Photography & travel

ITALY – Puglia – Martina Franca – Locorotondo

Nowadays, Andrea Roggi’s bronze sculptures can be seen popping up all over Puglia. And in Martina Franca, his works are present in abundance. Turns out we would see more of his works in Locorotondo and Cisternino.We first saw his work in a gallery in Moltepulciano in 2017. Often, it is an organic globe with an olive tree or tree of life on top, inspired by nature, letting olive branches grow out of love.The tree trunks are human figures, entwined in an intimate embrace. Their arms raised towards the sky grow into magnificent olive tree branches, while their roots reach deep …

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ITALY – Basilicata – Matera

Matera, the city of caves. Not located in Puglia but just outside it in the province of Basilicata. The Puglia administration would very much like it to be part of their region. But that is a political matter.Matera is famous for its so-called Sassi or cave houses. Since 1993 it is named an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and rightly so. The story goes that the rocks on the site where Matera now stands have served as shelters for monks who fled the Byzantine Empire since the eighth century. They started carving cave dwellings into the lime stone cliffs. Some parts …

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ITALY – Puglia – Grottaglie

I not often write about the hotels or B&Bs where we stay. They are usually pleasant places, but sometimes there is one that really stands out. Like Antica Masseria Le Monache. Rarely have we been welcomed so warmly and with such wonderful smiles. The two owners, Anthony and Andrea, are lovely.It didn’t take long before we were sitting in the evening sun enjoying a delicious glass of local white wine. Anthony is the perfect host and a morning person who takes care of breakfast, while Andrea is the kitchen prince.They are a cheerful duo who have really put their heart …

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ITALY – Puglia – Taranto

Our next stop was Grottaglie. But before we got there, we wanted to visit Taranto first. We took the coastal road from Gallipoli, passing the Porto Selvaggio e Palude del Capitano nature park, part of which was on fire, Porto Cesareo, Punta Prosciutto and Mandurio. We arrived mid after noon. It’s only 100 km, but because we took the scenic route, it quickly turned into a 3,5-hour drive. But it was worth it, and besides, it’s our holiday. Taranto consists of two parts. There is the new part and the old historic centre, which is actually a small island (0,31km2 …

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ITALY – Puglia – Lecce

Lecce is sometimes referred to as the Florence of the South.I can see why. Of course, it is not Florence, but it does have a certain charm. Lecce is also smaller, but it has equally beautiful squares and Baroque architecture. The old town is particularly beautiful. The basilica, the Roman theatre, Palazzo dei Celestini, the charming alleys and terraces. Here too, they seem to be suffering from overtourism, just like in Rome, Barcelona, Pisa, etc.Of course, we are also a small part of the problem. But we travel independently and are no ‘cruise tourists’ who only visit the planned or …

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ITALY – Puglia – Gallipoli

We are no strangers to northern and central Italy. But we had never visited the far south, or ‘the heel’. It was about time to change that. We landed in Brindisi, which couldn’t have been more convenient, picked up our hire car and visited the city. Our first stop was a local delicatessen shop to eat ‘ a made in Puglia’ sandwich with Martina Franca ham & burrata cheese. Delicious, it was! Brindisi is a small provincial town on the Adriatic Sea and actually quite charming. But we didn’t stay there long. The lure of Gallipoli was too strong.Besides, we …

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LAUSANNE – MCBA

Last week of March and preparing to go skiing in Chandolin for a week. But before we leave, we’re going to soak up some culture at the Musée Cantonal des Beaux-Arts in Lausanne. It’s just around the corner, so we don’t even need to put on a coat in this mild spring weather. The museum was designed by Estudio Barozzi Veiga and opened his doors during Covid-19 in October 2019. The Estudio also did 5 projects in Belgium; Antwerp, Brussels, Nieuwpoort, Kortrijk and Knokke-Heist. Something new to visit and added to our to-do list, or wish list. The first thing …

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PIERRE ALECHINSKY – Pinceau voyageur

Pierre Alechinsky, a Belgian artist know worldwide. New-york, Paris, Valencia, Madrid, Osaka, Tokyo and now in Brussels with a solo exhibition at Villa Empain. The building itself is a gem. An elegant Art Deco building dating from 1930, designed by Swiss architect Michel Polak for Baron Louis Empain. The baron himself hardly ever lived there. The villa has had a turbulent history. It was sold, rented out and eventually bought back by the Baron, who then donated it to the Belgian government. In 1980, the villa, which was in a deplorable state, was purchased by the Boghossian Foundation. Thanks to …

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PARIS – Bourse de Commerce

Walking around in Paris is always a journey of discovery, especially if you haven’t been there for a while. Time and dynamics are slowly changing the city. The major monuments will of course always remain, but the local economy and urban renewal are sometimes like a facelift for some of the streets and neighbourhoods. Bourse de Commerce, originally a place to negotiate and trade grain, was build at the end of the 18th century. The building underwent several renovations before finally being leased to François Pinault for 50 years in 2016. It was he who commissioned architect Tadao Ando to …

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PARIS – Fondation Louis Vuiton

I don’t know why. But Paris and I have a certain chemistry, like longtime lovers. Not only because the city is famous for her ‘vibrations amoureuse’ but for her ‘présence en général’. The squares, avenues, parks, great bistro’s and restaurants, the river Seine and of course the numerous museums. We specifically went for 2 of them which we never visited before. ‘Fondation Louis Vuiton’ and ‘Bourse de commerce’. Both didn’t disappoint! Fondation Louis Vuiton rises on the edge of Bois de Boulogne and has a very distinct shape. Airy, translucent and covered with glass shells like the wings of a …

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