St Michaels & All Angels Church, Great Witley, Worcestershire.

Exterior with dome and clock

From the outside Whitley church doesn't really look all that special. It seems very much to be in keeping with the house, but the gold dome and clock, although beautiful, don't scream special.

Inside is a different story. The church was built with the monies and ideas of the Foley family, and so it much more so than the old photographs, highlights just how sad the lost of their home to the fire was. It must have been just as beautiful.

The church has one of the countries, if not the worlds, finest 18th century interiors. These photographs only hint at the great beauty. Everything is so ornate, a delightful mix of Baroque and Rococo styles. The work has been done by some of the finest artisans of the time, in every case. Paintings, carvings, glass, nothing has been scrimped on. The Foley family certainly had style and an eye for beauty.

The alter view

 The painted panels are by the great painter Antonio Bellucci.
The ornate wooden pulpit was the work of the sculptor James Forsyth, whilst the magnificent marble font is the work of his brother William Forsyth, and are my particular favourite. Between then the lectern and all the pews were carved.

Main fresco

Pulpit detail

One of the marble angels supporting the font

Foley family memorial

The many stained glass windows were the work of Joshua Price, who worked on them between 1718 and 1721, and they are considered to be the best collection of his work in existence.

The influence of the great tour may never have borne quite so much fruit anywhere else, bar the once great home, unfortunately lost to fire.

Small fresco detail

One of the stained glass windows

View from alter, showing font, ornate organ and balconies

View from one of the balconies

Volterra, Easter Parade, Italy.

Volterra was originally an ancient Etruscan settlement called Velathri. It is situated in an elevated position in some of the most picturesque countryside in Italy, and much of it's ancient city walls and gates still survive.

It was on the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday that I visited it in 2011. On that day each year there is a parade, with musicians and folk dressed in historic costume. I did take pictures, but they are on a memory card I have misplaced.

Roof detail in Guarnacci Museum

We visited the Guarnacci Museum, which features many alabaster works of art. There are other museums in the town, and an art gallery also. The area is famous for its alabaster, sourced locally and there are many workshops and bargain sculptures and pieces can be bought in the many specialist gift shops.

Garden with Wistria flowering as seen from city walls

Also well worth a visit is the Piazza dei Priori, with it's Palace designed by Maestro Riccardo in 1239. The lions on it were added later in 1472 when the building became the local court, and seat to the Captain of Justice.

Volterra is also the place I enjoyed the best Italian meal I have ever eaten. It was in a little cafe, which had a shop selling pasta and oils, a covered area for eating in on the narrow street and a boar's head over the stores door. Try and find it if you ever visit.

Pisa, Field of Miracles, Italy.

Cemetary

Duomo as viewed from Baptistry window

Leaning Tower of Pisa

 Still snowed in, and thinking about summer sun and holidays.

Possibly the best tourist attraction in the world is, in my mind, the Field of Miracles in Pisa. Normally when you visit these places you have heard about and seen on tv they never live up to the hype. Pisa, and the Leaning Tower, and the Field of Miracles where the tower is,  is the opposite. It was so staggeringly beautiful that I actually cried.

Every aspect of the buildings in the Field of Miracles is so intricate and ornate. The doors as you enter the duomo in particular were striking. In one of the panals you see the devil being cast out of heaven, and his wings are so detailed and real looking you expect them to be soft to touch.

If you ever get the chance to visit Pisa do spend at least one day just in the Field of Miracles.

Miracle Mosaic insida Pisa Duomo

Pulpit detail

Romulus and Remus statue