NELA’S GANG travellers

 Northen Italy

Milan

The architectural and artistic presence in Milan represents one of the attractions of the Lombard capital. Milan has been among the most important Italian centers in the history of architecture, has made important contributions to the development of art history, and has been the cradle of a number of modern art movements.

Milan's Cathedral, built between 1386 and 1877, is the largest church in the Italian Republic—the larger St. Peter's Basilica is in the State of Vatican City, a sovereign state—and the third largest in the world, as well as the most important example of Gothic architecture in Italy. 

The Last Supper is a mural painting by the Italian High Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, dated to c. 1495–1498, housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.

Turin

Turin is the capital city of Piedmont and was the first Italian capital from 1861 to 1865. Turin is sometimes called "the cradle of Italian liberty" for having been the political and intellectual centre of the Risorgimento that led to the unification of Italy. Turin became a major European crossroad for industry, commerce and trade, and is part of the industrial triangle along with Milan and Genoa.

The Turin Cathedral and the Chapel of the Holy Shroud.

The Shroud of Turin is a length of linen cloth that bears a faint image of the front and back of a man.  It has been venerated for centuries as the actual burial shroud used to wrap the body of Jesus of Nazareth after his crucifixion, and upon which Jesus's bodily image is miraculously imprinted. 

Genoa

Genoa is the capital of Liguria. It has historically been one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean.

Le Strade Nuove ("New Streets") and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli ("Palaces of the Lists") includes a number of streets and palaces. These are a group of Renaissance and Baroque palaces which were associated to a particular system of ‘public lodging’ in private residences, whereby notable guests on State visit to the Republic were hosted in one of these palaces on behalf of the State.

The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) is a major palace in Genoa.

“Lampadario e soffitto della sala delle Udienze”.

“La Galleria degli Specchi”.

Paintings, sculptures, tapestries and precious furnishings including furniture, porcelain and silver, accompany the visitor as they discover the magnificence of one of the most significant and emblematic buildings of the city. In addition, the decoration of the rooms deserves special attention: from the vaults frescoed by Genoese baroque masters, to the opulence of the following century, from the scenography of the Galleria degli Specchi to the frescoes by Domenico Parodi.

NELA’S GANG travellers

Berlin

Berlin was built along the banks of the Spree river and the wall is nowadays a tourist attraction. On the remains of the Berlin wall we have a famous grafitti painting by Dmitri Vrubel in 1990, sometimes referred to as the Fraternal Kiss.

The ensemble on the Museum Island, in the northern part of the Spree Island, is dedicated to art and antiquities as we can see in the figure above.

The most famous museum of the Museum Island, the Pergamon Museum, is now closed for renovation. Unfortunately it will remain closed for 14 to 20 years, with a partial reopening in 2027.

There we are some of the highlights of these museums.

Johann Christoph Ludwig Lucke (1703-1780), Bust of a grimacing man with a slouch hat.

The Berlin Gold Hat: is a Late Bronze Age artefact made of thin gold leaf. It served as the external covering on a long conical brimmed headdress, probably of an organic material. 

The Nefertiti Bust: Nefertiti has become one of the most famous women of the ancient world and an icon of feminine beauty.

NELA’S GANG travellers

 

In The Summertime, Song by Mungo Jerry

 

Our London Team

On Friday 14th of June a group of 15 people went to London from Portugal! We wanted to practise the English language. What a bunch of brave people!...

Here we are, minus one (she is taking this photo...). In the middle is Nela, our English teacher.

 

The Shard

The Shard is a pyramid-shaped building standing 309.6 metres high. The view from the Shard is what Jaime wanted to see. Here there are the photos he took... Amazing!

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market, now a popular shopping and tourist site.The central building re-opened as a shopping centre in 1980 and is now a tourist location containing cafes, pubs, small shops, and a craft market called the Apple Market.

Our first lunch in London was at Chez Antoinette: soup, a sandwich and something sweet for dessert. We met a Portuguese waitress. Lucky us!

Portobello Road Market

Saturday morning we went by Tube to Notting Hill Gate and walked to Portobello road. Portobello Road is internationally famous for the Arcades and Stalls selling Antiques, Collectibles and Bric-a-Brac.

It rained heavilly all day long... But we spent all day visiting it.

 

We fell in love with these colorful lovely houses...

Camden Town, Carnaby Street and Leicester Square

Camden Town

This area now hosts street markets and music venues associated with alternative culture. The markets are a major tourist attraction at weekends, selling goods of all types, including fashion, lifestyle, books, food, junk/antiques and more bizarre items. 

Regent's Canal runs through the north end of Camden Town. When it was built at the beginning of the 19th century, much of Regent’s Canal skirted around the edges of what was then a chiefly industrial city, past the factories and the huge dust heaps piled up around the back of King’s Cross [railway station].

Camden High Street has astonishing buildings!

A bronze statue of  Amy Winehouse is located at the Stables Market in Camden Town, the neighborhood where Winehouse lived before her death in July 2011. Back to Black biopic of Amy Winehouse was filmed in Camden and other areas of London. 

Carnaby Street

Carnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in Soho. It is home to fashion and lifestyle retailers, including many independent fashion boutiques.

Carnaby has and always will be the epicentre of culture and lifestyle in London’s West End.

Leicester Square

Statues of significant moments and characters from cinema have been unveiled in Leicester Square. Effigies of Paddington Bear, Mr Bean, Mary Poppins, Laurel and Hardy, and Bugs Bunny were some of those chosen to celebrate London's film industry.