Tag Archives: europe

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Spain, Photographs: Travel

Plaza de España Entry

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Playa de España Entry
“Plaza
”Plaza de España Entry” — An entry to the Plaza de España, Sevilla.

Sevilla (or “Seville,” in English) is one of the most magical and pleasant cities we visited in Spain during the summer of 2023. We stayed in the old part of the town, not far from the Catedral de Sevilla, and our hotel was on a street barely wide enough for people to pass one another. There was so much to see nearby that we restricted our visit to places to which we could walk. And one of those walks took us to the Maria Luisa Park and the Plaza de España.

The Plaza de España features a large central plaza backed by an impressive curved building that was constructed for an International Exposition a century ago. The photograph is just inside an entrance near the south tower of the structure, and the forms and beautiful light spoke to my fascination with those subjects.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Artigiano in Orvieto

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Artigiano in Orvieto
“Artigiano in Orvieto” — Il Mago di Oz, a spectacular and spectacularly unique shop on a side street in Orvieto, Italy.

We had heard about this shop/experience before we arrived in Orvieto, but I think it might have slipped our minds. But as we wandered around some back streets, there it was. Unfortunately, “Oz” was closed when we passed by, so I had to content myself with looking through the window.

It seems to me that these little shops, where someone indulges their particular fantasy without limits, are common in European towns. We knew of one in Heidelberg — maybe more than one — and I’ve seen and photographed a few others in different cities. It is hard to say exactly when a proprietor’s personal obsessions go beyond mere eccentric interest and to another place entirely, but I think this one “goes there.”

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Travel

Duomo di Siena

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Duomo di Siena
“Duomo di Siena” — An overhead interior view of the Duomo di Siena.

Here is another photograph made from the upper levels of the Duomo di Siena, or Siena Cathedral. In this case we signed up for an early morning tour that took us way up to the roof of the building and listed a number of rooms and passageways that you wouldn’t know about by visiting the main floor. At times we had incredible views of the surrounding city and countryside, and at other points we got unusual and striking views inside the church itself. I made this photograph through a narrow opening as we crossed between the two sides of the duomo.

As with all such cathedrals, it is worth pondering how their architecture and interior additions must have seemed almost incomprehensible to people when they were constructed. Today we put up much large buildings in a year or a few, but then it took decades or even centuries. Even more remarkable, at one point at even larger cathedral was planned and initial construction begun — and it that version the space in this photograph would have been merely the width of the church, not its length.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Photographs: Europe, Photographs: Italy, Photographs: Travel, Photographs: Urban/Street

Bar Tabacchi, Citta’ di Fiesole

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Bar Tabacchi, Citta' di Fiesole
“Bar Tabacchi, Citta’ di Fiesole” — A the entrance to a small business at a bend in the road in Feisole, Italy.

Fiesole is a small town in the hills above Florence. It is apparently known for its elevated views of Florence and for its Etruscan and Roman amphitheater — which we did not visit. (From all appearances, it is a place for contemporary concerts and festivals.) We went because friends had suggested it, because of the prospects of the view, and because we like to occasionally get out of major cities, especially when we are there for a longer period of time, as was the case in Florence.

So we hopped on a bus near the Florence train station and were soon traveling through parts of Florence that do not look at all like the historic and popular center of the city. Before long the route ascended into the hills, becoming steep in places as we approached Fiesole. We spent a few hours wandering this quiet place and admiring the town and its broad vista over Florence.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

Blog | About | Instagram | Flickr | Facebook | Threads | Post | Email

Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others as indicated. Any use requires advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.