Hello everyone,
how was your week? Let me know in the comments. In the meantime, here are my random ramblings:
Senigallia
© Gaspa
Senigallia’s my home town. It’s a small town in the middle of Italy, on the Adriatic coast. The beach is its most famous and popular attraction. It’s called “velvet beach” because of its golden delicate sand and for the clear sea (it has been given the European blue flag since 1997). It’s also home to the Rotonda Sul Mare (Rotunda on the Sea), which had been built during the Belle Epoque to host musical concerts and other entertainments. After being abandoned for the decades, it was finally restored to its splendours a few years ago, and now houses mostly cultural events.
© Daniele Sole
Every summer, lots of tourists, especially from Germany, come here to enjoy the beach and everything it has to offer. It’s a great holiday resort for families with young children, but for teenagers and adults, there really isn’t much to do at night. The rest of the year, when all the tourists are gone, is even worse. But if you like nice, quiet towns and don’t care about the nightlife, you may really enjoy Senigallia. It’s very pretty, and, like most towns here, you can easily see everything there is to see in one day or less.
© Steevie
The first stop should be the Rocca Roveresca, a medieval fortress named after Della Rovere family, which ruled the town at the time. The outer part of the Rocca was built to defend the castle, but the central, inner part was actually inhabited by the family. It’s in this Rocca that Cesare Borgia massacred his rivals, as described by Machiavelli in The Prince. Today, it’s mostly used for exhibitions and other cultural events. Tickets to visit it cost only €2.00.
© Stefano Di Tommaso
Opposite la Rocca, you can see the Palazzetto Baviera, Palazzo del Duca (Duke Palace) and the Fontana Delle Anatre (Fountain of Ducks), both built by Della Rovere family too. This is one of my favourite places in the city. There is so much history to see in such a short space and, these days, the place has also become a playground for children. It’s a minute’s walk from the city center too, so you can do some shopping as well. There aren’t many shops, but one of my favourites is Fiona C. It sells pretty and trendy clothes made in Italy at affordable prices.
© Gaspa
At the end (or the beginning, depending on whom you ask) of the high street, lies the river Misa. The palaces on one side of the river are called Portici Ercolani, from the name of the Monsignor who designed them in the 18th century. The colonnade is very pretty and provides great protection on rainy days. Nearby you can find the Foro Annonario, a neoclassical circular structure with a doric colonnade built in 1834. Today, it houses the fish, fruit, and veg markets during the day and, on summer nights, concerts.
© MarkusMark
Near the city center, you can also admire the Roman ruins that emerged during works for the construction of the Fenice Theatre. Among other things, you can see the remains of an old house and a termopolium, a shop that sold food and hot drinks. If you’re Catholic, instead, you must visit Palazzo Mastai, the family home of Pope Pius IX. It’s now a museum dedicated to him. There are also many beautiful churches here. You can visit them even if you’re not religious, just because they’re so pretty.
What about your hometown? What places are a must-see?
What I’m Reading Now
NeuroLoveology: The Power To Mindful Love & Sex by Ava Cadell
Do you think that discovering how the brain processes attraction, relationships, conflict and sex will take the magic out of romance? Well, it actually has the opposite effect. Drawing from her professional experience in her practice and the latest advances in neuroscience, Dr Ava Cadell explains how to improve your relationship both emotionally and sexually. You will discover, for instances, what activities release oxytocin, the “bonding hormone”, and how your partner’s brain (is it left or right? Introverted or extroverted?) is wired so that you’ll be better able to understand them. The book is full of exercises you can do both alone or with your partner to improve any aspect of your relationship you’re struggling with. Whatever is sabotaging your relationship – be it low self-esteem, routine, illness, boring sexual life, lack of communication, or anything else – is addressed in this book, together with strategies to fix it. But don’t be fooled. Some of the exercises are easy, but most require time, commitment, trust, and the willingness to be completely vulnerable and open with your partner. Making relationships work is a lot of hard work. Also, a lot of what is written here is just common sense, but it’s nice to have that backed up by science too. It may also give you that little incentive you need to put it in practice.
The Links
Why you should protect from UVA with sunscreen – Lab Muffin
Vintage Beauty Ads – Lucky Mag
Is animal testing still necessary? - The Beauty Brains
How toners work, and are they necessary? – The Triple Helixian
Women are counting calories instead of changing the world - Beauty Redefined
Sunday Survey, Vol.221
1. What store would you like to see open in your town?
Oh dear, there are so many! I live in a small town and we don’t have many options here. Mmm, I’d say Sephora. And Primark too.
2. What’s your biggest eye makeup gripe?
The time. I love experimenting and creating bold and colourful looks, but they take so much time to do!
3. Are you wearing any jewelry right now?
Nope. I’m still in my PJs lol.
4. Pears or apples?
Pears, please.
5. Do you like waking up early in the morning?
I love it. I always feel like I’m missing out on things if I sleep in till late.
It’s your turn now!
1. What store would you like to see open in your town?
2. What’s your biggest eye makeup gripe?
3. Are you wearing any jewelry right now?
4. Pears or apples?
5. Do you like waking up early in the morning?