Trens è un luogo di pellegrinaggio; infatti qui è custodita l'immagine miracolosa di "Nostra Signora delle Valanghe" (Unsere Liebe Frau an der Lahn), antica statua lignea della Madonna in piedi con il Bambino, risalente al 1470. La chiesa, in stile tardo gotico, ha una navata del 1498 e la parete sinistra, dove si trova la Cappella della Madonna, è ricoperta dai numerosi ex voto.

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Trens is a place of pilgrimage; in fact here is preserved the miraculous image of "Our Lady of the Valanghe" (Unsere Liebe Frau an der Lahn), an ancient wooden statue of the Madonna standing with the Child, dating back to 1470. The church, in late Gothic style, has a nave of 1498 and the left wall, where the Chapel of the Madonna is located, is covered by numerous votive offerings.

A very beautiful young lady

Una giovane, bellissima signora

Lavello (Pz) 2005

si nasce, non si diventa :P

Italian postcard by Rizzoli, Milano, 1934-XII. Photo: Novella-Film. Publicity still for La signora di tutti/Everybody's Woman (Max Ophüls, 1934) with Isa Miranda.

Isa Miranda (1905–1982) was the only international film star produced by the Italian fascist cinema. In Hollywood, she was billed as the ‘Italian Marlene Dietrich’ and played femme fatale roles. Later she became one of the most significant European film actresses during the 1940s and early 1950s.

Handsome Italian-German actor Enrico Benfer (1905 – 1996) aka Federico Benfer worked in Germany and as well as in Italy and other European countries. He often co-starred with his later wife, Jenny Jugo.

Franco Coop (1891-1962) was a highly prolific actor in Italian sound cinema from the early 1930s onwards.

Creatura in cartapesta e fil di ferro,realizzata e dipinta a mano.Materiale di recupero.Colla naturale,tempera e smalto acrilico.

1957; La Signora by Elio Bartolini. Cover art by Owen Kampen.

Andrea è un amico dei tempi del liceo.

Da molti anni vive a Mantova e, quando va bene, riusciamo a vederlo un paio di volte all'anno.

Ma ogni volta che ci si trova il primo pensiero nel rivederlo è sempre lo stesso: non è cambiato affatto, il ragazzo!

Lui non si lascia scappare occasione per ricordarcelo.

E la cosa ci conforta.

Un paio di settimane fa Andrea e Cinzia ci hanno invitato al loro matrimonio e queste foto (anche se un po' in ritardo) sono per ringraziarli della piacevolissima giornata! :-)

Created with GIMP

Mercatino florivivaistico in Villa Contarini di Piazzola sul Brenta.

Sagra del Fuoco - Recco edizione 2023.

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Festa della Madonna del Suffragio

I festeggiamenti nascono in onore di Nostra Signora del Suffragio, Patrona e Protettrice di Recco. La festa è organizzata dai 7 Quartieri di Recco, Bastia, Collodari, Liceto, Ponte, San Martino, Spiaggia e Verzemma che si sfidano in una due giorni di spettacoli pirotecnici di altissimo livello.

Sito ufficiale:

www.sagradelfuoco.it/index.php?option=com_content&vie...

Qui una immagine dello spettacolo pirotecnico offerto dal Quartiere Collodari dal molo di ponente. Curato da Boccia & Nappi - Palma Campagna (NA) - Giovedi 7 settembre 2023

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Feast of the Madonna del Suffragio

The celebrations are born in honor of Our Lady of Suffrage, Patron and Protector of Recco. The party is organized by the 7 districts of Recco, Bastia, Collodari, Liceto, Ponte, San Martino, Spiaggia and Verzemma who compete in two days of top-level fireworks shows.

official website:

www.sagradelfuoco.it/index.php?option=com_content&vie...

