A Brief History of Springtime Travels to Italy

Under My Umbrella Ravello, Campania

People always ask for our advice when planning a trip to Italy. We love answering their questions except for the dreaded "when is the best time to travel there?", which translates to "when is the weather perfect?" Back in the 1970's when I lived in Vicenza, April and May or September and October, were the ideal months to spend in bell'italia. But as you've probably noticed, nothing has stayed the same in Italy except for it's ruins and art!

Maybe it's because of the stormy weekend we're having here in Chicago, but this particular foto, "Under My Umbrella", really spoke to me today. I know the saying goes "April showers bring May flowers" but this foto exemplifies the fact that I can't even choose the "perfect" time for Craig and I to travel to Italy. This foto was taken in the Villa Rufolo in Ravello in the beginning of May, 2007. Almost our entire 2 weeks on the Amalfi Coast were spent under black storm clouds and downpours. I thought I'd chosen the ideal time to capture the coast at it's loveliest.... full of spring flowers and excusite vistas overlooking the gulf of Salerno. But no, we spent our days dashing from wherever we could take refuge from the storms back to the villas Rufolo and Cimbrone the minute the skies would clear.

That wasn't the first spring trip we spent under a cloud...Sicily in April of 2004, a hiking trip through the vineyards of the Langhe in the Piemonte in May of 2001 we found ourselves up to our knees in mud, a Grand Tour with my parents in May of 2000 and Venice in 1999.... We'd be happy to answer any question you might have to help you plan your Italian trip...just don't ask about the weather!!!

"Sul Ponte", Venezia

"A realist, in Venice, would become a romantic by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him." -- Arthur Symons, Welsh poet (1865-1945).

Facing each other on the bridge, a young couple sits silhouetted by the warm glow of the faux facade, its reflection in the canal below. Venetian street lamps, some lit and some not, are arranged in perfect balance with the couple. A touch of greenery, a laundered coolness, a blue sky, a peacefulness... Maybe you can see yourself in this dreamlike romantic scene, just relaxing and enjoying the late afternoon together...in the Queen of the adriatic, Venice.

Le Tournesol - The Sunflower

"Le Tournesol", Aix-en-Provence, Provence

THE WILD SUNFLOWER
At early dawn, like soldiers in their places,

Rank upon rank the golden sunflowers stand;

Gazing toward the east with eager faces,

Waiting, until their god shall touch the land

To life and glory, longingly they wait,

Those voiceless watchers at the morning's gate.

Dawn's portals tremble silently apart;

Far to the east, across the dewy plain,

A glory kindles that in every heart

Finds answering warmth and kindles there again;

And rapture beams in every radiant face

Now softly glowing with supernal grace.

And all day long that silent worship lasts,

And as their god moves grandly down the west,

And every stem a lengthening shadow casts

Toward the east, ah, they love him best,

And watch till every lingering ray is gone,
Then slowly turn to greet another dawn

~By Albert Bigelow Paine~

Our Thoughts and Prayers for L'Aquila

The Fountain of the 99 Spouts (L'Aquila)

Santa Maria di Collemaggio (L'Aquila)

Our hearts go out to the people of the Abruzzo suffering from a devastating earthquake which hit the region's capital city of L'Aquila about 3:30 AM this morning. The heavy damage not only destroyed much of L'Aquila but many of the small cities and villages within the province of L'Aquila have also suffered destruction. As the death toll is mounting most of the citizens of L'Aquila are now homeless.

Craig and I spent 8 days in L'Aquila in June, 2002, while photographing the province. We love L'Aquila and I have already made reservations to return there in October on our way to Puglia. I'll be very sad to have to change our plans.

L'Aquila has been a mountain stronghold since the Middle Ages when its construction was begun by Frederick II. It was completed in 1254 and has a distinguished architectural heritage with many prized Romanesque, Renaissance and Baroque gems. I was greatly saddened to read that the Cultural Minister said that among much other destruction was the collapse of a wall of the 13th Century Santa Maria di Collemaggio and the Renaissance bell tower of the Basilica of San Bernadino. Reports of partially collapsed and damaged ancient monuments have been reported throughout the province and as far as Rome, 70 miles away.

Please keep the people of the Abruzzo in your thoughts and prayers.

"Story in Stone" - Arles Provence

Arles, a region with a rich history, was originally established by the Greeks at "Theline" in the 6th century B.C. It later came under Roman rule and was then known as "Arelate", when it became a town of considerable importance, possessing the southernmost bridge on the Rhone River.

In the 5th and 6th Centuries, its prominance peaked when Emporers used it to conduct military campaigns from it as their headquarters. It was a favorite of Emporer Constantine I. In the 8th Century it was overtaken by the Muslim Saracens and the Franks, when it became the capital city of the Kingdom of Arles.

In the 12th Century, the Romans again returned and in 1378, when the Kindom of Arles ended, it was ceded to King Charles XI of France. The arrival of the railway in the 19th Century caused the river trade to fade and it became a backwater which preserved the old town with its Roman theater and Roman arena.

In 1888, Van Gogh arrived in Arles. Strolling around Arles today, you can't avoid being swept up by its history and its Roman and medieval architectural elements. While it functions as a modern city today, there are clues into its past just about everywhere you look. The faces on the capitals of the columns are part of the riches of Bible stories told in stone in the beautiful cloister of the Eglise St. Trophime.