Chiostro di Sant’Andrea

For this week’s Monochrome Madness I dived into history. This is an image I took on my visit to Genoa in 2013.

The monastery of Sant’Andrea was built at the beginning of the 12th century. It used to stand on the hill with the same name, right beside the Porta Soprano. This cloister, built in the early Gothic style, used to be a part of the complex of the church Sant’Andrea that was later destroyed. It laid abandoned in the church of San Agostino, but was brought and placed in its present location in 1022.

As usual, for more excellent entries, tomorrow you can find them over on Leanne’s blog Leanne Cole PHOTOGRAPHY.

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I Fear We Have No Vanilla

I never start my photo posts from the title. Title is probably the last thing I get to. On the other hand, if I am writing a story or a poem, the title is usually the first thing that springs to my mind. Strange, isn’t it.
So, when I prepare to publish a photo, first I upload the image and stare at it. Many times, the music I listen to helps me set the mood. Not tonight, though. Tonight I am listening to Bettye LaVette singing The Who’s Love Reign. Not much connection to this ship.

This is Neptune, a spanish galleon built in 1985. for Roman Polanski’s movie Pirates. I remember watching it when I was a kid, found it hilarious. Have no desire to revisit it these days. But I wanted to visit the Neptune when I was in Genoa. Alas, cruel fate wouldn’t allow it. It was a lunch break when we got there. So, no Pirate games for me. Maybe for the best, another international incident wouldn’t look good on my resume.  As for the title – it’s a quote from the movie. Not making much sense, but I find it hilarious. Guess, it’s just one of those days.

Oh, almost forgot…this is my entry for this week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge, you can check other entries here —> Leanne Cole PHOTOGRAPHY.

Porta Soprana

The Italian city of Genoa, chief town of Liguria and ancient capital of the Republic of Genoa, during its long history had been defended by walls. To this day, large portions of these walls remain, and Genoa has more and longer walls than any other city in Italy. The main city walls are known as “Ninth century walls”, “Barbarossa Walls” (12th century), “Fourteenth century walls”, “Sixteenth century walls” and “New Walls” (17th century).

Porta Soprana is the best known gate in the ancient Genova city walls, built in the 12th century as a part of the Mura Barbarossa. This is the spiral staircase in one of the towers.

                  Genoa, Italy  May 2013.

In 1155, the Barbarossa defensive walls were extended to give more protection of Genoa, and it was at this time, at the top of St. Andrew hill, the Porta Soprana was built. The pair of medieval towers are said to be the most well known landmark of Genoa.

Love Affair

In my travels around Europe, I am often attracted to unusual things, details that sometimes mean so much to me, but other people just walk on by and ignore them. Last year I was visiting Genoa, a beautiful Italian city with rich history. From all the photos I took,  my favorite  by far is this one, the name of the street in the center of the city. I was born on the 20th of September, so when I stumbled upon this street, I felt like I somehow belonged there and as silly as it sounds, this place will forever occupy a special corner of my heart.

For, there is no greater love affair than the one you have with yourself.

       Genoa, Italy  10.05.2013.