Here They Lay At The Gothic Line

The European Union was founded on the principles of peace and unity, in attempt to prevent the world from ever witnessing the horrific scene of a world war again. Monday May 26^th, 2014 marked the 69^th year of the end of the last world war that shook Europe to its core. One can, and should, go to Arlington cemetery just on the outskirts of Washington D.C.’s center and witness the thousands upon thousands of brave men and women who gave everything for our country and one should marvel in the splendor of their death. However, there are more precious gravesites scattered all over this earth in constant remembrance of those men. One being along the Gothic Line, which is several miles outside the center of Florence Italy.

            The Florence American Cemetery holds over 1400 men, and remembers nearly 4000 plus men who are missing in action till this day – sobering can’t describe the emotion that hits upon entering the memorial site. May 26^th, Memorial Day, saw both the American brigades and Italian brigades stand in unity as taps played gently through the air, while a 21 gun salute pierced the pain that was left behind. These 1400 American men died at the Battle of Florence, never to see their home, never to watch their children grow, never to kiss their wives all for the name of freedom. Yet, what they sacrificed allowed the preservation of one of the most famous cities in the entire world. Towns like Chiussi and Ravenna were complete destroyed; yet, Florence was salvaged. Thankfully, both Nazi and American commanders realized the significance of Florence and mandated that troops did minimal damage. The clock tower and façade of the Duomo received the most damage, as it was necessary to destroy both as German snipers reined terror down on the allied forces trapped around the Baptistery.

69 years ago men fought to liberate Italy, men fought to preserve a culture doomed to be blown away from the memories of time just as Napoleon tried to do to Brussels. The significance that lies in the cemetery lies six feet below the surface. Oh the precious ground, the surreal feeling that surrounds me is overwhelming. I get emotional when I visit Arlington, but this emotion is different. It’s gripping. I encourage you who may read this to go to this cemetery, breath in the sacrifice, take in the history that lies beneath you. The Gothic Line was bloody, it was terrific for those 19-24 year old men, it was death for 1400 and here they will lay for all the remember them just behind the Gothic Line.

A House for My Second Cousins

The Medici family owned Florence back in the day. Their palaces were the most elegant homes in all of Tuscany. It’s only fitting that you visit them! If you don’t want to wait in line and deal with the massive crowds in Palazzo Vecchio, then I would suggest visiting Palazzo Medici Riccardi. Towards 1444 Cosimo the Eldest, the patriarch of the Medici family commission to Michelozzo a place to be built in via Larga near the San Lorenzo church. The palace was to be the first Renaissance building erected in Florence. Known for its delineated and rusticated floors and huge cornice crowning the roofline, the palace stands out for its arched windows arranged along the front and the closed loggia on the corner of the building.

After the Medici moved to Palazzo Vecchio in 1540, the palace became the home for lesser family members until 1659. Ferdinando II sold the home to the Ricardi family. The Riccardis took it upon themselves to take the palace and enhance its appearance on the inside. The most important works consisted in the large hall decorated with the frescoes of Luca Giordano who gave one of the most extraordinary examples of Baroque architecture in Florence. They also added a new staircase in the entryway designed and built by the architect Foggini.

Now Palazzo Medici Riccardi  is a major museum of Florence. Since 1972, the exhibition area of Palazzo Medici Riccardi has offered both tourist and visitors a chance to see not just the historical pieces of Foggini and Giordano, but holds pieces of modern and contemporary art as well. When you do visit, please make sure you enter the Chapel. This Chapel was frescoed in 1459 by Benozzo Gozzoli showing the Procession of the Magi. This fresco showed the train of the Concilium that was occurring in Flornce in 1439.

For a house for the lesser family, this place is still quite fantastic. Waking down the halls of this majestic palace showed me the true power and wealth of both the Medici and the Riccardi families. With the elegant Baroque and Renaissance feel along with a beautiful courtyard to match, I would have love to be a second cousin to their family.

Eggman's Castle

Considered to be the oldest castle in Naples, Castel dell’Ovo juts out into the bay of Naples on a tiny isle called Megaride. This is the island where Siren Partenope washed ashore after she drowned herself in the sea because she could not lure Ulysses into her trap. This same siren gave Naples its first name, Partenope.

Castel dell’Ovo was made famous by the Roman poet Virgil and the legend of his magical, mythical egg, however this egg is the namesake of the castle. That’s right! An egg. This beautiful isle castle was named after an egg! Legend has it that Virgil placed an egg into a glass jar, the jar into a metal cage and hid it beneath the castle. As long as the egg remained safe and intact, the city would too.  The only problem with that was that Virgil was there way before the castle was ever built. I mean way way before.

Before Castel dell’Ovo, Virgil was living in Castellum Luculanum. This expansive villa built by the Roman knight and patrician Lucius Licinius was a Roman playground that lost its allure and was converted into a fort. Once a fort, they decided that it would be a great place for a castle. I can’t blame them. Having a prison on an isle is totally awesome. This Perfect location was home to the last Roman Emperor Romolus Augustolus when her was exiled and imprisoned until his death. Roger the Norman finally transformed it into a castle in the 12^th century.  From then on, many others who walked within the castle added their own personal uses and additions to the grand castle.

