JAUNTICLES

Hello again, Blogonauts. Bergamo is majestic, both inside and out. So let's take a look at this kaleidoscope! On Thursday, my itinerary took me away from Verona, and brought me an hour or so west, to the "duopolis" of Bergamo. I have dubbed it so, because two town centers exist in Bergamo, each less than a mile apart from the other (as the crow flies, and this time flying would be an advantage). Bergamo's more modern section, known as Città Bassa , is where my train arrived and my lodging is located. It is plopped flatly on the flatlands of Lombardy south of the Alps. And it has a nice urban center and sophisticated feel. Indeed, it has been an industrial and educational center for a couple of centuries. But on a steep, rocky hill towering above is the Città Alta (Upper City), where Bergamo's wealth and power first took root more than 2000 years ago . And surrounding that part of the city is an imposing wall, making the entire upper city seem like a fortress...wh...

"There is no world without Verona walls, But purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence, banished is banish'd from the world, And the world's exile is death." (from Romeo and Juliet ) "You, minion, are too saucy!" (from The Two Gentleman of Verona ) Hello again, Blogonauts! Let's begin by bestowing on the Bard a hefty acknowledgement. Without Shakespeare, the myths that persist about Verona would likely involve only deities and doges. But thanks to Avon's own Quick Willy Quillsmith, folks the world over now flock to Verona, wanting most to see where fictional Juliet "lived and died," and the balcony where she captured the doomed Romeo's heart. Shakespeare's play of ill-fated love still inspires the celebration of romance, and continues to cultivate a bonanza for those willing to ignore the fictional nature of the story. (Still, other similar examples exist. Many people continue to look for Platform 9¾ at London's Kings Cross railway...

Hello again, Blogonauts! Metropolis has Superman. Gotham City has Batman. And Vicenza has Andrea Palladio . Few cities come to mind that are so closely tied to the legacy left by a single individual. Yet in Vicenza, it is impossible to escape Palladio's architecture, lore, or even his name. Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) helped to shape late Renaissance Italian architecture by restoring and expanding Greek and Roman building aesthetics and principles, relying on clean lines and balance. It's likely that, without realizing it, you already know his name. "Palladian windows" (those topped with a semi-circular arch found on loads of palaces, government buildings, and American McMansions) are named after him. Indeed, the overall designs of the White House in Washington, DC, and Jefferson's Monticello largely comply with Palladian architecture. And visiting Vicenza offers a real-life opportunity to thumb through this fellow's portfolio. Let's start with the Piazz...