On January 27, 1945, the Soviet troops entered the extermination camp in Auschwitz and discovered the horrors of the Holocaust of the Jews. Since that day, January 27 is celebrated as the “Day of Remembrance”. In Milan, after 68 years, a new museum was opened : “Track 21”, to commemorate the place where, between 1943 and 1945, many Jewish Italians left for the deportation.
This is a tribute to remember that date. In order not only to remember the extermination of the Jews, but also to all genocides that are perpetrated by anyone. So that we can say once and for all: “NEVER AGAIN”.
If you go into the church of St. Satyr in Milan, it seems that, behind the altar, there is a large space, a deep and regular apse, well complemented by columns and decorations.
But It’s not true at all: it is just an optical illusion!
You need to get really close to the altar, to realize it is a pictured perspective, only 97 cm deep, hoped to replace the planned apse, which could not be realized because of lack of space.
In short, the apse you suppose to see behind, in reality does not exist.
The creator of this wonder, is one of italian greatest architects, Donato Bramante, in 1482.
One of most precious piece of art in Milan Cathedral, is the sculpture of St. Bartholomew, by Marco D’Agrate, made around 1562 and placed in the right transept of the Cathedral.
St. Bartholomew was condemned to one of most cruel and inhuman execution: the Syrian martyrdom. That is being skinned alive and then beheaded.
The statue depictes the saint flayed with the Bible in hand. The masterpiece is characterized by fine precision anatomical with which the human body is rendered devoid of skin, with the skin thrown like a stole on the shoulders and body of the martyr.
The sculptor, with not too much modesty, signed it on the bottom of the statue. “NON ME PRAXITELES SED MARCO FINXIT AGRAT.” (“I was not sculpted by Praxiteles, but by Marco d’Agrate”).
With its 231 meters high the “Unicredit Tower ” is the tallest building in Italy. The complex, designed by architect César Pelli (the same of “Petronas Towers” in Kuala Lumpur), is composed of a series of eco-friendly buildings arranged around a circular plaza, formerly called the “Podium” and, since December 2012, the Plaza “GAE AULENTI”, in honor of the famous italian architect.
The three buildings are arranged in a semicircle around it, rising at several levels:
1. Tower Unicredit, has 35 floors and is 231 meters high, standing as the highest Italian building (the building has about 146 meters, plus 85 of the spire).
2. The Tower B, has 22 floors in about 100 feet high.
3. The Tower C, has 11 floors and is about 50 meters high.
The new Plaza GAE AULENTI with circular diameter of 100 meters and 6 meters elevated from street level, is running among the skyscrapers designed by Cesar Pelli.
It ‘s already become a destination for families of Milan, thanks to various social and cultural initiatives. The square is a link between Corso Como and the Isola neighborhood, so that comes from its historical “isolation.”
The Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront is a monument of the city of Venice. It is located in the “Castello” district and extends along the Bacino of St. Mark’s Square in the stretch from the Paglia Bridge on the Rio di Palazzo, near the Doge’s Palace to the Rio of Ca ‘of God.
Dating back to IX century, the bank takes its name from the merchants from Dalmatia, who at the time of the Venetian Republic was also called “Slavonia” (Land of Slaves) and landed here with their merchant ships and they also had their market stalls. The bank was in fact an integral part of the commercial port of Venice and took on a considerable importance due to its proximity to St. Mark’s Square and the center of political power in Venice.
In Cairate, a small town in the north of Italy, there is an amazing example of industrial archaeology: the paper factory “Vita Mayer”.
In the period of its maximum expansion in the ’50, more than 2,400 people produced 80,000 tons of paper per year and up to six daily trains directly entered into, due to a small railway station built inside the factory.
In the early ’70, a hard crisis began, due to competition from Eastern countries and lack of woods. In 1976 the railway was closed, because it was’t profitable anymore.
After a hard flooding, the factory was definitely closed.
Today, the “Vita Mayer paper factory” is one of the biggest dismissed industrial area in north Italy.
The Vucciria of Palermo is best known for its market, one of the must see places if you look for something picturesque, lively and typical. In fact, the market is set in a hidden position on a little square surrounded by tortuous lanes full of shops.
matteofini 