San Gimignano Study 28.5.15
Journal 15.VII.99
Ah yes! I remember. Lost again on the way back to Siena, but we made it in time to do the laundry at the lavanderia in the Plaza del Campo before returning to the Ostello Guidoriccio and a late supper at the superb Ristoranti Fontebecci next door. I had a spectacular grilled whole fish and when we returned to the restaurant one year later on our second visit to Siena, the same waiter looked at me for a moment and then said, “Whole fish“. Amazing!
Verona Study I 27.5.15
View of Verona looking across the Adige River from the Teatro Romano.
Journal 11.VII.99
We travelled from Venice on the Andrea Dorea train, checked into the Verona Youth Hostel, the beautiful sixteenth century Villa Francescatti, and spent the day exploring this great city. The day ended at the Arena Opera Festival and an unforgettable performance of Carmen in the historic Roman Amphitheatre, the Arena Di Verona. What a day! I see from the Festival website Carmen is playing again this year on July 24th. If you are anywhere near Verona in July order your tickets today for a night to remember.
Florence Study I 26.5.15
Journal 9.IV.2000
So many treasures visited on this memorable day. To explain the last entry, we often had dinner in the stations of many Italian cities. As I recall Florence station was one of the best. No need for reservation…”our usual table” was always available.
Finale Ligure reflection 25.5.15
After Manarola we stayed in the Youth Hostel in Finale Ligure, the magnificent Castello Vuillerman. We’ll never forget climbing the more than three hundred steps, with packs on our backs, to the Castello where the view of the city, seen in this window reflection, was well worth the climb.
Journal 2.VII.99
A maintenance day in the studio today with stretching and wiring. Stay tuned for the images to be revealed in a few weeks time. Back to Italy and the journal tomorrow but in the meantime a painting from a while ago. This one of Riomaggiore, another of Cinque Terra’s five villages, where we began our walk along the Via dell’ Amore to Manarola.
Riomaggiore, Cinque Terra
Siena study I 23.5.15
Journal 13.VII.99
Memories of the warm stones of the Piazza del Campo that July evening, after a day spent seeing the glorious treasures of this historic medieval Italian city, come flooding back, and especially that “magnificent sandwich” of Parma ham, cheese and pesto from Antica Pizzicheria.
Venice study I 22.5.15
Painting this watercolour and ink sketch in the studio this afternoon allowed me to re-visit our magical trip to Venice in July 1999, a visit documented in a precious journal that I kept throughout our Italian travels that year.
Over the next few days I think I’ll continue with the Italian theme that I’ve started as it is reviving such happy memories, and re-visit a few more special places together with their associated journal entries. I hope you’ll come with me.
Ciao!
A hill in Umbria II 21.5.15
Tuscany Remembered
Manarola, Cinque Terra
No studio time today but instead a painting from a few years back after our visit to magical Cinque Terra on the Italian Riviera. After taking the train to Riomaggiore we walked along the Via dell’ Amore to Manarola where we spent the night. Sitting on the terrace that evening under the awning of the restaurant you can see on the quayside I shall never forget having the best Pasta al Pesto in the world.
thechangingpalette 