Art monumental
339 creative works found
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Clumps of yellow Alkali Sacaton fasten to the crackled soil of the southern badlands in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. The distant butte, with its soft sculpted form, reveals the rusty reds and blue-grey hues of the ancient fluvial sediments.
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Pencil drawing of “The Statue of Liberty” before 911.
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Although this is Alison my granddaugher, I have made this one out to those who have a son. God guide my son through this life, / and fill each day with Love and Peace, / Grant him wisdom as he grows, / to choose the path that leads to you. 100% of all proceeds from sale of all my art goes toward our Charity Projects in Deep Rural Africa. Please log onto our Charity website for information, Video clips and Photograph’s. / http://www.philadelphia33.org/
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CHARITY WEBSITE: http://www.philadelphia33.org/ I could not get all the village children together, as it was early morning, and already some had gon eto the fields. Here you see just a few. Their bloated tummies is caused by intestinial worms and Malnutrition. little food and clean water plus poor hygene is a rel challange. The death rate isvery high here, and many die alone and in terrible pain. We are here to help these children, but finance is a real hinderence to our efforts. If you would like to know more or perhaps help, please visit: http://www.philadelphia33.org/
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Visit my Africa Mission Charity Website: http://www.philadelphia33.org/ Ungwa/Fadda Village is very remote and many children here are disabled by Rickets. rickets is a disease that causes limbs to bow and leaves the child with chronic pain. Here you see Leah praying to God before she starts her daily task of caring for her younger brother and sister, John and Sarah. Her father died shortly after our last visit in December 2007. Mother is sick. This is why I and the small team of unpaid volunteers work around the clock to help children like Leah and her family. Please drop in and visit my Africa Mission Website: / http://www.philadelphia33.org/ / Link to my Art: / http://www.redbubble.com/people/joshuatree1 Camera: Canon EOS 400D / Lens: EF 70-300 IS ISM
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On occasion I’ve been known to occupy my time painting, Now with Photoshop CS3, I manage to turn out more works, faster, and with satisfactory results, OK ! so this is a personal satisfaction claim ! the original was a film print captured moment, then taken to my Acrylic Painting ! taken then to photoshop CS3 and stripped of its original colouration by substituting the color bands of the analog and using the RGB photoshop pallet, thus satisfying the tone of the picture, then from my library of clouds, (Digital) I resized the picture after croping, to fit the canvas size that I was using, now taking the rubber stamp tool I copied from one picture onto my work picture, once completing this, it was a matter of adding grain to offset the picture and without using the brush tool, moved content around to better fill the canvas, now to keep from adding extensive detail, I end up with a digital picture, which encompases about three hours of work, finished as a suggestive scene, and place my script as signature as a finished works. You are invited to leave comment should you desire! the option is open ! Hope you enjoy my efforts! I do also have this in an Acrylic painting, although there is a different clouded sky ! Paul See also new addition in picture transition, called ” Digital Morpheus “
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This is extreme poverty at its worst. here you see a family of 6. living in their fallen down home. The roof is full of holes and the walls washed away from rain. At night there is no shelter from mosquitoes. When we approached them and spoke to them, we found out that the Father died, and the mother went away one day and did not return home. Only the old grandparents are left to care for their grandchildren. there was little food and only an old hoe to toil their small garden. their main source of water was from a river about three miles away. later that week we met a pastor and he told us the Mother of these children was found dead in the bush about sex months ago. The eldest girl about 7 years old was very thin and weak. A boy about 3 years old had a serious worm infection. Please help us to help families like these. / Each Piece of art you buy, will help greatly. ALL proceeds from sale of my art, donated art and donations made via our website goes to help extreme poor in isolated and rural villages. http://www.philadelphia33.org/ Donate your art and save a child’s life! Please Visit my profile page and click on the buttons to see all my work in organized groups. / http://www.redbubble.com/people/joshuatree1 [AS IS] Camera: Canon EOS 400D. Lens: Sigma 50-500mm Telephoto, with 2x converter = 1500mm. tripod. ISO 100. WB Auto.
