Desenzano to Mantua to Verona

 Sorry, I’m late posting this - again.

Yesterday morning we were up and at ‘em early.

Just waiting outside the hotel for our buses.

Pertaining to our concert last night, someone in the audience sent this message to us:  

“Good evening.  I attended your beautiful musical show in Cavriana this evening.  I was truly moved to hear the perfection of the instrumentalists and the great commitment they showed.  As I listened to the music I observed the impassive and concentrated faces of the musicians and I understood once again that as long as there are these angels playing AND as long as we have an audience that loves this great gift that is music, we will no longer have wars.  Thank you for the warmth you have sent us.  See you soon!  Joseph”

Beautiful message.  They actually want us to go back next year :/

Today was a drive to Mantua with a tour of part of the old town, then to Verona, where we’re staying for the next 3 nights.

When we arrived in Mantua, we met up with a tour guide for the town.  We went to the Basilica di Sant’Andrea - another beautiful church.


The art is incredible.  The picture below looks like this is all relief, but it’s just painting.


And this “crypt” contains the blood of Christ…purportedly.


And this is the organ, of course.


Now we’re back outside, and this is a statue of Virgil, the Roman epic poet.  He was born in Mantua in the late 1st century BC and lived through to the early 1st century AD.  His name is used a lot throughout the town for many things, like buildings, businesses, and the like.


We then visited the Teatro Bibiena.  Mozart actually played here.  Beautiful 18th century theatre that hosts many different concerts.  It was once used by the university to display various dissections and other scientific experiments.


I tried my best to sing and entertain the crowd, but they asked me to get off.


And this one is the Basilica di Santa Barbara, and the organ there.


And here’s a statue of Virgil in the large park named after him.


In the main square is an archeological dig.  The Roman ruins are here too.  They’re behind glass, so it’s a tad blurred.


And this is a photo of Lago di Mezzo - the intermediate lake between Lake Superior and Lake Inferior.


Had to take this picture of the clouds as we were on our way to Verona.  Looks like a fluffy white dog.


We arrived at our hotel in Verona - Hotel Leon D’Oro and basically just hung out there the rest of the afternoon/evening, even having dinner there with Eleanor and Paul.







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Setting up the Blog

 We’re preparing to set off on our 2024 journey to Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria and Germany in a couple of days - June 17th.  We’re spending the bulk of our time in Italy, at first by ourselves in Venice, then with my orchestra (Kitchener Waterloo Community Orchestra) for 9 days, performing a couple of concerts, in Cremona, Verona and other places in the north. When they go home, we’ll be off in a rental car to the European Alps, crossing through them in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, into Austria, then Germany, and completing a loop back through Switzerland to fly home from the Venice (Marco Polo) airport on July 7th. I’ll let you know how it all goes - through this blog! Thank you for reading.
Read more

Piazza San Marco and Surroundings

Image
 Today we had tickets already purchased for a tour of San Marco Basilica and of the Doge’s Palace.  So after we were up and at ‘em (which wasn’t very early, but a much-needed sleep was obtained), we headed over to meet up with our guide for the tour of the Basilica. St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice.  His remains (buried in the church) actually came from Egypt, but there’s so much ransacking and war going on in the history of Europe and Western Asia that makes this whole thing very complicated.  The church looks very much like a Byzantine church (Turkish) and is in the Greek Orthodox style in many ways as well.  Anyway, here are some pictures: This is inside: And these 2 are from outside at the top of the church looking over the Piazza (the main square and the 2nd one is toward the sea).  Kind of like me being the Pope on the balcony. We went out to grab some lunch around 1:30 or so.  Have I said how warm it is here?  Hot and humid.  I even bought a hat today (I don’t do hats unle
Read more

Gondola and Food

Image
 Today we got up (although that’s still a bit of a struggle - time change, etc.) and had some breakfast downstairs in the hotel.  Then we wandered over to where we were having a gondola ride.  After some technical rigamarol, we were seated in our gondola for a half hour jaunt through the many canals that make up the pathways of this city.  It’s a “must do” kind of thing when you’re in Venice. And Gerardo, of course (his Venetian name). And this is the building where Mozart lived for a period of time. Who knew? We toured around on some interior canals, then came out to the Grand Canal, and the Basilica of Saint Mary of Health.  Advertising that happens, even on this church ?? :( After the gondola ride, we went back to our hotel.  Gerard took a break, then I went out for a jaunt.  Went to this neat bookstore.  These stairs are made of books (within the bookstore).   And this house is surrounded by water. And the mascaron, warding off evil spirits. In general, Venice is very unique.  So m
Read more