Deruta and Assisi

{{yesterday we went to the UMBRIA region towns of Deruta and Assisi. i fell in love with the pottery that is produced in Deruta. having taken art classes in highschool with a major focus on clay and pottery making, i was in my element. the talent and time that goes into making one completely hand-made piece of pottery is 6 months! i did mine in a week (not that intense). enjoy the photos of my favorite pieces i found in the factory. 
we also traveled to Assisi, the town where St. Francis was born, raised, and died. we were fortunate to have a tour of the basilica, which is made up of three churches, the crypt of St. Francis, the romenesque church directly above, and the gothic church directly above that. the frescos and art inside are to die for, unfortunatly no photos allowed. enjoy!}}


Deruta

• Located in the Umbria region of Italy, Deruta is known for pottery, which is exported worldwide
• It is known for its Maiolica pottery. This is tin-glazed and dates back to the Renaissance. This style is usually made with bright colors on a white background depicting historical scenes.
• The steps in making Maiolica pottery include: the potter constructing the shape, firing, glazing, painting, and lastly the second firing.
• Deruta’s art dates back to the Etruscan times who found it’s local clay was good for pottery making. During the 1600’s (Renaissance times) it peaked in pottery production.
• Deruta’s first documentation of art dates back to the 1200’s. Items found were used in daily life such as jugs, bowls, and basins.
• By the 1500’s its pottery became known all around Europe.
• In the 15th century, the plague took over the town so much that they had to rewall the city to make it smaller due to the major population drop.
• There are different styles of pottery found here: Deruta Raffaellesco (usually has borders depicting mythical animals), Ricco Deruta (bloomed scrolls and the blue arabesque), and Deruta Arabesco (derived from the patterns on ware imported from the east in the 15th century)
• Deruta holds the Gothic church of San Francesco, which was built 1388, as well as the Palazzetto Municipale, which is the town hall. There is a museum and atrium that hold art pieces dating back to Neolithic times.
• Today the total population of Deruta is a little under 9,000 (8,935).
• 250 factories still produce pottery in Deruta.

Deruta Factory Sign

Factory Wheel Studio

Pre-fired Fruit Bowl

Collapsed Pot

(look closely to see the two
women)

Artist Hand Painting

{Favorites}

Serving Platter

Pitcher

Serving Dishes

My favorite pottery: 80euro for a salad plate...it would

cost that much. 

Assisi

• Assisi is a small town in Umbria, located 12 miles east of Perugia, and at an elevation of 1,300 feet.
• The Romans took control of central Italy around 300 BC and built the municipium of Asisium. Many of the original ruins can still be found in the city.
• Assisi had several political turnovers and battles in its earlier years, and was a thriving city of religion in the 13th C due to the presence of Saint Francis and Saint Clare.
• The decline of the city began in 1348 with the black plague.
• From the beginning of the 14th C to the end of the 16th, two prominent families, the Nepis (from the upper half of the city) and the Fiumi (from the lower half) fought for power. Only under the reign of Pope Pius II Piccolomini was the domination of the Church over Assisi restored. Today, the people of Assisi relive their history in a Renaissance style festival held in May which consists of a challenge between the upper and lower divisions of the city.
• While its main attraction today is the Basilica of St. Francis, it is also famous for its six other churches including the Basilica of St. Clare, the Duomo of St. Rufino, the Carceri Hermitage, the Saint Damien Convent, the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, and St. Mary’s over the Temple of Minerva.
• Assisi is, and has been for centuries, a major city of Catholic pilgrimmage with between 4 and 5 million visitors per year.
• The actual town has only about 3,000 inhabitants (26,000 in the entire commune).
• The town is also home to two medieval castles, the larger of which is Rocco Maggiore, a massive structure built to intimidate the city.
• Built entirely of white and rose stone from Mount Subasio, on which it is located.
• It’s characterized by its old, steep, winding roads which have been preserved through the ages.
• Assisi was hit by two major earthquakes in 1997, but restoration has been succesful so far.

Saint Francis' Basilica
(no pictures allowed inside)

{Cianti and Orvieto} 2.22.2011

+Civita di Bagnoregio+

:the dying city; literally falling apart.

:2 rivers pass underneath the city.

:world heritage site.

:ghost town, 119 people live there in the summer, 

20 people live there is the winter. 

:no cars allowed.

:no attraction, just a beautiful site.

