Public Art – Natalie the Explorer

Touring The World’s Smallest Country: Vatican City

May 24, 2024May 21, 2024Natalie73 Comments

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world (source) with a compact 49 hectares of total area. In 1929, it became independent from Italy by the signing of the Lateran Treaty. This city state is ruled by the Pope.

My first visit to Vatican City years ago was on my own. On my second visit in March 2024, I decided to join a morning Vatican City guided tour to skip the line-up and to learn more about the history and artwork with a knowledgeable guide.

Vatican City Guided Tour

It was a beautiful and sunny morning when I met up with my tour guide and group. The tour guide was friendly and had a sense of humour. After brief introductions and head count, she quickly led us (a group of 16 visitors) pass the ticket checkpoint and started the tour.

The guided tour covers three big sites in Vatican City: The Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. We started from the Pinecone (Pigna) Courtyard before entering the Vatican Museums.

Pinecone Courtyard

In the Pinecone Courtyard, we saw the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican gardens, the sculpture of the “Sphere within Sphere” by Arnaldo Pomodoro, and the bronze pinecone that gives this courtyard its name.

There are three boards with illustrations of the Sistine Chapel. These are purposely set up for tour guides to explain the Chapel before visitors go inside due to the “no talking and no photography” rule inside the Sistine Chapel.

The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican gardens

The bronze pinecone that gives the courtyard its name

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

The Vatican Museums display the massive collection of art that was amassed by the Catholic Church. It would take years to see 70,000 works of art on display in roughly 2,000 rooms. Some of the most amazing rooms include Gallery of the Maps and Gallery of the Tapestries date back to the 1500’s.

*The Resurrection of Christ* tapestry created by Raphael in 1516

We entered the Sistine Chapel to see incredible artworks, particularly the ceiling painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 and The Last Judgment that he painted between 1535 and 1541 on the wall behind the altar of the Sistine Chapel.

St. Peter’s Basilica and Square

From the Sistine Chapel, we walked through a passageway to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world.

St. Peter’s Basilica and seating area for Papal Audience

St. Peter’s Square with its 284 Doric columns, 88 pilasters and the Vatican obelisk

The inside of St. Peter’s Basilica is awe inspiring. Words are not enough to describe its grandeur and beauty, from the stunning mosaics on the floor, the massive marble columns, to the artworks everywhere. There are many statues, graves of the Popes, and Papal tombs that sit underneath of St. Peter’s Basilica. This is the final resting place for over 90 popes and dignitaries.

St. Peter’s Basilica dome designed by Michelangelo

*La Pietà* carved by Michelangelo when he was only 23 years old

As we left St. Peter’s Basilica, we saw two members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard in their dress uniform of blue, red, orange and yellow with a mantle to protect the uniform from the elements.

I enjoyed the tour and greatly appreciated my tour guide’s knowledge and experience. The morning tour was an excellent choice as we had low crowds throughout the tour.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #164 below.

Fleurs de Villes Artiste Trail

May 17, 2024May 21, 2024Natalie86 Comments

The Fleurs de Villes Toronto event took place this year from May 8 to 12, just in time for Mother’s Day on May 12. I met up with a good friend for a walk-then-coffee date. Both of us had been away on holidays so we had a lot to talk about.

Fleurs de Villes Artiste

We walked the Fleurs de Villes Artiste trail to see over thirty five stunning floral installations in Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood. The theme this year was inspired by accomplished artists throughout history and Bloor-Yorkville’s vibrant art scene.

It was a beautiful, sunny day with pleasant temperature at 21C (70F). We admired Toronto’s florists’ incredible creativity and talents, as well as the gorgeous fresh flowers. Some of the installations were indoors and some were outdoors. It was fun listening to live music along the trail and checking out a flower market.

Here are some of the stunning floral installations. To view captions, please click on the photos. I hope you enjoy the gallery.

It took us about ninety minutes to walk the entire trail with brief stops to take pictures. We enjoyed a coffee break after we finished the trail. I love that the walk included art, nature, fitness, friendship and fun. I feel fortunate to experience this free floral event close to home.

Link-Up

Linking up with Min’s #WWWhimsy.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #163 below.

Cherry Blossoms, Garden Walks and Mural

May 10, 2024May 14, 2024Natalie91 Comments

A belated goodbye to April and hello to May since I just returned home from a two-week holiday in France. I had wonderful visits with family in Paris. I enjoyed good company, good food and drink. I also revisited Parisian iconic landmarks and did sightseeing in Strasbourg and Colmar. I will write more about this trip after I sort my photos.

