An unique past

In case you have a look at Trieste on the map, you will see that it borders Slovenia and occupies a nook that was as soon as thought-about to be one of the great crossroads of races and cultures. By the 19th century, Trieste was a terrific metropolis and major cultural and industrial centre of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It was a real melting pot of the Latin culture of Italy – the Germanic of Austria and the Slavic of The Balkans. To that might be added the contributions of minority Greek and Jewish populations.

The town flourished to everybody’s profit however, unfortunately, the First World War changed that. On the finish of the war, it was ceded as part of Austria-Hungary’s defeat to Italy and it has remained Italian since (aside from a short interval after the Second World Battle when it was below Allied administration).

At present’s city

Generally, when walking in Italy holidays can change into a little too targeted on the better-recognized destinations talked about above, however there a re many other cities and cities that, like Trieste, have quite a bit to offer.

Through the 1920s, 30s and early 40s, the Italian governments adopted a policy of ‘Italianisation’, which led to most of the German and Slavic inhabitants leaving. However Trieste nonetheless retains a multi-cultural really feel to this day.

A number of the structure here is excellent and owes a lot to its Hapsburg origins. The Miriamare fortress is a picturesque nineteenth century mansion constructed for one of the Hapsburg dukes and at this time stands as a museum. It is value a visit for its exhibits, but additionally simply because of its beautiful location. There’s additionally a unbelievable tram that dates back to the Austro-Hungarian period, and riding it to the heights is a real experience.

Strolling around the city centre you may encounter squares and streets that seem to be a combination of Vienna and Venice. Attempt the Piazza Unita d’Italia for a pattern of sheer grandeur.
If you like your history to be a little bit more historic, then the city additionally has a Roman amphitheatre and wonderful Roman museum.

Image via Wikipedia

Yet it is the newer architecture that can utterly overwhelm you as you stroll around walking in Italy’s lovely Trieste. The inventory change, town corridor and the even railway station are well value walking around, and a visit to the early 19th century Verdi Theatre is solely a must – try to get to see the unimaginable interiors in case you can.

The tradition

Though much of the non-Italian inhabitants has left, Trieste retains considerable Balkan influences and the city has some nice coffee outlets and bars which have a distinctly Eastern European really feel to them. There are alternatives for some good procuring – and at costs which may be nearer to reality that you may find in some centres similar to Milan, Rome or Venice.

Deputy A2z tony Moore affirms Lohan premiered in the One hundred year Localised Detention ability in Lynwood early on Monday, lower than five a long time after your woman documented on the jail.

Lindsay Lohan checks in and out of jail Photos

The actual 25-year-old Suggest Young ladies superstar had been reserved in the jail from 8-10.50pm (nearby occasion) upon Sunday.

It turned out anticipated to certainly be a brief keep as a result of imprisonment overcrowding.

The actual deputy was lacking a perfect duration of discharge, but information deck hands staking your prison as well as the woman’s Venice property are confirming the girl was residence by 3am.

Lindsay Lohan checks in and out of jail Photos

Lohan got till The fall of Being unfaithful to be able to are accountable to the actual women’s jail. The judge the other day ordered incarceration soon after locating Lohan violated her probation since they can be ended from the group support assignment at a ladies protection.

Your determine charged an intricate word, informing Lohan she can have to carry out every one of your ex local community services at the county morgue or perhaps danger offering an additional 260 times within imprisonment.

It’s Lohan’s 6th imprisonment sentence considering that staying arrested 2 times for beverage generating inside 07.

Captured and imprisoned, Marco spent his time dictating to a cell-mate, Rustichello da Pisa, an account of his adventures -The Travels of Marco Polo – documenting his Far Eastern travels for Mongol ruler Kublai Khan, which became a European best-seller.

Europeans got their first Asian insights from the book, though doubts about the chronicle, and the truth of the fantastical peoples and places Marco Polo described, have always been voiced. Most believe the Venetian adventurer picked up second-hand stories, cobbling them together with other information scraps for his account.

