Greve
Barga
Lucca
Cinque Terre
Florence

Around Tuscany in September

Italy 2012

Barga

The Medieval Jewel

In Barga we stayed at the Alpino Hotel.
A nice place on a main street.

Our room at the Alpino.

The view out of our room window. In the distance is the Duomo di Barga.

In the morning we had breakfast at Pasticceria Lucchesi.

Pasticceria Lucchesi.

Cappuccino.

We thought this was the main entrance to Old Barga but it was actually the rear arch.

Looking out the rear arch from inside Barga.

We wandered around the old village.

...an alley in old Barga.

...another alley way in old Barga.

A view of Barga from our walk to the Duomo.

Duomo di Barga. The original building dates back to before the year 1000.

The view from the Duomo level... in a bubble.

Entrance to the Duomo. The history of this building is a fascinating trail of damage and reconstruction that stretches from the 11th to the 15th Century.

Lions, symbol of the power of faith, on the entrance pillars of the Duomo.

An ancient passage carved into the limestone of the facade, next to the entrance.

A chip in the ancient marble entry column.

The door leads to the bell tower of Barga's Duomo.

Inside Barga's Duomo many centuries of renovation and repair are obvious. A nave and two side chapels.

My fish-eye lens distorts the perfectly straight lines of the Duomo's structure. A nave and two side chapels.

Magnificent marble pulpit created in the 13th century.

Details on the pulpit.

One of the baptismal fonts placed in the front of the aisle.

Above the font.

Detail from the edge of the baptismal font.

Detail from the edge of the baptismal font.

San Giovanni.

San Giovanni.

Standing at one of the side chapels, this is a view toward the church's entrance.

Turning my back on the entrance - this is that side chapel. Bright with sunlight it is modern in appearance in comparison to the rest of the building.

Above the small altar.

Luca della Robbia, a Florentine sculptor who created works in marble and terracotta, is perhaps best known for his glazing technique which protected the color and detail of his work.

Detail of the same glazed sculpture by Luca della Robbia.

Another sculpture by Luca della Robbia hanging in a side chapel of the Duomo.

Detail of the same glazed sculpture by Luca della Robbia.

On the side of the Duomo with the hills of Barga behind us.

Looking past a piece of contemporary art up to the medieval Duomo.

A metal sculpture on display street side, in old Barga.

Another view of the old church's tower from the level of a contemporary sculpture in one of the village squares.

While walking around old Barga.

While walking around old Barga.

While walking around old Barga.

In our wandering we passed this spot at least 5 times, each time stopping for a photo of the angular streets.

Guilty! This is my Photoshop comp of 4 slightly different views of this corner. Even in real life it looked this improbable.

Although we saw almost no people this day, here is evidence that children do play in these streets.

Persimmon tree in front of a shop in Piazza Angeli.

Persimmon tree in front of a shop in Piazza Angeli.

Walking in the streets of old Barga.

Doorway to "Opera Barga".

Looking across Piazza to the Palazzo Angeli, a 16th century palace.

Pietro Angeli (1512-1573), also known by his nickname “Bargeo”, was a poet, a soldier and a professor of Greek and Latin at the University of Pisa.

Walking around the streets of old Barga.

Rain drain made of stone.

Two of the mellow animals we met while in Italy.

Sundial.

This photo gives a really good view of the steep streets.

L'Osteria Restaurant. During our dinner we met some great fellow travelers. The next afternoon, while the restaurant was closed, we sought shelter from heavy rainfall and ate our picnic lunch under this awning.

L'Osteria Restaurant. During our dinner we met some great fellow travelers. The next afternoon, while the restaurant was closed, we sought shelter from heavy rainfall and ate our picnic lunch under this awning.

Entrance arch to old Barga.

Entrance arch to old Barga.

At the Duomo during a rain storm.

The entrance to Barga's Duomo.

This door leads to the Duomo's bell tower stairs.

The clock mechanism that keeps the bells ringing on time.

Cristian, a campanaro, and two of the bells he and his teammates ring for the church.

Take note of the heavy hammer that strikes the bell - without warning - as triggered by the timer.

The edges of the bells are chipped as a way of tuning.

Sandie with our guide, Cristian and his daughter Deborah, in the Duomo bell tower.

A look at the old town from the Duomo's bell tower.

Two photos combined to show this view from the bell tower.

Under the awning at the L'Osteria Restaurant where we stopped to enjoy our picnic in the rain.

On our way out of Barga we pulled over to take a picture of this mountain - undoubtedly the source of much marble.

Greve

The Chianti Wine Festival
Lucca

Luminaria di Santa Croce
Cinque Terre

Via dell Amore
Florence

Renaissance City-Fiat 500