Travel: Culture & Architecture

An Unexpected Tranquil Sanctuary

The entrance to the cloister of San Francesco Church in Gargnano on Lake Garda.
The entrance to the cloister of San Francesco Church in Gargnano on Lake Garda.

The San Francesco Church and Cloister in Gargnano on Lake Garda. Recently I wrote about the monks of the San Francesco Monastery introducing lemons to the Lake Garda area in northern Italy during the thirteenth century. But what I forgot to mention in that post was that their monastery and church, which were built in 1289, still exist today, and it was a happy accident when I stumbled upon them. For more photos of this peaceful sanctuary, click on the link below.

Travel: Culture & Architecture

Quirky Italian Moments (part one)

This belongs to a little restaurant in Gargnano on Lake Garda in Italy.
This belongs to a little restaurant in Gargnano on Lake Garda in Italy.

Way back when I worked full time as an environmental graphic designer, I designed elaborate sign systems for large commercial and health care architecture projects. I worked in this field before the ADA laws went into effect and when the creative possibilities were endless. I now work on mainly print graphic jobs and web design, but my old habit of checking out signage wherever I go is a habit I have yet to break.

Travel: Culture & Architecture

Fancy Ceiling Décor

The Venetian room inside the palazzo on the Isola Madre, Lake Maggiore.
The Venetian room inside the palazzo on the Isola Madre, Lake Maggiore.

A collection of ceilings from old Italian villas. In 2007, I joined the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art for a two-week adventure exploring the historical villas and gardens of the northern Italian Lake District. Instead of grouping my collection by each individual villa, I thought it would be more interesting to present my photos taken on this trip by ceiling, wall, and floor treatments. This first post is all about fancy ceilings.