Archaeologists pointed out that glaring inaccuracies were rife in his describing attempted Japan invasions in 1274 and 1281 by Kublai Khan, the Mongol fleet details not reflected in Japanese excavations of ship remains. Polo claimed to have been a Kublai Khan court emissary, yet his name is missing from surviving Mongol or Chinese records of the time.

Polo, in theory an acute observer of daily life and ritual in China, failed to record the ancient customs of tea drinking, women’s feet binding or, chopsticks, and even  the Great Wall fails to get mentioned, absolutely nothing  in the Venetian archives suggesting the Polo family ever having direct contact with China.

Copying the contents of a Persian China guide book, written by a Persian merchant, seems a distinct possibility, as the manuscript has minimal amounts of first-person writing, making it likely that the account was more a conglomeration of European Far Eastern knowledge of the time, as several of the words used in the account are not Chinese references at all, but Persian words.

It seems then, that what Marco Polo had in abundance was a flair for story-telling and an incredible memory, except when it came to the fine detail, but no compunction about how he made his living. He was undoubtedly a con-man with a glib tongue, a convincing liar who made his mark on history with an incredibly tall tale that the public were happy to swallow. How different those days were.

Movie fans will also watch the latest film by director and other Hollywood actors, namely Madonna and Al Pacino.

Clooney’s political drama will compete with 23 other films – five movies from Hollywood – to get the Golden Lion award that will be given on 10 September.

The jury will be led by U.S. director Darren Aronofsky, who has twice won the Golden Lion as the film Black Swan.

The Ides of March to tell the story of a campaign press secretary an ambitious, played by Ryan Gosling, which will reveal a political scandal.

The film also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti as a rival campaign manager. The film is adapted from the drama of Beau Willimon’s Farragut North.

Clooney said the movie started shooting when Barack Obama was elected U.S. president in 2008.

  With that being said my next step was to hire a boat to get there. How hard can it be to hire a boat in Venice?……  Let’s just say that it took a while but maybe for different reasons than originally thought. First off, emailing to Europe takes a little longer. We here in the states are used to instant return mail. The Euro version is a 2–3 day turnaround. A lot of the sites are in Italian. Google Translator is a big help but the term lost in translation definitely applies here. I tried about 2 dozen companies and only 3 of them returned my emails. I explained to them I wanted to hire the boat for a hour, I wanted to circle the island and perhaps get off if I could. They asked me what my interest was in Poveglia because there is nothing there. I told them some of the usual stories like it is an island with ghostly mists that is avoided by all fisherman. Patrol boats circle the island keeping people off, keeping them away from the packs of dogs that roam the island. The owners of the island do not want you there. It is forbidden to go there unless you get special permission. Local Venetians will not speak of this place, but if they do they will tell you it’s cursed. Try my friend to get there. It will be a vain effort, because no one wants to go near the island. No boat captain will venture near this terrible and haunted place. An asylum was built there, the ghosts of the plague dead drove the director of the asylum to practice inhumane experiments on his patients. He was possessed and threw himself off the bell tower to his death. The fall did not kill him. A swirling mist arose and enveloped him slowly killing him. After his death, the asylum was closed. Later a school (The Poveglia Academy,which in real life is only an actual a role playing game like Dungeons and Dragons)was constructed on the island but that too was soon closed. These are some but not all the stories of Poveglia. These are the stories that I read. These are the stories that made me journey to Venice and find out for myself .In the return emails I got I felt that 2 of the boat companies were humoring me. Kind of like OK,it’s haunted if you say so.The boat is $150 an hour USD.They told me we could go on certain conditions. None of them had to do with hauntings.The first company told me I could not get out of the boat, not because the island is haunted but because the buildings are condemned. There was a restoration project that was began several years ago, scaffolding was put around the main building to convert the  main building into a youth hostel but funding stopped and the project was abandoned. The buildings are in a true state of disrepair and they didn’t want the liability. The second company said they had no problem circling the island, but as far as getting off they would have to see. The third company was rediculously expensive.Needless to say I chose company 2.

