Art and crafts – Page 3 – Judy and Valerie On the Road

Lisbon – tapestries in the Ritz

When we were in Portugal last year we went to an amazing tapestry factory in Portalegre. The process of creating the tapestry designs from the original works of art was extraordinary to see. They told us that some of their tapestries were in the Ritz in Lisbon, so on this visit we decided to go and see them. They were stunning, massive tapestries hanging on the walls of the lounge, absolutely beautiful. And these three are just some of them.

First Centaur tapestry by Almada Negreiros

Evidently the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz is well known for its collection of modern and contemporary art. They gave us the details of an iPad App which provides s walk through of all the art works

http://bit.ly/FSArtApp

Palazzoni vineyard

We discovered Palazzoni near Orvieto the first time we went camping in Italy in 2000 and have gone back for a further visit whenever we we’ve returned to these parts. They do a delicious golden Orvieto wine and a few years ago started producing a delicious Pinot Grigio. The father of one of the owners is an artist and one whole wall of the office is taken up with a wonderful colourful multi-media picture. Another side of the office is all window overlooking the vineyards and then Orvieto in the distance standing on a volcanic plug. What an amazing environment in which to work.

Wonderful picture by one of the owners at Palazzoni

Mycenae

What an amazing place. It’s 3500 years old built on a massive hill with walls several metres thick. Here’s the Lion Gate entrance.

The excavations discovered these ‘beehive’ tombs with shafts going into the ground and a conical roof. This one is the tomb of Clymenestra surrounded by all sorts of beautiful artefacts. She murdered her husband Agamemnon then she and her lover were then killed by her two children.

Evidently the potters wheel was introduced in the 3rd millennium changing the nature of pottery and some of the pieces in the museum are wonderful.

(As an aside the owners of campsite where we’re now staying at Delphi who also produce olive oil have very old olive trees which they say are 3,000 years old!!!! )

Found a little Gem near Stoupa

Spending a few days in the campsite at Stoupa ( the only campsite down this coast – fortunately it’s fine) and went for a walk in the hills today. In the village of Kastania found an amazingly beautiful 1000 year old Byzantine church – Agios Petros.

And inside it was stunning. The first amazing thing was that it was unlocked and then it was covered in beautiful frescos!

It’s amazing to realise that this is how all these churches would have been

White-washed towns in Puglia

Found some ladies making lace in the winding streets of Locorotondo

Whilst Cisternino was a lovely town with white-washed houses, a market and a great cafe

Walled towns in Umbria

Walked to the nearby walled town of Bevagna.

The town seemsed to specialise in cashmere. Found one which had a knitting machine from early in the last century

Gualdo Cattaneo

The next day walked to a small townin the other direction

Browsing shop windows

Saw these in shop windows – very Italian

Street art in Venice

There’s art everywhere here

Peggy Guggenheim collection

Spent a wonderful few hours going around the Peggy Guggenheim collection. She lived in Venice from 1948 in a fantastic palazzo on the Grand Canal and was a major collector of contemporary art promoting newly emerging artists. Could have spent far longer and by the time we got to the cafe it was closed! Here are a few photos

Contemporary art in Venice

Masses of contemporary art in Venice. Extraordinary Damien Hirst exhibition entitled ‘Treasures from the Wreck of the unbelievable’. This sculpture was outside. We just looked in the window.

More pictures of other art works to come – street art, the Peggy Guggenheim collection …