AUSTRIAN AUSTRIAN ——ITALIAN JOURNEYITALIAN JOURNEY
• By Wen-Chung Chiang
January 11 – January 28, 2004
Siena
San Gimignano
Lucca
Vienna (Vienna (WienWien, , 維也納維也納 ))
I have been in Wien several times. To me, its prestige has
always been due above all to the musical tradition
preserved by the Opera and its famous orchestras.
Unfortunately in the past times when I was Wien, most
musical activities were also closed for summer vacations.
This year was the first time I attended a Wiener
Philharmoniker concert in the acoustically perfect Großer
Musikvereinssaal, and a production of Richard Strauss’
“Der Rosenkavalier” in the Wiener Staatoper. Both
performances were extraordinary and they marked the
highlights of our brief two-day stay in the city.
Two lovely ladies posing in
the Graben area of Wien.
The end of the road stands
the Dome of Michaelertor,
the entrance to the
Hofburg.
The magnificent carved
stone Virgin Mary (above)
and pulpit (right) of
Stephansdom, Wien
Program of the Wiener Philharmoniker concert on January 12, 2004
Program of the Wiener Staatoper performance on January 13, 2004
Venice (Venice (VeneziaVenezia, , 威尼斯威尼斯 ))
The scenic sights along the railroad crossing the Alps
from Wien, Austria to Venezia, Italy were well worth the
duration of almost eight hours sitting in the train. The
journey began at 9 AM in the morning in Wien, and when
we arrived in Venezia, the sun already set. We had
explored Venezia extensively last year, so we spent only
one night and one half day in the city this time. A casual
walk in Venezia, browsing in little specialty shops,
sipping a cup of Cappuccino and tasting various kinds of
Panini, was nothing short of delights.
One never gets tired of such kind of view typical in Venezia — old buildings, bridges and reflected images in the canal. In fact, Venezia kept surprising me no matter how many times I had visited it.
Ca’ d’Oro (Golden
House), Venezia. Although
it has lost the gilded
decoration which gave it its
name, the mansion retains
an elegant façade in the
ornate Gothic style.
Milan (Milan (MilanoMilano, , 米蘭米蘭 ))
Set in the heart of northern Italy at the foot of the Alps,
Milano is the second largest city of the country, and the
capital of Italian fashion. We had planned a short stay in
Milano for the purpose of seeing an opera in Teatro alla
Scala, the most famous opera in the world.
Unfortunately the theater was in the process of a major
renovation, therefore all performances were moved to
another venue quite off the city center. Well, that gave
us a strong excuse to come back again.
Duomo, Milano. The
Cathedral marks the climax
of architecture of the Gothic
period. Magnificent !
Castello Sforzesco, Milano.
This huge brick quadrilateral
building now houses several
museums.
Museo degli strumenti
musicali, Castello Sforzesco,
Milano — An extensive
collection of musical instruments.
Above: Glass Harmonica.
Museo degli strumenti
musicali, Castello
Sforzesco, Milano. Above:
Clavicembalo. Right: An
ancient organ.
Santa Maria delle
Grazie, Milano.
In the former refectory of
this Renaissance church
is the famous painting
“The Last Supper” by
Leonardo da Vinci.
One week in Tuscany (One week in Tuscany (ToscanaToscana))
Toscana is not just a frozen Renaissance portrait but a living
procession of daily lives with artistic setting, gourmet food
and more. The recent movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” casted
by Dianne Lane might give you some taste of how lives are
on this marvelous land. We’re very pleased that we had a
week in Toscana. We accommodated ourselves in a nice
hotel in Firenze (Florence) and commuted between Firenze
and nearby towns such as Siena, Pisa, San Gimignano, and
Lucca. Of course Firenze was full of fun by itself alone…
Santa Groce & Dante
Statue, Firenze. The
church and the cloisters of
Santa Groce give onto one
of the town’s oldest
squares, dated back in
1294.
• • Florence Florence ((FirenzeFirenze, , 翡冷翡冷翠 翠 ))
The tomb of Michelangelo (d 1564), Santa Groce
The 18C monument of Marchiavelli (d 1527), S. Groce
The tomb of Galileo (d 1642), Santa Groce
The tomb of Rossini (d 1868), Santa Groce
Above: San Miniato al Monte,
one of the oldest churches in
Firenze dominating a hilltop.
Right: Firenze, viewed from
Piazzale Michelangelo
The splendid golden mosaics on the dome of
Battistero, S. Maria del Fiore, Firenze
• • Siena (Siena ( 席恩那席恩那 ))
In July 1944 American and French troops surrounded Siena and forced the city to surrender. General Monsambert ordered troops not to “let any shells fall on Siena, otherwise you’ll be shot”. It’s a good story telling the historic and artistic treasures of Siena.
Right: Piazza del Campo. All roads in Siena lead to this shell-like piazza.
Above: Piazza del Campo;
Right: Palazzo Pubblico &
Torre on Piazza del Campo,
Siena.
Duomo, Siena. German composer Richard Wagner was so affected that he burst into tears at the sight of this cathedral.
Battistero, Piazza dei Miracoli
• • Pisa Pisa (( 比薩比薩 ))
Battistero, Duomo, & Torre
Pendente (Leaning Tower) on
Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa
Duomo, Pisa
Camposanto & one of its wall frescoes, Pisa. This burial ground of
Pisa was begun in 1277 by Giovanni di Simone, one of the architects of
the leaning tower. Its galleries were paved with about 600 tombstones.
• • San GimignanoSan Gimignano
San Gimignano stands on a hilltop in the Tuscan countryside where vineyards flourish. The town looks very impressive when you approach it from below. The numerous Medieval towers have earned it the nickname “San Gimignano dalle belle torri (of the Fine Towers)”.
Right: Piazza della Cisterna, San Gimignano
San Gimignano wears a “crown of towers”
• • Lucca (Lucca ( 盧卡盧卡 ))
Lucca has a rich heritage of
churches, palaces, squares
and streets which gives the
town a charming air,
unscathed by contemporary
developments.
Right: Duomo, Lucca. The
cathedral, dedicated to St.
Martin, was rebuilt in the
11C.
Lucca, viewed from Torre
Guinigi, the highest point in
town.
The Pisan Romanesque façade of San Michele, Lucca
The visit of Lucca was not
complete without a touch of
Puccini. Giacomo Puccini
was born in 1858 in the
house behind the statue,
under reconstruction at the
time when we were there.
Roma was our last stop
before heading for home.
Since we had been in Roma
for an entire week last year,
the pictures shown here do
not necessarily represent the
most popular attractions of
the eternal city.
Right: The beautiful statue
posts of Palazzo Barberini
• • ROMEROME (ROMA, (ROMA, 羅馬羅馬 ))
Basilica di San Pietro, Vaticano.
Viewed from the top of Castel Sant’Angelo, Roma
An interesting garden
decoration/ statue shop in
Roma
Fontana dei Fiumi
(Fountain of the Four
Rivers), Piazza Navona,
Roma. The four river
statues – Danube,
Ganges, Rio de la Plata
and Nile, created by
Baroque master Bernini,
all turn their backs
against Sant’Agnese in
Agone (under
reconstruction in the
pictures), designed by
Bernini’s opponent
Borromini.
References
The Green Guide - Italy, Michelin Travel Publications, UK,
2001
Inside Guides: Tuscany, Discovery Channel, APA
Publications GmbH & Co., 1998; Updated 2002
知性之旅 - 羅馬 , Discovery Channel, APA Publications
GmbH & Co., 1999