Cherry Blossoms

Before I left for France, I was happy to see cherry blossoms at peak bloom in Toronto. It was a beautiful, sunny day with clear, blue sky, and light breezes which were just right to gently sway the flowers. Once open, the flowers last from 4 to 10 days, depending on the weather conditions. I am so lucky to see spectacular cherry blossoms every year close to home.

Garden Walks

Aside from viewing cherry blossoms, I took walks to local parks and gardens to exercise and to discover what else is in bloom. I was delighted to see daffodils, forsythia, magnolias, rhododendrons, trillium, tulips and more at their best. They smiled right at me when I captured their beauty. Trillium is the official flower of the province of Ontario (my home province). To view captions, please click on the photos.

Mural

One final image to finish is a beautiful mural that I discovered in an alley by Colbourne Street. I think it is a good fit for my flower-themed post. What do you think?

Link-Up

I’m linking up with Min’s #WWWhimsy.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #162 below. If you are celebrating Mother’s Day on Sunday May 12, happy Mother’s Day!

Which Outing Would You Choose?

April 19, 2024May 17, 2024Natalie89 Comments

A friendly reminder that there will be no Weekend Coffee Share link-up on April 26 and May 3 as I will take a blogging break. Please plan to join me again on May 10 when I will resume hosting.

This week I had so much fun being outdoors every day, except Wednesday. I explored nature by bike and on foot and went to an outdoor light-based art exhibition. I am lucky to have wonderful places to explore and enjoy close to home. Here are some of the things I saw and did. To view captions, please click on the photos.

Don Valley Brick Works Park

Outing 1: I set out for Don Valley Brick Works Park which was once a former quarry on a sunny and mild morning (12C or 54F). I cycled to the park then hiked for about two hours before cycling home.

I started from the quarry gardens at ground level then climbed up the steep trail to the quarry ridge lookout. After enjoying the views from the lookout, I made my way down a few switchbacks and over to the Belt Line Trail to walk the Mud Creek Loop.

It was a glorious and peaceful hike. I listened to the trickling sound of water in the creek, birds singing and squirrels foraging in the woods. Pretty coltsfoot flowers lined the trails and on the banks of the creek. On my way back, I watched turtles and saw a small garter snake in the grass.

Sunnyside Beach

Outing 2: I rode my bike to Sunnyside Beach then jogged a 5 km loop along Lake Ontario’s Humber Bay. It was a beautiful sunny day with fantastic views of the bay. I love listening to the sounds of water gently touched the shore and birds singing.

The Sunnyside boardwalk was under reconstruction with the old section in grey and the new section with brown wood planks. As I returned to get my bike, I visited some of the swans and found two butterflies on dandelions.

Lumière: The Art of Light

Outing 3: I enjoyed a lovely walk with a family member to see the free outdoor Lumière art exhibition at Trillium Park. The theme this year is Connections which aims to explore the various ways in which light can create connections between people, the environment, and different aspects of our lives. Here’s a sampling. To see all 17 light-based installations and their descriptions, please click here.

Gardens

Outings 4 and 5: One final gallery to finish which shows a variety of spring flowers I spotted during my garden walks. Altogether, these outings made me a very happy explorer!

Link-Up

If I invited you to go for a walk, which outing would you choose? Feel free to choose more than one.

I’m linking up with Min’s #WWWhimsy this week.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #161 below. The next Weekend Coffee Share link-up will be on May 10. Enjoy the rest of April and happy May!

5 Grand Piazzas of Rome

April 5, 2024April 5, 2024Natalie83 Comments

When in Rome in March, I took a 3.2 km (2 miles) walk to visit five piazzas (public squares) and fountains in the Eternal City. Rome’s piazzas are the centre of daily life. Come along and let me know what you think of the sights we see.

1. Piazza Navona

The Baroque-style Piazza Navona is built on the site where the Stadium of Domitian (Circus Agonalis), founded in 86 A.D., once stood. The most imposing buildings which look onto the square are the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone and the Palazzo Pamphilj.

The most beautiful parts of Piazza Navona are its three fountains: Fountain of Neptune on the north end, Fountain of the Moor on the south end and Fountain of the Four Rivers with an obelisk in the centre of the square.

The Fountain of the Four Rivers was designed by Bernini in 1651. The four statues represent the most important rivers of the continents where Christianity had spread: the Nile with a lion (Africa), Danube with a horse (Europe), the Ganges with a dragon (Asia) and Rio de la Plata with an armadillo (America).