Today, the prison cells are all gone and the halls of the castle are free to roam. But it still leaves me to ponder, after all these centuries, is the egg still there? All through the castle I was looking to see if I could find where Virgil put that egg! Going through the grand corridors and walking through narrow walksway in search of an egg centuries old. When your in Naples and you are finished eating your delicious Napolitano pizza, take a walk down to the water and search for the egg.

Behind The Altar into Paradise

Florence brings beauty, it screams history, it desires for one to explore the depths of its past; however, it has never processed the Garden of Eden. To find this I had to take a short journey down to Arezzo. How could it be that this town, a fraction of the size of Florence, has an item of such rarity – wood from THE Garden where it all began? Well it clearly isn’t from the Garden; however, the Medieval Catholic churches all desired to have precious items directly from God and that have the power to bring the Holy Spirit into their church. Piero della Francesca gave Arezzo their wish, when he painted the Basilica of San Francesco’s alter and hung the “true cross” for all to see.

            The History of the True Cross or The Legend of the True Cross is a sequence of frescoes painted by Piero della Francesca in the Basilica of San Francesco in Arezzo. It is his largest work, and generally considered one of his finest, and an early Renaissance masterpiece. Its theme, derived from the popular 13th century book on the lives of saints by Jacopo da Voragine, the Golden Legend, is the triumph of the True Cross – the wood from the Garden of Eden that became the Cross on which Christ was crucified. This work demonstrates Piero’s advanced knowledge of perspective and color, his geometric orderliness and skill in pictorial construction. The main episodes depicted are: Death of Adam and The Queen of Sheba in Adoration of the Wood, and The Meeting of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. According to the legend, the tree from which the cross was made was planted, at the urging of angels, at the burial of Adam by his son, using a branch or a seed from the apple tree of the Garden of Eden.  As history is told, the Queen of Sheba worshiped the beams made from the tree, and informed Solomon, that the Savior would hang from that tree, and thus dismember the realm of the Jews. This caused Solomon to hew it down and bury it, until the Romans found it.

            The church is settled directly in the center of the city; however, it isn’t displayed on a scale of splendor like the Duomo in Florence. It is just, normal. I thought this showed a true character of respect by the church, because, as history has shown, the Catholic church was notorious for showing off all its riches and standing out as the cream of the crop. Yet, the Basilica in Arezzo is nothing but a corner-niche church with a true relic. This relic hangs behind the alter for all to see and all to come to, so go to it and take in its significance. It isn’t a jester of splendor, a jester of power but a jester telling the masses to come to Christ through the alter of the church and find peace. I couldn’t help but stand and stare in amazement of the simplistic strategy of this alter piece, and soon I was finding myself wandering just behind the alter into paradise.

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!!!!!

 On June 2, 1946, Italy became a republic. Out of World War II, in a nationwide referendum, Italians rejected monarchy and chose a republican form of government, which began the modernization of the country. It is now a national holiday to celebrate the foundation of the Italian Republican democracy.

Sitting With The Council

Known as Palazzo Comunale, Siena’s Palazzo Pubblico is considered on of the finest examples of gothic secular architecture. This was the former residence of the city’s Signoria and is now the seat of the town council. Out of all the buildings that look onto Piazza del Campo, this Palazzo is the most imposing building that commands your attention inside of the square. It is the true and natural center of the squares

architecture. Until 1270, Siena was ruled by a council of 24 members known as Governo dei Ventiquattro. This group used to hold meetings in a building next to the church of San Pellegrino. They decided that they needed a building that would hold their government and show it had equal power to the church.

In the late 13^th century they had began to design and construct their new government building. This building would hold the new government of nine members and confine them to the palazzo. The council would then be given a large chamber known as the Salone del Gran Consiglio. The full building was not completed until 1680 when the two side-wings were completed. The large copper disc bearing the monogram of Christ was placed there in 1425 in memory of St Bernardino of Siena who preached in the square.

To the left of the Palazzo Pubblico rises the great Torre del Mangia. Yes, that is correct. It is an enormous elegantly designed tower dedicated to eating! Ironically enough, the name came form the towns first bellringer, Giobanni di Duccio. He was given the nickname Mangiaguadagni because of his gluttonous eating habits and how he was perceived to “eat away” at the townspeople money given to the government.

The towers foundation stone was laid in 1325 but the actual construction took place from 1338 to 1348. Entirely in brick, the tower is surmounted by a stone bell chamber designed by Lippo Memmi. The tower is 289 feet tall and takes 400 steps to climb this great masterpiece. As much as you would want an elevator to climb it, the view from the top is astounding and its height rivals that of the Siena duomo. This was made to show that the government was just as important as religion in the town. Believe me, the view shows it. Looking over the and the surrounding countryside is definitely worth the workout.