   The first time I saw Poveglia was from the Campanile (bell tower) in the Plaza San Marco in Venice. It sits peacefully in the lagoon. It is easily identified by the bell tower which can be seen from quite a distance away. That day I began asking people from all walks of life about the Island of Poveglia.I started with some older gondoliers and some vaporetto drivers on the lagoon.I got 2 similar answers to my questions. When I asked “What are the local stories about Poveglia”? They would answer “It’s empty, there is nothing but what’s left of  an old age home.A convalescent home was built there because Poveglia is the island farthest out into the lagoon and they felt the fresh sea air was better closer to the ocean.When I asked them if they were sure it wasn’t a mental hospital they said there was a mental hospital  but it wasn’t on Poveglia.It was on a neighboring island.” When I asked if they thought Poveglia was haunted ,they would let out a small laugh and shake their head and smile. They would generally say “I don’t know”.I found out that everyone else I asked gave me the same answer.

    The day came for me to embark on my adventure. My boat captain met me near the lagoon and we were off. The fine tuned boat we were on made it to the island in 10 minutes. During the trip the captain told me he wasn’t sure if I would be able to get off. He said we would circle the island and if it was empty I could get off. He said sometimes there were workmen taking the scaffolding down. Poveglia is in the middle of nowhere, there was no sign of any police patrol circling the island and keeping people away. The boat pulled up and I had to jump out because there was nothing to tie the boat off to. He said “If you see my grandfathers ghost tell him I said Hi!”

                                         I could not believe it,I  was standing on Poveglia.I walked around to the front of the island by the octagon and the main building. All the buildings are in total disrepair.Looking in the windows I could see what was once a laundry and possibly the maintenance section of the building. There were some ornate steel bars on the windows. The bars were only on this section of the building.                                                                            The main building had none.(which would be odd for an asylum)The windows in the bell tower are bricked shut.                                                                              I entered the main building for a few feet.While it is in such disrepair it must still be a popular place for kids because there are beer bottles and graffiti everywhere. This place must have been gorgeous once. The floor tiles while now covered with dust and debris are simply beautiful.The sunlight fills the rooms with the over sized windows.I exited the building and walked towards the octagon. Its there that I noticed some fishing nets being stored there.Which raises the question if they are afraid to fish here why are the nets here?

  I proceeded around until I came upon what looked like an old crypt.                                           All the vegetation on the island is overgrown.There is such detail here it is amazing. Then I saw the bridge to the ash mound.                                                   I did get goosebumps when I stood there. I crossed over and when I got to the other side I realized the ground was different.I sunk deeper here with every foot step.That’s when I took my hand and stuck it into the ground.I pulled out a handful of ash and in the midst of it a small bone. I photographed it and returned it to its resting place.                                                                                                                                                                                      The rest of the ash mound is overgrown and looks like it has been for years.I also found a grave on the island.

After I got back in the boat my driver made another joke about the ghosts on the island.At that moment the boat stalled. He tried and could not restart the boat. In a very nervous laugh he said that its the first time ever his boat had stalled.Finally he restarted.

My trip was a success,I learned some unexpected things, I was able to get some really good photos. I think I’m the first person to shoot the island in infrared.Photos are available , samples are on Brett Garbus Photography on Flickr.(or Google Traveljunkie1019)Id be happy to answer any questions anyone has as well. I’m not sure if Poveglia is haunted or an urban legend .I just want you to know what I found out there.

I love a good ghost story……..

