DAYS 58 & 59 - RAINDROPS Keep Fallin' On My Head...(Part 2)

May 16 & 17 - Vicenza.....Walkin' Thru the Ole Town

We wanted to stay in Venice (doesn't everyone?), but were so glad when we were accepted by Teresa and her family for Vicenza.  They live very close to the old town and although it rained most of the time, we didn't care.  It was a lovely time, packed with history.

We saw sand bags throughout the city, protecting the places from potential flooding.

Doesn't look good!

 It did clear up, though and thank goodness, the flooding was held to a bare minimum.  (Side note:  there were several other places we visited later, however, who weren't so lucky and had terrible flooding - Prague for example - such a shame.)

 

Verona is close by, but we were not able to find the time to visit.  :(  These windows are similar with their "Romeo, Romeo...wherefore art thou Romeo" windows.  These are found everywhere throughout Europe.  So ROMANTIC!!

I find it amusing to see the mask-type characters in the architecture in so many places.

It's imperative that you look UP because the best architecture is high above you on the facades and on top of the roofs.

We're still singin' in the rain.

There is a fountain in every city...

...and there is a statue or more in every city.

 

... with at least one gate TO the city

The Teatro Olimpico ("Olympic Theatre") is a theatre in Vicenza, constructed in 1580-1585. The theatre was the final design by the Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and was not completed until after his death. The trompe-l'œil onstage scenery, designed by Vicenzo Scamozzi, to give the appearance of long streets receding to a distant horizon, was installed in 1585 for the very first performance held in the theatre, and is the oldest surviving stage set still in existence.

The large arch in the center is known as the porta regia or "royal arch".

We ended up not going inside the Theatre, but spent some time enjoying the gardens in the entrance.  My imaginative mind began to unravel.

"Come, put your mask away and just be yourself...You're very beautiful you know."

"I'm pretty sure I was this goddess in my former life - notice the cheek line.  I don't go around topless, however...humpf!"

 WELCOME to Parapalegic Island:

"HELP!  Give me a leg up here!"

"Alms for the poor...."

"You would be in bad shape, too, if you'd been around for nearly 500 years!" 

"I'm just GREEN with envy that you're walking around out there and I have to stand here in just one place."

"Sorry...I ran out of water a LONG time ago - All I have now is a quiet roarrrr."

 Back into the streets and the rain has lifted for the time being.

Window display with LOTS of YUMMY Italian cuisine

Always looking UP

...and UP!

And lastly comes the gate OUT of the city.

There's the way back home again.