We had a wonderful surprise today when we crossed Lake Maggiore from Laveno to Intra – the beautiful Villa Taranto gardens established in 1928. Nous avons eu une surprise merveilleuse aujourd’hui lorsque nous avons traversé le la Maggiore entre Laveno et Intra: les beaux jardins de la Villa Taranto établis en 1928.
Author Archives: avril
Postcard from Italy – Lake Varese
Today we cycled around Varese Lake not far from Lake Maggiore in northern Italy and came across these ice-houses built in the late 1700s and used to store ice from the lake in winter. They were then used in summer to keep fish. Aujourd’hui nous avons fait le tour du lac de Varese qui se …
Postcard from Ravenna
Ravenna is famous for its Byzantine mosaics and we visited all the city’s most important monuments but I think my favourite was the Basilica of Saint Apollinaire in Classe, about 5 km outside the town and on the bike route. It was consecrated in 549. Ravenna est célèbre pour ses mosaïques byzantines et nous avons …
Cycling in Mantua – En vélo à Mantoue
Life has been somewhat eventful since I last posted in early August. First my grandson was born in Boston on 31st August. Then my daughter was married in Italy on 4th September. Now we are having 9 or 10 days holiday before making our way back home. Not only these two events but also the …
The Dahlia – Le dahlia
In case you have wondered where I’ve disappeared to, I’m discouraged by the awful weather and the resurgence of the pandemic just when it was all looking more positive. Maybe it will be like my dahlia – I was very excited when I first started growing four of them from tubers inside the house in …
Valmer Gardens – Jardin de Valmer
This is the third time we’ve cycled to Valmer gardens but only the first time we’ve visited due to the restricted opening times. It was well worth the visit. The chateau burnt down in 1948 but Le Petit Valmer, built in 1647, still remains. C’est la troisième fois que nous sommes allés au jardin de …
Nottonville Abbey – L’abbaye de Nottonville
This former priory in Nottonville dates back to at least 1073, when a donation was made by Evrard, viscount of Chartres, to the abbey of Marmoutier. The most interesting parts were built in the 15th or 16th century and consist of a fortified gateway flanked by two turrets, a large section of the surrounding wall, …
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The Thatched Wash House – Le lavoir au toit de chaume
This is the first time EVER that I have seen a thatched roof on a public wash house! Note the irises in the roof. J’ai la toute première fois que je vois un toit de chaume sur un lavoir ! Et plus avec des iris sur le faîtage.
Through Another Archway – A travers une autre arche
I had to get my feet wet to see this chateau built in the 16th and 17th centuries – we had to ford a small stream on our bikes. I should have taken my sandals off first. I don’t understand why Jean Michel came through practically dry. J’ai dû me mouiller les pieds pour voir …
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Café de la Renaissance
A rather unlikely name considering the decoration … Un nom plutôt insolite vue la décoration…