Here is an image of the fireworks show offered by the Collodari District from the western pier. Curated by Boccia & Nappi - Palma Campagna (NA) - Thursday 7 September 2023

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1609/1604

Seconda Guerra Mondiale TRENTO bombardata Second World War Trento bombed year 1943

Sono riuscito a recuperare tramite la Signora LAURA delle foto originali del periodo della Seconda guerra mondiale in Trentino . Questa immagine come altre che ho recuperato è stata scattata da uno dei Fratelli PEDROTTI , fotografi molto famosi a Trento per questo periodo storico e anche per la cultura del Trentino. Probabilmente alcune immagini non ritenute da loro di qualità le hanno accantonate in qualche cassetto e poi regalate . Ci sono tanti libri storici che documentano questo periodo di guerra in Trentino con foto ,cercherò sicuramente le tracce dei Fratelli PEDROTTI deceduti da anni

Siamo al 28 settembre del 1943 e vediamo il quartiere di Santa Maria a TRENTO fortemente bombardato . Sulla sinistra si nota una parte della torre VANGA e poi notiamo il campanile della chiesa di Santa Maria . In mezzo si vede appena la testa della torre CIVICA in Piazza Duomo .

Dicono che Hitler nella sua pazzia amava l'arte e risparmiava i monumenti .

La foto originale con tanti graffi e punti l'ho restaurata nelle mie possibilità . Questo documento lo trovate nel set " HISTORY is YUO" www.flickr.com/photos/30797788@N03/sets/72157622635105267...

Have managed to recover through Mrs Laura of original photos of the period of the Second World War in Trentino. This file as I have recovered was taken by one of the Brothers Pedrotti, photographers very famous in Trento for this historical period and also for culture of the Trentino

.Probably some images not deemed by their quality have set aside in some drawer and then give the gift. There are many historical books which document this period of war in Trentino with photos, I shall try certainly the traces of the Brothers Pedrotti died for years.

We are, on 28 September 1943 and see the area of Santa Maria in Trento heavily bombed. On the left we note a part of the tower Vanga and then we see the tower of the Church of Santa Maria. In the middle is sees as soon as the head of the Torre Civica in Piazza Duomo. say that Hitler in his insanity loved the art and she spared monuments

The original photo with many scratches and points I have been restored in my possibilities. This document you find in the Set "History is Yuo" www.flickr.com/photos/30797788@N03/sets/72157622635105267...

Martini: Signora. Please stop being so sad. If you continue like this, I will be forced to make love to you. And I've never been unfaithful to my wife.

Under the Tuscan Sun

lecce salento italy .2008.leica dlux3

A che ora passa??

Monte Rosa visto da Agnellengo (NO)

Vinicio Capossela - Signora Luna

signora luna che mi accompagni

per tutto il mondo

puoi tu spiegarmi dov'è la strada

che porta a lei

non se ne adombri

signora luna se non ho amato

diglielo a ella

che solo ella

veglia per me

non se ne adombri signora luna

se non ho amato

solo negli occhi

di chi è già stato

veglia per me

E’ molto tempo che non posto più un fiore, forse perché cercavo altri tipi di scatti, però davanti a questo ultimo bocciolo non sono riuscito resistere.

La rosa, la regina dei fiori, con i suoi vellutati petali è un richiamo a cui non si può sfuggire.

Seconda Guerra Mondiale TRENTO bombardata Second World War Trento bombed year 1943

Sono riuscito a recuperare tramite la Signora LAURA delle foto originali del periodo della Seconda guerra mondiale in Trentino . Questa immagine come altre che ho recuperato è stata scattata da uno dei Fratelli PEDROTTI , fotografi molto famosi a Trento per questo periodo storico e anche per la cultura del Trentino. Probabilmente alcune immagini non ritenute da loro di qualità le hanno accantonate in qualche cassetto e poi regalate . Ci sono tanti libri storici che documentano questo periodo di guerra in Trentino con foto ,cercherò sicuramente le tracce dei Fratelli PEDROTTI deceduti da anni

Siamo al settembre del 1943 e vediamo il quartiere tra il DUOMO e Santa Maria a TRENTO fortemente bombardato .

.

Dicono che Hitler nella sua pazzia amava l'arte e risparmiava i monumenti .

La foto originale con tanti graffi e punti l'ho restaurata nelle mie possibilità . Questo documento lo trovate nel set " HISTORY is YUO" www.flickr.com/photos/30797788@N03/sets/72157622635105267...

Have managed to recover through Mrs Laura of original photos of the period of the Second World War in Trentino. This file as I have recovered was taken by one of the Brothers Pedrotti, photographers very famous in Trento for this historical period and also for culture of the Trentino

.Probably some images not deemed by their quality have set aside in some drawer and then give the gift. There are many historical books which document this period of war in Trentino with photos, I shall try certainly the traces of the Brothers Pedrotti died for years.

