain that it was erected where a small temple would have stood in Roman times. Others claim it was built to commemorate the place where Francisco de Cepeda, Teresa de Jesús's uncle, found the saint and her brother Rodrigo when they fled to suffer martyrdom in Moorish lands. The place offers a unique vantage point over the walled city, especially at dusk, when day gives way to night and the wall is artificially illuminated.” (Los Cuatro Postes, ÁvilaTurismo)

Main chapel

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Main chapel
Santa Corona
Contrà Santa Corona
Vicenza, May 2025

“The altar, from 1667–69, is the work of inlayers in precious stones, the Florentine Corbarelli, who also built the small temple above the altar in 1670–71. The grandiose complex stands isolated on three steps, adorned with inlays and geometric and floral motifs. The small temple rises from a base decorated with cherubim and consists of two orders of red marble Corinthian columns. The dome is topped by an image of the Redeemer. On the lower tabernacle door is painted the Resurrection; on the rear tabernacle door, the Christ dead with the Sorrowful Virgin, Saint John the Evangelist, and the Eternal Father to whom an angel offers the chalice. Flanking the doors are cornucopias. The apse’s stained glass windows, from Munich, date to the late 19th century. Every surface of the altar is adorned with polychrome inlays of precious marbles, lapis lazuli, corals, carnelians, and mother-of-pearl. The frames feature small animals, flowers, cherubs, objects related to the Passion, as well as houses, cottages, churches, and small landscapes.” (Santa Corona, Wikipedia)

Los Molinillos by Ángel Cañizares

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Los Molinillos by Ángel Cañizares
Avenida Antonio Machado
Benalmádena, March 2025

“This roundabout is located at the junction of Avenida Antonio Machado and Avenida Federico García Lorca. A crossroads of poets in front of Santa Ana beach, a few metres from the Roman site of Los Molinillos, it is decorated by a series of masts similar to those of a sailing ship with coloured windmills that move in the wind. Clearly playful in tone, this sculptural ensemble was designed by Ángel Cañizares, architect and film set designer of unforgettable films by Samuel Bronston, such as ‘55 Days at Peking’ ‘Papillon’, ‘Doctor Zhivago’, among others.” (Rotonda de los Molinillos, Benalmádena Turismo)

Ponte di Ferro

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Ponte di Ferro
Via Patriarcato
Padua, May 2025

“You'll see an iron bridge in front of you, where a wooden bridge had previously stood since the 13th century. It was rebuilt in the 16th century, and in 1828, Italy's first suspension bridge with wire ropes was inaugurated. Unfortunately, this bridge was little used and left to decay, although the current bridge, a pedestrian walkway, still has its charm. With its street lamps at the entrances and its Art Nouveau arch, this wrought iron bridge, built in 1881, reminds me a bit of a famous bridge in Dublin, a splendid wrought iron bridge, the Ha'Penny Bridge.” (Una passeggiata nella ‘vecchia Padova’ lungo i canali e sotto ai ‘porteghi’, Blog di Padova)

Templo Nacional de Santa Teresa de Jesús

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Templo Nacional de Santa Teresa de Jesús
Plaza de España, Moncloa - Aravaca
Madrid, September 2025

“The National Temple of Saint Teresa of Jesus is a Catholic temple located in the Plaza de España in Madrid and belonging to the Carmelite order. With the name National Temple of Saint Teresa of Jesus and Convent of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers it was declared an asset of cultural interest on December 20, 1995. From 1965 to 2015 it was the headquarters of the Parish of Saint Teresa and Saint Joseph, for which the temple is also known by that name.” (Templo Nacional de Santa Teresa de Jesús y Convento de los Padres Carmelitas Descalzos, Wikipedia)

Palazzina Indiano

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Palazzina Indiano
Piazzale dell'Indiano
Parco delle Cascine (Cascine Park)
Florence, January 2025

“The Palazzina Indiano (sometimes also called the Palazzina dell'Indiano or Palazzina ex Indiano) is a historic stone building located downstream, in the western area of the Cascine park in Florence. It was built in 1872 as a public café near the confluence of the Arno and the Mugnone rivers and close to the pedestrian bridge that crosses the latter. It takes its name from the fact that the ashes of the Indian prince Rajaram Chuttraputti were scattered here in 1870, in whose honour a funerary monument was also built.” (Palazzina Indiano, Wikipedia)