Bologna 2

ITL  Bologna  2  

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ROF= Ring of fire journey

ITL= Italy Journey 

Thursday November 19, 2015

Bologna, Italy 2 afternoon 

The Bologna Old City Square, Piazza Maggiore,/ Neptune fountain is only 5 blocks from the apartment. 

 In the Plaza square is a large fountain. Beautiful sculpture. It's the Neptune Fountain with 4 mermaids at the corners. Absolutely beautiful. Of course I have to throw a coin in the fountain; I do hope to return here one day. 

On the right/ east side is an old brick 5 story building. Arches in the brickwork. Several 10'x 10' large white squares on the wall face. Inside is small 3" squares... it's black & white photos.  

Along the base of the wall are some flower bouquets, a couple of wreaths. This is the Bologna Veterans memorial. ?Is this the Veterans Administration building? No,... It's the city library. 

Across the square is a huge wall of a building. The top half is a brown brickwork. Workers are in the middle of the square breaking down a platform stage where a festival is over. Missed that... would liked to have been here a couple days earlier to see the performances.  There is always some artistic something going on in all of these Italian cities. It's just the normal artistic culture here... this is normal life here. 

Go over to the huge wall building. Marble steps up to the entrance platform. 20' wooden doors. In & it's the city cathedral, The Basilica of San Petronio. The huge brown brick wall is deceiving,... it's the end of the cathedral hall, The construction started in the middle ages, 1390. 400' long,x 190' wide, x 150' high... 

 ... it is overwhelming to stand on the marble floor tile work, turn and look at the artistic craftsmanship of the sanctuary and breath the air of this sacred place. It is humbling; I stand in awe. ... and have to take a few minutes to say a prayer for Sons.

 Speechless!!!

 Inside the Basilica is breathtaking beautiful. These pictures can't even capture the magnificence of this 700 year old Cathedral.

 Just breathtaking to stand here.

You could spend days here... it's that powerful. 

After a while you just have to exit & go on.  

 And there are shops with GREAT food at affordable prices. Do eat a bologna samich when in Bologna. You won't be dissapointed.

     

On past the square I can see the top of a cathedral dome a few blocks further on and some masonry brick towers. Let's go see what this is about. 

Bologna is a wonderful city to explore. It's one of my favorite stops on this journey.  Wait 'til you see what's on the other side of the square... down two blocks.    ... also see the Bologna 3 post.

You never drink twice from the same stream.

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