We are, on 28 September 1943 and see the area of Santa Maria in Trento heavily bombed.

The original photo with many scratches and points I have been restored in my possibilities. This document you find in the Set "History is Yuo "

www.flickr.com/photos/30797788@N03/sets/72157622635105267...

Basilika Unserer Lieben Frau zu den Schotten

Benedictine Abbey of Our Dear Lady of the Scots

Abbaye bénédictine de Notre-Dame-aux-Écossais)

Abbazia benedettina di Nostra Signora di Scozia

Abadía Benedictina de Nuestra Señora a los Escocés

Scots Church (Vienna)

Side view of the Freyung with vista to Scots Church, right in white the so-called Schubladkastenhaus (drawer castes house)

The medieval Scots Church

(further pictures you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page!)

The Freyung, seen from the southeast to 1758

Interior of the Church of the Scots

Main entrance to the Scots Church

Monument to Jasomirgott, the founder of the Scottish monastery, on the south-facing exterior wall of the church.

The Scots Church (Basilica of Our Lady to the Scots) is a Roman Catholic parish church in Vienna and at the same time the abbey church of a Benedictine abbey, the Schottenstift. It is located on the Freyung, Viennese 1st district Innere Stadt.

History

The old Scots Church

Already shortly after the foundation of the Vienna Scots monastery by Duke Henry II Jasomirgott in the year 1155, was began with the construction of the Scots church, it was consecrated in 1200 by the Bishop of Passau Wolfger of Erla. From this first, Romanesque church, a three-nave pillar church with an apse, only remnants in the Dark Sacristy and the Romanesque chapel are preserved. In the latter, which today serves as a day chapel, also a Romanesque statue of Mary Our Lady to the Scots (around 1250), the oldest representation of Mary of Vienna, can be found.

When Henry Jasomirgott died in 1177, he was buried according to his wishes in the Scots Church in a high grave (cenotaph). Later, his wife Theodora and his daughter Agnes were laid to him.

After disputes with the Viennese vicar, the Scots obtained as a result of an arbitration award papal delegated judges on 28 August 1265 parochial rights for their Viennese territory, firstly with restrictions on the baptismal and burial rights, from 1269, completely unlimited.

1276 the Scots Church fell victim to a great city fire, and so it was renewed to 1317 in early Gothic style. After an earthquake in 1443 damaged the church, the choir 1446-1469 was gothically redesigned. For this choir was 1469-1475 a large altar created, the so-called Scottish master altar.

Master of the Schotten Altar Vienna

Master of the Schotten Altar Vienna: Flight to Egypt (detail), 1470

The Master of the Vienna Scots Altar or also Vienna Scots Master was an in to 1470 in the Austrian range active painter of the Late Gothic. Because his real name is unknown, he is named after the by him for the Schottenstift (monastery) in Vienna created large wing altar, the so-called "Vienna Scots altar". The Master is considered as one of the most important Dutch or Upper Rhine influenced painter in the Austria of his time. His influence should be gone over his students far beyond the Vienna area. Thus, an altar in the Margaret Church of Medias in Transylvania (Siebenbürgen) is considered to come from his school.

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meister_des_Wiener_Schottenaltars

Baroque reconstruction

The collapse of a tower after lightning strike was taken in 1638 by Abbot Johann Walterfinger as a reason firstly the choir and the tower of church completely to overhaul. Here, however, was reduced the length of the church, so that the tower today is not directly connected to the longhouse. The establishment of the barrel-vaulted pilaster church with hinted transept was procured under Abbot Anton Spindler of Hofegg by the architects Andrea Allio the Elder, his cousin Andrea Allio the Younger and Silvestro Carlone. In the course of this new building also the crypt of the Schottenstift was layed out. The new church was on 31th May 1648 consecrated by the Viennese bishop Philipp Friedrich von Breuner.

With the stone carvings was charged the imperial court sculptor and court stonecutter Peter Concorz, sculptor at Freyung. For this purpose, he bought a quarry in Kaisersteinbruch (Lower Austria), according to the contract with Abbot Michael II Schnabel from Heiligenkreuz Abbey. 1651 established the Hofsteinmetzmeister (court stonecutter) Bartholomew Khöll the main entrance of the tower facade. For the niche the sculptor Tobias Kracker created the statue of Mary with child.