Town of Civita
:yes, we walked up that:

View from Civita

Inside Civita

Alex and I: Civita

+Orvieto+

:located in Umbria region ontop of a hill.

:9th & 8th b.c. was callled VELZNA with a strong economic importance due to bronze and pottery.

:strategic location along main street that leads from Rome to Florence.

:in the early middle ages Orvieto suffered gothic invasions & was than conqured by the Byzantines to finally pass under the control of the Duohy of Spoleto. later because a free, prosperous city whoes domain exteded up to Orbetello, Validichiana, and the Tyrrhenian Sea. 

:can't build or dig anymore in Orvieto or city will collapse.

Orvieto

{The Duomo}

: fresco on all interior walls.

:striped black and white marble columns and exterior structure.

the Duomo

the Duomo: inside 

{{Chapel of the Corporal}}

:within the chapel, inside a box lies a piece of cloth. the cloth is stored in the box because it was said the eucharist began to bleed during a mass falling onto the alter adorned with this piece of fabric.

{{Chapel of San Brizio by Signorelli}}

:picture depicting the last judgement. 

:Devine Comedy: Dante's Last Judgement

(no pictures of chapel's allowed)

{St. Patrick's Well}

:Orvieto's main military problem throughout history was lack of water.

:the well was commissioned by Celmente III.

:Antonio Sangallo dug the well into two spiral staircases that never met.

:247 steps each way.

:lit by 70 internal windows.

:forms a double helix so that mule-drawn carts could go down and come up without colliding into each other. 

St. Patrick's well:upward view

3.5 weeks thru

i'm almost a 1/3 of the way done. i can't believe it; in 2 1/2 weeks my parents and nick arrive in Rome. time really does fly when you're having the time of your life. i left Auburn with a few goals in the back of my mind that i wanted to accomplish while i was here:

1. make lifelong friendships.

      [i really feel like i've accomplished that or will accomplish that with some of the girls before i leave. i have so much in common with a few of them that i can see us attending each others weddings, baby showers, having girls nights, or weekend trips together.]

2. travel to as many places as possible.

     [in Italy i've already been to a ton of little towns, historical sites and cities. in europe i've gotten to travel to Athens, saturday i leave for Paris, the following weekend Cinque Terre and Florence, Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, and Milan with my family. i've booked trips to Prague, Frankfurt, Barcelona, and Switzerland. my final weekend a group trip to Posatano. there are so many other places i wish to visit, but there's just not enough time to do so. my next adventures to europe will definitely include: London, Capri, the Greek Islands, Austria, Berlin, Corsica, southern France (Nice), and if all is settled in Egypt I'd love to go there. my list, in reality, of places i want to go see with my own eyes is never ending. if i could i'd love to visit every continent, will that happen?, probably not, but being a dreamer isn't a bad thing. a safari in Africa, a camel ride in India, or a cruise to Dubai would be great as well. alaska, hawaii, and some of the states out west are more accessible and realistic in the years to come, but never say never to the others.}

3. my top three.

    [in one of my very first, pre-departure blogs, i posted three pictures of places i really wanted to go to. Verona, to see the letters to juliet wall. a Lake at the edge of the alps. Cinque Terra. to my amazement it's actually going to happen. Cinque Terra next weekend. Verona and Lake Garda the following week. how fortunate am i go accomplish that, how lucky i am to have parents willing to make my ambitions and goals come true.] 

4. learn more about myself, mature, and appreciate everything around different cultures and me.

      [i haven't been home sick, i have been person sick. i miss my family, dog, and boyfriend, but i know now that they really are what matter most to me. material things i could care less about, yeah new clothes, shoes, accessories, gadgets, and house wares are great, but i don't have all that over here, i have relationships and experiences. i know being on my own i have to take care of myself both physically and mentally. i've learned that the little things you do for people do go a long way. i've learned that being the responsible one or being the "mom" of the group isn't a bad thing and having multiple people tell me i'm going to be a great mom and wife mean more to me than anything. i've learned that opportunity out weighs time and money, and plans can and will change, so just go with it. i've learned to take my time to embrace my surroundings, to slow down, and appreciate what's around me, no rushing necessary or needed. stress is the body's worst drug. it can consume you and take over you if you let it. why sweat the small things or even big things. if they happen, happened, or are happening, what can you really do about it if there's nothing you can control...like the weather or politics. i've learned to immerse myself in the culture of where ever it is i end up. going out to an american bar or tourist spot isn't how you accomplish this. stepping out of your comfort zone and putting yourself in the middle of a new culture is how to fully experience what a country and ethniticity have to teach you (like greece this past weekend). i've learned how to maneuver around places i've never been and not panic when i'm not exactly sure where i am. thou i have to admit, i often give off to a group of people that i know exactly where i'm going even if i don't have the slightest idea. somehow it always turns out for the best. confidence and a good sense of direction (thank you mother!). 

