Maschio Angioino - Continued!

Alas, I've concluded that I do indeed dwell in a barbarian nation.  While the rest of the nation used the Royal Wedding as an excuse for a grand old knees-up, the City of Glasgow commemorated the event by a drunken riot in Kelvingrove Park.  It wasn't the fault of the authorities:  what began as an unofficial 'celebration' eventually degenerated into a drink-fuelled fight wi' the polis.

Some things never change, then...

I avoided the wedding.  I was working (bah, humbug). 

I suppose Scotland gets the castles it deserves.  When I look at the Maschio Angioino, I can't help thinking of Linlithgow Palace.  Which fell down in the early 16th century when investment in its fabric ceased.  James VI had moved south to England, you see, and couldn't be bothered with the 'Auld Country'. 

I'm sure Scotland's late 15th century Renaissance Kings, James III and James IV, created residences in their time that rivalled Alphonso I's work at Naples.  Recent restorations at Stirling Castle have helped to illustrate just how magnificent Scotland's Renaissance past actually was, but what survives is just a pale shadow of what must have been here originally. 

Enough of the lamentations.  Here's some more views of the Maschio Angioino.  When you step into the courtyard, the interior is both grand and imposing:-

 

It's reminiscent of our 16th century palaces and big castles (like Caerlaverock, in Dumfries and Galloway) only on a bigger scale, and in a much state of preservation.  Though perhaps this is due as much to the favourable climate as to predation from the locals....

It's the details that really caught my eye, though.  THAT triumphal arch is a bit of a naff and tasteless addition to an austere medieval structure, perhaps, but it has some rather lovely touches.  And they scream out 'LATE MEDIEVAL!!!' in no uncertain terms, despite the Classical flavour of the triumphal arch itself.  Here's a carved stone panel:-

 

And the magnificent bronze doors, which have been damaged by artillery fire (while the castle was under seige, the French defenders allegedly accidentally fired a cannon, the shot from which is still embedded in the door).  This is a copy: the orginal doors are now held inside the castle itself, but this proved to be the better picture:-

 

Being a sucker for medieval knights, I particularly like these armoured figures with their splendidly caprisoned horses...

My helpful sourcebook for these posts, Naples: The Gold Guide, by Faiella, P, Pirozzi, A and Zaccaria, M (Bonechi, 2010) reveals a rather strange story about the castle:-

'The castle is surrounded by a long deep moat which used to be covered by the sea.  It is said that many prisoners were thrown into the moat where their bodies mysteriously disappeared.  After a series of inspections, a hole was discovered through which a crocodile used to enter the moat and devour the bodies of the unfortunate victims.  The huge reptile was killed and stuffed, and hung above one of the castle doorways where it remained until the mid-19th century.' (Faiella et. al. 2010, 29).

Nice.  James V had a lion at Stirling, and the Tower of London was famous for its zoo.  But I can't think of any castle in the UK which had its own reptilian waste disposal service in residence.  It would certainly have been a handy addition for any of the tinpot tyrants resident in south-west Scotland in the late medieval period...

So...  Unlike Scottish castles, Neopolitan castles have crocodiles.  They also have frescoes.  Just to prove it, here's a picture of one, located just inside the main entrance:-

 

Yes, I think I'm suffering from a severe case of castle envy... 
 

Maschio Angioino - Continued!

Alas, I've concluded that I do indeed dwell in a barbarian nation.  While the rest of the nation used the Royal Wedding as an excuse for a grand old knees-up, the City of Glasgow commemorated the event by a drunken riot in Kelvingrove Park.  It wasn't the fault of the authorities:  what began as an unofficial 'celebration' eventually degenerated into a drink-fuelled fight wi' the polis.

Some things never change, then...

I avoided the wedding.  I was working (bah, humbug). 

I suppose Scotland gets the castles it deserves.  When I look at the Maschio Angioino, I can't help thinking of Linlithgow Palace.  Which fell down in the early 16th century when investment in its fabric ceased.  James VI had moved south to England, you see, and couldn't be bothered with the 'Auld Country'. 

I'm sure Scotland's late 15th century Renaissance Kings, James III and James IV, created residences in their time that rivalled Alphonso I's work at Naples.  Recent restorations at Stirling Castle have helped to illustrate just how magnificent Scotland's Renaissance past actually was, but what survives is just a pale shadow of what must have been here originally. 

Enough of the lamentations.  Here's some more views of the Maschio Angioino.  When you step into the courtyard, the interior is both grand and imposing:-

 

It's reminiscent of our 16th century palaces and big castles (like Caerlaverock, in Dumfries and Galloway) only on a bigger scale, and in a much state of preservation.  Though perhaps this is due as much to the favourable climate as to predation from the locals....

