A Trastevere day

The Villa Farnesina: 


The Loggia of Galatea, frescoed by Raphael. 

Perseus beheading of Medusa.

The marriage of Cupid and Psyche. 

The hall of perspectives. 

Church of San Francesco a Ripa, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, who lived here briefly: 

I do love a good St. Joseph and Jesus.

St. Michael 

Holy Family.

Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.  Tradition holds that this church is built over the house
 of St. Cecilia.

St. Cecilia has been named the patron saint of musicians. We just happened to visit the church while this group of Carmelite nuns were singing midday prayer. It was like St. Cecilia was playing some beautiful music to welcome us to her church. 

Sneaky little cherub.

Martyrdom of St. Cecilia, by Stefano Maderno. Maderno recorded the body just as he saw it when the tomb was opened in 1599, revealing the saints perfectly preserved body. 

Angels in the architecture. 

A very beautiful tabernacle indeed. 

"And Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them. For the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.'" -Mt. 19:14

Ceiling fresco of the coronation of St. Cecilia. 

The church was strewn with her symbol of the organ. 

The crypt. A hidden gem of a church beneath a church. 

A welcome-home-rest-day for Steve

Steve went on a week long field trip to Venice, Vicenza, Ferrara, and Florence.  That means a week of eating out at restaurants. So, I thought I'd make a nice home-cooked meal for him. This was a very big event for me. In making this dinner, I discovered, I actually can cook!

First course: gnudi con la zucca (butternut squash gnudi)

Second course: roasted brussels sprouts with grape tomatoes.

Third course: balsamic dijon steak with sauteed mushrooms and onion.

And for dessert, my made-from-scratch apple pie....accompanied by some Johnnie Walker :)

We hiked the Janiculum hill to take a stroll around the Villa Doria Pamphili gardens. It's now the largest landscaped public park in Rome. 

The Pamphili family sure had quite the wealth.....

It's still so refreshing to see trees and grass.

A very beautiful private chapel on the park property. 

Home sweet home. 

Visit to Florence

View from our hotel window. Not a bad sight to wake up to. 

Our hotel terrace, a fine place to enjoy a fine cappuccino with friends.


Visit to Basilica of Santa Croce:

The largest Franciscan church in the world. 

A Jewish architect designed the church's facade.

This basilica is the burial place of some of Italy's most illustrious men: 

Galileo; physicist, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher. d. 1642.

Michelangelo; sculptor, painter, architect, poet, engineer. d. 1564.

Dante; poet. d. 1321.

Alberti; architect, poet, priest, philosopher. d. 1472.

Machiavelli; historian, politician, diplomat, philosopher. d. 1527.

Beautiful depiction of the Annunciation. 

Cloister at Santa Croce. 

Florentine shoe makers....genuine Italian leather. 

Florence is famous for its history, architecture, and art....

The Duomo
Basilica of St. Mary of the Flower:

A twenty-four hour clock...don't see that every day. 

In America, we have the "family car," like the Chevy Suburban. In Italy, they have the "family bike," fully equipped with a basket for the baby!

Basilica of Santa Maria Novella.

Some beautiful Florentine stationary. I bought the baby's initials to hang above her crib :)