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PLEASE READ THIS. Philadelphia Mission is a UK registered Charity [Reg No: 1049410] This is David aged 11 years old, which I met in October 2008 while staying overnight in a small village. He followed me everywhere I went with his Brother and sister behind him. During the evening I would speak to David through Saidi and Joshua my mission workers. I had established from them they were orphans and that the Grandfather was doing his best to feed and care for them. Early next morning after we had a prayer meeting in the village, I was helping load our equipment into the Nissan patrol vehicle, and again David was with me. I spoke to him through Saidi and Said to him “David, I see that you really miss your parents”. He looked straight into my eyes and said, ” I am both father and mother to my brother, and everything to my sister”. Saidi and I both wept as this was not what we expected to hear. David’s words inspired us even more with great passion to help these precious poor, not counting any personal cost to us. Please Pray for David, his brother, sister and all these precious children who face terrible challenges each and every day. We are helping. We need you to help us. ALL MONEY RAISED THROUGH SALE OF MY ART, DONATED ART AND DONATIONS MADE VIA OUR CHARITY WEBSITE, DOES GO TO HELP THESE EXTREME POOR IN ISOLATED AND RURAL VILLAGES. WE TAKE NOTHING OUT OF WHAT YOU GIVE. IT ALL IS USED TO HELP THEM. Please visit Philadelphia Mission Africa Charity website: / http://www.philadelphia33.org/ Donate your art and save a child’s life! See all my work in groups at:http://www.redbubble.com/people/joshuatree1 Camera: Canon EOS 400D, Lens: Canon EF 70-300 IS USM. Camera was on full 300mm length.
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Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities, Superintendence for the Architectural, the Landscape, the Historical Heritage. Artistic and Ethno-Anthropological of Italy / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-——- Featured in Unique Buildings Of The World Group October – 21 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-——- / Featured in Christian Churches, Statues and Crosses Group October – 18 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—— / Featured in Amazing Graves Group Agoust – 24 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-——- / Featured in ImageWriting Group Agoust – 21 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- / Featured in History Group June – 22 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- Placed 2nd in Heritage in Stone Group – Ruinous Stone Buildings Challenge June – 19 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-——- Featured in Historic Churches Group May – 27 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—— Abbey of Saint Galgano The big St. Galgano’s Abbey was built between 1220 and 1268, when in Italy the Romanesque style was merging with the newborn French Gothic styleThe Abbey’s shape is the classic Latin crossWe find it impossible to describe the beauty of this abbey, so we’ll let the pictures to speak in our place. The building made up of the Hermitage (also called Montesiepi’s Round) and of the ruins of the big St. Galgano’s Cistercian Abbey, is one of the most enchanting views in Tuscany.Only in 1218/1220 began the construction of the big Abbey downhill.The building went on until 1268, when the Abbey was officially consecrated by Volterra’s Bishop Alberto SolariThe Abbey knew 100 years of great prosperity until 1364, then followed a slow decline due to the unfortunate Commenda’s practice.Despite some attempts to bring back the monastery into use at the end of 1789, after that Montesiepi’s Round had been put up in Pieve, the big abbey was deconsecrated and left for good to lie in ruin.While Montesiepi’s Round, thanks to his Sword in the stone, bring us back to the Arthurian Saga, the big Abbey offers us others “musical” and “Egyptian” surprises, through his Sacred Geometry. Nikon D100 Sigma 28/70
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Sophia is an orphan cared for by her Grandmother. life inTunga/Zuga Village is extremely difficult. poor harvests and now no clean water makes it hard just to survive. Since I started to work with the villagers in 2006, I have seen too many unessary deaths, especially among children.there are many children here who have lost father, mother or both. My Inspiration and great Compassion is from the very heart of God. I live my life to help bring relief and empower these precious people to live better , healthier lives and at the lest provide clean water and the tools to farm and grow better good quality food. Job 29:12-16 I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. (13) The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. (15) I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. (16) I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. ALL PROCEEDS FROM SALE OF MY ART, PLUS DONATIONS MADE TO PHILADELPHIA MISSION CHARITY, GOES TO HELP EXTREME POOR AND SICK IN REMOTE AND RURAL VILLAGES IN AFRICA. WE NEVER TAKE ANYTHING OUT OF YOUR GIVING. ALL CHARITY OVERHEADS ARE COVERED BY OUR MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS. PLEASE VISIT OUR CHARITY MISSION WEBSITE: / http://www.philadelphia33.org/ Our new photo and video site: / http://www.missionary.smugmug.com/ Camera: Canon EOS 400D. Lens: Canon EF70-300 IS USM. WB: auto. ISO: 100