The Baroque painter Joachim von Sandrart created for the Scots Church the paintings of the Apostles altar (1652) and the cross altar (1654) as well as the new high altarpiece Heavenly Glory (1671), which today is located in the Prälatensaal (prelate's saloon) of the Schottenstift. Tobias Pock painted the altarpieces of St. Mary's altar, of the Benediktusaltar (both 1651-1655) and of Sebastianaltar (1655-1658) as well as an at the end of the 20th Century again uncovered fresco of the St. Wolfgang (about 1655).

After the second Turkish siege the church was restored again. Since the baroque west towers hardly overtop the facade, there have been plans to increase it - but never got to it. For Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg, the defender of Vienna in the Turkish siege which was buried in the crypt of the Scots church, designed Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach to 1725 an epitaph in the church.

Transformations in the 19th and 20 Century

From 1883 to 1887 Abbot Ernest Hauswirth had the church restored and partially remodeled. Except for Benedict and Gregorius altar the Baroque altars were replaced by altars in the neo-Renaissance and neo-Baroque style. It emerged a new high altar after designs of Heinrich Ferstel with a mosaic of Michael Rieser and new ceiling paintings by Julius Schmid. The founder Henry Jasomirgott, who had been reburied several times over the centuries, got in 1901 in the crypt of the Scots church a neo-Roman sarcophagus as yet final resting place.

In 1958 the Scots Church by Pope Pius XII. was raised to the rank of a minor basilica.

Under Abbot Heinrich Ferenczy in the years 1992 to 1994 the choir was accordingly to the liturgical reforms of the 20th Century transformed. The new main altar was placed at the intersection of the two main axes, the ambo before the altar in the center axis of the nave. New built was also a new choir stalls.

Organs

Among the monastery organists who worked at the Scots Church are included Wolfgang Schmeltzl (1550s-years, as schoolmaster), Johann Rasch (1570-1601), the former court organist Georg Piscator (1649-1660), the great Baroque musician Johann Joseph Fux (1696 -1702), Johann Baptist Henneberg (about 1783) and the current St. Pölten organist Louis Lussier (2000-2006). Current Stiftsorganistin (monastery organist) is Zuzana Ferjenčíková (since 2006).

In the wake of the last church renovation two new organs were placed in the Scots Church. Both the choir organ (1994) as well as the main organ (1996 ) were built by the Swiss Organ Manufactory Mathis.

Choir Organ

The choir organ has 20 stops on two manuals and pedal. The instrument was along the lateral choir walls in two parts layed out, on the right is as epistelorgel (epistle organ) the main section with the play table, left as Gospels organ behind an identical prospectus the swellable side section and pedal.

I Hauptwerk C-g3

1 Principal 8'

2 Reed flute 8'

3 Octave 4'

4 Flute 4'

5 Quinte 22/3'

6 Superoctave 2'

7 Mixture V 11 /3'

8 Trumpet 8'

II Brustwerk (swellable) C-g3

9 Holzgedackt 8'

10th Salicional 8'

11th Spitz Flute 4'

12th Nasat 22/3'

13th Waldflöte 2'

14th Third, 13/5'

15th Quinte 11/3'

16th Wood Shelf 8'

tremulant

C- pedal f1

17th Subwoofer 16'

18th Praestantflöte 8'

19th Choir Albass 4'

20th Bassoon 16'

Couplers: II / I, I / P II / P

Main organ

The main organ found nomination in the historic prospect, which had been created for the former organ of Ignaz Kober (1804). The instrument with mechanical play and Registertrakturen (stop actions) with electronic combination system has 49 stops on three manuals and pedal.