Venice declined in power due to poor leadership. Its government was corrupt as it sold government positions to the highest bidder so as to gain funds to hire mercenaries. It also had a declining pool of nobility due to the plague. This resulted in fewer capable nobles in the government and they are unable to make the best decisions for the country. Hence this led to the decline of venice because it became unreliable due to the fact that any person could be part of the government as long as they have the money. This resulted in fewer capable leaders int he government, causing fewer good choices that will help improve Venice. The government loss the support of the people and are unwilling to work hard  to bring economic growth to the country. Hence the poor leadership caused the decline of Venice.

Foreign threats also caused the decline of Venice. Venice had to switch alliances with rival countries to protect its own interests and territories, resulting in poor relations that would lead to war if negotiations fail. They also had to deal with the Ottoman empire which was competing with Venice for trade influence in the Adriatic Sea. Venice had to use resources to fight wars and hence this led to the Decline of Venice because it had to spend a lot of money to hire mercenaries to fight for them, and placed trus on them although money could not buy their loyalty. The spending of funds for the army also made the people think that the government did not care for their welfare, resulting in them not contributing to the economic growth through trade. Hence the Foreign threats also caused the decline of Venice. 

Maritime competition also caused the decline of venice. There were new trade routes and products being discovered by countries other than Venice, such as calicut which had lucrative trade of spices in India. This caused the destruction of Venice’s monopoly of spice and caused thei trade to reduce. The Dutch and British also invented ships that were better and more advanced than the galleys, which cause the traders to trade with them instead of Venice due to more reliable and convenient trade. Hence maritime competition caused the decline of Venice because it was unable to keep up with the rest of the countries in terms of discoveries of new products and trading routes, resutling in the loss of revenue and eventually the decline of Venice.

Between the summers of 1575 and 1577, some 50,000 Venetians were killed by plague. On 8 September 1576, the Venetian Senate vowed to build a church if the plaque ceased. Backed by Marc’Antonio Barbaro, Palladio submitted a design to the Senate. This was a square building with a hexastyle portico on the frontage and a semicircular apse at the rear. Internally, the square was transformed into a circle by the addition of paired columns at the corners and this central space was surmounted by a dome.

Circular church plans were popular in northern Italy due to the influence of Constantinople, but they presented severe liturgical problems. Among these was the difficulty of locating the high altar within a circular space.  As a pilgrimage church, Il Redentore was also expected to have a spacious nave to accommodate the congregation. Palladio’s circular plan was rejected, and the Senate instead requested a quadrangular building. Undeterred, Palladio submitted a revised design within a week

The new design prescribed a well-defined rectangular nave, each side pierced by three chapels framed by paired giant columns. The area containing the altar is a centralised space surmounted by a dome. This domed chamber is bounded by three enormous exedrae inspired by Roman baths. Two of these are curved walls; the third is a screen of columns.

Externally, Il Redentore is a large edifice clad in white marbel, which seems to float majestically above the waters of the Giudecca.  The building is crowned with a dome surmounted by a statue of the Redeemer. The facade was inspired by the Classical architecture of Antiquity adapted to suit the needs of a Christian church. A central triangular pediment overlies a larger one. This recalls Palladio’s façade for San Francesco della Vigna (1562-70), where he first used the motif of double interlocking pediments.

Palladio’s church of San Francesco della Vigna (1562-70)

Echoing the Temple of Jerusalem, 15 steps lead up to the entrance. This was complicit with Palladio’s requirement that ‘the ascent will be gradual, so that the climbing will bring more devotion.’ Palladio applied rigorous geometric proportions to his façades and Il Redentore is no exception. The overall height is four-fifths that of the width whilst the width of the central portion is five-sixths of its height.  It has been suggested that there is a Turkish influence in the exterior, particularly the two campaniles at the rear, which resemble Eastern minarets.

Every year the doge and senators made a pilgrimage across a specially constructed pontoon bridge from the Zattere to Giudecca to attend the Festa del Redentore. Il Redentore occupies one of the most prominent sites of any of Palladio’s buildings, and is one of the triumphs of his career.