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Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List – Italy Portovenere, Five Lands, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) (1997) / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—— Featured in Visions of Italy Group November – 30 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- / Featured in Religious Art & Photography Group October – 15 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- / Featured in The Beauty of the European Waters Group October – 14 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-- / Featured in History Group June – 22 – 2009 / -—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—— Featured in Heritage Listed and Other Trusts Sites World Wide Group June – 22 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—— Featured in Italy and all Things Italian Group May – 25 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-- Featured in Landscape Photography Group May – 09 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-— Featured in JPG Cast-Offs Group May – 09 – 2009 Nikon D300 Sigma28/70 HDR processed in Photomatix Pro 3.1.3 from a single RAW image, then processed using CS4 – no tripod used Church of San Pietro In the eastern most part of the Spezia Golf is the breathtaking town of Portovenere. The town takes its name from a temple erected in the roman times in honour of Venere Ericina, on the promontory where the church of San Pietro now stands.It is said that the little church of San Pietro, which is located on the promontory overlooking the Island of Palmaria, was built over the ancient temple of Venere Ericina, or over a slightly less ancient Palaeo-Christian church. In 1256, Portovenere helped Genova to reclaim Lerici from Pisa, and the church was said to have been erected as a thank-you from the Genevans. Built in the genevan-gothic style, the church was finally completed in 1277. The building consists of two parts; a twin lancet bell tower built of chequered black and white stone, and a rectangular building topped with a semicircular apse. The two areas are united by two pointed archways. The interior features a vaulted wooden ceiling and a presbytery divided into three chapels and covered by a pointed cross-vault ceiling.
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Cambie Street gear monument. This gear was used to rotate a roadway section 360 degrees across False Creek before the Cambie Street bridge was completed. It’s now an interesting piece of sculpture. Vancouver, BC.
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Properties Inscribed on the World Heritage List – Italy Portovenere, Five Lands, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto) (1997) / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- Five Lands National Park – Liguria – La Spezia – Italy / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-——- Featured in A View Somewhere Group October – 17 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—— Featured in JPG Cast-Offs Group May- 12 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-——- / Nikon D300 Sigma 15/30 Vernazza – Five Lands
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I love Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. I love playing with special effects. So here are the two together. Salvaged from low pixel hell, this photo needed help. Started with a couple of layers in PS Elements 7. Then with the liquify filter I injected some drama without totally losing the sense of place. 244 views Top Ten in Digitally Enhanced Challenge, County Bumpkin 8/17/09 Photo of the week, Host Selection, Top Ten Group 12/21/09 Featured in Point and Shooters 8/25/09 / Featured in Shameless Self Promotion 7/17/09 /
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Colorfull umbrella in the Italian marine village of Vernazza Nikon D300 Nikon 70/300
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This is a detail shot of the Pantheon in Paris, France. I used a Canon DSLR EOS 350D camera and 18-55mm lens. The Panthéon (Latin Pantheon, from Greek Pantheon, meaning “All the Gods”) is a building in the Latin Quarter in Paris, France. It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, but after many changes now combines liturgical functions with its role as a famous burial place. It is an early example of Neoclassicism, with a façade modelled on the Pantheon in Rome, surmounted by a small dome that owes some of its character to Bramante’s “Tempietto”. Located in the 5th arrondissement on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, the Panthéon looks out over all of Paris. Its architect, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, had the intention of combining the lightness and brightness of the gothic cathedral with classical principles. Soufflot died before his work was achieved, and his plans were not entirely followed. The transparency he had planned for his masterpiece was not attained. Nevertheless, it is one of the most important architectural achievements of its time and the first great neoclassical monument. I sold a large framed print with black frame and bright white matt to a lovely couple in Geneva, Switzerland. Many thanks indeed. This was featured in the Canon DSLR Group.
