p r e s e n t s
North West Tuscany for the Independent Tourist
IN PICTURES
Tour 28: The Fabulous, The Miraculous
The One and Only Leaning Tower of Pisa
Beautiful, majestic and magnificent buildings adorn the world wherever humankind has summoned the will, perseverance and ability to absorb the astonishing cost of construction. A great many of these impressive structures boast features found nowhere else… or, practically nowhere. For instance: a particularly lovely cathedral may support a bell tower taller than that of any for miles around, but sooner or later it’s fame (and fortune) will be snuffed by a larger, grander construction – and so on. Just which tower, on which particular cathedral has topped out at the highest, well, I haven’t really a clue, have you?
But as far as real, unadulterated, uniqueness goes, the architectural masterpieces comprising instantly recognizable, unmistakable, structural iconic status runs to a surprisingly short list: I would perhaps suggest The Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, The Tower of London, Statue of Liberty, Golden Gate Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge… and structures of their formidable stature – not too many, all told, when you really come to think of it. Which perhaps goes some way to explaining the bizarre, perhaps even outright nutty, behavior exhibited by so very many latter-day culture pilgrims… when on first sighting their much loved, long awaited Leaning Tower, they appear to utterly lose all semblance of control, to a point that – well, you’ll just have to see for yourself! Just why this oddly tilting bell tower should provoke such antics is for others to muse, all I can say is “Bravo” Today’s tour takes us on a stroll around and through the popular Place of Miracles as we view the tower from all angles. Once we’ve dodged the dodgy antics of the oh-so-exuberant performing tourists we’ll enter the Old Hospital building to share what was for many, sadly, their last mortal view on earth. Laid out upon rows of cots, this is where many an unfortunate human soul expired, his or her last rites ritualistically recited as the monks wailed their sad laments. Well known, proven, and effective medicine of course was considered witchcraft at the time, with the most dire consequences for violators – usually, but not always… nice, little old ladies – burned as witches. Terrible! But I digress.
From the sad, lonely, and stunningly beautiful hospice we then move on; and back out into the fray. Tourists begin leaping again. Sad-eyed African migrants plead their wares. Noise levels rise… in fact it’s all around: children laugh, teenagers shout. Languages swirl like frantic leaves in the wind, as we take our long anticipated place on the sumptuously green, grassy, lawn… for a nice, long nap!
If there is better power-napping in the entire world than that of our Place of Miracles then I would have to see it, and nap it, for myself, because for me – this place tops the lot.
Remarkably refreshed and thoroughly revived, we dreamily awake to the most miraculously dusky twilight. Upon ascending the tower, after taking in the incredible views in all directions, and examining the huge bells and exquisite masonry…exiting through the tower’s elaborate crown seems quite the most natural, appropriate, proper, and correct thing to do. Of we go; up and up, high over the North West Tuscan Way, and off to whence we came…
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And so with this most flamboyant of exits I bring to a close the North West Tuscan Way: In Pictures. Further information regarding the region can be found by clicking on my Rogue Carver on the Loose in Italy series, along with my Postcard From Italy collection of imagery, from which these photographs were adapted.
I have no doubt however that this will not be the last time the subject of North West Italy consumes the pages of martincooney.com, for I fully intend many happy returns to this land of olives, vines, marble, history and mystery. One day… one fine day, I will find myself tearing into a giant slab of Tuscan Carrara marble, and a new chapter of the story will begin to unfold. But until then, this is me, Martin, saying a fond if temporary goodbye, until we meet up for our next tour. Hope you enjoyed this one. Bye for now.
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and now
the slideshow
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sad to say, that concludes…
The North West Tuscan Way
IN PICTURES
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thanks for visiting martincooney.com
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Μ∂ℜτÏη
~⌈ •
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