Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Thursday 13 - #27!



Back at the start of December the cutie went off to Milan and I went to the New York Small Press & Independent Press Book Fair. It was a wonderful fair, met some truly interesting people, but I knew I would've enjoyed a new adventure with the cutie as well. So, when he had to make the trip again, I went along and what a wonderful hotel he found - and not two blocks away from where he was working. Let me share some of my favorite bits of the Villa Torretta in Parc Nord, Milan.


No, I didn't take this picture, it was dark when I finally thought about doing it. Oh, I guess I should give you a little background on the hotel. It's a renovated 15th century villa that was going to be torn down until they decided it was a true gem inside, because under all the years of white wash and wallpaper were the original frescoes.

The cutie and I were up every morning to eat breakfast together and there were two ways down the hallways from our room to the restaurant.

1.

Downstairs, along the outside hallway and then back upstairs [this is the view of the picture above], or down the hallway from our room. This took us through:

2.

a sitting room,

3.

another sitting room,

4.

a ballroom,

5.

and another ballroom with a coffered ceiling painted with birds,

6.

and into the hallway where the buffet was set up.

7.

And of course I'd enjoy a cioccolata [I could spend another post on this alone, it was gorgeous, thick but not sweet] in one of 3 rooms.

8.

9.

10.

Other highlights in the Villa are:

11.

This is the Torretta Belevedere, which takes some interesting twists and turns to get up to, but it's worth it. I'd bring my laptop up here and get some writing done - yeah, I know, deadlines are deadlines.

12.

This is just one example of how interesting the structure is. The picture is looking down from the 5th floor to the 3rd where there's a glass floor, through which you can see a doorway which doesn't meet up with the current floor - which is as old as mud. These types of unique bits and pieces were all over the place, with a bricked up doorway there and a odd beam ending hanging out over there. Just great.

13.

If you go outside the Villa using the opposite side as the one shown above, then you come out onto a brick courtyard. There's a park on one side and a Chapel on the other. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to go inside, we were out with associates of the cuties the night it was open for a festival. I've seen pictures though and it is as frescoed as the rest of the villa. Incredible!

The staff were very kind and gave me a copy of their guide...research guys, it's all in the name of research :-) I'm not sure how I'll use this gem in "His High Stepper", but it will definitely be there.

Next week I'll show you a few of the highlights from my various trips into the center of Milan.

10 comments:

Darla said...

We've driven past Milan, but never stopped to visit. Maybe we ought to. :)

EHT said...

Thanks for the interesting tour!

Mia said...

Beautiful pics., thanks for sharing.

Happy TT!!

Tempest Knight said...

Oh girl, that hotel looks fabulous... and sooo romantic. ;)

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Man, what I'd give to be able to see places like this for myself...

Can't wait to read about them (HINT)!

Harris Channing said...

Wow I wanna go too! Thanks for sharing your pictures with us.

~Harris.

Harris Channing said...

Great and informative list! I LOVE history too. Went to Williamsburg this summer...and Jamestown and Yorktown. Wonderful time!
~Harris.

Anonymous said...

Looks lovely. I envy you!

Melanie said...

beautiful!!

Anonymous said...

Popped by from TT.
Photo #6 is my favorite.. stunning. I loved Italy, but didn't make it last time to Milan... so it was fun seeing some of your photos.
~S