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Challenge Winner in Christian Churches, Statues and Crosses Group – Black and White: Your Choice Challenge September – 26 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-— / Featured in Heritage Listed and Other Trusts Sites World Wide Group September – 08 – 2009 / -—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-——- World Monuments Fund Watch Belongs to the Ministry for the Goods and the Cultural Activities of Italy Nikon D300 Sigma 15/30 The Collegiate Church of Castell’Arquato – Piacenza – Italy Ancient chronicles tell about a high-medieval church in Castell’arquato founded in 758 by the nobleman Magno dedicated to Maria Assunta and donated to the bishop of Piacenza in 772. Nothing remains of the building, apart from a still preserved high-medieval round baptismal font, that was probably connected to the church. According to chronicles, the so called parish church dating back to 1059 was seriously damaged by the earthquake in 1117, but was immediately rebuilt. In 1122 it was concescrated by the bishop Aldo, and it was probably finished soon afterwards, since the architectural structure is homogeneous, i.e. probably built in a single building campaign. The church has undergone several restorations since 1911 and researchers have compared it to S. Savino’s Basilica in Piacenza, for the width of the central nave (which is double with respect to the side naves) and for some elements, like the compound piers and the double arcading. The parish church of Castell’arquato may be also connected to Lanfranco’s school and culture, and is therefore very important to understand the development of the romanesque art in Emilia. In effect, both the architectural structure and the low relief decorations likely date back to the 12th century, as well as the sculptures at the sides of the main altar and of the apse altars; according to some researchers, they are parts of a choir enclosure dating back to the 12th century. Most of the sculptured and decorated capitals also belong to this period. The sculptures located at the entrance portal of the western portico (Portico del Paradiso) are worth mentioning. We must also mention S. Caterina d’Alessandria Chapel, built at the beginning of the 15th century, and S. Giuseppe Chapel, built in 1630 as “ex voto” for the end of the plague.
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Featured in Christian Churches, Statues and Crosses Group September – 07 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-- In 1996, UNESCO declared the town a World Heritage Site, and in 2004 the entire valley, the Val d’Orcia, was included on the list of UNESCO’s World Cultural Landscapes —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-— Pienza Pienza, a town and commune in the province of Siena, in the Val d’Orcia in Tuscany (central Italy), between the towns of Montepulciano and Montalcino, is the “touchstone of Renaissance urbanism- Pienza, a small town near Siena, is a rare example of Renaissance town building. Defined, from time to time, the “ideal city”, the “utopian city”, it represents one of the best planned Renaissance towns, where a model of ideal living and governing was realized thus working out the idea of a town able to satisfy the need for a pacific, civil and hardworking living. It represented the so called utopia of the “civitas” vainly cherished by people for centuries.Pienza has at present two museum, a third one into being. Its location in the middle of Val d’Orcia, a wonderful and untouched valley, enables the town to perfectly embody the basic interest which the humanistic architecture gave to the relationship man – nature. / Nowadays Pienza is part of a territorial system called “Parco artistico, naturale e culturale della Val d’Orcia”, which aims at preservation of the extraordinary artistic heritage of the five boroughs which constitute it: Castiglion d’Orcia, Montalcino, San Quirico d’Orcia, Radicofani and Pienza. / The center of Pienza was completely redesigned by Pope Pius II in Renaissance times. He planned to transform his birthplace into a model Renaissance town. The architect Bernardo Rossellino was commissioned to build a Duomo, papal palace and town hall, the construction were completed in three years. The Duomo The Duomo was built by the architect Rossellino (1459) and is now suffering from serious subsidence at its eastern end. There were cracks in the walls and floor of the nave, but the splendid classical proportions are remained inctact. It is flooded with ligth from the vast stained glass windows request by Pius II; he wanted a domus vitrea (litterally “a house of glass”), which would symbolize the spirit of intellectual enlightenment of the Humanist age. Nikon D100 Sigma 15/30
