Santo Spirito, Florence

I always visit churches and cloisters / convents during my trips. Today I’ll share a few photos of The Basilica di Santo Spirito, Florence. The original architect was famous Filippo Brunelleschi who designed those typical domes of Florence. The building started in 1446. Outside the basilica is very plain but the inside is very decorative. Unfortunately it was not allowed to take photos inside. But there was a beautiful inner courtyard that I enjoyed a lot. 

The most interesting thing for a nowadays tourist is this wooden crucifix by young Michelangelo. At seventeen years he was allowed to make anatomical studies on the corpses coming from the convent's hospital; in exchange, he sculpted a wooden crucifix. Photo: Wikipedia.

All in all my trip was fabulous - so much to see!

// MOSAIC MONDAY    // FOTO-TUNES

Boboli Gardens, Florence

Boboli Gardens are situated directly behind the Pitti Palace,

the main seat of the Medici grand dukes of Tuscany at Florence. They are some of the first
and most familiar formal 16th-century Italian gardens.  The gardens were laid out for
Eleonora di Toledo, the wife of Cosimo I de’ Medici. Read more HERE.
It was early, so the photos are a bit dark.

On my first day I went to see first the Pitti Palace - very golden & rich inside! - and from there 

to the Boboli Gardens. It looked really fantastic but the stairs without a reiling where hard to climb.

There were also some modern sculptures, here an example.

Italian stone pines - Pinus pinea - were growing everywhere. They were really fantastic,

the trunks so high & their umbrellas or parasols impressive.

I went to listen three tenors at Auditorium al Ponte Vecchio and they sang also Torna a Surriento.

// WILLY-NILLY    // ALL SEASON    // MY CORNER OF THE WORLD
// IMAGE-IN-ING

Friday Bliss #57 - Gem of the Renessaince

I came back home late last night having spent four wonderful days in Florence. My short vacation was fabulous, the weather pleasant 24 C and the city full of sights to see. There were thousands and thousands of tourists from all over the world. I met and talked to people from France, Ecuador, Brazil, Japan, The US, England... and a couple even from Finland :)

I stayed in a little apartment close to Ponte Vecchio, it’s location in the centre was perfect for me. Depending on how you look it, this is pro or contra: there was no elevator and you had to climb to the 3rd floor! Every day I walked for hours, and climbed an endless amount of stairs. I have a lot of photos that I shall show you during the dark winter months - to keep up the spirits! But now just a few climpses of Florence.

Florence is a city of Arno and many bridges...

... Ponte Vecchio is the oldest and most famous of them. 

It hosts an endless amount of jewellery stores...

... it’s a city of splendid views and an endless amount of staircases!

This view is high from The Boboli Garden over to Palazzo Pitti. 

The stairs did not have any reiling! I was afraid, but did not stumble and the climbing was worth it.

--- it’s a city of domes. Most churches have a dome in this style,

not only the cathedral or Duomo... The style was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446).

... it’s a city of many Medici palazzos, renessaince treasures and art museums...

... it’s a city that lives on the tourism!

... as I walked here on Sunday morning the bells of the churches were chiming and

a choir was singing in Italian. I felt I was transferred back in time. A charming experience.

... it’s a city of these high and stunning pines and cypresses!

❤︎❤︎❤︎

I’m behind in visiting you due to my trip. See your soon.

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

- riitta

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Weekend in Black & White

Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona

More photos from my trip in September here.

Weekend in Black & White

Sagrada Familia

Pyhäinpäivään sopinee tämä viimeinen Barcelona-postaukseni.

My final post about Barcelona suits well to All Saint's Day.

Sagrada Familia is a confusing building and the pride of Barcelona. The construction started in 1882 and it is still unfinished. High cranes decorate the neighbourhood and millions of tourists visit it every year. The lines are hundreds of meters. Into the architecture and construction of this praise to the Lord Gaudí put all his imagination, effort and energy. It is a marvel difficult to describe, it astonishes the viewer every time when seen.

