FACES OF THE QUINTANA

By Larry & Arlene on Aug 19, 2018 in Blog, Portfolio | 12 comments

The Quintana is a spectacular event in any number of considerations. It has been produced by the community of Ascoli Piceno and the surrounding towns, for over sixty years. It is said to be based on the contests held in Imperial Roman Army encampments to encourage prowess and solidarity. The costumes are based on Renaissance depictions in the paintings of the fifteenth century artist, Carlo Crivelli, who painted in Ascoli. The principal events climax during the last weeks of July and then into the first week of August. The community of Ascoli Piceno itself is composed of six distinct districts, the Sestieri, each fiercely holding on to its own identity. There are contests in choreographed flag tossing (Sbandieterri), Archery and the main event the Giostra, or Joust, where a mounted horsemen engages a stationary target with a lance and competes in both time completing the circuit and the score of the hits on the target. There are two engagements of the Giostra. One is in late July and the second in the first week of August. Prior to these climactic events, there is a grand procession through Ascoli Piceno of the Sestieri that includes contingents from the surrounding communities that were in reality the castles of lesser nobles who owed fealty to the Lord of the Castle of Ascoli Piceno. In recent years, we have enjoyed going into the Piazza where the procession gathers to form up prior to marching off in solemn procession through the city center. We find the atmosphere full of enthusiastic anticipation and it permits me the luxury of freely wandering through the crowd and photographing these costumed and exceptional people at closer range. What follows are some images of the procession and for the most part, the participants in that more relaxed time in the Piazza before the procession begins. The images presented are actually drawn from several of the proceeding Quintana reenactments. The demonstration of community cohesiveness by the participation of over 1,500 volunteers is one more example of an Italian sense of pride of place....

This year, we celebrated Arlene’s birthday in January by enjoying an extended weekend in Paris. We flew from Rome to Paris-Orly and stayed in a small hotel footsteps off the Rue Cler in the 7th.  The atmosphere was traditional Parisian residential with specialty food shops, cafe’s, small restaurants plus a short walk to the Eiffel Tower.  January in Paris is bound to be ‘seasonal’ but the over riding benefit is being tourist low season.  Paris is an under two hour flight from Rome and budget air connections make the wonderful experience very attractive. Gran Palais and Champs Elyseess Eiffel Tower in the clouds Eiffel Tower from Champs de Mars Eiffel Tower and birthday celebrant Eiffel Tower base Louvre pyramids at damp dusk Louvre pyramid stair Louvre pyramid stair study From Louvre pyramid – old plus the new Louvre pyramid entrance La Gioconda behind bullet proof glass Picasso at the Louvre Venus d’ Milo Diana the huntress Psyche and Cupid Louvre interior Notre Dame Notre Dame Interior Notre Dame Rose Window Notre Dame nativity Notre Dame Nativity Nativity detail Notre Dame exterior nativity Paris restaurant nativity San Sulpice Altar San Sulpice Sunday organ concert San Sulpice organ Rue Cler Cheese vendor Sunday bird market Sunday bird market...

Gaudi Park Geuel Project Barcelona from Park Geuel Park Geuel Entrance Park Sculpture Park Sculpture Park Passageway Park Apartment Structure Gaudi Residence Gaudi Garden Sculpture Gaudi Garden Sculpture Gaudi La Pedrera Building La Pedrera Exterior La Pedrera Courtyard La Pedrera Staircase La Pedrera Staircase La Pedrera Apartment Hall La Pedrera Apartment Study La Pedrera Apartment Window La Pedrera Apartment Dining Room La Pedrera Bathroom Bathroom Accessory La Pedrera Attic Roof Arches La Pedrera Roof Supports La Pedrera Roof Vents and Chimneys La Pedrera Roof Vents La Pedrera Roof Line Gaudi Loveseat Gaudi Settee Gaudi Chair Picasso Museum Stairs 4 Cats Restaurant – Picasso 4 Cats Restaurant 4 Cats Restaurant Interior Royal Palace Square Entrance Royal Palace Square Main Market...

