Those ancient churches

 One of the things that I really love is Romanesque Architecture. 
Romanesque is the Mediaeval style of building that went before Gothic.  Most people know about Gothic. That is the style that churches are built in... with those distinctive, pointed church windows, and stained glass. The Victorians loved Gothic so much that they revived it, especially to build churches.
Well, before that, was Romanesque, a distinctive style that grew slowly out of memories of the Roman, and ornamented by local tradition.

On our trip to Italy in 2019, my sister Roberta and I discovered that Pisa, along with the Leaning Tower and the beautiful Duomo, has a fine collection of Romanesque churches.  We saw several of them, including one which had ornamental roundels along the eaves that were actually examples of the local glazed pottery dishes mortared into place. 

San Frediano, the University Church in Pisa

Here is my YouTube article on understanding and identifying Romanesque Architecture.

 

Some churches of Florence and their artworks

 

The interior of Santa Croce

One of the delights of visiting the city of Florence is to explore its many wonderful churches, where works of art, including sculpture, frescoes and altarpieces dating mainly from the late 13th to the 16th century may be seen in situ. 

The churches briefly described here include Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, Florence Cathedral, the Brancacci Chapel at the Carmine Church, and the Dominican Convent at the Church of San Marco.  

 

 

Florence for the Artlover

 Here I am near the end of a long year of staying at home.  Well, I have at least had time to look at my travel pictures!
I decided to make some videos about the beautiful city of Florence and its wonderful works of art!  I hope that others will enjoying sharing my trip, and my insights into the art and history of the city.