This week, ring-tone shooters go eyeball-to-eyeball with their subjects as MACROS zoom in and occupy the space known as the Phoneographic Challenge.
On my daily meanderings along the cobble within the centro storico (historic center) of my adopted hometown of Vicenza, I’m always looking around in amazement at all of the time-tested architecture that still occupies the space today.
For instance, the Palazzo Chiericati (Chiericati Palace), one of Renaissance master builder Andrea Palladio’s early design projects within the city and, today, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The ornate structure was built on a small patch of land surrounded on two sides by the rivers Retrone and Bacchiglione that flowed into and out of the city’s old port. It was on this spot that Girolomo Chiericati, a wealthly and influencial Vicentino, asked young Palladio to build him a country villa with an urban appeal, in bright white adorned with tall columns and statues so that all could see.
Begun in 1550, Palazzo Chiericati wasn’t fully completed until 1584, after both the owner and Palladio left this world. In 1855 the palace became the historic home of the Civic Museum, and today houses all of the City of Vicenza’s artwork in the pinacoteca (gallery) — paintings, sculptures and applied arts from the 13th to 18th centuries — along with a numismatics room and a Palladian wing devoted entirely to the master’s design drawings and prints.
Currently closed while it undergoes yet another restoration, here are a few macros that I captured on my iPhone 5 outside the Palazzo Chiericati.
To view more MACROS captured with handhelds by my fellow digital ringtone shooters, just click HERE.
If you occasionally shoot with a smartphone or tablet, why not join in the fun and hone your craft. There’s a rotating Phoneography Challenge each and every Monday. For details, visit Sally’s Lens and Pens by Sally.
Until next Monday, let your phone be your lens.
©The Palladian Traveler | ©Tom Palladio Images
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What a lovely article; I would have been a Palladio groupie 500 years ago and I love Vicenza and its buildings. And those wonderful photos…..what can I say? Palladio would have approved.
I speak with him every night and we always end up squabbling over columns. I like Corinthians, but he prefers Doric and Ionic. We’re at a stalemate. I haven’t even broached the subject with him on his use of poor-man’s marble: covering brick with plaster, painting it white and getting away with it. Talk about low bidder!
My favourite is Doric. I like the simplicity. I am planning to visit Villa Pisani at Montagnana this week. Waiting for a blue-sky day to take some photos. Not sure if I can get inside, but I’ll try.
The villa is open to the public, but is now on its winter schedule. Closed on Mondays (surprise!), but open all other days from 9.00 – 16.00. Sorry, the maze is closed during this time. Btw, the villa’s in Stra not Montagnana. Here’s the website: http://www.villapisani.beniculturali.it. One of these days we’re going to have to meet, neighbor. 🙂
This is the Villa Pisani I was thinking of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_Pisani_(Montagnana) Yours is much grander and is now on my list! Thanks. And yes. I quite agree neighboUr!!
I stand corrected. Have fun in Montagnana, not just the villa but the wonderful medieval walled city, too. It’s been on my list for ages, but I have yet to explore. Maybe some day I’ll visit it with this friend I know who lives nearby in the Colli Euganei. 🙂
A beautiful blue sky today. Heading to Montagnana to see Villa Pisani in an hour or so. Hope it’s open. If you’re in the area………..very short notice, I know. 🙂
I’d love to join you and see the villa, but I’m already committed. Should be a good day for a photo shoot. Just keep the sunlight to your back. Ciao.
Will do! Thanks. There are plenty more villas in Veneto! Thought I’d let you know anyway. 🙂
Each week we are privy to another set of images from your adopted hometown or another charming Italian city. I especially enjoy your discerning eye. The macros show the Italian touch of flowers that act like additional bursts of color on the street fronts. Happy Phoneography Monday.
Sally — What a nice comment. Thanks, kiddo!
love it. the accompanying writeup with great clicks is refreshing.
Thanks, Amar.
Feast for eyes… and urban appeal – how interesting that these two words can be defined so differently given the times we live in.
Give Palladio credit, he designed that palazzo that brought country living to the city.
I was merely musing over the language and how you have made me see that the architecture was relevant for it’s time and could have engendered the same feelings we have when looking at buildings relevant to our current point in time … not so much judging Palladio… I am of course to ignorant to be making any judgement over it 🙂
No argument from me, just dovetailing with your thought of the merge between urban and appeal — it was a Palladian concept way back then. Ciao for now.
love the angles of your photos… 🙂
Thanks!