Only “toast” in Italy means a lovely little pannini made with white sandwich bread, a thin slice of cheese, and a thin slice of ham, all toasted. OMG, toast should always be this good!
One bite and you can tell this lunch is going to be heavenly.
In cantina at Palazzo Madama in Torino.
I’ve been fortunate to be in some great spaces throughout my lifetime. But, without question, this is the prettiest room I’ve ever been in!
This is a ballroom in the Royal Palace of Venaria, outside Turin, Italy. The Palace was used originally as a hunting lodge for the royals of the House of Savoy. Over the centuries, the palace has had many uses, even being used as barracks during the nineteenth century and then abandoned. In 2007 the Venaria was restored and is now one of the main attractions of Turin.
Through the French doors and windows that run along the two main sides of the room, you can view the formal gardens that were planted during the restoration project in 2007. The gardens are still young, but one can see how lovely it will be when the plantings are mature.
The Venaria is a gorgeous place to visit. Amazing to think that a decade ago it was still abandoned!
Art work under restoration. These scenes always fascinate me:
A nice royal throne below:
As seen in Turin. Just so darn cute!
One of the most enticing museum exhibitions I’ve ever seen was in the Palazzo Madama in Turin last summer. Here’s the explanatory label, thoughtfully provided in English as well as Italian, French, German, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. Those Italians know how to appeal to a broad range of visitors!
The exhibition was staged in one of the most gorgeous ballrooms I’ve ever been in.
See what I mean? Gorgeous.
My pictures don’t come near capturing the loveliness of the exhibition. Glass is so ephemeral and hard to photograph. But, here they are:
I’m only sorry it took me 10 months to find my photos! Cheers, tutti!
…is absolutely a joy forever. To paraphrase John Keats.
This Murano blown glass vase takes the cake for beauty. I believe it was the single most beautiful object I saw in 2015! And it was in Torino.
The architecture!
The Italian flag through a palazzo window.
The River Po and the esplanades on the two banks!
The churches and piazzas!
The lovely streets and covered arcades!
The goth wedding cake in a bakery window! Can you make out the skull on top?
The beautiful wedding gown next to the bizarre cake!
My home for the Turin summer.
The leafy street I lived on. Follow this street about 3 more blocks and you are at the Po. The Valentina Park is on the right side.
The internet frustrations in my flat and how I kept cool (or tried to).
My doorbell. Can you find my apartment bell? Neither could I!
Palazzo Reale. Gorgeous.
The amazing art collections in stupendous museums!
My summer in Turin is one I will never forget, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Mostly it was good.
Finding photographs you forgot you took on a memory card. Love that!
Here are some great shots from beautiful Torino from last summer!
Torino is a very pretty place! It was hot last summer, though. I’ll never forget the heat and sweating!
I spent last July living in Torino, Italy, getting to know the city, its monuments and museums and, of course, its shopping.
In the beautiful arcades that line the city center boulevards, I was delighted to follow this small girl, her balloons and her mother for a while. These are just some random shots I took of the moment. We were strolling up the Via Roma.
Ciao bambina! Have fun with those balloons!
In the Archeological Museum in Turin is this Roman sarcophagus. It might just be me, but I swear this looks like a young Barack Obama.
His mate in the sculpture does not look like Michelle Obama though. So, maybe it is his ancestors from the Roman period. Everybody’s got them!
get back, lauretta! 
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