This was a view from the conference’s break area — that’s the Mediterranean and Sicily in the distance.
I recently went to Reggio Di Calabria, a city in southern Italy, to present to present a paper I wrote at a workshop / conference. The trip was good, and (predictably, for Southern Italy in August) quite hot.
I spent an afternoon and evening in Rome before taking a train south to Reggio Calabria. While in Rome, I did a little bit of sightseeing and visited the National Gallery of Ancient Art, ate at some local cafes, and tried to nap away the jetlag. Once in Reggio Calabria, I:
Tried, without success, to figure out if I actually could drink the tapwater: no one would say it was unsafe, but also everyone recommended just buying bottled water;
Then tried, with some success, to figure out the meanings of the different types of bottled water, or at least “oligomineral” water;
Visited the National Museum of Magna Graecia, which was way more impressive than I had even hoped for; and
Was totally blown away by the horizon every time I looked at it. The Mediterranean with Sicily in the background consistently looked like a postcard.
The conference I was at also had an organized outing to the town of Scilla, where we walked through the fishing village / district Chianalea and climbed to the top of the ancient Castello Ruffo.
The only other notable event was getting my debit card skimmed at an ATM in Rome on my return trip, although I wouldn’t find out about that for a couple of weeks. Despite that, it was a great trip — I watched a number of really interesting talks, met great people, and of course the food (especially the gelato!) and scenery were just incredible.
Outdoors in Rome
One of Rome’s famous “nasoni” or “big noses” — public fountains that run all the time
The famous Trevi fountain, finished in 1762
The ‘Obelisco del Quirinale,’ near the Trevi Fountain
A side view of the Colosseum
The Colosseum.
The Fontana dell’Acqua Felice. Wikipedia notes that this is the end of one of the aqueducts that enters Rome.
A stairway in the National Gallery of Ancient Art in Barberini Palace.
National Gallery of Ancient Art
Raphael’s ‘La Fornarina’
El Greco’s ‘The Adoration of Shepherds’
Garofalo’s ‘The Vestal Virgin Claudia Quinta Pulling a Boat with the Statue of Cibele’
A marble bust in the national museum.
Madonna and Child by Bartolo di Fredi
Episodes from the Passion of Christ, by Giovanni Baronzio
A ceiling mural.
Painted Cross, by an unknown Lucchese Painter
Gaul.
Caravaggio’s ‘Narcissus.’ This is one of the few paintings I knew before reading the plaque.
Reggio Di Calabria
This was a view from the conference’s break area — that’s the Mediterranean and Sicily in the distance.
Some of the city of Reggio Calabria, viewed from the university.
A panoramic view of the Mediterranean and Sicily, showing why Reggio Calabria is a vacation destination.
Scilla, Italy
A view north from the top of Scilla’s Castello Ruffo
The hike up to Castle Ruffo went past many buildings that were built quite close to each other with great views of the Tyrrhenian sea
Looking southwest, immediately below the castle, was a popular beach.
The path to the castle was narrow and steep. It was a hot day, but after sitting inside all week, it was a great hike.
Scilla has a very popular, scenic beach.
Walking up the path, on the opposite side of the sea, were these mountain springs / streams.
National Museum of Magna Graecia
An ancient depiction of (I believe) an Aurochs. Unfortunately, I didn’t write down just how ancient,
Ancient pottery, weapons, and jewelry from the burial ground of Grotteria, ca. 730-630 BC.
Being on the Mediterranean, there is a long history of trade and coinage in Reggio Calabria. These are coins from 530-520 BC.
A “Colossal terracotta antefix in the shape of Gorgon’s head.” from 500-450 BC.
Part of the roof from the Sanctuary of Marasà at the settlement Lokroi Epizephyrioi
This is a “true to life” terracotta model of the Grotta Caruso sanctuary that was found inside the sanctuary.
Pots for a funeral feast from the 300s BC
One of the Riace Bronzes, bronze statues from 450-460.
The other Riace Bronze.
Though the full size bronze statues are the most famous, there are other, smaller bronzes in the same room.
A sign directing travelers in Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci to the international check-in
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