Canaletto’s View of the Church of the Redentore

Reading

Boucher, B. (1994) Andrea Palladio: the architect in his time. London: Abbeville.

Tavernor, R. (1991) Palladio and Palladianism. London: Thames and Hudson.

 After the Congress of Vienna, Italy got under the control of the Austrian Emporium, divided in 7 states, whist the most important was the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, ruled by the House of Savorier.

 The high Burgess was the most interested on the Italian unification because it would guarantee that the intern growing would still continue and the nationalism was the key for it.

 The most 3 important leaders on these process were: The liberal-monarchist, Cavour; and the republicans, Mazzini (Young Italy) and Garibaldi (Red T-Shirts).

 On 1848, there was the first try for the unification: Carlos Alberto, King of Piedmont-Sardinia declared  war against Austria, but he lost the war.

 On 1849, Cavour and Napoleon III made a secret deal on which on a war against Austria, Savorier and Nice would be given to France on an exchange for Lombardi-Venice.

 On 1859, taking this deal as basis, Cavour declared was against Austria and got from Napoleon III just Lombardi.

 At 1860, Garibaldi, with the support of Cavour, invaded Sicilia, taking it over, and later he took over Napoles.

 On the Austria-Prussian was, he became and ally of Prussia and could take for himself Venice.

 At 1867, Garibaldi tried to take over Rome, but he was stopped by Napoleon III troupes.

 At 1870, on the Franco-Prussian war, the French troupes got back to France, allowing the Rome invasion by the unionists.

 With the unification, the economic differences between the Industrial North and the Rural South settled down; there was a strong immigration of Italians; and it generated the Roman Question, the conflict of the Pope and the new-created Italian state.

The Italy, for instance, have their own language and it is called Italian. As most people know, Italy is known to be a romantic place and known to its great wonders of attractions such as the leaning tower of Pisa in Venice.

In relation, these are some tips of how to learn Italian fast.

First, one must have an Italian dictionary that has an English translation. English translation is needed because this is the International language being used and if one does not understand English, he or she may need to have English tutorials as well.

Second, an Italian grammar guide is helpful tool. This is being used so that a person will know how to construct an Italian sentence that would sound sensible for the listeners.

Third, one can ask for the assistance of a native Italian tutor depending on what area in Italy that the foreigner would visit. This is for a fact that the Italian dialects vary from place to place. Moreover, basic Italian can be learned easily with the help of an Italian tutor of translator.

Lastly, a person can check some online quick Italian language guide prior to visiting Italy or during his stay in Italy.

Furthermore, if a person wants to learn Italian fast, constant studying and learning the Italian language must be considered.

Marco Polo was born in Venice, one of the most prominent centers of trade in medieval Europe, into a merchant family.  Merchants of the day traded regularly throughout the Mediterranean region. They also maintained trading posts in port cities on the Black Sea, where they obtained silk, porcelain, and other goods that came from China over the Road, an ancient trade route linking China with Rome. Little is known about Polo’s early life, because his own account of his travels, published later in his life, is the primary source of biographical material about him. Polo probably received a fairly typical education for children of merchants at that time, learning how to read, write, and calculate.

Marco Polo’s account is also the primary source of information about the travels of his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, who were jewel merchants. They left Venice in 1260 on a commercial venture to the Black Sea ports of Constantinople (İstanbul, Turkey) and Soldaia (now Sudak, Ukraine). From Soldaia they continued farther east to trading cities on the River in present-day Russia. In 1262 a war broke out behind them and prevented them from returning home, so they proceeded farther east to the great Central Asian trading city of Bukhara ( Uzbekistan). After three years there they joined a diplomatic mission going to the court of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler of China. The khan received them warmly and expressed a desire to learn more about Christianity. He asked the Polo brothers to return to Europe and persuade the pope to send Christian scholars who could explain the religion to him. Niccolò and Maffeo journeyed back to Europe in 1269 to satisfy the khan’s request.

to be cont…