Optical Illusion from Via Piccolomini, Roma, Italy

Here are three pictures I want you to look at. They were taken on Via Piccolomini, only a few streets away from the hotel we stayed at in Rome.

The first photo was taken as I was walking towards St. Peter's cupola on Via Piccolomini. The further away you are from the cupola the larger it appears. The others were taken from the fence at the end of Via Piccolomini. In the second photo I used the zoom lens to get a closer view of the cupola. The 3rd photo was taken as it was.

I did not realize when I took the photos that it was an optical illusion. I was taking a walk early one of the first mornings and happen to have my camera. A few days later Giuseppina mentioned that her cab driver had mentioned this optical illusion as he was taking her to the hotel. I went back to look at my pictures and sure enough, the cupola looks larger on the pictures I took further away from it.

This is also a YouTube link where someone shot a video of it. Next time I'm in Rome, I will have to take my own video of it, and in the daytime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpviV1ehsgc

I showed these photos and the YouTube video to my students yesterday, and I had underestimated what an impact it made on them, so I wanted to share it with you too.
If you have any photos from this street, do share them with me.

I feel that the optical illusion is a phenomenon similar to when we see the moon on the horizon and it looks HUGE, then as it travels higher on the sky, it appears smaller. It is still the same moon. Here the cupola appears large as it is the only thing seen against the horizon of the street. As one gets closer and sees the broader horizon, the cupola is no longer isolated, and it is seen at its actual size. Any other theories you may have, please share them, inquiring minds need to know.

A friend sent me the following information: I found a website that explains this sort of optical illusion. It shows some exercises that explains optical illusions such as this one. The cupola is like the circles. The circles are the same size but their position to the circles surrounding them makes them appear larger/smaller. Check out this web page:
http://www.visualillusion.net/Chap04/Page04.php

On the other hand, the moon changes in size because the bend of the horizon. The bend of the horizon magnifies it or makes it smaller depending its position in the sky relative to us. So the harvest moon isn't an optical illusion, the horizon acts like a magnifying glass; the light that shines from the moon bends with the atmosphere making it larger. Thank you Jennifer.

Last batch of photos

http://picasaweb.google.com/Maria12956/072609_8#

I'm home now, and having uploaded my last batch of photos is making me very nostalgic of what an amazing experience this has been. The group of 25 plus the directors became a very cohesive bunch. We all got along well, and enjoyed each other's company. We worked hard, and we were all rather tired by the end, yet we all exhibited amazing enthusiasm on our last day together as we presented our projects.

I miss them all.

You will notice that I explained as much as I could in the captions of the photos. Photos are not allowed in the museums, but as you can see, I did sneak a few.

I came home with a suitcase full of books, and I wish I had purchased more books relating to he works of art that I had the privilege to see. It will be for the next time I return to Italy. I did want to bring a case of local wine, but the books won out.

In the movies

Cut and paste this link to view photos. I will be adding the captions later.


http://picasaweb.google.com/Maria12956/071109_7#

The headline "In the movies" refers to the fact that the evening we returned to Rome, a movie was being shot in our hotel. It is a made for TV movie, "Donna Detective", will be on Italian TV later in the fall. They were shooting scenes in a room a few rooms down the hall from my room. When I retired that night, the director asked me if they could use my room just for about 20 minutes. They needed the maid to come out of my room. I agreed and they set up shop. They put lighting, and shot the scene several times. I sat back playing on the computer the whole time.

The next morning the shooting was in the lobby. During one of our breaks, I crossed the lobby to go to he bathroom, on my way back, the director came over to me and said "Thank you for last night." We talked for a while, and I headed back to the class. I was not aware, but one of the classmates heard the comment, "Thank you for last night" and I suddenly had a group of people around me wanting to know what I had done the night before, and who was the good looking man thanking me. LOL kind of cute I must say. The story did not turn out as juicy as they expected, but it was interesting nonetheless.