2. Piazza della Rotunda and the Pantheon

The Pantheon of Agrippa, also known as the Roman Pantheon, completed in 126 A.D., is the best preserved building from ancient Rome. I recommend entering the Pantheon to appreciate the awe-inspiring architecture:

The rectangular facade is comprised of 16 granite columns which are each 14 meters in height.
The circular building at the back has exactly the same diameter as its height: 43.5 metres.
At its top, the enormous dome 9-meter diameter opening allows natural light to illuminate the entire building.

3. Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

Trevi Fountain, completed in 1762, is the largest fountain in Rome. The name of Trevi derives from Tre Vie (three ways), since the fountain was the meeting point of three streets. The fountain shows statues of Tritons guiding the shell chariot of the god Oceanus, illustrating the theme of the taming of the waters. There are always people throwing coins in the water of Trevi Fountain. To find out why and what happens to the coins, click here.

4. Piazza de Spagna and the Spanish Steps

Piazza de Spagna (Square of Spain) is where the majestic Spanish Steps, the longest and widest decorative steps in Europe, are located. At the bottom of the Spanish Steps is the Fountain of the Ugly Boat!

The Fountain of the Ugly Boat (Fontana della Barcaccia) was designed by Pietro Bernini, father of the famous Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who later helped with the creation. It was finished in 1627 and placed by Pope Urban III in the centre of Piazza di Spagna. It is shaped as a boat and has the emblems of the Barberini family (the Noble family of Pope Urban III), bees and a sun engraved.

5. Piazza della Republica

At the centre of the Piazza della Republica stands the majestic Fountain of the Nymphs (Fontana delle Naiadi) depicting four nymphs riding on sea monsters. It was constructed between 1870 and 1888 and decorated with four lion sculptures. In 1901 the lions were replaced by the statues of four water nymphs.

Piazza della Republica and Fountain of the Nymphs

One of the four nymphs riding on a sea monster

I hope you enjoy the walk. Thank you for coming along.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #159 below.

5 Winning Stations at Woodbine Beach

March 22, 2024March 15, 2024Natalie70 Comments

Goodbye winter and hello spring! To mark the transition from winter to spring in my corner of the world, I am sharing two of my “bike and walk” outings. The first outing was to Woodbine Beach to explore the Winter Stations on display. The second outing was to the Toronto Music Garden to look for early spring flowers.

Winter Stations at Woodbine Beach

“Launched in 2014, Winter Stations invites the international design and art community to reimagine the lifeguard stations along Toronto’s east end beaches for the winter. The competition has seen entries from over 90 countries, bringing the world of design to the water’s edge“.

The theme this year is Resonance. Contesting designers for the competition were encouraged to reinvent previous installations and infuse them with fresh ideas and their unique artistic vision.

Here’s five of the six winning Winter Stations located from east to west at Woodbine Beach. Have a look and let me know if you have a favourite. Click on the title of the installation for its description.

Bobbin‘ by University of Waterloo School of Architecture (Canada)
Nimbus by David Stein (Canada)
Nova by Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Architectural Science (Canada)
We Caught A UFO! by Xavier Madden and Katja Banović (Croatia and Australia)
A Kaleidoscopic Odyssey by Brander Architects Inc (Canada)

The 6th installation Winteraction is interactive but simplistic in its physical form so I did not take a picture. It requires a phone to get the full experience.

It was a beautiful day with mild temperatures and sunshine. I enjoyed cycling, walking, experiencing nature and culture, all in one outing. I came home feeling happy and grateful.

Early Spring Flowers

I spotted several early spring flowers on my walk at the Toronto Music Garden this month: Crocus flowers, snowdrops, puschkinia and purple irises. Their simple beauty gave me joy. I look forward to seeing a wide range of spring flowers to bloom in the coming weeks.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #157 below. Have a wonderful weekend!

Postcards from Spain: Granada, Alicante, Valencia & Barcelona

February 23, 2024February 21, 2024Natalie91 Comments

Today’s post is the last of three in my Postcards from Spain series. The first post on Food & Drink in Spain is here. The second post on Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba and Seville is here. As usual, click on any image in the gallery to get a better view and use the arrows to move through the pictures.

Granada

From Seville, the beautiful weather followed me to Granada. I could see snow on the Sierra Nevada mountains in a far distance. The highlight in Granada was a visit to the 13th century Alhambra, served as the residence of the royal family during the reign of the Moors.