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Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities, Superintendence for the Architectural, the Landscape, the Historical Heritage. Artistic and Ethno-Anthropological of Italy / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-— HDR processed in Photomatix Pro 3.1.3 from a single RAW image, then processed using CS4 – no tripod used Nikon D100 Sigma 28/70 Miramare Castle – Trieste – Italia The Castle of Miramare and its Park were built by order of Ferdinand Maximilian of Hapsburg (1832/ 1867), younger brother of Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria. In 1850, at the age of eighteen, Maximilian came to Trieste with his brother Charles and, immediately afterwards,he set off on a short cruise toward the near East. This journey confirmed his intention to sail and to get to know the World. In 1852 he was appointed Officer and in 1854 he became Commander in Chief of the Imperial Navy. He decided to move to Trieste and to have a home built facing the sea and surrounded by a park worthy of his name and rank.According to the tradition, when the Archduke was caught in a sudden storm in the Gulf, he took shelter in the little harbour of Grignano and he chose that bare rocky spur of limestone origin as the setting for his home. The whole complex, purchased for the first time at the beginning of March 1856, was called Miramar, after the name of Prince Ferdinand of Saxony’s residence in Pena, Portugal. Designed in 1856 by Carl Junker, an Austrian architect, the architectural structure of Miramare was finished in 1860. The style reflects the artistic interests of the Archduke, who was acquainted with the architectural style of Austria, Germany and England which was mainly eclectic. The craftsman Franz Hofmann and his son, Julius, were entrusted with the furnishing and decorations. Hofmann, who worked in the city of Trieste, was a skilful artisan who was willing to follow Maximilian’s suggestions.Both the artisan and his patron had a similar cultural formation and they were well acquainted with the eclectic tendencies of the time.The work, steadily supervised by Maximilian, was finished only after his departure in 1864 for Mexico where he was appointed Emperor and where he was shot in Queretaro in June 1867.Maximilian intended to create in the Castle an intimate atmosphere in the area reserved for his family – an area which he wanted to be in contact with nature and to reflect should convey his own spirit and that of an epoch. On the ground floor, destined for the use of Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, worthy of note are / the bedroom and the Archduke’s office, which reproduce the cabin and the stern wardroom respectively of the frigate “Novara”, the war-ship used by Maximilian when he was Commander of the Navy to circumnavigate the world between 1857 and 1859; the library, whose walls are lined with bookshelves and the rooms of the Archduchess with their tapestry of light-blue silk. On the first floor which was set aside for guests and where we can find the Throne Room, the magnificent panelling on the ceiling and walls, and the Chinese and Japanese drawing-rooms with their oriental furnishings stand out; of particular interest is the room decorated with paintings by Cesare Dell’acqua,portraying the history of Maximilian and Miramare.Currently, the rooms in the Castle are mostly arranged according to the original layout decided upon by Maximilian and Charlotte. A valuable photographic reportage commissioned by the Archduke himself made the reconstruction possible.Nowadays to visit the Castle is to experience the fascination of life in the middle of the 19th century in a residence that has remained largely intact and which gives the visitor an insight into the personality of Maximilian.
