Postcard from Italy: Villa Pisani in Stra

The Villa Pisani is the largest villa on the Brenta Riviera. It was built during the first half of the 18th century for the Venetian Doge Almoro Pisani and contains no less than 114 rooms. But the most amazing thing is the building seen in the second photo, taken from the steps at the rear of …

Postcard from Italy: Sant'Antonio – Padua

I think that the church of Saint Anthony is by far the most interesting monument in Padua. It is an amazing combination of styles: Roman façade, Byzantine cupolas, Gothic central tower and bell-towers and late Renaissance chapel containing the tomb of Saint Anthony. Unfortunately, photos are not allowed inside. This is taken from the first …

Postcard: Villa Giovannelli – Padua

We were astonished to see this building as we cycled along the Piovego canal from our B&B to the historical centre of Padua. We now know it is Villa Giovannelli, built on commissoin at the end of hte 17th century by an unknown architect. The enormous Corinthian columns are typical of Palladian villas. It’s inspired us …

Postcard – Castelletto di Brenzone, Lake Garda, Italy

Today, we cycled from Torri del Benaco to Malcesine on the eastern side of Lake Garda and found lots of these little ports along the way; The morning light was magical; Aujourd’hui, nous avons fait du vélo de Torri del Benaco à Malcesine sur la côte est du lac de Garde et avons trouvé beaucoup …

Postcard: Bossons Glacier – Glacier des Bossons

The Bossons Glacier is a river of ice (the largest in Europe) that descends from the top of Mont Blanc in the Alps. The bottom end of the the glacier today has regressed, but it was still present at 1200 metres in the 1980s. at the end of the 19th century, the glacier went right …

The stairs up to the château – L'escalier qui mène au château

There are several sets of steps leading up to Blois castle. I love the side view of the brick Gothic façade of the Louis XII wing.built at the beginning of the 16th century. This will be the last of my photos of the Loire Valley for the next month. Instead I’ll be posting “postcards” of …

Half-timbered houses in Vienne – Maisons à colombages à Vienne

The street parallel to the Loire in Blois on the Vienne side (opposite to old town) has just been renovated. The half-timbered houses are now much more visible. On vient de refaire la rue parallèle à la Loire à Blois, du côté Vienne (en face de la vieille ville). Les maison en colombages sont bien …

The Transparent Cross – La croix transparente

In the real, this cross in front of the privately-owned church of Saint Lubin in Suèvres is not transparent, but the filigree work is so fine that in the photo, it blends in with the surrounding foliage! Dans la réalité, cette croix devant l’église privée de Saint Lubin à Suèvres n’est pas transparente, mais le …