It's the details that really caught my eye, though.  THAT triumphal arch is a bit of a naff and tasteless addition to an austere medieval structure, perhaps, but it has some rather lovely touches.  And they scream out 'LATE MEDIEVAL!!!' in no uncertain terms, despite the Classical flavour of the triumphal arch itself.  Here's a carved stone panel:-

 

And the magnificent bronze doors, which have been damaged by artillery fire (while the castle was under seige, the French defenders allegedly accidentally fired a cannon, the shot from which is still embedded in the door).  This is a copy: the orginal doors are now held inside the castle itself, but this proved to be the better picture:-

 

Being a sucker for medieval knights, I particularly like these armoured figures with their splendidly caprisoned horses...

My helpful sourcebook for these posts, Naples: The Gold Guide, by Faiella, P, Pirozzi, A and Zaccaria, M (Bonechi, 2010) reveals a rather strange story about the castle:-

'The castle is surrounded by a long deep moat which used to be covered by the sea.  It is said that many prisoners were thrown into the moat where their bodies mysteriously disappeared.  After a series of inspections, a hole was discovered through which a crocodile used to enter the moat and devour the bodies of the unfortunate victims.  The huge reptile was killed and stuffed, and hung above one of the castle doorways where it remained until the mid-19th century.' (Faiella et. al. 2010, 29).

Nice.  James V had a lion at Stirling, and the Tower of London was famous for its zoo.  But I can't think of any castle in the UK which had its own reptilian waste disposal service in residence.  It would certainly have been a handy addition for any of the tinpot tyrants resident in south-west Scotland in the late medieval period...

So...  Unlike Scottish castles, Neopolitan castles have crocodiles.  They also have frescoes.  Just to prove it, here's a picture of one, located just inside the main entrance:-

 

Yes, I think I'm suffering from a severe case of castle envy... 
 

Garden Update - End of April, 2011

I'm glad to be home, because everything's going great guns in the garden.  And we're in the middle of a dry spell, so I'm running around like a mad thing, watering everything in sight.

I went to a garden centre today, and bought 18 small patio & container plants - fuschia, nemesia, bacopa and verbena.  These will complement my existing plants, which mainly consist of petunia, surfinia and the like, plus the odd geranium, nicely.  So I'm all set to put together this year's pots and containers, with seven begonia already potted up (NB:  I said this last year, and I'll say it again.  If you've never stuck your nose into a nemesia before, try it.  The perfume is exquisite.).  Once everything's hardened off properly, the work on transforming the patio can begin in earnest.

I didn't get around to photographing the blue cammasia this year, which is a shame.  But there's always this year.  I had to post some photos of this year's tulip crop, though, as it might not be as good next year:-

The tree paeony has flowered at last, and it's lovely!  A brilliant cerise colour:-
 

Not bad for a fiver on special offer from Thomson & Morgan... 

The second tree paeony is also in bud, and I'm hoping it's a different colour.  But since it also came from T & M on special offer (though in a different year), chances are it's the same.  Anyway, I just had to post it!!

Here's the general view of the back garden, which is still - as ever - a work in progress:-
 

 

As for the petunia I've been growing on...  They're the best ones ever, I think!!  Putting the capilliary matting under the peat pots on the tray and having a constant supply of water available to the plantlets seems to have made them come on a treat.

 

Garden Update - End of April, 2011

I'm glad to be home, because everything's going great guns in the garden.  And we're in the middle of a dry spell, so I'm running around like a mad thing, watering everything in sight.

I went to a garden centre today, and bought 18 small patio & container plants - fuschia, nemesia, bacopa and verbena.  These will complement my existing plants, which mainly consist of petunia, surfinia and the like, plus the odd geranium, nicely.  So I'm all set to put together this year's pots and containers, with seven begonia already potted up (NB:  I said this last year, and I'll say it again.  If you've never stuck your nose into a nemesia before, try it.  The perfume is exquisite.).  Once everything's hardened off properly, the work on transforming the patio can begin in earnest.

I didn't get around to photographing the blue cammasia this year, which is a shame.  But there's always this year.  I had to post some photos of this year's tulip crop, though, as it might not be as good next year:-

The tree paeony has flowered at last, and it's lovely!  A brilliant cerise colour:-
 

Not bad for a fiver on special offer from Thomson & Morgan... 

The second tree paeony is also in bud, and I'm hoping it's a different colour.  But since it also came from T & M on special offer (though in a different year), chances are it's the same.  Anyway, I just had to post it!!

Here's the general view of the back garden, which is still - as ever - a work in progress:-
 

 

As for the petunia I've been growing on...  They're the best ones ever, I think!!  Putting the capilliary matting under the peat pots on the tray and having a constant supply of water available to the plantlets seems to have made them come on a treat.