Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Italien

Teatro Romano (Roman Theatre) was built in the late reign of Roman emperor Augustus, some decades after the foundation of the city (25 BC). It was extended two centuries later. The theatre occupies three blocks annexed to the ancient city walls, along the Roman main road structure occupied an area of 81 by 64 meters. One can still identify its semi-circular tiers, the orchestra pit, and the stage wall, which was once raised with decorated columns, marble and statues. The theatre could hold as many as 4.000 spectators. Today the southern façade - perforated by arches and windows - still remains. The wall has a height of 22 meters. The cavea was enclosed in a rectangular-shaped wall including the remaining southern part. This was reinforced by buttresses each 5.5 metres from the other, and included by four orders of arcades which lightened its structure. In the Middle Ages, the original function of the theater was forgotten and different constructions began to grow around it. Their demolition was proposed in 1863 , but the process finally completed between 1933 and 1941.

The Collegiata di Sant'Orso (Collegiate church of Saint Ursus) is dedicated to Saint Ursus of Aosta. The original church - dating back to the 5th century - had a single hall. It was entirely rebuilt in the 11th century, during the Carolingian age. Later the church was further renovated into a basilica plan with three naves with wooden trusses. These were replaced by Gothic cross vaults in the 15th century. The church has a quite simple interior with 11th century Ottonial frescoes and a wooden choir. It is also home to numerous missals and reliquaries, including the relics of Saint Ursus, which rest in the crypt. The Romanesque cloister (PiP3) is another religious building in the Saint Ursus complex. Its construction dates back to the 12th century. The cloister has historiated capitals (PiP4), decorated with fantastic beasts, biblical events and scenes from the life of Saint Ursus himself. 37 of the 42 original capital remains: they were originally in white marble, though now they mostly appear in dark gray color after being washed with ash paint. Opposite the entrance of the collegiate church stands the imposing bell tower (PiP5), 46 meters tall. Originally it was a defense tower dating back to the end of the 10th century. The present structure, in Romanesque style, dates to the 12th century

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta e San Giovanni Battista (Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary and Saint John the Baptist) is the most important and oldest religious building in Aosta. The church was founded at the end of the 4th century, when a Roman complex was converted into a Christian place of worship. At the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, a series of works on the body of the building gave it the appearance it still has today, such as the Renaissance-style façade built between 1522 and 1526, decorated with frescoes and terracotta sculptures. The ïmpressive original structure of the cathedral was modified in the 11th century. The cathedral is rich in art and religious treasures: a precious cycle of 11th-century frescoes that decorate the vault was discovered in 1979, while the interior of the cathedral houses, among other things, a wooden crucifix from 1397, valuable artistic stained glass windows made between 1400 and 1500. The high choir, dominated by a crucifix of the fourteenth century, has thirty wooden stalls dating from 1469. The building dominates the city thanks to its two bell towers, which with 60 meters in height are the tallest buildings in the entire Aosta Valley.

The Arco di Augusto (Arch of Augustus) was erected in 25 BC on the occasion of the victory of Rome over the Gallic tribe, calles the Salassi and founding the new colony. The arch has a single vault, with a height to the keystone of 11,4 meters. Its span is a barrel vault, constituting an extension in width of a round arch, measuring 8,3 meters. The monument, which changed during centuries, consists of a single round arch framed by half-columns and surmounted by Corinthian capitals and crowned by a Doric trabeation. The arch's modern appearance is the result of a final intervention for restoration and consolidation which occurred in 1912. The wooden crucifix displayed below the vault is a copy of the one which was placed there in 1449 as a votive offering against the flooding of the river Buthier, which flows a little to the east. Emperor Augustus name adorns not just the arch, but also the region itself: "Aosta" is a derivative of Augustus.

Aosta is the capital of the Aosta Valley, located at the confluence of the rivers Buthier and Dora Baltea. It was a stronghold of the Salassi, a Celtic tribe that was subdued by the Romans in 25 BC. Augusta Praetoria - a Roman town - was founded there by Emperor Augustus. Aosta was always the most important centre of the Valle d’Aosta and became the regional capital in 1945. Aosta retains the walls, two gates, and the street plan of its Roman predecessor, as well as a triumphal arch in honour of Augustus and remains of the theatre and the amphitheatre. The rectangular street plan, laid out in equal blocks, is an outstanding example of Roman formal city planning. Of later monuments, the cathedral is notable for its treasury and 12th-century floor mosaics, and the collegiate church of S. Orso for its Romanesque cloisters and Gothic choir stalls.

