Archive for 'Architectural Gems'

In the 14th century, Ferrara was not the town that one would want to live in. A series of incidents including flooding and the raising of taxes to incredibly high levels left the local people in very dire straits indeed and the descended upon the palace of the d'Este family in search of answers and help. Extreme violence ensued and, Tommaso da Tortona, a high official was literally torn apart by the crowds.

This incident gave the ruling family, the d'Este family, pause to think that, perhaps, their home provided insufficient safety and a new structure was built. A new defensive fortress was built on the north side of the Palazzo under architect Bartolino da Novara.

Pre-existing city walls and structures were strengthened and added to and a passageway was added between Este residence and the new fortress, to allow for escape.

Cemeteries always seem like strange things to recommend as tourist attractions and, yet, many of the world's most famous tourist destinations are tombs, graveyards and catacombs of some description. From the pyramids of Egypt to the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, there are a great number of iconic burial places around the world. One of the most unique cemeteries in the world, however, is probably not as familiar; the San Cataldo Cemetery in Modena, or rather the fascinating ossuary built there. Its striking appearance is truly incredible and is sure to remain in the memory forevermore. Once you have found a villa with pool in Emilia-Romagna and are exploring the city, make time to see this extraordinary structure for yourself.

Though never completed, construction was begun in 1972 under Italian architect and theorist Aldo Rossi with the focal point of the structure being the central square building, which was created to illustrate a number of abstract concepts Rossi had previously written about.

Continuing on from our last post, in which we discussed the proliferation of incredibly picturesque ghost towns in Italy and the reasons behind their considerable number, here are some more of our picks of the most beautiful among them. If you are a fan of such things, of exploring abandoned buildings and taking in the sight of nature reclaiming land and buildings decaying beautifully, keep these extraordinary towns in mind during your next trip to Italy.

Fabbriche di Careggine is a town in the area of Lago di Vagli, or Lake Vagli, in Lucca. Although it would be more correct to say that it is beneath the lake. The medieval town, a long-time home to talented metal-working artisans, was flooded in 1953 in order to create the artificial lake, a hydroelectric basin and every decade it makes a ghostly reappearance when the lake is drained for maintenance work. Hundreds of thousands attend every time to watch as it slowly rises out of the lake but the town is often still visible underneath the water, with the top of the church poking out on days that the level is low.

While it may seem a little strange, Italy is actually a bit of a hot-spot for ghost towns. The internet is filled with endless websites dedicated to pictures of beautifully and poetically decaying buildings and ghost towns and recording and visiting such places is increasingly popular.

If you are among the many obsessed by such things or merely among the great number of us somewhat intrigued by such things, Italy is a dream destination. Due to emigration, natural disasters and accidents there are many ghost towns all over the country that are just waiting to be explored. Here are just a selection of our favourites.

Craco in Basilicata is a town that was built perched on a very high summit, for defensive reasons. It is a particularly attractive medieval hilltown and, since the 20th century, has been abandoned.

Here are some more of the architectural gems that Rome has to offer, just find a holiday rental in Rome and begin exploring!

3. Pantheon

The magnificent Pantheon is a beautifully preserved temple dating back to 117AD. Built under Emperor Hadrian in honour of the ancient Roman pagan gods, it was given to Pope Boniface in 608 AD by the Byzantine emperor Phocas and was used as a church thereafter. It is a building of ingenious design and construction that was far ahead of its time. The soaring Dome, in particular, is immensely impressive. Inside, the church is richly decorated with paintings, stone carvings, statues and frescoes. Located in the Piazza della Rotonda in Rome, it is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6.30pm and Sun 9am to 1pm.