Exploring the Chianti countryside

Another stop on our tour of the Chianti region was at the terra cotta workshop of Sergio Ricceri.

Sergia Ricceri throwing a pot.

Here we learned about the high quality of clay in this region, which produces superior terra cotta pots and decorative items. I was attracted to the planters decorated with lemons and also the roosters.

Sergio’s works are available directly from him (and several people in my group ordered pieces which he shipped–and they arrived perfectly intact).

These three pictures are from Sergio’s website; the painted pieces are hand-painted.

Picture from Sergio’s website.

As we left Sergio’s workshop, the sun was setting, and everywhere we looked, the sky was vibrant pink.

Italian marble quarries

Our first excursion outside Lucca was to the Carrara Marble Quarries, about an hour’s drive northwest. I had never given any thought to where marble comes from, so I was awestruck when I learned that what I thought was snow on the mountain top was actually a mountain of marble.

We were greeted by the company’s owner and given hard hats.

And then we walked inside the quarry. As in the limestone quarry in Les Baux, I was entranced by how high the quarry walls are. In this working quarry, we learned about the history of marble and watched marble being cut into huge slabs.

Marble being cut.

This is the blade used to cut the marble from the mountain.

Looking up along the saw blade, inside the quarry.

A wall of marble

Puccini’s hometown

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), was born in Lucca and spent a substantial part of his life there.

Statue of Giacomo Puccini in front of the Puccini Museum

In a joint venture between art students and professional artists, twelve store shutters were painted with the women of Puccini’s operas.

Unfortunately, the exhibit was not meant to be permanent and some of the shutters have been painted over, but here are the ones I noticed as I walked the streets of Lucca.

Last stop–Avignon

The last stop on our Amawaterways river cruise on the Rhone River was Avignon.

A part of the wall that surrounds Avignon

Our walking tour included the Popes’ Palace, which was built in the 14th century and was the home to Popes for more than 60 years.

Popes’ Palace

Above the cloister

One of the original doors into the Palace

Plaster reproductions of prominent people during the reign of the Avignon Popes

The Palace is massive (160,000 square feet), and parts of it are now being used for art exhibits and as offices. An exhibit of the photographs of Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, called Amazonia, was on display when I visited the Palace.

One of the photos in the Amazonia exhibit

As I was looking for details about the Popes’ Palace, I came across this entry on a blog called Eurotravelogue which has wonderful pictures and much more information.

Provence, France

The most amazing excursion during the Amawaterways river cruise from Lyon to Avignon was to a limestone quarry in Provence which has been repurposed into an immersive art experience called CARRIÈRES DE LUMIÈRES.

The limestone quarrey (not my picture)

When we stepped inside the quarry, we entered Venice and were immersed in images of art and architecture. Haunting music enhanced the experience, and I was mesmerized.

My photos cannot capture the magnificence of this exhibit, so I encourage you to visit the site–and visit the place.

One of the scenes projected on the quarry walls (not my picture).

From there, we went to Les Baux-de-Provence, a 12th century village on top of a mountain.

Narrow street of Les Baux

Saint Blaise Chapel, built in the 12th century

Tapestry inside the Chapel of St. Blaise in Les Baux

Arles, France

One of the excursions on the Amawaterways River Cruise on the Rhone River was to Arles, the place where Van Gogh painted about 300 paintings.

I found Arles particularly interesting, perhaps because I had seen the Van Gogh in America exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts just before leaving for France, and Arles was an important place for Van Gogh.

The building where Van Gogh lived in Arles (known as the Yellow House).

Rendering of the Yellow House where Van Gogh lived, with the front addition which is no longer there.

Doorway to the hospital where Van Gogh was taken after cutting off his ear.

The courtyard inside the Hospital

Homes near the amphitheater

Roman column inside the wall

Roman amphitheater in Arles

I love the little niches with statues of saints

A few more pics from Lyon, France

Here are a few more pictues from my recent trip to Lyon, France.

The Baptism of Jesus, Fine Arts Museum, Lyon.

This replica of the Statue of Liberty is in the Fine Arts Museum

Lyon has many passageways called Traboules which were used during the days of silk making and later used by resistors during World War II. This stairway is part of an interior passageway in an apartment building.

Art outside museums

Throughout my travels in France, I visited several art museums, and I also noticed art in some unexpected places. The main street in Barbizon, for example, featured mosaic reproductions of works by artists who lived and woked in Barbizon in the 19th century.

Honfleur sits along the northern end of the Seine River and this outdoor wall art is representative of the nautical feel of the town.

In Angers, this artistic garden in what had been the moat around the castle drew my attention.

This mural in Lyon covered an entire building.

I was in Lyon during Holy Week and came upon these Stations of the Cross. The juxtaposition of this modern interpretation of the Passion of Jesus on the ancient pillars was striking.

Stained glass windows

Visiting churches in France gave me the opportunity to see beautiful stained glass windows. Here is a sampling.

Lyon, France

Lyon, France

St. Laurent, near Normandy, France

LeMans, France

Angers, France

French doors

I often notice doors when I travel, the color or size or ornamentation. Here are some I noticed while traveling around France on my Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) tour.

This door in Barbizon caught my eye because it was set back into the building and because of the carvings.

Neighbors in LeMans

LeMans door with elaborate carving.

A wide, squat door in Angers

In Lyon, sometimes the door caught my eye, but more often it was the decorative work above the door that entranced me.

Red doors on churches often catch my eye. The one on the left is in Paris and the one on the right is in Bayeux.

Purple is my favorite color, so the doors to this church in Sarlat won my heart.