The Cathedral of Saint Martin ( Duomo di San Martino ) is the city’s most important religious building. The current building dates back to 1764 and stands along the main square of the town - Piazza XX Settembre - on the site of the ancient church of San Martino, which was demolished to make way for the new church designed by Domenico Schiavi from Tolmezzo. The facade was completed only in 1931. The interior of the cathedral is well-proportioned with side chapels and a high altar of white marble . The ceiling has three frescoes, dating back to 1764. The side altars are adorned with beautiful 18th century paintings. On the main picture you see the tomb of Saint Hilary (Sant’Ilario), patron Saint of Carnia (a mountain area in Friuli-Venezia Giulia). Every year in August (usually the first Sunday after 15th August the mortal remains of the Saint, will be moved to the little chapel of "Sant'Ilario and Madonna della Strada" outside the center of Tolmezzo. For the entire period in which it remains, usually three days, every evening the holy rosary is recited. After that period, the mortal remains will be move again at the Cathedral with a religious procession and remain exposed for a few days. So we were quite lucky to come across this tomb.

The historically most important church in the area is the parish church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Pontebba. The little chapel - most probably from the 12th century – was rebuilt in gothic styli in 1504 by architect Johann Komauer. A number of changes and additions had been made over the years. The present church - originally San Antonio Chapel - was built in 1697. The highlight of the church is its famous ‘Flügelaltar’ (winged altarpiece). This wonderful wooden altar dates back till 1517, with carved, painted and gilded parts. The altar reproduces the incoronation of the Virgin Mary in the central scene and on the side doors at the front, evangelic scenes. The winged altarpiece has a height of 7,50 meters.

The Basilica della Natività di Maria Santissima (Basilica of the Nativity of Maria Santissima), commonly called “Sanctuary of Vicoforte” is one of the most important churches in Piedmont. The huge complex has its origins in a medieval sanctuary. The story tells that an errant shot by a hunter in the year of 1592 hit a pillar of the Virgin Mary in a shrine that happened to be very important to pilgrims, and he was so repentant that he put down his gun and raised money for the repair of the pillar. In a few years the place became a destination for increasingly frequent pilgrimages. In 1596 Duke Carlo Emanuele I of Savoy who, in 1596, commissioned the construction of a large sanctuary, but was never finished. It was not until 1728 when construction was resumed by architect and engineer Filippo Juvarra. Above the Mannerist sandstone base, the drum was quickly built, and the dome, which was finished in 1732. The basilica has - with more than 6.000 square meters - the largest elliptical cupola in the world, which has major and minor diameters of 36 and 25 meters. The fresco decorations were completed in 1752. During our visit to Vicoforte, the basilica was closed. Unfortunately, we could only see (and photograph) the dome through a gate.

The ‘Dom Mariae Aufnahme in den Himmel und St. Kassian’ (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Cassiano) is the largest church in Brixen, once belonging to the powerful Principality of Brixen, nowadays the diocese of Bolzano-Brixen. Although Bolzano is currently the city of residence of the bishop, the most important church in South Tyrol is still the cathedral in Brixen. The cathedral is dating back to the late 10th century when the main building and its annexes were erected. A fire destroyed the church in 1174. The new Romanesque-gothic building was rebuilt in the baroque style during the period of 1745 to 1755. The cathedral’s two towers are the landmark of the city of Brixen. The interior of the cathedral is a masterpiece of historical and artistic value. Its wide domed nave is decorated with rich marble and stucco. The main altar has a very striking altarpiece, but the decorative highlight is the fresco on the ceiling.

The historically most important church in the area is the parish church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Pontebba. The little chapel - most probably from the 12th century – was rebuilt in gothic styli in 1504 by architect Johann Komauer. A number of changes and additions had been made over the years. The present church - originally San Antonio Chapel - was built in 1697. The highlight of the church is its famous ‘Flügelaltar’ (winged altarpiece). This wonderful wooden altar dates back till 1517, with carved, painted and gilded parts. The altar reproduces the incoronation of the Virgin Mary in the central scene and on the side doors at the front, evangelic scenes. The winged altarpiece has a height of 7,50 meters.

