Apart from the crowds, what we saw of Italy in 12 days made a marked impression on us. The more we see of Europe, the more we think in terms of history and how it shapes and changes nations. In NZ and Australia, there is space, quietness, and vast swathes of natural beauty, but the history is short and recent. In Europe one can easily feel surrounded by buildings and monuments and art that testify to great nations of the past and present. Many of the structures, both ancient and new, are HUGE. They can't help but make an impression.
The last note is on water. Cities built around or on water need bridges. We saw a few.
In Italy, the emphasis on man made beauty, and the historical links between religion and the state and culture are inescapable. The Pantheon (above) which was built as a temple to all gods almost 2000 years ago, is now a Catholic church with crosses and statues of saints adorning the walls. The marble once lining the colosseum (below) was 'quarried' during the construction of St Peter's Basilica. The gold in the mosaics smothering the walls of St Marks in Venice was booty from the sacking of Constantinople.
It seems that the walls of every catholic church are lined with magnificent works of art, mostly commissioned by the Vatican. The emphasis on beauty was an attempt to bring heaven and earth closer together. On a practical level, the paintings, statues and later stained glass windows were used to tell the christian story to the illiterate masses.
The last note is on water. Cities built around or on water need bridges. We saw a few.