I Hauptwerk C -g3

1 Praestant 16'

2 Octave 8'

3 Harmonique Flûte 8'

4 Bourdon 8'

5 Viola di Gamba 8'

6 Octave 4'

7 Spitz Flute 4'

8 Quinte 22/3'

9 Doublet 2'

10th Mixture IV 2'

11th Scharff IV 1'

12th Cornet V 8'

13th Bombard 16'

14th Trompette 8'

II Rückpositiv C -g3

15th Gedackt 8'

16th Quintade 8'

17th Praestant 4'

18th Reed flute 4'

19th Sesquialtera II 22 /3'

20th Octave 2'

21, Waldflöte 2'

22, Larigot 11/3'

23, Cymbals IV 1'

24th Cromorne 8'

tremulant

Swell III C -g3

25th Bourdon 16'

26th Portunalflöte 8'

27th Salicional 8'

28th Voix Céleste 8'

29th Principal 4'

30th Octaviante Flûte 4'

31, Salicet 4'

32nd Nasat 22/3'

33rd Octavin 2'

34th Third, 13/5'

35th Plein Jeu V 22 /3'

36th Harmonique Trompette 8'

37th Basson - Hautbois 8'

38th Voix Humaine 8'

39th Harmonique Clairon 4'

tremulant

C- pedal f1

40th Under 32'

41st Principal 16'

42nd Subwoofer 16'

43rd Octavbass 8'

44th Bourdon 8'

45th Choir Albass 4'

46th Hintersatz V 4'

47th Trombone 16'

48th Prong 8'

49th Clairon 4'

Couplers: II/I, III/I, III/II, I/P II/P III/P

Play Help: Organo Pleno (principals, basic votes, I and P)

Baptisms, weddings, funerals

Among the many people who have been baptized in the Scots church, are included the rococo painter Giovanni Antonio Guardi, the Porzellanmodellierer (porcelain modeler) Anton Grassi and the film director Fritz Lang. In the Scots church have married the portrait painter Frans Luyckx, the Baroque musician Johann Joseph Fux, the stonemason Johann Paul Schilck, the Baroque painter Paul Troger, the musician Franz Anton von Weber and the orientalist Joseph von Karabacek.

In the crypt of the Scots Church lie buried the founder Duke Henry II Jasomirgott, his wife Theodora and his daughter Agnes as well as the defender of Vienna, Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg, the High Steward Prince Johann Ferdinand of Porcia, the Field Marshal Count Ludwig Andreas von Khevenhüller, the diplomat Count Amadeus Gottlieb Windisch-Graetz, Franz Freiherr (baron) von Lisola and Johann Rudolf Schmid Baron of Schwarzenhorn, the sculptor Johann Jacob Pock and the painter Paul Troger. On the 1751 abandoned Voglsang cemetery next to the Church the painter Frans Luyckx was buried.

For the composer Joseph Haydn, who had initially been buried because of the occupation of Vienna by the French only in all quietness on the Hundsturmer cemetery, was celebrated on 15th June 1809 a great memorial service in the Scots Church, on the occasion was sang Mozart's Requiem.

de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schottenkirche_(Wien)

From the Swallowtail Garden Seeds collection of botanical photographs and illustrations. We hope you will enjoy these images as much as we do.

Unfocused walk

Lady Smoking in front of Signora Pasta

Christmas Crib collection of Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Monte - Genoa, Italy.

Figures of the 18th - 19th centuries attributed to the Maragliano school.

You can see other images of this collection:

1 -click here

2 -click here

3 - click here

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CN0723

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. © All rights reserved

You can see my most interesting photo's on flickr here

Italian postcard by Rizzoli, Milano, 1934-XII. Photo: Novella-Film. Publicity still for La signora di tutti/Everybody's Woman (Max Ophüls, 1934) with Isa Miranda.

Franco Coop (1891-1962) was a highly prolific actor in Italian sound cinema from the early 1930s onwards.

Franco Coop was born in Naples by a noble Neapolitan family on September 27, 1891. He began his career in the theatre in 1916, in the company Lorenzo-Falconi, and had the opportunity to play alongside the major actors of his time. However, he found his true vocation as comedian actor in 1929, when he entered the Za-Bum theatre company, directed by Luciano Ramo and Mario Mattoli. Also frequently were his participations in vaudeville theatre, prose broadcasts of the EIAR and Rai radio, and in TV comedies and plays. He was one of the first actors in Italian sound film, an activity that absorbed him almost completely. In fact, he participated in over eighty films, in a time span between the early thirties until just before his death, featuring character roles, several times in the company of Totò. He was occasionally engaged in dubbing, especially in Spain in the period 1943-1945. Franco Coop died in Rome on March 27, 1962, stricken with pulmonary edema.

View On Black

Italian postcard by Rizzoli, Milano, 1934-XII. Photo: Novella-Film. Isa Miranda on the operation table in La signora di tutti (Max Ophüls, 1934).