Basilica East Facade East Towers East Towers East Facade Detail Crucifixion Detail Exterior Sculptures Exterior Sculptures Basilica Nave Basilica Interior Basilica Interior Basilica Interior Basilica Interior Basilica Stained Glass Basilica Ceiling Basilica Nave Toward Altar Basilica Altar and Crucifix Crucifix Detail Basilica Interior Basilica Organ Pipes Basilica Tower Stairway Basilica Tower Interior Basilica Workman Basilica Workman Basilica Workman Basilica Tower...

Toledo, Spain Toledo Cathedral Toledo Cathedral Nave Toledo Cathedral Choir and Ceiling Toledo Cathedral Choir Toledo Cloister Toledo Cloister Toledo Synagogue Constructed By Moor-Islamic Craftsman Toledo Town Wall Gate Seville Cathedral Giralda Tower From Royal Palace Carriage Entrance Seville Giralda Tower Seville Cathedral – Night Seville Cathedral Gothic Detail Seville Cathedral Gothic Detail Seville Cathedral Side Isle Seville Cathedral Side Isle Seville Cathedral Transept Seville Cathedral Transept Seville Cathedral Choir Seville Cathedral High Altar Tomb- Christopher Columbus Plaza of Spain Plaza of Spain Tower of Gold on the Guadalupe River Triana Bridge Triana Bridge Detail Guadalupe River...

The Alhambra in Granada Alhambra from Generalife Palace from Generalife Nasrid Sultan’s Palace Courtyard Nasrid Palace Portico Moorish Arches Archway to the Courtyard Sultan’s Palace Entrance Hareem above a palace entrance Sultan’s Palace Interior Decorative Entrances Nasrid Archway Toward Alhambra from Generalife From Alhambra toward Abyazin Moorish Quarter Alhambra wall tower Alhambra Wall Alhambra wall at night Alhambra Gate Sultan’s Summer Palace Seville – Real Alcazar Wall Real Alcazar – Royal Palace Place Wall Entrance To Royal Palace Courtyard Palace Interior Courtyard Moorish-style courtyard Palace courtyard Courtyard portico To the King’s private garden Palace Interior Courtyard Palace stairway Moorish ceiling tiles Visiting...

Trieste, Italy – Hotel View Trieste – Grand Canal Trieste – Grand Piazza Arlene Giving Joyce Encouragement Beauty and Bronze Nova Gorica, Slovenia Station Slovenian Rail Vintage Train On Slovenian Rail At Lake Bled, Slovenia Lake Bled Flat Bottom Boat Lake Bled Transportation Oarsman Underway St. Peter’s Church, Bled Church at Night Bled Castle above the lake Slovenian Hay Drying Rack In the Slovenian Julian Alps Julian Alps Castle Julian Alpine Valley Alpine Crests Toward Slovenian-Austrian Border Alpine Slopes High Alpine meadow Alpine Farm Headwater of Soca River Alpine Sport Training Complex Ljubljana, Slovenia Ljubljana toward castle Ljubljana River and Castle Ljubljana Square Ljubljana City Center City Center at dusk Ljubljana Castle Ljubljana Castle Roof Line Ljubljana Castle Courtyard Courtyard at night Ljubljana from Castle From Castle toward our apartment Toward our apartment Apartment- Top floor More planning underway On the street where we lived Our street at night The three bridges Spanish Orchestra Concert Square at night City Hall Square City Hall Courtyard Ethnic street musician Impromptu practice Street jazz combo In the groove Visiting Italians Bridge sculpture Bronze sculpture Bronze sculpture At the Dragon Bridge At the Dragon Bridge Urban courtyard Ljubljana River walk River walk cafes Ljubljana Open Market Market food stall Local favorite preparation Food preparation Flower stall Flower stall Fresh fruit stand Shopping Shopping Ready to party Street wedding celebration Bride partying A bride’s assist Wine and Ljubljana At the three bridges Three bridges at sunset From the river Ljubljana at night Dusk on the...

Ta da! The star of the show. Thanksgiving 2015 Olive crew-Gina & Grace (missing Mariella) Olive all’ Ascolana Piazza del Popolo Tree, Piazza Arringo Christmas Market, Arringo Fountain, Arringo Side street decorations Expat luncheon Holiday...