Mantova, Italy

Bricks is the theme of Photrablogger’s MM Challenge #12 and I thought these will fit in well for photos on brickwork.

Section of wall Old Square Mantua

The first picture is a close up of a wall in the Old Square in Mantova,  a UNESCO heritage site.  The pattern of white stone on the wall of 15th century Palazzo Ducale,  gives it an enchanting ‘lacey’ look … like Chantilly lace on brick !!!

A bigger picture – more motifs,more enchantment.  The pattern of small hollow squares visible may be due to restoration work as they are too ordered to be fallen bricks.  If you look closely you can see where  windows appear to have been walled up. It adds to the mystery!!

The angular buttresses on palace roof are duplicated on on the opposite side of the square – see below. The entire square may have been part of the Palace  (I need to read the guidebook).  Perhaps the different designs represent different quarters. The white insets are visible in a more frugal way on one wall.  You can see that repairs  have been carried out where the pattern is interrupted.    And note that the other wall  is pure brick – with no aesthetic extras. The chimney indicates it may have been the kitchen area … elementary my dear Watson 🙂

Old Square, Mantua

Old Square, Mantua

And how it looks now – contrasting old with  new, ochre wall with blue windows . Old and new blend so seamlessly.

A toast to buildings that stand the test of time .

Postcript :  We  travelled to Mantova  frtom Milan to meet Rev. Sr. Teresina – former Professor of Christology in Sri Lanka, who had travelled from Carpi, to meet us halfway, the day after we arrived in Milan. These pictures were taken whilst enjoying a delicious our first Italian meal her famous wine celebrating our meeting after five years.

I had initially ‘cropped’ our table from the picture to focus only on architecture.  On second thoughts however, I kept in the bottle of wine, for a building this beautiful and this enduring, surely deserves a toast.

So, a toast to buildings with workmanship and materials that endure …  and a toast likewise to enduring friendships.

Cheers 🥂