Varenna and Lake Como

Like a breeze

Or sunbeam over your domain I passed

In motion without pause

But ye have left your beauty with me

A serene accord of forms and colors

Passive yet endowed

In their submissiveness with power as sweet

And gracious, almost I dare to say

As virtue is, or goodness; sweet as love

William Wordworth, Excerpt from The Prelude, Lake of Como

Lake Como

There are some places in our travels that linger with us long after we've unpacked and settled into our normal routine. Lake Como is one of those places for me. It's hard to resist its natural beauty, the snow-capped mountains that form a ring around the lake, the picturesque villages and the rejuvenating effect of clear lake waters.

Varenna

Varenna sits on the eastern shore of Lake Como and is easily accessible by train from Milan. It's more lovely in late fall when the views of the lake are unobstructed by monopod carrying tourists and a wonderful calm has settled around town.

From the train station, Varenna Esino, take Via Lido Al down to the water's edge and continue walking along the shoreline. There are stairs that lead up to Piazza San Giorgio which is the main square where you'll find the 14th century basilica of St. Giorgio and its bell tower which can be seen from the lakeshore.

Gardens of Villa Monastero overlooking Lake Como.

It's hard to take a bad picture with scenes like these. While Villa Monastero was closed for the season, the terraced gardens and the lake can be viewed from the high road, Via 4 Novembre, which crosses Piazza San Giorgio from the center of town.

Church of San Giovanni Battista

The 11th century Church of St. John the Baptist is of rough, grey stone. The only decoration to be found in this late Romanesque church are the poorly preserved 14th century frescoes on the side walls. It's a beautiful austere and intimate space, more like a chapel. San Giovanni is located in the center of town on Piazza San Giorgio, a few paces from the basilica.

What places linger in your mind?

*****

Images by travelswitcharie

The Art of Carlos Botong Francisco - Progress of Medicine in the Philippines

Pre-colonial period Pag-unlad ng Panggagamot sa Pilipinas (The Progress of Medicine in the Philippines) is a group of four large-scale paintings depicting healing practices in the Philippines from pre-colonial times to the modern period. Carlos Botong Francisco was commissioned in 1953 by Dr. Agerico Sison who was then the director of Philippine General Hospital (PGH) together with Dr. Eduardo Quisumbing of the National Museum, Dr. Florentino Herrera, Jr. and Dr. Constantino Manahan. These oil on canvas paintings measure 2.92 meters in height and 2.76 meters in width (9.71 ft x 8.92 ft) and were displayed at the main entrance hall of PGH for over five decades. Owing to its location, the artworks were in a state of "severe deterioration" at the beginning of the 21st century from exposure to heat, humidity, dirt, dust, smoke, insect stains, grime, termites and an oxidized synthetic resin used in an earlier restoration. These canvases were restored three times, the last was...

Filipino Struggles in History - Carlos Botong Francisco

In 1968, Antonio Villegas (then Mayor of Manila), commissioned Carlos "Botong" Francisco to paint the history of Manila for Manila City Hall. The series of large scale paintings was called Kasaysayan ng Maynila (History of Manila). The paintings deteriorated over time and no attempt was made to preserve these historical canvases until 2013 when Mayor Amado Lim sent them to the National Museum for extensive restoration. Four years later, in 2017, Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada and the Manila City Council signed an agreement with the National Museum to leave the paintings at the museum so they may reach a larger audience in exchange for museum grade reproductions to replace the originals. Kasaysayan ng Maynila was later renamed Filipino Struggles in History and is now on display at the Senate Hall of the National Museum . Carlos "Botong" Francisco died in March 1969, a few months after completing the paintings. He is one of the first Filipino modernists and...

The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina

Church of the Beheading of St. John, Arbore Monastery Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Romania lies the enchanting region of Bucovina, home to a treasure trove of stunning monasteries. The Painted Monasteries of Bucovina, collectively a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a testament to the region's rich history, spirituality and artistic genius. One of the most visited monasteries in Bucovina is Voronet. It was commissioned by Stefan the Great, Voivode of Moldova and one of its most admired rulers. Moldova was a medieval state that once encompassed parts of present-day Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova. Voronet was built in 1488 to commemorate his victory over the Ottoman Turks in the Battle of Vaslui and it was miraculously completed in three months time. Succeeding princes of Moldova continued the construction of more magnificent monasteries. The exterior walls of these structures were adorned with intricate frescoes, depicting biblical scenes, saints, and...

TravelswithCharie

Search This Blog