Friday, June 6, 2008

What We'll See part 1

The Feast of Bacchus

The Forge of Vulcan

The Buffoon of Calabazas

Count-Duke of Olivares on Horseback

A Dwarf Sitting on the Floor

I have posted many times about travel tips and the minutia of a European vacation. That's all valuable information, but I don't want that to become what this tour is all about. So, I've decided to start a new series of posts that will detail some of the amazing things that we'll see on this trip. Going in to this trip with the right attitude and with some background knowledge will allow you to appreciate each day's activities and to be aware of the significance of the things that we'll be seeing.

Today, my inspiration comes from Google. Their main page features a painting by Diego Velazquez - one of the greatest artists of Spain - who was born on this day in 1599. When we are in Madrid, we will visit El Prado, the largest art gallery in the world, which will feature many of the major works from Valezquez's career. Also, Valezquez's famous self portrait is on display at the Uffizi Gallery - a spot you might choose to visit during some of our free time in Florence. Above are some images of just a few of the Valezquez pieces on display at El Prado. Below is a video slide show of some of his best works, on display around the world.

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