Tempus Fugit

It has been an amazing experience, full of activities and learning. Along with tired and swollen feet and sleepless nights. I do miss my own bed.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Maria12956/070709_6#

Cut and paste this link to view the photos, they are photos from several days and several locations. Along with the photos, read the captions, it will tell you where they were taken.

No rest for the weary

http://picasaweb.google.com/Maria12956/070309_5#

Photos of American Academy in Rome http://www.aarome.org/ (do visit their blog, it has a very interesting history and present.)

Photos to the Farnesina - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their "Modern Art" collection.

Photos to the Galleria Borghese (my first visit there...OMG it is amazing), and photos to Barberini Museum.

The last few days we have had an incredible busy schedule, but it has all been worth it.

June 29, 2009 - Visit to Perugia

http://picasaweb.google.com/Maria12956/062909_4# Link to photos

On Monday, June 29, we visited Perugia, an Etruscan City. The bus let us off at a plaza 1/2 way to the top of the city where we had to take a series of escalators to the summit. The last leg of the escalators were in underground part of the old city, the prisons. The beginning of the photos show this.

We were hosted by the Universita' per Stranieri - University for Foreigners. Students from 140 countries come here to study and learn Italian. (More countries than those that participate in the Olympics.)

The photos are of the old city, the old walls, the buildings, it is absolutely charming. I would have liked to stay more and explore.

IL BAROCCO = BAROQUE STYLE - June 30, 2009

http://picasaweb.google.com/Maria12956/063009_4# link to photos

Today we experienced the Baroque Style which was born in Rome dating from 1580 to 1680. We viewed two distinct baroque styles, one of Borromini, and one of Bernini.

The Baroque Style is known for its excess. It used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, oil painting, literature, and music. The Baroque was encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church to convey religious images in the arts after the period of the inquisition and the Martin Luther reform.

In the first set of photos you see Francesco Borromini's play of geometric designs in architecture. The Church of San Carlino or San Carlo delle Quattro Fontane (of the Four Fountains). You will see the four fountains at each corner of the intersection.

In contrast to Borromini's church we see Bernini's Church of St. Andrea of the Quirinale, a Jesuit church. Also we see the statue and room of St. Stanislaus. The bed, blanket, pillow and statue are all different types of marble, truly amazing.

Then we see the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa of Avila in the Chapel of Santa Maria della Vittoria. Here is one of the Baroque masterpieces by Bernini.

June 27, 2009 - Colosseum and Roman Forum

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=Maria12956&target=ALBUM&id=5352115213388010545&authkey=Gv1sRgCKKTmNiK5YjxqAE&invite=CL_Ek6gC&feat=email

Today we spent some time at the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Presently there is an exhibit on Vespasian, Roman Emperor around 60-79AD. In the last few years new archeaological digs in the Roman Forum area have yielded many great finds of his era.

Some of the photos in the Roman Forum show bright white figures, those are part of another exhibit by Jimenez Deredia, a Costa Rican modern sculptor. His show, "The Symbol of Birth", shows in great contrast with Rome of ancient times.

Please copy and paste the link.

June 26, 2009 - Visit to Campidoglio Museum

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=Maria12956&target=ALBUM&id=5351941459476908465&authkey=Gv1sRgCMTn9aicoqrmSw&invite=COPE3sUB&feat=email


This link (I hope) should take you to my photos of yesterday. June 26, 2009.

June 25, 2009 - Vatican Museum Visit

I posted some photos in the following link:

http://s639.photobucket.com/albums/uu116/maria12956/

You need to cut and paste to reach it.

I'm experimenting with different ways of posting my photos.
Feel free to let me know which way you find to be the best.

Panino e Panelle

The other day I finally made it to the Sicilian Pastry Shop. It was early evening and asked them if they had "panelle", they were all gone for the day, but they told me that I could order them for the next day. That made me very happy.