::i have other goals to accomplish while i'm here, but for now those are the most important for now. almost 4 weeks into it and i've already learned and experienced more than i ever have. 8 more to go and then life starts again in Auburn. till then i'll continue doing what i'm doing till i can't anymore::

ciao,

jamie krywicki.

5:15am: taxi to fumicino airport.

7:45am: flight to greece.

10:45am: flight arrives in athens, greece.

fact:

Athens, the capital of Greece, holds the distinction of being one of the oldest cities of the world. Apart from being the economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural center of Greece, the city is also rapidly becoming a leading business centre in the European Union. The rich heritage and cultural legacy of Athens, evident in the form of its ancient monuments and works of art, is what drives tourists to the city. Here, you will find a beautiful amalgam of various architectural styles, ranging from Greco-Roman and Neo-Classical to Contemporary. In case you want to explore more about the city, make use of the information given below.

:along with being the capital of Greece, Athens is also the capital of the Attica Periphery and the Athens Prefecture.

:Athens is the largest city of Greece, apart from being one of the oldest cities of the world.

:the Athens Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) is said to be the 8th most populated LUZ in the European Union.

:the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, in the year 1896. In 2004, Athens again played host to Olympic Games.

:Athens became the first Cultural Capital of Europe in 1985.

:the evidence of the first settlement around the Acropolis dates back to 3000 BC.

:Athens is widely referred to as the ‘Cradle of Western civilization’ and the ‘Birthplace of Democracy’.

:being continuously inhabited for at least 3,000 years, Athens boasts of being one of the cities with the longest history in the world.

:Athens became the leading city of the ancient Greece, in the first millennium BC.

:it was in 1834 that Athens succeeded Nafplion, the city that was provisional capital during the Greek War of Independence ending in 1832, as the capital of Greece.

:the Greater Athens area stands divided into 55 municipalities, the largest being the Municipality of Athens or Dimos Athinaion.

:Athens is one of the world's main centres of archaeological research.

:Omonia Square is the oldest square in Athens.

:Syntagma Square, adjacent to Parliament and a number of significant hotels, is the central square of Athens.

:Athens was the birthplace of many prominent philosophers, writers and politicians of the ancient world, including Socrates, Pericles & Sophocles.

**********************************************************************************

{i've never fully immersed myself in a country's culture like i did this past weekend. five of us traveled to athens, greece and loved every minute of it. we stayed at backpackers studio apartments only a short 3 minute walk from the historical acropolis. the acropolis of athens or titadel of athens is the best known acropolis in the world. the acropolis is a flat-topped rock that rises 490 ft above sea level in the city of Athens, with a surface area of about 3 hectares. it was also known as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man, Cecrops, the first Athenian king. 

the first thing on our minds to do when we got to athens was to have lunch. we met a girl from New Zealand who decided to backpack through Europe on her own for a few months and meet people as she went. lucky girl, she ran into the five of us and spent her first hours in athens tagging along with us (and then there were six). we all had an amazing, healthy, no pasta/pizza, lunch at:

LuLin (I think), Brittany, and I at Lunch

Street Band at Lunch

Greek Salad (my favorite)

{after lunch we walked around the many streets situated around the acropolis. one thing i'll know i'll miss once i return to the states is the small alley's with ma and pop shops and little family owned cafes and restaurants. }

Athens, Greece Alley

{after having to design and build my own lighting fixture last spring in peek's studio, stumbling upon these homemade, leather and various material, light fixtures was amazing. very 'jamie krywicki'!}

{when in greece, we thought we had to absolutely see the gorgeous beaches, adorned with those beautiful white and blue houses build up the mountain sides (mama mia style)...well, athens isn't where you go to see the beautiful or anything beautiful except for the ancient ruins, but that's okay, honeymoon possibility: the greek islands.}

at the beach: olympic monument

{after the beach and a great hour nap, we hit a wall: rain, a down pour, but it turned out for the best. [life motto: everything happens for a reason] we went to one of the first places we saw for dinner: 

it was like going to dinner straight out of My Big Fat Greek Wedding...i think an entire family was having dinner together at Plakiotissa and we were placed alone upstairs to wine and dine our american selves with authentic greek dishes. our entertainment: traditional greek dancing and music!}

Baklava: Greek Dessert

Ouzo: Greek Liquor: deadly

Traditional Greek Dance: Opa!