Isa Miranda (1905–1982) was the only international film star produced by the Italian fascist cinema. In Hollywood she was billed as the ‘Italian Marlene Dietrich’, and played femme fatale roles. Later she became one of the most significant European film actresses during the 1940s and early 1950s.

Diana è una dea italica, latina e romana, signora delle selve, protettrice degli animali selvatici, custode delle fonti e dei torrenti, protettrice delle donne, cui assicurava parti non dolorosi, e dispensatrice della sovranità. Più tardi fu assimilata alla dea greca Artemide assumendone il carattere di dea della caccia e l'accostamento alla Luna.

Diana is a goddess Italic, Latin and Roman lady of the forest, protector of wild animals, the guardian of springs and streams, protector of women, which ensured shares painless, and dispenser of sovereignty. He was later assimilated to the Greek goddess Artemis assuming the character of a goddess of the hunt and the approach to the Moon.

Vintage Italian postcard. Rizzoli 1934. Novella Film. Franco Coop as the impressario in a scene of the Italian film La signora di tutti (Max Ophüls, 1934), starring Isa Miranda. See our blogpost on the film filmstarpostcards.blogspot.com/2019/01/la-signora-di-tutt...

Franco Coop (1891-1962) was a highly prolific actor in Italian sound cinema from the early 1930s onward.

Franco Coop was born in Naples by a noble Neapolitan family on September 27, 1891. He began his career in the theatre in 1916, in the company Lorenzo-Falconi, and had the opportunity to play alongside the major actors of his time. However, he found his true vocation as comedian actor in 1929, when he entered the Za-Bum theatre company, directed by Luciano Ramo and Mario Mattoli. Also frequently were his participations in vaudeville theatre, prose broadcasts of the EIAR and Rai radio, and in TV comedies and plays. He was one of the first actors in Italian sound film, an activity that absorbed him almost completely. In fact, he participated in over eighty films, in a time span between the early thirties until just before his death, featuring character roles, several times in the company of Totò. He was occasionally engaged in dubbing, especially in Spain in the period 1943-1945. Franco Coop died in Rome on March 27, 1962, stricken with pulmonary edema.

---- looking for Lady Florence .... ----

The mausoleum of Lady Florence Trevelyan, and Mrs. Maria.

Mrs. Maria, nice and very kind person, is the owner and affectionate guardian of the mausoleum where lie the mortal remains of Lady Florence (location "Francisi" Castelmola). (Originally the tomb of Florence was about 50-100 meters from here, looking like a tomb from the Roman era, then partly collapsed, perhaps following the terrible earthquake of Messina in 1908 ).

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Il mausoleo di Lady Florence Trevelyan, e la signora Maria.

La signora Maria, persona squisita e gentilissima, è la proprietaria e custode affezionatissima del mausoleo dove giacciono le spoglie mortali di Lady Florence (località "Francisi", Castelmola). (Originariamente la tomba di Florence si trovava a circa 50-100 metri da qui, assomigliante ad una tomba di epoca romana, come se ne trovano diverse nei dintorni di Taormina, successivamente in parte crollò, forse in seguito al terribile terremoto di Messina del 1908).

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the slideshow

Qi Bo's photos on Fluidr

Qi Bo's photos on Flickriver

Qi Bo's photos on FlickeFlu

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This is a short and long collection of photographs, almost all made in Taormina (Sicily), and is divided into two parts: the first part I have included a few pictures, I put a few moments I catched in the alleys of the small Sicilian town, in the second part (the first to appear on Flickr) in which I tried to rebuild and at the same time to remember the singular feminine figure of Lady Florence Trevelyan, an English noblewoman, lover of art, botany, ornithology, travels, the arts magical and esoteric; she loved animals, but actively helped a lot of people; Taormina is to her that owes much of its luck; this Lady, hosting famous people of the time, contributed not a little to make known the beauty of this village Siculo to the whole world (and she improved and embellished much Taormina).