WHAT ARE PANELLE? They are fritters of sorts made out of chick peas flour. It is something that was originally made only in Palermo. Something that one must have if they visit Palermo. It is a flavor like nothing else. They are fried, thus they are rather heavy, something one should not make a habit of eating. But something I had to have. They are always eaten in a panino (panino = small bread - a roll).

When I picked up my panino e panelle I also picked up an "arancina" (small orange) which is a rice ball with a savory stuffing. This one was a "pistachio arancina". I have never had one that flavor, I always get the meat stuffing ones. There is a place in the North End of Boston that has real good ones.

So you can see in the picture the panino e panelle and the arancina cut in 1/2. The pear was added for effect.

I truly enjoyed eating them, but it never fails, once I eat one or the other I always get an upset stomach. Must have some TUMS handy. It was always this way for me, but the flavor is worth the upset stomach.

Morning walk

My hotel is in a residential area, and the buildings you see here are all condo-like appartments, gated communities of sorts. I love seeing all of the hanging flowering plants, it sure makes my walk a lot more pleasant. Of course on this particular route, the fact that I can see the Cupola of St. Peter's of the Vatican, is not too shabby. Denise, if you are reading this: Who walks in the morning with a view of the Vatican? I do!!!

Gelsomino

Monday morning around 5:30 I went for a walk around the hotel. It is a residential area of Rome, south-west of Vatican City. It is about a 35-40 minute walk to the walls of the Vatican.

A came back with some "gelsomino" - jasmine. Jasmine is a great smelling flower, but has some unique features. It blooms at night, and as the morning sun begins to hit the plant, the flower begins to die.

As a child it was my job to go out to pick the jasmine before the sun rose enough to hit that side of the house, that was before 8:00am. I would pick just the buds, put them in little dishes in different rooms, and the fresh smell will fill the air.

In my morning walk, I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I was to find the jasmine in my path. I did not notice much else. In the last two days, I have discovered a few other things that make Italian city life different than other places, in the USA specifically.

Home away from home

My room for the next few weeks until we are off to Florence.

Here are the standard facilities in an Italian bathroom. Toilet and a bidet.

The toilet we all know what it is used for, a bidet, for an Italian is used for washing one's privates. For a tourist, an American tourist, it has many other functions: soaking tired feet, chilling a bottle of wine, beer or soda with some ice, washing small laundry items, and for washing one's privates once we have stopped laughing.

Just before I take a nap

The flight could not have been more perfect. It took off on time, and landed on time. I had an aisle seat, and the woman next to me did not speak any English, Spanish or Italian. She was flying on to Lebanon and we communicated in some sign language fashion, and for some reason I became her interpreter with the handsome Italian flight attendant. He paid me back by bringing me a cognac from first class, which helped me doze off for a while.

The hotel seems nice, but I haven't seen much of it. My room was available so they let me into the room without having to wait for this afternoon. Now I plan on taking a shower and then take a nap. The taxi driver told me that there is a very good Sicilian pastry shop near the hotel, later I may venture out to go find a cannoli or some gelato.

Italy is 6 hours ahead, so it is 10:30am Sunday morning. I wish you a nice day.

Photos link

http://ursusgrande.com/members/maria/italy.html

On this link I have some of the photos of April 2007. Many more than the slide show here.

PRESS RELEASE

THE ITALIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, DC, INC.

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: The Italian Cultural Society of Washington
4848 Battery Lane - Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20814
Tel: 301-215-7885
Fax: 301-215-5998

"The Art of Teaching Italian Through Italian Art in Rome, Italy"

A NATIONAL SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS OF ITALIAN, TO BE HELD FOR FOUR WEEKS IN ROME, ITALY, THROUGH A GRANT MADE POSSIBLE BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES, TO THE ITALIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, DC INC.

Local teacher, Ms CATALANO, a teacher of Italian at the NRHS, Central Mass, MA, is one of the 25 teachers (K-12) selected to attend the four-week NEH National Summer Institute to be held in Rome, Italy from the last week in June to the end of July, 2009.