The Sella Group (Gruppo del Sella, Sellagruppe) is a plateau-shaped mountain massif in the Dolomites. It is located in Northern Italy on the border of Trentino-Alto Adige (Trentino-Südtirol) and Veneto. South of the Sella lies the Marmolada Group with the highest mountain of the Dolomites. To the west one has a view of the Lang- and Plattkofel (PiP 4). The highest peak of the Sella Group is the Piz Boè at 3.151 meters above sea level. My pictures were taken at the Pordoi Pass, with an altitude of 2.239 meters, connecting the villages of Arabba with Canazei. From the pass starts a cable car to the Sass Pordoi (2.950 m).

Desenzano - located on the south-western shore of Lake Garda - was already in the past a favourite vacation spot for the élite from Verona. And today it is till a popular Italian holiday destination, which attracts myriad tourists from everywhere in Europe. The peaceful ‘Porto Vecchio (Old Harbour) - already mentioned in 1274 - was expanded in the current configuration at the time of the Venetian Republic in service of the flourishing grain market. The ancient dock overlooks Palazzo Todeschini, with its arches it is dating back to the end of the 16th century. Nowadays little boats are moored in the harbour, which is lined with several cafes, bars and restaurants. The well restored business houses along the ‘Porto Vecchio’ are reminders of a glorious past of Desenzano del Garda.

The ‘Dom Mariae Aufnahme in den Himmel und St. Kassian’ (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Cassiano) is the largest church in Brixen, once belonging to the powerful Principality of Brixen, nowadays the diocese of Bolzano-Brixen. Although Bolzano is currently the city of residence of the bishop, the most important church in South Tyrol is still the cathedral in Brixen. The cathedral is dating back to the late 10th century when the main building and its annexes were erected. A fire destroyed the church in 1174. The new romanesque-gothic building was rebuilt in the baroque style during the period of 1745 to 1755. The cathedral’s two towers (PiP 1) are the landmark of the city of Brixen. The interior of the cathedral is a masterpiece of historical and artistic value. Its wide domed nave is decorated with rich marble and stucco (PiP 2). The main altar has a very striking altarpiece (PiP 3), but the decorative highlight is the fresco on the ceiling.

In the 19th century Lake Maggiore was discovered by English travelers, who built beautiful summer residences along the lake; among others also the well-known Villa Taranto with 16 hectares of gardens. The botanical gardens surrounding the Villa Taranto were created between 1931 and 1940 by the Scottish captain Neil McEacharn. He bought an existing villa and its neighboring estates, cut down more than 2.000 trees, and undertook substantial changes to the landscape, including the addition of major water features. Today the gardens contain nearly 20.000 plant varieties, representing more than 3.000 species, set among 7 km of paths. With some 150.000 visitors yearly it is the biggest tourist attraction in the area.

Reschensee (Lake Reschen) is an artificial lake in South Tyrol. It is located in the triangle between Italy, Austria and Switzerland, a couple of km’s from the Reschen Pass on the border of Austria. Reschensee is an artificial lake, which unifies two natural lakes (Reschensee and Mittersee). Construction of the dam started in 1940 and took ten years. The lake submerged a couple of villages. The landmark of the reschensee is the steeple of the former 14th century village church of Graun (see PiP). On the right hand side of the mountain range you see the Piz Lad, a 2808 meter high peak nearby the so called “Dreiländerecke” (Corner of three countries).

Langkofel/Sassolungo (left) and Plattkofel/Sassopiatto (right) seen from the Goldknopfsee (Lake Goldknopf), nearby the Edelweißhütte. The amazing peaks of 3.181 m. and 2.969 m. are towering above the Seiseralm. The Goldknopsee is an artificial lake, which was constructed in 2003, storing water to feed snowmaking equipment and is also intended as a water reservoir for possible fires. I made this image late September from the Seiseralm, most probably after the first snowfall in the Dolomites.

The Schlern (Monte Sciliar) is one of the most well known landmarks of the Dolomites and South Tyrol. It is famous due to its location as westernmost bastion of the Dolomites and the two peaks - Santner Spitze and Euringer Spitze - in front of the mountain massif. The Schlern has a height of 2.563 meters and is a long stretched plateau, which drops vertically on almost all sides. Its unique location and characteristic profile makes it a very recognizable mountain. I took this image late September from the Seiseralm, most probably after the first snowfall in the Dolomites.