Excerpt from Endymion
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness
May be looking out the window of his house at the right side of the Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna in Italy ,John Keats wrote the first line of his poem Endymion.
The beauty of Italy transcends beyond imagination and the joy one feels by simply looking what this country has to offer makes life worthwile.Italy is the land of surreal buildings of stones which make you believe that may be the stones were in liquid state when these architectural masterpieces were created . The sculptors have magically transformed once mere pieces of rock into monuments of historical significance. If you have an eye for art and understand the basics of architecture , the fact that these buildings actually exist is more than enough to send a shiver through your spine.
In case you don’t know what Mosaic is , it is the art of creating images by assembling quadratic pieces of colored glass. Mosaics cover the ceilings and walls of most of the churches and museums in Italy, they may be a mere decorative theme or hold spiritual significance but more than that they are a feast for the eyes.
Vatican Museum | Rome
And so are the Vatican Ceilings ……
Colosseum Rome
Italy can arguably boast about having the oldest buildings in the world which are well preserved and have stood the test of time. Anyone who visits Italy is unwittingly drawn to the Colosseum .It is the largest amphitheatre built in the Roman empire and was originally capable of seating 50,000 spectators.The Colosseum , initially known as the Flavian amphitheatre after the name of the dynasty which built it was completed in 80 A.D. Its construction began under emperor Vespasius in 72 A.D. and completed under emperor Titus. It has been a witness to gladiator fights , mock sea battles , fights between gladiators and beasts, public executions and many more gory events. In its heydays it provided a source of entertainment to the blood crazy Roman populace. Two thousand years have passed since its construction but the remains of the colosseum still fascinate anyone who visits Rome.
Pantheon Rome
The Pantheon meaning ‘the shrine of the Gods’ is the best-preserved buildings in Rome and the oldest in the world with its original roof intact. It was originaly built as a temple to the seven deities of the seven planets in the state religion of ancient Rome, but it has been a church since 7th Century. It has been in continuous use throughout the history.The interior of the roof is intented to symbolize the heavens.The Great Eye , 27 feet across , at the dome’s apex is the source of all light and is symbolic of the sun.The composition of Roman concrete used in the dome remains a mystery. An unreinforced dome in these proportions made of modern concrete would hardly stand the load of its own weight, since concrete has very low tensile strength, yet the Pantheon has stood for centuries.It is believed that when Micheal angelo walked into the Pantheon for the first time , he was so impressed that he said ," This has to be a work of angels." Keep in mind being a man of extraordinary talents , he wasn't some one who could be easily impressed.The structure of the Pantheon had been an inspiration to many modern day buildings.
Baths of Caracalla
The baths of Caracalla in Rome were built between AD 212 and 216. The baths were more of a leisure center and consisted of a libray, gym, swimming pool , hot and cold rooms , oil and massage facilities.Today the remains of the baths are a major tourist attraction .
Ruins of Pomepii
Pompeii was destroyed in 79 A.D. by the sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The ruins of Pompeii have been succesfully excavated over the past few 100 years and it has since been a popular tourist as well as archeological site.The ruins reveal a lot about the lives of the people in the ancient Roman era. At the time of eruption the town was inhabitated by around 20,000 people and was a holiday spot for many wealthy Romans who had villas in the city.It is said that Pompeii had reached its high point in society as many Romans frequently visited Pompeii on vacations.
A stone paved street in Pompeii
Amphitheater at Pompeii
Ruins of Temple of Jupiter with Mt Vesuvius in the back
From the ruins of yesterday you can quickly walk into the most modern of fashion houses in this magical country.Italy is home to fashion giants like Gucci , Versace , Fendi , Prada , Armani , Dolce and Gabbana ,Roberto Cavalli , Valentino and many more. Milan Fashion Week, established in 1958 is part of the Big 4 fashion weeks internationally, the others being Paris Fashion Week, London Fashion Week and New York Fashion Week.The schedule begins with New York, followed by London, and then Milan, and ending the events in Paris.
Milan Fashion Week
Italy has picturesque mountains and valleys which are covered with daffodils , camellias , bougainvilleas , sunflowers , roses , irises , lavenders , daisies , lilies , orchids and many more for which I don’t have names. Homes and balconies are vibrant with magnificent colors which glow even brighter in the sunshine.
The Grand Canal in Venice was perhaps the abode of Venus for she was the goddess of love , sex , victory , fertility , beauty and prosperity. There is an air in Venice which fills your heart with joy and romance. It is not an exaggeration to say that everyone in love looks forward to the experience of riding in the Gondolas in Vatican City. There is a mysterious attraction in the water , the buildings at the banks , the boats , the sun at the horizon ,as they all come together and mesmerize your soul with that thing called ‘Love’.
Italy is so rich culturally and so gifted naturally that to include all that is beautiful about it in one post is perhaps a herculean task. Everyday one can come across yesterday in this country. The city is so ancient that there is almost a magical feel to it. There once was a traveler who came across a church which was built on the remains of a church ,which itself was built on the remains of another church. Four stories beneath the current cobblestone paved walkway centuries ago there used to be another walkway where people used to walk and chat and barter and sell and love and fight and sing and dance. Time is the only witness to all events that transpire. Today we walk the cobblestone paved streets and create a part of history .
No comments:
Post a Comment