Sagrada Familia on häkellyttävä rakennelma. Kirkon rakentaminen aloitettiin jo vuonna 1882 ja se on edelleen pahasti keskeneräinen. Korkeat nostokurjet koristavat ympäristöä ja miljoonat turistit vierailevat siellä vuosittain. Jonot kiemurtelevat sadoissa metreissä. Tähän Jumalan ylistyksen rakentamiseen ja suunnitteluun Gaudí pani kaiken mielikuvituksensa, ponnistuksensa ja energiansa. Sagrada Familia hämmästyttää joka kerta kun sen näkee.

Gaudí (1852-1926)was a deeply religious and modest man, who never got married. In June 1926, Gaudí was taking his daily walk to the Sant Felip Neri church for his habitual prayer and confession. While walking he was struck by a passing tram and lost consciousness. Assumed to be a beggar because of his lack of identity documents and shabby clothing, the unconscious Gaudí did not receive immediate aid. Eventually some passers-by transported him in a taxi to the hospital where he died a few days later at the age of 73. A large crowd gathered to bid farewell to him in the chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the crypt of the Sagrada Família. 

Gaudí oli hyvin uskonnollinen ja vaatimaton mies, joka ei koskaan avioitunut. Ollessaan päivittäisellä kävelyllään tulossa Sagrada Famílian työmaalta kesäkuussa 1926 Antoni Gaudí joutui raitiovaunun töytäisemäksi ja loukkaantui pahasti. Hyvin nukkavierusti pukeutunutta ja koko elämänsä kameraa vältellyttä arkkitehtia ei tunnistettu. Gaudí saatiin viimein kaupunginsairaalaan joidenkin taksien jo kieltäydyttyä kuljettamasta kerjäläiseksi luulemaansa miestä. Gaudí menehtyi vammoihinsa muutaman päivän kuluttua 73 vuoden iässä. Hänen hautajaissaattuettaan oli seuraamassa tuhansia barcelonalaisia. Antoni Gaudí haudattiin Sagrada Familian kryptaan.

Sagrada Familia is impressive outside but if you have not visited inside you have not seen it! It is so amazing, colourful & full of imaginary details and the high pillars resemble trees with their branches. The stained glasses of upper windows give different shades according whether it is morning, day, afternoon or evening. Unfortunately I have no photos from inside. But please google!

Sagrada Familia on vaikuttava ulkoa, mutta jos et ole käynyt sisällä, et ole nähnyt sitä! Se on niin kaunis, värikäs & täynnä mielikuvituksellisia yksityiskohtia ja korkeat pilarit kasvavat kuin puut oksineen.  Valo siivilöityy yläikkunoista sisälle eri värisenä riippuen siitä onko aamu, päivä iltapäivä vai ilta. Valitettavasti minulla ei ole kuvia sisältä. Mutta googlaa!

Photo online

Have a peaceful All Saint's Day. - Hyvää pyhäinpäivää.

Floral Bliss #45

I am hardly alive after four days at The Helsinki Book Fair. But slowly to my normal routine.
This week some summer memories.
Barcelona's La Rambla is a world famous walking street packed with people,
street restaurants and stalls selling many kinds of souvenirs.
There were also stalls selling seeds and flowers.

Olen hädin tuskin hengissä neljän kirjamessupäivän jälkeen, mutta pikkuhiljaa normaaliin rutiiniin.
Tällä viikolla kesäisiä kuvia La Ramblalta, tuolta maailmankuululta kävelykadulta.
Se oli täynnä ihmisiä, ravintoloita ja myyntikojuja,
jotka myivät vaikka minkälaisia matkamuistoja, myös siemeniä ja kukkia.

One Señor florist at  La Rambla

This cow was so cute, decorating the entrance of some shop!

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Wishing you a good start to November! - Oikein hyvää marraskuuta sinulle!

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