Portofino et.al.

 On to Portofino...and beyond!

Walking from Santa Margherita

After a fairly easy walk along the Sea, we were approaching Portofino

Finally at Portofino

Portofino is an old fishing village at the end of a peninsula into the Mediterranean that is now a "right side of the tracks" resort destination.  All tourism, all the time.  ...but it is really a stunning little town.

Some of us continued on up a path to a fort and lighthouse.  This opened up more views of the town.

Church and graveyard.

Looking south from the lighthouse.

The lighthouse

Back in town, a boat in the style of an old fishing boat.

Gelato stop!  Our new friend Nancy on left.

Back in town, we caught a ferry to the Abbey of Saint Fruttuoso.  We passed the lighthouse on the way.

Some local goats.

The Abbey

Some fools stuck their feet in the Med...because they could.

We took the ferry all the way back to Santa Margherita and walked around a bit.

Eric found a church.  Kind of plain on the outside, but...

The church's ornateness is due to this town being a prime vacation spot for the moneied class for the past 150 years or so. 

Time for a Limoncello Spritz...

...and then off for a fish dinner

Sun sets over the sea and then...

...nighttime.

Tomorrow, Cinque Terra!

To the coast!

 Travel day.  With two stops.  One in Lucca and one at a marble sculptor.

Lucca is an city that dates back to the Romans.  It it part way between Florence and the coast along a great plain.  The layout of the city inside the walls still retains a lot of the Roman city plan.  Lucca seemed somewhat less touristy and still considerably residential, although there most certainly were crowds of tourists.

Super narrow streets!

First stop for us was San Martino (Saint Martin) cathedral, bell tower and museum

San Martino cathedral and bell tower

Inlaid floor - marble?

Wooden crucifix from 8-9th century per carbon dating

Alter.  Interesting bas-relief

Ceiling

Organ

Last supper, side view

Looking up in the bell tower

Looking west

Looking North.  Lucca has tower disease, as well

At the top.  Hope they don't ring the bells right now!

People in adjacent tower staring at this tower

Another bell tower

Facade details on San Martin

This goes on the wooden crucifix 

Ancient embroidery with gold thread

Model of church and tower.  It is unclear why actual tower encroaches on  corner of church roof.

Next stop, San Michele (Saint Michael).  This medieval chruch was built on the site of the Roman Forum.  It has an impressive facade, but the interior is rather spare.  It was "undecorated" during the reformation.

San Michele

Across the street, an ornate bank sign

San Michele detail

St Michael himself!

Spare interior.  There are likely frescos behind the walls.

The four saints.  

This picture has four people who didn't know each other.  On the right, Constantine's mom - who is alleged to have found Christ's cross.  Saint Jerome - Bible translator.  Saint Sebastian, as always with arrows - thankfully not sticking out of him, yet.  Saint Roch -showing off his Buboes.  He was a plague beater.

Pucci.  He was from here

Home on narrow streets often have nice courtyards

Some door detail

Typical residences in Lucca

"Fossilized" Roman arena.  Stones from Roman arches still in place.  Everything filled in around them

Homes and business in the foot print of the Roman arena

Mosiac on chuch named after Irishman who stayed - San Frediano

Looking from wall back into town.  Movie recently shot on this property.

The wall and the moat

Time to go!  Marble next.

Sculptor explains how it works.  Make clay model.  Use that to make mold.  Make cast plaster object.  Use that to transfer to marble.

Using pneumatic chisel.  You chisel closer and closer, measuring as you go.

Showing age-old method of transferring measurements from plaster work to marble

Carrera.  Where the marble comes from.  ...that white stuff.

Arrival.  Santa Margherita.  Miramar Hotel.  Cocktail hour while they schlep our bags to our rooms.  Nice!

This will do!

The next morning.