Live Band

{saturday we woke up early, had free breakfast (thanks backpackers) and began our site seeing. starting with the acropolis, theather of dionysos, temple of zeus, greek gardens, and eventually ending that night at the temple of argon:}

Parthenon: me

Alex and I: on our way up the acropolis

Theater of Dionysos

Propyla

Temple of Athena

Temple of Zeus

Lettering: i love this!

Statue in the Gardens

{after site seeing, cappucino, lunch, and shopping; we went to a 2nd authentic greek dinner. the name who knows, the food was great of course. free wine. free dessert, free ouzo. free water. that was our bribe to go to this restaurant instead of the one next door. literaly every place is owned by the same family. they compete with each other to have people sit in their place instead of the brothers, cousins, or fathers. we asked for tomato sauce for the calamari...ketchup came first then a tomato soup...from next door. after a few bottles of wine and ouzo it was about time to check out what else athens had to offer.}

{we checked out the local 'bar' scene, but ended up in a high class area below the acropolis at a local restaurant, once again. free wine once again, greek dancing, and some crazy entertainment.}

Traditional Greek Dancing

Crazy Entertainment:
where this guy came from?
no idea, hilarious. 

11:45: flight departs for italy.

1:45am: flight arrives in rome, italy.

references:

http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/facts-about-athens-1904.html

Pompei and Abbazia di Montecassino

Location: Pompei, Italy

  :the buried city

• this past Thursday we traveled to Pompei, Italy. it was amazing to learn about the history and life of those who once inhabited the town in Naples. instead of boring you with the entire history of Pompei, i found a site with the 5 things i thought to be most amusing while i was given my guided tour through the Roman streets. 
• Pompei: the Last Day : great movie that is frequently on the Discovery Channel giving a realistic idea of what really happened. look up times online or buy it here.
• Official Pompei Website

{5 Interesting Facts about Pompei, Italy}

Vanished and forgotten, the walled city of Pompeii in Naples, Italy was accidentally discovered 1,669 years after the eruption of its neighboring volcano, Mount Vesuvius, on the 24th of August 79AD. Pompeii’s awful ordeal left at least 2000 people trapped and without a choice but to silently accept their imminent demise. At present, the 150-acre city of Pompei is one of the world’s largest archaeological excavation sites, side-by-side with modern amenities such as pubs, bars, restaurants, tourist facilities, and flourishing commercial areas. Read on and get in-depth with more interesting facts about the lost ruins of Pompeii and the modern city of Pompei below.

1. Life in Pompeii

So what’s it like to live in the past? Top archaeologists and experts of the historic excavation site are still baffled. There are lots of artifacts still needed to be analyzed to somehow depict a story or a scene which can show how everyday domestic living went in Pompeii. But the huge villas, with its walls and floors decorated with intricately designed mosaics; the Thasian dolomitic marbles that line up the bars and bath houses; and a sophisticated water, drainage, and sewage system for public and private use provides us an idea that people in Pompeii lived in a very comfortable manner and sheer opulence during their time.

2. Sealed Through Time

The remains of Pompeii are so incredibly well-preserved that you could walk around and see the Greek-inspired buildings such as residences, water fountains, commercial establishments, brothels, and an amphitheater; standing erect along the deserted cobble-stoned streets where the city’s ill-fated inhabitants used to walk through. People and their pet animals, eternally captured till their last breath in plaster casts are also found in the area. You can almost feel the impression of how sad and scared they must have been at the face of certain death.

3. Brothel in Pompei Re-opens

Don’t get the wrong idea here but the Lupanare, an ancient brothel in Pompeii is back in business- as a tourist destination that is! Ready to serve curious travelers, the fascinating 2-story brothel in the middle of Pompeii reveals signs of the open and systematic flesh trade in those times. Erotic Frescoes found at the walls of the rooms set the ambiance. Even more, names of the women who worked there, their “special talents” to please their clients, and prices of services are etched on the brothel’s walls.

4. Mother Nature Joins the War

While the Second World War was happening all across Europe, American airmen stationed at the Pompeii airfield caught a glimpse of the last known eruption of Mount Vesuvius. At least 2 feet of volcanic ash and football-sized rocks blanketed the area. Army tents, military equipments, and 88 aircrafts have also been severely destroyed.

