Apse Ceiling Vault, 14th century, Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy
About half way up the face of Sigiryia, a mountain fortress in Sri Lanka, hardy climbers will find a cave covered with frescoes of exotic maidens. These ancient murals (5th century AD) covered much of the face of the rock fortress at one time, but now only fragments remain. Other previously frescoed caves are inaccessible, as seen in the second photograph.
Sigiriya: 5th century AD frescoes on cave walls depicting maidens (though there is discussion re the date and iconography).
The front of Sigiriya.
Climbing up to the cave painting level meant traversing many narrow, worn steps, steep paths, and finally, a spiral, metal staircase. It just about did me in. I passed on climbing to the top of Sigiriya. Sigiriya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I decided last week to visit Prague, this week. the freedom of spontaneity that comes with retirement. Beautiful city. I have always loved Alphonse Mucha. This is a detail from a fresco he painted for the Bosnian Pavilion at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair.
The New 3 Rs: Retire, Recharge, Reconnect 