This imposing hilltop palace and fortress complex, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world’s finest examples of Moorish art and architecture. I booked a guided tour and spent about three hours exploring several stunning palaces and gardens in the Alhambra complex.

Alicante

Alicante was a delightful addition to my itinerary. I enjoyed walking along Alicante’s oceanfront promenade and its long pier, with views of the wide sandy El Postiguet Beach and Santa Barbara Castle on a hilltop. I learned about Casa Carbonell and that the round-the-world The Ocean Race 2022-2023 started in Alicante. I hope to return to Alicante for a longer visit in the future.

Valencia

I love Valencia for its treasure trove of Roman architecture and the huge City of Arts and Sciences designed by contemporary architect and artist Santiago Calatrava, with its extraordinary avant-garde architecture that includes impressive buildings such as the Hemisfèric and Museum of Science. I also love Valencia’s public squares, markets, delicious food and drinks. Would I return to Valencia for a longer stay and more explorations? Definitely.

Calatrava designed many bridges and building projects around the world, including the award-winning Allen Lambert Galleria in Brookfield Place and Mimico Pedestrian Bridge in Toronto.

Barcelona

It was wonderful to revisit Barcelona. I took a long walk from Barcelona’s Old Harbor, along the popular La Rambla to Plaza Catalunya, the city’s bustling main square. Lots of things to see and many beautiful buildings along this route.

I passed two of Gaudí’s famous houses Casa Batllo and Casa Milà. Then continued on to view the iconic symbol of Barcelona, Gaudi’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia, a colossal church that is legendary and still unfinished.

I revisited Park Güell, my favourite park in Barcelona, for nature and Gaudí’s genius design of organic shapes. I also ascended Montjuic Hill, home to the Olympic Complex, built for the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Link-Up

Thank you for reading my postcards. It was a challenge to select which pictures to include as there are many beautiful sites that I explored in Spain. I hope you enjoy my selection.

Please note: No Weekend Coffee Share link-up on March 8 as I will take a short blogging break in March. I will repeat this announcement next week.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #154 below.

Postcards from Spain: Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba & Seville

February 16, 2024February 20, 2024Natalie117 Comments

Today’s post is the second of three in my Postcards from Spain series. The first postcard on Food & Drink in Spain is here. Spain offers plenty of beautiful architecture, world class art, rich history, culture, culinary delights, fun entertainment, and more.

On this trip, I chose to revisit a few favourites and added a few new places to my itinerary. I intentionally spent more time wandering outdoors to take in the sights and sounds in each city than in an indoor space. The weather was sunny and ideal for outdoor walks (15C to 23C or 59F to 73F).

Here is a sampling of what I explored when I was in Spain. Click on any image to see its bigger version and use the arrow to move through the gallery.

Madrid

My favourite walk in Madrid is a 8 km loop (5 miles) that starts and ends in Plaza de España. On this walk, I get to see the magnificent Royal Palace, Miguel de Cervantes Monument (Cervantes is a Spanish writer who is best known for his novel Don Quixote), Plaza Mayor, Prado Museum, the Paseo del Prado promenade lined with sycamore trees, fountains and artwork, the two huge fountains at Plaza de Cibeles and Plaza de Neptuno, and Gran Via which has many gorgeous buildings.

When I was at the Royal Palace, the Royal Guards on horses were on duty as King Felipe VI’s car exited the palace. I visited Prado Museum and viewed an astonishing collection of masterpieces by Spanish painters Velazquez, Goya and El Greco.

Toledo

From Madrid, a 36-minute train ride whisked me off to Toledo, one of Spain’s most magnificent cities. Toledo is a city of three cultures where you can see the influences of Christians, Muslims and Jews in the same place. Once an Imperial city, Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986 for its extensive monumental and cultural heritage.

I love walking through Toledo’s medieval gates into its winding streets and exploring its many historic and stunning buildings (see photos below). The views of Toledo from Mirador del Valle are amazing. I was in awe of El Greco masterpiece “The Burial of Count Orgaz” in St. Tome church where photography was allowed.

Córdoba

I revisited the astonishing Great Mosque of Córdoba, one of the largest mosques in the world, built in 785, extended a few times and transformed into a soaring cathedral in the 16th century. I walked the winding streets in Córdoba historic centre (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) to see the ancient Jewish Quarter, tranquil courtyards, picturesque squares, the 14th century Synagogue and the Roman Bridge.

Seville

I revisited the beautiful Plaza de España and its illustrious tiles and ceramics before visiting the gardens of Maria Luisa Park. I continued to Seville historic centre with a visit to the Cathedral of Seville, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and burial site of Christopher Columbus. Built on the site of the former Great Mosque, its original minaret, the Giralda Bell Tower, still stands.