5. The Santuario

Off to the past and on to the present! Not far from the Pompeii ruins, most tourists in Pompei often miss visiting the Santuario or the Shrine of Madonna del Rosario, a church built in 1876. The whole structure is shaped like a Latin cross which is dominated by a 53-meter high dome in the center. The church altar features theshroud of Madonna di Pompei in a bronze frame encrusted with gems. But the real attraction here is the 80-meter bell tower, the top easily accessible by an elevator where you can get a breath-taking view of Pompei and the surrounding area of Naples. 

Mount Vesuvius

Pompei citizen praying.

Most famous cast. Pomepi dog.

Stepping stones. In the street they would
place these in the street to walk across
because the streets were always wet.

Brittany and I: Roman Forum

Group Shot: Roman Forum

Inside the Roman Forum

Street Shot of Shops and Homes

Fresco

Pompei was very open when it came to sexuality. When men would return from long voyages or sailors would stop at Pompei the only thing on their minds was fueling their "love machines". 

In the stone road, a phallic symbol,
 pointing in the direction of a Brothel.

"Bed" in the 2 story brothel.
Notice they didn't look comfortable. Why?
Because brothels were meant to be
places to, "get in and get out."

Frescos like this are on the brothel walls.
They serve as a 'menu.' Just like McDonald's
has pictures for what they serve, so did these houses.

{Montecassino Abbey}

:on our way home from Pompei we stopped at St. Benedict's monestery. 

:Official Montwcassino Website

Montecassino (also spelled Monte Cassino), a small town about 80 miles south of Rome, is the home of the sacred relics and monastery of St. Benedict (480-543), the patron saint of Europe and the founder of western monasticism.

Since its founding by St. Benedict in 529 AD, Montecassino Monastery has had a troubled history, suffering from repeated attacks, pillage, and natural disasters. Most recently, it was the site of a terrible battle during World War II that resulted in great loss of life and complete destruction of the monastic buildings.

Despite its significant and frequent setbacks, the monastery has always been rebuilt and the relics of Saints Benedict and Scholastica have survived through all the turmoil. The building that stands today was constructed after 1944 using the old plans.

::History::

St. Benedict was born to a noble family in Nursia, a small town near Spoleto, around 480 AD. He did not set out to be a great monastic leader, wishing instead to live a quiet and contemplative life as a hermit.

As a young man, Benedict established himself in a small cave 50 miles from Rome in Subiaco. His plans for solitude were not to be, however. Disciples were soon attracted to him, and he became well known for his pious character, wise teachings and ability to work miracles.

Benedict moved to Montecassino in 528, where he remained the rest of his life. Here he wrote his Rule, a set of guidelines for laymen wishing to live a spiritual life pleasing to God. The Rule of St. Benedict would become the pattern for monastic rules across medieval Europe.

Upon his death in 543, he was buried in a tomb with his sister, St. Scholastica. The monastery was sacked by the Lombards not long after Benedict's death, but it was soon rebuilt. By the 11th century, Montecassino had become the wealthiest monastery in the world.

In World War II, the hill of Monte Cassino was part of a German defensive line guarding the approaches to Rome. Montecassino became the target of assault after assault by Allied troops, and was finally destroyed by air bombardment. The hill was captured at dreadful loss of life by the Polish Army and Italian refugees. After the war, the abbey was rebuilt based on the original plans.

Today, Montecassino is a working monastery and continues to be a pilgrimage site by virtue of the suriviving relics of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. It is also a popular tourist destination for its historical importance and its attractive buildings.

::What to See::

Rebuilt in the 1940s, Montecassino Abbey sits atop a large hill, below which lies the city of Cassino. A vast Polish war cemetery covers a hillside across the valley, which can be easily seen from the abbey.

The basilica, richly decorated in stucco and mosaics, enshrines the relics of St. Benedict and his sister, St. Scholastica, which survived the bombings.

The abbey museum displays medieval art and artifacts from the monastery and explains the history of monasticism. The monastic church, the main destination for pilgrims, features an urn under the high altar containing the relics of Benedict and Scholastica.

Fresco 

Oldest Door on Property

View from the monestary

Monte Cassino

References:

www.pompeiisites.org/

http://www.venere.com/blog/pompei-interesting-facts/

http://www.montecassino.it/

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/monte-cassino-monastery