Il Giorno delle Passeggiate
When I woke up this Sunday morning, I knew it was going to be an interesting day. There was an ucellino or little bird in the house, causing my host mom and I to scream and duck for cover while my host dad ran around with a broom with the aim of whisping it outside. It was quite the sign I was in for an adventure.
My host mom told me we would be spending the morning "trekking". We pulled up into a parking lot off the side of a main road of southern Viterbo where many many people from the university community were listening to two archeologists. These archaeologists were quite the characters. They guided all of us along the side of the road until we came up to a locked gate. Little did I know right off the side of a seemingly normal highway is a medieval villa waiting to be explored.
The archeologists pieced together bits and pieces of information about the villa, explaining a rich Viterbese family of the 14th century must have lived there. Between poetry, mythology, and archeological facts, there was a lot to take in. Admittedly, some of it was difficult for me to understand since there were a lot of cultural references assumed to be understood. Being that I didn't grow up here, I had to rely on context clues and helpful hints from Eleonora. One thing didn't need any words; I observed the many odd sculptures decorating the garden, which leads me to my second blog contest!
Below is a photo of one of the sculptures covered in moss. I got one interpretation from some friendly Italians, and the person who can give the best explanation of what's going on will win some Italian chocolate! Start commenting/emailing! ;)
As for the reset of the tour, here are some more photos. Enjoy!
My host mom told me we would be spending the morning "trekking". We pulled up into a parking lot off the side of a main road of southern Viterbo where many many people from the university community were listening to two archeologists. These archaeologists were quite the characters. They guided all of us along the side of the road until we came up to a locked gate. Little did I know right off the side of a seemingly normal highway is a medieval villa waiting to be explored.
The archeologists pieced together bits and pieces of information about the villa, explaining a rich Viterbese family of the 14th century must have lived there. Between poetry, mythology, and archeological facts, there was a lot to take in. Admittedly, some of it was difficult for me to understand since there were a lot of cultural references assumed to be understood. Being that I didn't grow up here, I had to rely on context clues and helpful hints from Eleonora. One thing didn't need any words; I observed the many odd sculptures decorating the garden, which leads me to my second blog contest!
Below is a photo of one of the sculptures covered in moss. I got one interpretation from some friendly Italians, and the person who can give the best explanation of what's going on will win some Italian chocolate! Start commenting/emailing! ;)
As for the reset of the tour, here are some more photos. Enjoy!
Love your photos!
ReplyDeleteYvonne
Grazie mille!!! :)
DeleteWhat fun!
ReplyDeleteSeems like it must be Heracles on the right. Can't make out whether the figure on the left is male or female. I'll guess female, and that it's a very muscular Hera sending him out on his 12 labors or just plain making life more difficult for him along the way, like maybe sending crabs to bite his feet or flooding a river he wants to pass. But if it's male, I'll guess Prometheus, who is bound to a post (farthest left) and whose liver-gnawing eagle Heracles is in the midst of slaying.
Can't wait to find out what sense the archaeologists made out of all this! Love the photos!
-David, old friend of Jeff
Fabulous entry!! I'm excited to share what they had to say :)
DeleteThe Women is representing society and she is bowing down to my statue (on the left) because as we all know i will one day rule the world. She is praying to me and asking to help with global efforts to end starvation. (I will someday comply)
ReplyDeleteHahaha you got a very good laugh out of me!
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