Lady Florence was born in Hallington On February 7, 1852, but soon became an orphan at the age of two years (his father committed suicide in 1854); his mother Catherine Anne was the maid of honor of Queen Victoria: the Queen which became attached enormously to Florence, and the Queen loved her like a true daughter. Florence at age 27, in 1879 was forced to leave everything to face a long journey lasting more than two years (Lady Florence fell prey to the notorius charms of the future Edward VII, who was already married; this sort of thing never went over well with Victoria, so Florence was asked to leave England). Lady Florence returned to his homeland for a short period, to be again driven out for an exiled perennial: She never returned to England (though, a generous monthly annuity was given hers on the orders of the Queen Victoria). Florence traveled widely, reached India, went to Burma, arrived in Australia she performed as a singer, and then finally arrive in February 1884 in Taormina: here you will stay until the end of his life (she died October 4, 1907 ). At Taormina she met the then mayor, the rich prof. Salvatore Cacciola, doctor, passionate student and Grand Master of Freemasonry: it is said that Lady Florence fell in love when she sought his help to cure "Sun", one of his dogs; from here to their wedding was a short step.

Lady florence bought several lots of land, created the current Public Garden of Taormina, planted olive trees, cypresses, exotic trees, and built those features buildings in oriental style; She bought by the former mayor the "Isola Bella" (She built an house and She planted trees and exotic plants, Mediterranean pines, as well as the inevitable cypress); She bought many arid and barren lands around Taormina (Mount Venus, Monte Croce, Monte Porretta) and they become rich in vegetation, with many farmers she had taught the art of the English garden. Many people went knocking to her door, in financial difficulties, usually farmers and fishermen (also Oscar Wilde, disgraced by charges of homosexuality, received financial aid from Lady Florence), She made a major sewing school for young girls of Taormina, and instituted for their 87 wedding dowries. Fate was once again mocking her: the only child she had named Edward, died in childbirth. It was in use at the time, bathing in bathtubs filled with cold water of the sea (even the photographer Von Gloeden was addicted to this habit), but this proved fatal, Lady Florence died of pneumonia at the age of 55. For her express wish, She was buried in a district of Castelmola (accompanied by large numbers of Sicilian people, it tells of an endless line, to the sound of "ciaramelle", which reminded her bagpipes of her distant Scotland), district called "Francisi" in her memory (this term according to a medieval custom). In her will, Lady Florence forced heirs not to hunt in his vast possessions, not to build, and to accept and to help dogs and birds. Lady Florence was the first woman (not only in Sicily) to be allowed to be part of Freemasonry.

The writer Guido Gozzano, was inspired by Lady Florence, when he wrote the novel "Alcina".

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Questa è una raccolta di fotografie breve e lunga, quasi tutte realizzate a Taormina (Sicilia), raccolta che ho diviso in due parti: nella prima parte ho inserito alcuni ritratti, ho messo alcuni momenti colti nei vicoli del piccolo paese Siciliano, nella seconda parte (la prima ad apparire su Flickr) ho tentato di ricostruire, ed al contempo ricordare, la singolarissima figura di Lady Florence Trevelyan, una nobildonna Inglese amante dell'arte, della botanica, della ornitologia, dei viaggi, delle arti magiche ed esoteriche; lei, che fu una convinta animalista ante litteram, non si limitò ad amare solo gli animali, ma aiutò fattivamente persone di ogni ceto sociale, ebbe ricchezze ma al tempo stesso pagò prezzi altissimi in sofferenza e dolore: Taormina deve a lei molta della sua fortuna, poichè questa Lady, ospitando nei suoi possedimenti illustri e famosi personaggi dell'epoca, contribuì non poco a far conoscere al mondo intero le bellezze di questo paesino Siculo (ella stessa migliorò ed abbellì ancor più Taormina).

