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GLENNA: Today we wake up to a lovely sunny, hot day. This morning, the villa is lovely, baking in the warmth of the sun, the bricks on the outbuildings a lovely mellow light terracotta colour. We all make our own breakfast--eggs, toast, fruit, yogurt, and tea or strong Italian coffee. We head off in a convoy of three cars to Vicenza, the town Palladio made his home for most of his adult life, and which contains many of his fine buildings. Vicenza is about 15 miles due north of Saraceno. We park on the town's outskirts, and meet up in one of the several piazzas, wide open spaces ringed with cafes, shops and, in this case, a Duomo or Cathedral. We head off in all directions in small groups, with Dad settled in at a cafe which will be our meeting place at day's end. Robin, Stephen, Nic, Sarah and I head over to the Basilica (in this case, not a religious building but a town administrative building with shops at ground level, which was restored by Palladio--in the 1540s). Around the Basilica are stalls selling all types of goods and food-a typical country market. So many lovely architectural details to take in. Sights, sounds, smells--all fascinating. We head to the Teatro Olympico, which was designed by Palladio but built by his successor as he died before its completion. We have lunch at a cafe nearby before touring the Teatro, as we misunderstood and thought it was closed for lunch, as many places are. (Lunch was light-sandwiches, salads, as dinners at the villa tend to be more elaborate.) The Teatro is truly a unique place, with a permanent proscenium wall full of niches filled with the statues of local worthies who were also Academicians. Very elaborate, with 5 openings in the wall, through which one can see the famous stage set which is intended to show the seven roads to Thebes. Difficult to describe, see the photos!
GLORIA:Our first outing, a caravan of 3 cars heading to Vicenza where we walked around an outdoor marketplace via narrow, winding cobblestone streets. With such delightful weather we ate outdoors at a small café where we were introduced to a specialty, which became a favorite of most of us - thinly sliced prosciutto on melon.The salty taste of the ham (slightly different in each of the several towns which proudly all have their own variety) atop a sweet, perfectly ripe cantaloupe was a perfect combination.
This city was Palladio's adopted home where he designed the magnificent basilica, which had been re-built after heavy bombing during World War II left only the façade standing.A grand statue of Palladio overlooks a large market place there.
It was here that our first "event" happened in a museum where I missed a step and fell flat on my face, was thrown back and my head hit the heavy glass door.
My tour of the museum was shortened as family took me to the emergency room of the Ospedale di Vicenza where I had good care.The doctor spoke little English so he called for an interpreter (for the "tourista") and he sewed four stitches in my head, which had bled quite a lot at the museum.I also had a cat scan so now have proof that I do indeed have a brain!I was quite upset that I did not receive a refund of the 5 euros entry fee at the museum.Luckily no after affects and one week later, in London, had the stitches removed.
The white bandage blended perfectly with my thick white hair and Glenna washed out the bloody strands that evening.No after-effects interfered with enjoying the first of many gourmet meals, which completed the day.And so to bed.
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