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Thursday, May 28, 2015

Basillica di Santa Croce, Florence!

More Italy Photos!

We spent an amazing part of the afternoon touring the Basillica di Santa Croce, the largest Franciscan church in the world.

The basillica includes sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs.


Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself.

About this photo:  only the facade is carerra marble.  If you look down the sides of the building, it is regular brown stone.  The facade was added later!


As I was going through these photos this morning, I was amazed at how many geometric patchwork designs there are in tile floors in ancient cathedrals and basilicas.


This one is no different!


Tile up next to a pillar

But what I noticed about Italy, at least what I saw and assume of Italy, is due to the abundance of cararra marble, most of the tile designs we saw were in black and white with some red, maybe some green --but not a lot of the multi colored tiled floors like we saw elsewhere in Europe -- Germany, Ireland, France, England, Netherlands, the other places I've been.


The frecoes and altars however...wow!


The basilica is just enormous in space, and extremely interesting to wander through.  Take your time!

The floor and the walls are covered in tombstones and memorials --many of the tombstones are 3-D, and of course, white and black!


Loved the design on this one, whomever it belongs to!


This one is 3 D!


The site map (This is just a portion) let us know where to find who we wanted to see --did you know that Michelangeo, Galileo AND Dante are buried here, amongst many others we revere?  It was amazing!  The joke was made that the entrance fee was "3 important dead guys for the price of 1!"  But it was so worth it.


Michelangelo


Galileo

And of course all of the other statuaries are just beautiful --oh, those Italian artists.  They capture human emotion as well as spirit and form.

Yep - the rest of the photos are in the following slide show!  Click the image below if you are unable to view the slide show on your mobile device.  You'll be taken to the photo album for viewing.


Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence, Italy 2015





Busy morning ahead --

Phone conference with an editor from C&T to get my timeline going for the next book!  YAY!  So happy to be on that right track again.

This evening I'm headed up to the cabin for a weekend of fun.  The cabin has had its new red roof for over a month and I've not seen it!

There will be loads of sewing going on as I work towards getting the last two new book quilts assembled and together - and start thinking about what I'll be doing for our 2016 mystery. It's time to get the wheels spinning on that!

Have an awesome Thursday -- 

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5 comments:

  1. Welcome home! The pictures of Italy are wonderful. I feel a special affinity because my maternal grandmother's family emigrated to the U. S. from Domodossola (in the Alps). Don't forget to post a photo of the new red roof on Quilt Villa.

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  2. Thanks for sharing the wonderful internal pictures. Faye and I wondered at other places outside and did not go in the cathedral. I see that would be a good reason to return :)

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  3. Is there a new "Leader/Ender" project? Thanks so much for a great blog and all the free patterns.

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  4. Bonnie, you do not need another project for sure, but.... I am sure I am not the only person who would like to know how you keep on track. There are so many time organization specialists offering their plan and products, but I think "I'll have what she is having!!" Whatever you are doing--it works!! We see it every day. I would love to know what methods you use--paper-planner/diary, all digital, or whatever--to keep on track and not forget what needs to be done when, because you have deadlines and so many things going on in so many directions. AND, since you manage the "have-tos" so well, you are able to also enjoy family and me time, too.

    You are a great role-model, Bonnie, and I learn something from you almost every day. Thank you.

    Valerie

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  5. Anonymous9:41 PM EDT

    Don't you love noticing patchwork possibilities at cultural sites? Likewise, in the Alhambra (Granada) and the Alcazar (Seville), as well as the Vatican floor prior to entering the Sistine Chapel. --Annette

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