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Challenge Winner in You’re Accepted Group – Bridges Challenge October – 03 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-- Featured in Unlimited Quality Group October – 03 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-— World Monuments Fund Watch Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities, Superintendence for the Architectural, the Landscape, the Historical Heritage. Artistic and Ethno-Anthropological of Italy Italy National Trust HDR processed in Dynamic-Photo HDR with 5 RAW image -2 -1 0 +1 +2 , then processed using CS4 – Tripod Manfrotto 055XB + 468MG Ball Head Nikon D300 Nikon 12/24 Ponte delle Catene – Fornoli . Italy Ponte delle Catene (Chain Bridge) is one of the first suspension bridges ever built in Italy. The wooden and metallic catwalk is held by metal cables supported by piers. The traditional design of the piers, which echoes the roman (and Napoleonic) triumphal arches, and the advanced construction technique mark the style of the architect of the bridge Lorenzo Nottolini (1787-1851). Begun in 1840 by Lorenzo Nottolini on commission to Duke of Lucca Carlo Lodovico di Borbone, the suspension bridge with iron chains over the Lima Stream connects Fornoli (Bagni di Lucca) and Chifenti (Borgo a Mozzano).For its time, the bridge presented innovative technological solutions, which the author had acquired during a recent trip to England, where there were already illustrious models like Hammersmith Bridge in London and Menai Bridge in Bangor, Wales. Moreover, the use of iron in the construction of suspension bridges could already be seen in Florence, which had two important examples built by the French company of brothers Marc and Jules Séguin: the San Leopoldo bridge at the Parco delle Cascine , and the San Ferdinando bridge near the gate of San Niccolò. Nottolini’s work was later interrupted by bureaucratic problems tied to the passage of the Duchy of Lucca to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany (1847).Only after the Unification of Italy were works resumed and terminated, and the bridge was inaugurated in 1860. Mined by retreating German troops during World War II (all of the support structures were blown up), the bridge was then reconstructed on its original plan, thanks to the efforts of engineer Luigi Pfanner, and inaugurated in 1953. On the World Monuments Watch list of the one-hundred world sites to save, the bridge has recently been subjected to restoration.Nottolini also designed other bridges on Lucca territory, though without the innovative conception of the Chains Bridge. These include the bridge of Monte San Quirico near Lucca, over the Serchio River, the stone bridge with a lowered arch over the Fegana stream, and the bridge with round arch over the Camaione stream (1839-1841, 1946) near Bagni di Lucca. In 2003, the restoration of the bridge has begun. It is financed by the Province of Lucca with the contribution of the World Monument Found American Express.
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San Miniato al Monte – Florence – Italy Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List – Italy – Historic Centre of Florence (1982) Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities, Superintendence for the Architectural, the Landscape, the Historical Heritage. Artistic and Ethno-Anthropological of Italy World Monuments Fund Watch / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-— Camera NIKON D300 Lens NIKON 12.0-24.0 mm f/4.0 Exposure Time 1/250 ApertureValue f 8 Focal Length 12mm —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- History According to a legend, the church was built on the place where the first cristian martyr of Florence, Miniato (3rd Century), brought his head after have beeing beheaded by pagans. / An oratory is referred to in charts from the age of Charlemagne, but the construction of the church we see today began in 1013 under direction of Bishop Ildebrando and ended in 1063 thanks to the sustain of Empereor Henry II.A convent for Cluniacenses monks was built by the church; then, in the second halfth of 14th Century, the Olivetani monks came to San Miniato, where they remained until 1553; after then they moved to another convent but went back to San Miniato in 1924.In 1499 the bell-tower collapsed and was rebuilt by Baccio d’Agnolo; during the siege of 1530 Michelangelo turned the bell-tower in an artilley post, and still today the building shows the signs of the imperial gunshots shooted against it in the battles.In 1868 architect Nicola Matas built the Cemetery and the monumental stairs joining the Church to the ring road leading to Piazzale Michelangelo. In the Spotlight Façade: The façade is decorated with geomatrical figures in white and green marble; the upper part shows a mosaic (13th Century) representing Christ between the Madonna and San Miniato. In the fastigium is visible the gilded eagle, symbol of the Calimala guild, which since 1228 administrated the Church Interior: The Church has three naves, a Crypt and a raised Chancel. Notable are the trestled ceiling and the inlaid marble floor of the central nave. In the central nave is the Tabernacle by Michelozzo (1428), with barrel vaulted roof enriched with glazed terracotta and a painting by Agnolo Gaddi (1395) with Sants Gualberto and Miniato, Annunciation and Scenes from the Passion. In the Chancelwe find a beautiful balustrade in inlaid marble dividing the Choir and the terracotta Crucifix ascribed to Luca della Robbia. From here we can reach the Sacrysty (late 14th century.) with frescoes by Spinello Aretino with scenes from the Life of Saint Benedetto. Under the Chancel is located theCrucifix Chapel, realized by Michelozzo (1447-48) and commissioned by Piero di Cosimo de ‘Medici. In the Apsis: the large mosaic whit a Blessing Christ dates to the 12th Century and has been restored several times in different periods. The Crypt (12th Century) is divided is seven small naves by 36 marble columns originating from Roman buildings. In the right nave are various frescoes (12th to 14th century). By the left nave is located the Chapel of the Cardinal of Portugal (1473), ascribed to Antonio Manetti, a pupil of Brunelleschi. The chapel was built in memory of Jacopo of Lusitania, the nephew of King Alfonso of Portugal who died in Florence in 1459: the Chapel is enriched with glazed terrecottas by Luca della Robbia, frescoes by Alessio baldovinetti and a painting by Antonio and Piero del Pollaiolo. The tomb of the Cardinal is a work by Bernardo Rossellino.
