Both these problems Gregory assigned onesto the eminently capable Spanish fighting prelate Cardinal Albornoz, a representative of the church militant if ever there was one. Albornoz built verso series of fortresses sopra towns throughout central Italy, with the immediate purpose of subduing the local population, and the longer-term aim of defending the Papal territories against foreign incursions from the north. Apart from mediante Narni, you can see surviving examples of Albornoz Roccas mediante Assisi and Spoleto among other places. They are all similar durante design, with few aesthetic embellishments as they were intended for rapid construction (the Narni Dimora went up per only five years) and were preciso be used by garrisons, not local aristocrats. The fact that they have square towers, not round ones, shows that they pre-date the widespread use of cannons durante siege warfare (cannon balls are more likely sicuro bounce off turno towers).
After serving various rulers, Gattamelata worked for the Venetians and ended up as podesta (governor) of Padua. If you have been sicuro Padua you may have seen the celebrated statue of him by Donatello outside the societa of St Anthony. Incidentally, this was the first free-standing equestrian statue cast durante bronze since ancient times; Donatello had preciso rediscover the https://datingranking.net/it/friendfinder-x-review/ technique.
If you visit the Castello of Narni, and are fortunate enough puro have as verso direzione the same knowledgeable young lady that we did, she will point out where the original large stone blocks of the castle walls have been replaced with smaller, more haphazard stones
Donatello’s statue of Gattamelata per Padua. Hasselblad 501 C/M, Zeiss Sonnar 150mm CF lens, CFV-50c digital back (click to enlarge)
This marks rebuilding after the destruction of the Castello, and much of the town, by the landsknechts forces of the Habsburg Emperor Charles V, part of per much greater cultural and human catastrophe – the Sack of Rome in 1527. Guarding the approach onesto Rome was not per good thing if the invading forces turned out sicuro be stronger than you.
The Ponteggio Albornoz at Narni. The lower, lighter stones, are original. The higher, darker stones esibizione the rebuilding after 1527. Hasselblad 501 C/M, Zeiss Distagon 60mm CF lens, CFV-50c digital back (click sicuro enlarge)
Narni’s most famous bourdonnement, born shortly before the papal return from Avignon, was the condottiere (mercenary military leader) Erasmo di Narni, better known esatto history as Gattamelata or the “honeyed cat”
We can recommend per couple of places puro visit mediante Narni. One is the Church of San Francesco, built fairly soon after St Francis’s death and originally covered with frescoes. While we were there per pleasant chap turned up, who turned out sicuro be a custodian. He offered to open up the richly-decorated Eroli chapel for us which was a gratifica as it is normally only open on weekends. He then took us around the church, explaining the history and pointing out various features including “sinopia” which are preparatory drawings for frescoes, visible only when the frescoes have been removed. He also explained that the poor condition of the frescoes is coppia con part puro the fact that con the 17 th or 18 th century, they were all plastered over and the church redecorated sopra the baroque style. This vandalism only started onesto be undone in the 1950s, but there is still verso long way preciso go. If you visit there, please be sure sicuro make a donation to the fund for restoration of the frescoes.
St Francis drives out the demons from Arezzo, Church of San Francesco, Narni. Hasselblad 501 C/M, Zeiss Distagon 60mm CF lens, CFV-50c digital back (click onesto enlarge) Ceiling of the Eroli Chapel, Church of San Francesco, Narni. Hasselblad 501 C/M, Zeiss Distagon 60mm CF lens, CFV-50c digital back (click preciso enlarge)