A craggy castle on the tip of a peninsula, guarding against intruders to a land of days gone by. This castle is in Sirmione on Lake Garda, an hour and a half drive from our home here in Northern Italy. Yesterday afternoon we took a little day trip out to this town, exploring a new part of this beautiful country. Besides this wonderful castle, there is a nice pedestrian town with wonderful lake views, natural hot springs, roman ruins and the most frigid wind coming off of the lake. A perfect afternoon for some of the best gelato I've had in a while!
I love these old castles. They are so solid, so real, even today. You can tell that life was not easy in the days these castles were needed. Bare stone rooms, small spaces, dangerous stairways. The majority of the inhabitants worked long hours in difficult conditions, lived in cramped spaces without much reward other than food, shelter and protection from invading forces.
This vision is so different than our idealized version of castles with turrets and princesses with flowing dresses. I find I like the reality of these solid places better than the gilded rooms of kings and queens later in history. There is something honest and true that resonates in the bare stone, coming through the centuries to speak to me in this age. Do you feel it too?
I love this pic, and totally agree with you re the castles. The few I've visited were just how you described - solid yet with precarious stairways.
ReplyDeleteCastles intrigue me, and I do wonder how people actually lived in them. Does it feel drafty in here???
ReplyDeleteThis sort of image sums up the word 'castle' for me. Maybe because I'm from England and most of our castles are the rugged type built to keep the raving hoards out I see them as dark, solid, daunting places. This is a lovely capture as it gives you an idea of the huge depth of the walls. It's also a good one for your 'framing' series.
ReplyDeleteI can just imagine someone looking out this window at an approaching boat wondering if it is friend or foe. I love old castles too, often when I'm inside them I wander the corridors thinking of all the stories and intrigue that happened hundreds of years ago.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! There is something about old castles that stirs my imagination up and has me dreaming of long ago times - but I'm always happy to be back in my world with modern plumbing.
ReplyDeleteThe light is gorgeous. Have never been near a castle but imagine one would feel much like Rapunzel...
ReplyDeletethis is such an amazing view, what a wonderful frame within a frame.
ReplyDeleteOh I love this picture! Yes there is something about stone and beautiful windows and distant views--and you caught them all! :)
ReplyDeleteYou captured the castle not only in your picture but in your words, too. I grew up with the castles in Germany and they are cold and don't smell well. Yes, it's drafty in there. Winters must have been terrible with just the fireplace that couldn't really heat up those old walls and stones. I definitely prefer the luxury of good isolation and central heating (plus a functioning bathroom!).
ReplyDeleteAh, castles! All over Europe, in so many styles, they are simply amazing. As much as I love a "Versailles" type of place, I gravitate more towards the rustic and bare ones. I think life in them must not have been so jolly! Very, very cold! Yikes! But, great to visit these days and just imagine....
ReplyDeleteyour photographs are beautiful. you really have a good eye for detail. the way you decribed the castle is just great... really makes me feel the castle.
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