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Featured in Visions of Italy Group November – 28 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—— / Featured in The Male Photographer Group November – 13 – 2009 —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-——- Featured in I Love Italy Group November – 12 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-— Featured in Unlimited Quality Group November – 11 – 2009 / —-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-— Ponte della Maddalena aka Devil’s Bridge – Borgo a Mozzano – Italy Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities, Superintendence for the Architectural, the Landscape, the Historical Heritage. Artistic and Ethno-Anthropological of Italy HDR processed in Dynamic-Photo HDR with 5 RAW image -2 -1 0 +1 +2 , then processed using CS4 – Tripod Manfrotto 055XB + 468MG Ball Head Nikon D300 Nikon 12/24 Devil’s Bridge Il ponte della Maddalena unisce le due sponde del fiume Serchio all’altezza del paese di Borgo a Mozzano. La sua costruzione risale ai tempi della Contessa Matilde di Canossa (1046-1115), che ebbe grossa influenza e potere su questa zona della Toscana, la Garfagnana, ma il suo aspetto attuale è dovuto alla ricostruzione effettuata da Castruccio Castracani (1281-1328), condottiero e signore della vicina Lucca, nei primi anni del 1300. L’aspetto del ponte è quello medievale classico a ‘schiena d’asino’, con la differenza, che qui diventa caratteristica unica, che le sue arcate sono asimmetriche e quella centrale è talmente alta e ampia che la sua solidità sembra una sfida alla legge di gravità. Il ponte è comunemente chiamato ‘del Diavolo’ in forza di una leggenda popolare della zona, rinforzata dall’aspetto scombinato del ponte: un capo muratore aveva iniziato a costruirlo ma ben presto si accorse che non sarebbe riuscito a completare l’opera per il giorno fissato e preso dalla paura delle possibili conseguenze si rivolse al Maligno chiedendo aiuto al fine di terminare il lavoro. Il Diavolo accettò di completare il ponte in una notte in cambio dell’anima del primo passante che lo avesse attraversato. Il patto fu siglato ma il costruttore, pieno di rimorso, si confesso con un religioso della zona che lo consigliò di far attraversare il ponte per primo ad un porco. Il Diavolo fu così beffato e scomparve nelle acque del fiume. This bridge is known by three names; the first being Ponte di Matilde di Canossa as it was named after the great Countess Matilde. Secondly it’s known as Ponte della Maddalena. Thirdly, and most importantly, it’s known as il Ponte del Diavolo.We’re in the hills around Lucca, a setting where many fairytales and stories are set, but above all, where Satan is felt more than anything else. The bridge was made by a poor builder, and due to some unforeseen circumstance, the bridge fell apart. The builder was in despair because it had to be finished the next day for the local authorities and he knew that it was impossible to get this massive project finished in time. However, all of sudden, to his delight, he was offered a lifeline! A huge creature appeared with hoof like feet and black skin, who revealed himself to be the Devil. He pledged to get the bridge finished in time for the builder’s deadline, but for doing this, the Devil wanted the spirit of the first person to cross the bridge. The builder was so desperate to save his own skin, he agreed to this outrageous deal.The following morning, as promised the bridge was completely finished, in all it’s magnificent detail and glory. The builder, overcome with emotion, threw himself to the feet of the Bishop of Lucca and confessed everything. The Bishop then made a pig cross the bridge before anyone else could and it trottered accross. The Devil then came to collect his fee, and was absolutely furious to discover that he had been conned. He was so angry that he created a huge hole below the bridge, in the hope that if the bridge broke, people would become trapped in the hole.This isn’t the only Devil Bridge in Italy, it is said, that Satan also worked hard to manipulate many bridges in the North of Italy too. But who knows? It is quite weird that after nearly a thousand years, the bridge has had no need for any restoration works at all, especially since the water which it crosses is known for being quite violent, and often floods the riverbanks.The answer to this is its actual construction, it is a brilliantly made bridge, and without going into the technicalities, is an extremely strong bridge. The legend says though, that the Devil is still waiting for his payment, and if someone stays on the bridge too long, say, to admire the water flow, the water will come up, and wash them away, finally giving the Devil his payment of one human soul.