The Institute will include 25 teachers of Italian (K-12), selected nationwide. Participating teachers may opt to receive three (3) to six (6) graduate credits from the Arcadia University in Glendale, Pennsylvania for their participation and will receive a stipend to help cover their travel and lodging expenses.

The main purpose of the Institute is to provide teachers of Italian with innovative tools and techniques on how to teach the Italian language and culture through a content-based approach. The content chosen for this institute is Italian Art and the principal Italian artist whose outstanding works can be found in the museums and monuments of the Eternal City, in Florence and in other cities in Tuscany.

In Italy participants will have the opportunity to interact with local art historians specializing in various aspects of Italian art and with artisans who will discuss and demonstrate their skills. A scholar from the U.S., expert in the content-based theories and instruction, will present the information on this current approach. Expert linguists from the "Università per Stranieri" of Siena and Perugia in Italy, will focus on how to use art in the teaching of Italian as a second language and will discuss new methodologies and changes in current Italian language. In addition to lectures, seminars, workshops and group activities, on-site visits to important monuments and museums will be included. Workshops on art handicraft's techniques will add great fun to the experience.

The academic work of the institute will be integrated with official receptions by Italian authorities and with numerous academic and social events.

During the Institute the Participants will also participate in a five-day academic excursion to Florence and other Tuscan towns such as Chiusi and Siena. There they will visit world renown museums such as the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti and other famous artistic, religious and historical sites still bearing witness to the magnificence of Italian Renaissance.

All participants will complete and take home a content-based Italian and Art curriculum, a syllabus with sample lesson plans for their classes, and a portfolio including copies, in color, of the most important art works that they will then use in their classes with their students. The teachers will have also greatly strengthened their Italian language proficiency.

The NEH Institute will be directed by Professor Roberto Severino, Emeritus. Georgetown University, and co-directed by Professor Luigi De Sanctis, Direttore Ufficio Scolastico, Embassy of Italy, and Prof. Luigi De Luca President, Italian Language Program, The Italian Language Society of Washington.

Info on organization: The Italian Cultural Society of Washington, DC, Inc. is the recipient of the prestigious grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Society, founded in 1953, is a not for profit cultural and educational organization, whose mission is to enhance the appreciation and knowledge of Italy and its contributions to America, and to strengthen the bonds between the Italian and the American Peoples. Through the Embassy of Italy, the Society receives from the Italian Government contribution of funds toward its Italian Language Program, which offers courses of Italian at all levels and also to help introduce the study of Italian in public and private schools in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Two weeks and counting

As some of you are finding your way to this blog, I'm struggling with the ins and outs of photo uploading so that they can show up here. I want to upload a slide show of the photos I took in the past of Rome. For some odd reason I am able to upload the photos into the appropriate photo album, but when I go to put them on the blog, the album of the photos I took during our field trip to NYC come up. This is a strange occurrence, because when I was looking for those photos I could not find them. So way back in February, when I downloaded them I must have done something that is now allowing me to view them, even if they are in the wrong spot.

The more I play with this the more confused I get with the meanings of some of the terms, is downloading the same as uploading? The same way some people say downtown, and some say uptown. Will let you know once I find out. Meryl, I may need your assistance on this.

Do not fret, I will have it figured out before I get there.

One month and counting

In one month I will be on a plane to Italy to spend four glorious weeks observing, studying, digesting, ruminating all that Rome and Florence have to offer when it comes to ART. As an NEH candidate, I can't wait for this upcoming experience. Out of hundreds of applicants I, along with 24 other people, were selected for this opportunity which was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to The Italian Cultural Society of Washington D.C.

The other day I went to see the movie Angels and Demons just so I can quench my appetite for my desire of spending time in Rome. Great movie for an overview of some of the sights in Rome.

Stay tuned to my posting, as I share with you my experience in Italy.