Link-Up

This post is my contribution to Terri’s Iconic Places and Spaces photography challenge and Min’s #WWWhimsy link-up.

If you have been to Spain, which city is your favourite? If you plan to (re)visit Spain, which city is on your itinerary?

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #153 below.

Outside the Box | Front Street

February 2, 2024February 6, 2024Natalie115 Comments

Hello February and goodbye January! I ended my January with ten days of fun and wonderful adventures in Spain. I just got home and will take time to reflect on my trip and sort my photos.

Revisiting Spain

It was my third visit to Spain. My flights were all good. I had beautiful weather for the entire trip (15C to 23C or 59F to 73F). I revisited some of my favourite cities (Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Seville and Barcelona) and explored three new-to-me cities (Granada, Alicante and Valencia) which have also become my favourites.

While in Spain, I used public transport to get around. I walked and did a lot of sightseeing every day. I enjoyed delicious foods and drinks. I met and had fun exchanging travel stories with other travelers. I practiced basic Spanish throughout my trip. All in all, I had a fantastic time. Watch this space for my postcards from Spain in the next week or two.

Outside the Box

Today I am sharing five painted utility boxes and a mural located on Front Street. Front Street is one of the main east-west streets in downtown Toronto. The front of each box has a door handle while the back is flat. Have a look and let me know if you have a favourite.

Two boxes by artist Kirsten McCrae (or Hello Kirsten).

*Aquatic Garden* by artist Erin McCluskey, 2021.

Behind the Aquatic Garden utility box, I discovered a beautiful mural depicting “a way of life” of Aboriginal people by Native Canadian artist Joseph Sagaj. Zoom in to see the details of the mural. For more information on the artist and his artworks, click here.

Mural by Native Canadian artist Joseph Sagaj, 2006

I have seen other artworks by the above artists and look forward to seeing more of their creative designs in the future.

Link-Up

This post is my contribution to Dan’s Thursday Doors photo challenge and Min’s #WWWhimsy link-up.

I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #151 below.

Rittenhouse Square’s 5 Best Sculptures

January 19, 2024January 17, 2024Natalie97 Comments

Greetings! A friendly reminder that there is no Weekend Coffee Share link-up on January 26 while I take a short blogging break. I will resume hosting on February 2.

Last week I was in Philadelphia for a family celebration. Aside from enjoying time with family, I took walks and explored downtown Philadelphia. It was mild on Friday and Saturday with daytime high temperatures reached 14C (57F), then temperatures dropped from Sunday to Tuesday, from 6C to 0C (43F to 32F).

On Monday night, it snowed overnight and by Tuesday morning, the two inches of snow covered the grounds and trees creating a beautiful winter wonderland. My departure flight from Philadelphia had lengthy delays that added a happy-ending story to my travel tales that I will share one day.

Rittenhouse Square

One of the places that I visited in Philadelphia last summer and have not written about is the picturesque Rittenhouse Square. It is a relaxing spot to take a stroll amid the beautiful trees, flower beds, lovely fountains and sculptures in summertime.

Here are pictures of Rittenhouse Square and its sculptures from my archive. I visited the square after it rained so everything was still wet. I hope you enjoy what you see.

Rittenhouse Square circular central area.

Rittenhouse Square fountain with colourful tile at one end of the reflecting pool.

Paul Manship’s ***Duck Girl*** (1911), a young girl carrying a duck under one arm, at the other end of the reflecting pool.

Albert Laessle’s **Billy**, a two-foot-high bronze billy goat. Its head, horns and spine have been worn to a shiny gold colour after being touched by countless small admirers.

Antoine-Louis Barye’s dramatic **Lion Crushing a Serpent**, dates back to about 1890, symbolizing the power of good (the lion) conquering evil (the serpent).

Cornelia Van A. Chapin’s **Giant Frog**, a large and sleek granite amphibian.

Beatrice Fenton’s *Evelyn Taylor Price Memorial* ***Sundial***, a sculpture of two cheerful, naked children who hold aloft a sundial in the form of a giant sunflower head. The inscription on the sundial reads “*The Hour Passes Friendship Abides*”.

What is your level of interest in this type of sculptures? High, Medium or Low? I admire how sculptors create expressive sculptures from hard materials like bronze or granite.

Link-Up

I’d love for you to share your week and/ or photos of public art around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #150 below. The next Weekend Coffee Share link-up will be on February 2.