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Ministry of Heritage and Cultural Activities, Superintendence for the Architectural, the Landscape, the Historical Heritage. Artistic and Ethno-Anthropological of Italy It belongs the Club of “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES IN ITALY” was founded through the incentive of the Tourism Council of the ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities).This project arose from the need to promote the great heritage of History, Art, Culture, Environment and Traditions found in small Italian towns which are, for the most part, cut off from the flow of visitors and tourists. THE HUNCHBACK BRIDGE AND THE TRESURED ABBEY Bobbio appears in the high valley between the Ponte Gobbo and the bell towers of the cathedral and the Church of San Colombano. / The Irish monk Colombano started building, in the place where the castle now stands, what would become a large monastic complex. Like Montecassino, it was also a beacon of culture thanks to its schools, the scriptorium and the most important library of the middle Ages. / A village that later grew to become the economic centre of Val Trebbia developed around the Benedictine Abbey of San Colombano, which was moved to its current location around the ninth century by the abbot Agilulfo. / Only part of the bell tower, together with the mosaic flooring, the crypt and fragments of the circular apse remain of the old Agilulfo Basilica . The current Basilica rose on the ruins of the Proto-Romanesque building (between 1456 and 1522). It has one nave, two aisles and a transept which were frescoed by Bernardino Lanzani during the period 1526-30. Note the much appreciated beauty of the Madonna con Santi (“Madonna and Saints”). / In the Presbytery there are the wooden stalls for the choir (1488) and from the same period, the sarcophagus of San Colombano by Giovanni De Patriachi (1480) that is preserved in the crypt. Before entering the crypt, on a level under the church floor you can admire the beautiful mosaic which was the original flooring of the Agilulfo Basilica. / It was like a prayer mat where the faithful told of their toils working the land through the year, in a period where the symbolic exchange between man and nature was not broken. / The crypt preserves some fifteenth-century frescoes surmounted by finely decorated Lombard marble slabs, which contain the graves of the abbots of San Colombano. On the right side of the crypt there is an iron fence from the first half of the twelfth century, that divided the area of the faithful from that of the monks. / The hamlet of Porta Nuova leads to Piazza Duomo which is crowned with arcades, on top of which are old palaces. A thirteenth-century head for driving out malignant spirits looks at you from Palazzo Brugnatelli: its headress makes it possible to identify it as a magistrate. / The cathedral, which was erected in the eleventh century and enlarged between 1450 and 1475, has a simple facade flanked by two bell towers dating back to the same period. In the Chapel of San Giovanni, restoration works have brought to light a beautiful Annunciazione from the second half of the fifteenth century. / Beside the church is the Episcopal Palace, thats original structure dates back to the eleventh century while the current one, built by the Comacini masters, is from the fifteenth century. / Going down through the hamlet of Porta Alcarina, you will find the oldest building in Bobbio, called “of queen Teodolinda”, dating back to the fifteenth century. Continuing down, with a view the Malaspina-Dal Verme Castle that overlooks the village with its mighty turret, you get to the state road. Crossing it you get to the symbol of Bobbio, the famous Ponte Vecchio, which is also called Gobbo (“hunchback”) or “Devil’s bridge” thanks to its peculiar contorted profile. / The Romanesque style bridge which has had subsequent modifications including a baroque superstructure is 280 meters long and has eleven different arches. The earliest records date back to 1196, in the past it was destroyed by flooding and has been rebuilt several times. / Finally in Piazza San Francesco, you can see the 1621 Sanctuary of Madonna dell’Aiuto and the simple Franciscan style Monastery of San Francesco from the thirteenth-century with a fifteenth-century cloister, and the church that was rebuilt in Baroque style at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Nikon D100 Sigma 15/30
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