Lady Florence nacque in quel di Hallington il 7 febbraio del 1852, divenne ben presto orfana all'età di due anni ( il padre morì suicida nel 1854); sua mamma Catherine Anne era la dama di compagnia della regina Vittoria, la quale regina si affezionò enormemente a Florence, sì da amarla come una vera figlia. All'età di 27 anni, nel 1879 venne imposto a Florence di lasciare l'Inghilterra per affrontare un lungo viaggio, che sarà della durata di più di due anni (si ipotizza per farle dimenticare una relazione che non sarebbe mai dovuta accadere, col figlio della regina Vittoria, il futuro re Edoardo VII, che a quel tempo era già sposato; sembra che non sia stata affatto la gelosia della moglie di Edoardo, bensì la rigidità della madre Vittoria a decretarne l'esilio). Lady Florence dopo questo primo viaggio ritornò nella sua Inghilterra, ma vi restò ben poco, infatti dopo un brevissimo periodo Lady Florence venne nuovamente allontanata in esilio, e questa volta lo sarà per sempre: Florence non ritornerà mai più nella sua Inghilterra (un generoso vitalizio mensile le fu dato comunque su ordine della stessa Regina Vittoria, ovvio che ciò le fu indispensabile, essendo così lontana da casa). Florence viaggiò molto, raggiunse l'India, andò in Birmania, giunta in Australia si esibì come cantante, per poi infine giungere nel febbraio del 1884 a Taormina: qui vi resterà fino all'ultimo dei suoi giorni (lei morirà il 4 ottobre 1907). A Taormina ebbe modo di conoscere l'allora sindaco, il ricco prof. Salvatore Cacciola, medico, appassionato studioso e Gran Maestro della Massoneria: si racconta che Lady Florence se ne innamorò quando lei cercò l'aiuto del medico per curare "Sole", uno dei suoi cani; da qui al loro matrimonio, il passo fu breve.

Lady florence acquistò numerosi lotti di terreno, realizzò l'attuale Giardino Pubblico, vi piantò ulivi, cipressi, alberi esotici, costruì quelle caratteristiche costruzioni in stile birmano-orientale; acquistò dall'ex sindaco L'Isola Bella (vi costruì una casetta, e l'Isola, che altro non era che un ammasso brullo di scogli, divenne rigogliosa come la vediamo oggi, vi piantò alberi e piante esotiche, pini mediterranei, nonchè gli immancabili cipressi, così presenti in quasi tutta la cittadina); acquistò numerosi terreni intorno a Taormina (Monte Venere, Monte Croce, Monte Porretta) sicchè da aridi e brulli che erano, li fece diventare ricchi di vegetazione (infatti aveva al soldo numerosi contadini ai quali aveva insegnato l'arte del giardino all'Inglese). Alla sua porta andarono a bussare numerose persone in difficoltà economiche, in genere contadini e pescatori, mai fu chiusa loro la porta... (anche Oscar Wilde, caduto in disgrazia per l'accusa di omosessualità, ricevette un aiuto finanziario dalla Lady); realizzò una importante scuola di cucito per le giovanette di Taormina, dando loro la possibilità di potersi mantenere da sole; istituì 87 doti di matrimonio per le ragazze Taorminesi (all'epoca una ragazza senza dote non aveva molte possibilità di formarsi una famiglia). Il destino infine fu ancora una volta beffardo con lei: l'unico figlio che lei ebbe, di nome Edoardo, morì durante il parto, il padre era un medico, tentò di rianimarlo, ma non ci fu nulla da fare. Era in uso all'epoca, fare bagni nelle vasche da bagno ricolme di acqua gelata di mare (anche il fotografo Von Gloeden era dedito a tale usanza, ma lui usava immergersi in acqua di mare calda, riuscendo a trovare in questa forma di talassoterapia una cura per la tisi, della quale era affetto): questa usanza fu fatale a Lady Florence, che morì di broncopolmonite a 55 anni di età. Per suo esplicito desiderio, la Trevelyan fu seppellita in una contrada di Castelmola (accompagnata da tantissima gente del luogo, si racconta di una fila interminabile di persone, al suono delle zampogne, che le ricordavano le cornamuse della sua lontana Scozia); la contrada dove fu seppellita (in quella la Lady aveva un'altra dimora), fu chiamata "Francisi" in sua memoria (tale termine indicava, secondo una usanza medioevale, una generica provenienza straniera, qualinque essa fosse). Nel suo testamento Lady Florence obbligò gli eredi a non cacciare nei suoi vasti possedimenti, a non costruire, ad accogliere e curare cani ed uccellini. Lady Florence fu la prima donna ad essere ammessa a fare parte della massoneria. Importò in Sicilia les tableaux vivants (i quadri viventi) e anche le sfilate dei carri in fiori a Palermo. Lo scrittore Guido Gozzano scrisse il romanzo "Alcina" ispirandosi a Lei.

• Brasil, Pernambuco: Fernando de Noronha •

2010 1927lr ˆ83 7/6/10

Intrepido surfista fotografato dalla bella signora, e da me

Intrepid surfer photographed by the smart lady, and by me too

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