Bella Italia called me again...

Sun, vine and good food. What more can I expect to get during a holiday? Maybe only a pinch of architecture and urban diamonds. This is only one place in Europe which can meet all my needs. This place is bella Italia.

Roof terrace at MADRE museum

This land amaze me every time by its beauty, breathtaking nature, incredible architecture and surprising history.  This time, I visited south of the country – home of Vesuvius. I am sure that all of you know history about Pompeii and the volcano. Nevertheless, this part of Italy has much more to offer. I decided to do for you my subjective list of top 3 places around Naples, which indisputably, has stolen my heart.

1. Giordino La Mortella

La Mortella Gardens are located on promontory Zaro in municipality of Forio on the island of Ischia, just an hour by ferry from Naples. Definitely, this is my favorite place and number one on my list. One of the most beautiful garden which I have ever visited. It was created by Susana Walton, wife of the composer William Walton, in 1950 as the main residence for the couple. Originally, it was a privet garden. Susana decided to open garden for a public view, after dead of her husband in 1991.

View of Forio from La Mortella Gardens

 Lady Walton created her garden with help of English garden designer – Russell Page. The garden has terraces composition. He designed the lowest level in valley. In my opinion, it is the most interesting and breathtaking part. The rest of the garden is a bit disappointing comparing to this one. 

Plants at La Mortella

The entrance is a small square with fountain in the middle. It is a door and a promise of enchanted world, which is beyond. From the fountain is going line pond. This detail is providing our sight like signpost. We can feel like Alice In Wonderland following the rabbit. Just, in this case instead of rabbit is line of water and instead of rabbit hole, there is a corridor made by lush greenery. 

Entance to the garden

The farer I went the more  I was amazed. Every corner of the garden conceals some surprising room. All composition is created like labyrinth. It is not possible to see what is behind a corner and witch path is right to go father on and which one will take us back to the entrance.

Path with line pond

Main fountain

The garden is full of tropical plants. One of my favorite part of a garden is The Victoria House. It took its name from Victoria amazonica – giant water lily which grows there. The huge leaves can be up to three meters and bear weight of a child. All submerged parts of the plant are covered with thorns. The spiny bud opens at dusk with fragrant white female flower. The flower closes at sunrise to reopen following night as a deep purple male one. So the flower lives for two days, changing sex and colour and then dives into the water. This is a real magic but in this magic garden everything is possible. The background for this performance is a sculpture designed by Simon Verity and inspired by the stage curtain  designed for Façade – famous piece of music by William Walton.

The Victoria House

2. Museo MADRE

The MADRE Museum (Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Donnaregina) was open in 2005. It is one of the biggest museum dedicated to contemporary art. MADRE is located in the Palazzo Donnaregina in the historical center of Naples. The nineteenth-century building was restored by Alvaro Siza, is part of the older monastery of Santa Donnaregina, originally founded during the Swabian dynasty in thirteenth century and rebuilt during the reign of Charles II of Anjou.

Roof terrace

The museum displays art of artists who are closely connected with Naples, organised on four floors of the palace. The permanent display included pieces of artists like Francisco Clemente, Richard Long, Jeff Koons, Mimmo Paladino, Rebeka Horn, Anish Kapoor.

Main hall

Francesco Clemente is an Italian contemporary artist. Nevertheless, during his life he was traveling a lot to New York and India. Thus, it is easy to see inspiration coming from this parts of world in his art, especially from India. He is among the principal figures in the Italian Transavanguardia movement of the 1980s, which was characterised by a rejection of formalism and conceptual art and return to figurative art and symbolism. In the MADRE his art is represented by giant fresco which take place in two rooms on two floors. It is showing Neapolitan history and symbols.

Jeff Koons is an American artist. Probably his most popular work is Balloon Dog which becoming one of the most expensive art work made by living artist. In Madre there are two canvas made by Jeff – Wild Boy ad Puppy.

Mimmo Jodice is an Italian contemporary photographer. Jodice experiments with and deconstructs, he combines Abstract-Cubist elements with figurative ones, he intervenes on paper using the collage and tearing, and, even before, he works in the darkroom to impose movement and potential to static subjects.

If you will be still hungry of art after, visit in museum, you should take a ride by line 1 of underground. The station is just 5 mins walk from MADRE. Each station is arranged by one artist. Because of lack of time I, managed to see only one of them. The Tledo station was opened in 2012 and, in short time it become number one of the most bautifule undergraund station in Europe. It is designed by spanish architect Tusques Blanca and inspired by the sea.

Toledo underground station

3. Capri Island

Capri is a small island located an hour from Naples by ferry. It is perfet place for everyone who like tast of luxury. Streets are full of butiqs of the most recognised designers. From time to time some pop star or famuse actress is smiling to us from picture hunged out of restaurants or club, inviting us to party in the same place where they did. If you wanna eat in the same plece where Beyonce or walk the same street what Kim Kardashian, this is a perfect plece for you. Nevertheless, I encourage you to take a bout trip around the islannd. In my opinion it is not possible to expirience all beauty of this place whithout seeing it from sea perspective.

Marina Grande

Marina Grande

Capri Town

Piazza Umberto, Caprii Town

Faraglioni

Capri Island

I finished my visit by the walk along Via Partenoe in Naples, where I stoped for a while to enjoy a glass of local vine and incredible view of the city.

Partenoe Street, Naples

#Italy #landscapearchitecture #museum #modernart #garden #travel