My Study Abroad

Tuesday July 31
Villa il Roseto, Fondazione Giovanni Michelucci-Fiesole: He designed the Church on the Motorway. Beautiful garden, and a Persimmon tree! There was a plant that had sticky pointy leaves and tiny white flowers and smelled like lemon balm, but I don't know what it's called. Its a little dissapointing that our gardens & villas teacher doesn't know plants.
I took lots of pictures of the view from this point. You can barely make out the synagogue and Duomo. I saw two butterflies.

Villa Medici -Fiesole: Stopped and had time to sketch here. I did a pot, but it sucks. I got lots of great shots though, including one of me in a tree.

Villa Medicea della Petraia: This home had a gorgeous purple chandelier inside the main room with frescoes EVERYWHERE. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside though. You'll just have to get me to show you my notes later. Classic Medici symbols could be found throughout the home, These include a crown and the 5 Medici balls which are presented in an oval. We were moved quite quickly through this vill and even faster through the garden. I saw a small green lizard, fish and a dragonfly.

Wednesday August 1

Villa Buonvisi Olivia: Park is surrounded by a wall. While this garden wasn't as exciting as the others that followed, it showed how the use of shade in a garden can provide shelter from the weather. This garden was a fair example of how gardens had different levels in the 1500's. The garden also featured a grotto where, in it's day, would have different water-effects.

Villa Torrigniani: A beautiful garden with lawn separating the two sides. On the right, one garden leads into another. In the Grotta di Venti, we were shown the different water effects. There were several. Water would shoot out from the ground in a few different places (we weren't expecting that one and we all got wet ) There were statues inside the grotto and so water shot out from all different parts of the statues. It's really quite clever how the water-works work behind the scenes. Above the surrounding area on another level to the garden, there was a fish pond (which had no fish, but did have two white ducks). You'll see the pictures...

Giardino Garzoni: In this town you'll see pinocchio dolls and merchandise everywhere. This is because this is home to the man who started Pinocchio.
Upon entering the garden, you see a large man-made pond with water shooting up several feet into the air, one ugly black swan, two white swans (wings clipped) and many ducks (to the left, right side has pond to). There are gravel walk areas and plants planted in designs. Past the ponds on either side, there are three garden areas with lawn all around. A central three level staircase leads up to a steep hill, with water trickling down the center to a pond with tadpoles. Above, there are a series of paths that take you to different areas. We went through a bamboo forest to find a maze leading to a grotto. The maze was made up of thinned box woods so it wasn't that hard to figure out. Plus, we kind of cheated by going around.
Up the hill and to the left of the garden, the castle, referred to as the castle with a hundred windows, features upper floors which Napoleon is said to have stayed, and a kitchen where the father of the author of Pinocchio worked. The garden is said to be an extraordinary example of 18th century Tuscan taste.
Back down toward the entrance of the garden is the Butterfly house. Need I say more?! We were kind of rushed through this area, but I still managed to get lots of pictures.

Thursday August 2
All day excursion to Villa Medici Poggio a Canaio & Parco di Celle (in Pistoia).

Medici Poggio a Canaio: Constructed over the remains of an ancient medieval castle.
This home was nice. We strived to take pictures even though it wasn't allowed, but I managed to snap a few undetected. Inside on each side, there are two spiral staircases, one for going upstairs and the other for downstairs travel. This isn't the most impressive villa that I've seen so far, but is was the first with an in home theater.

Parco di Celle: This garden was more of an art exhibition than any other, but a most refreshing take on modern art. Scattered all over are works of art by various national and international artists. And unlike other areas we've so far visited, this villa has the largest number of different varieties of trees, including white/red/scented American/ Douglas firs, chestnut/horse chestnuts, white horn-bean, Atlantic/Himalayan cedars, cypress/lawson cypress, flowering ash, giant arbor vitae, black/umbrella pines, yew, elm, holm/turkey/common/downy/red/American oaks.
I especially enjoyed all the mosquito bites I received around my ankles during the 3 hour tour. But it really was quite amazing! There was an area where the hill was carved out and you walk along this path. In the path there is a little bowl with water and two small crabs inside. You walk further, it appears as though you go deeper as the side of the hill are now over head. Walk through a gate into the hill. Plexi glass and a half turn to the left and right take you to the opposite end where you walk up a spiral stair case to find you are back on top of the hill, but in a clear box, to which there is one opening to exit.

see upcoming pictures from my adventures:
http://s188.photobucket.com/albums/z115/barnhabe/