Posts Tagged ‘medieval architecture’
Stepping back into the past, in elegant Mantova
My first two years living in Italy, I was in Milan. While there, I explored many towns in the Lombardy region, of which Milan serves as the regional capital. Since I’ve moved to Rome, I have returned to Milan, but it has been years since I’ve been back to eplore many of Lombardy’s charming towns.…
Read MoreFrankfurt’s picturesque Römerplatz
I had been many years since I was back in Frankfurt, so when I returned last spring, I was eager to return to picturesque Römerplatz, otherwise known as Römersberg. This is the heart of Frankfurt’s old town, and has served as the seat of municipal government since the 15th century. In the past, I’ve been…
Read MoreWalking the medieval walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
The adorable medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber – referring to the Tauber River – dates back to the tenth century. I had been here as a young child, then again as a young teenager – meaning it had been many, many years since my last visit. Since I was nearby in Würzburg with…
Read MoreMedieval Manhattan … in Tuscany’s San Gimignano
I’ve been a few times to the gorgeous Tuscan town of San Gimignano, but I hadn’t visited in several years. So, earlier this month – the Summer Solstice, to be precise – I was thrilled to get back to this wildly picturesque medieval hilltop town. What makes this town so special are the thirteen narrow…
Read MoreVisiting Sermoneta with my short story from Feisty Deeds II
I was happy to return to Sermoneta, which is the site of my short story for the latest Feisty Deeds anthology, Feisty Deeds II: Historical Tales of Batches and Brews. My story, The Girl from Sermoneta, takes place in Sermoneta and Rome in the early sixteenth century. This is at the time of one of…
Read MoreHanging out at the Kaffeehaus Goldene Waage in Frankfurt
One of the fun aspects of visiting new destinations (or, in this case, revisiting destinations you haven’t returned to in years) is picking out what would be my favorite café were I to live there. Were I to live in Frankfurt, Germany, that would definitely be the Kaffeehaus Goldene Waage. After my son as I…
Read MoreGorgeous views from Siena’s Torre del Mangia
Last summer my husband and I were back in beautiful Sienna, in Tuscany, after an absence of several years. Siena is always beautiful, and it was fun to enjoy a passeggiata through its gorgeous center. Despite being a very hot July day, there was no way we would miss climbing the medieval Torre del Mangia,…
Read MoreThe stunning fourteenth century frescoes in Padova’s Palazzo della Ragione
You can’t miss this spectacular structure on your visit to pretty Padova. I’ve already written about the picturesque Piazza della frutta and Piazza delle erbe, on which this palace is located. The bottom of the Palazzo della Ragione (The Palace of Reason) was dedicated to a covered market built in 1166, but the upper section…
Read MoreGorgeous views from Bern’s Minster tower – Switzerland’s tallest cathedral spire
Last month, my husband and I were on a trip to Zurich. The weather was perfect, and we decided to take a daytrip by train to Switzerland’s capital – Bern. I’ve already written about our visit to the interesting Paul Klee Museum, built by Italian starchitect, Renzo Piano. We enjoyed the whole city, but one…
Read MoreTodi’s beautiful Palazzo del Popolo
Todi is a picturesque medieval hilltown in Umbria – and its central square, Pizza del Popolo, is wonderfully picturesque. It’s a great place to sit and watch life pass you by. I was here recently on a lovely autumn day, and, when I got tired of walking up and down the steep hills, I enjoyed…
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