San Gimignano and its medieval cityscape

 San Gimignano, situated in the Tuscan region of Italy, is known for its medieval townscape that can attract any enthusiastic traveler. In my previous blog posts, I described in detail the beauty of the old town and its surroundings.  In this post, some of the important buildings inside the ancient town complex are described in detail for enthusiasts of history and even romance. Being a UNESCO heritage site due to the creative genius of mankind, the towering buildings in the town complex need a special mention.

The stone-made Torre Grossa, the highest tower in the city, is not an easy climb after a hearty lunch! The tower gives a nice view of the city and its surroundings hills and pastures, and is worth climbing up. However, this is not the best part of the city that I would recommend. Probably the Devil's Tower nearby would have piqued my interest, if I was aware of the building during my visit (also if I knew that the building is associated with the video game Assassin's Creed!). 

View of Torre Grossa from the surroundings of the Piazza del Duomo

The Piazza del Duomo is one of the important spots for understanding the religious and political life during medieval times. A major example of this that I felt during my visit was the interior of the Cathedral of San Gimignano. At first sight, the altar and the passage looked like any other cathedral built in Florentine style, however, the life-size frescoes on both sides of the walls made this place look unique to me. 

The altar of the Cathedral of San Gimignano with frescoes on both sides of the wall

The frescoes inside the cathedral require a special mention, as it is these nicely preserved and bright creations that I love the most and do not want anyone who visits this city to miss. Even if you do not know each and every event in the Bible, the frescoes can be easily recognized as different scenes from the Old and New Testaments. These are portrayed separately on two different sides of the walls. So far, I have not witnessed frescoes anywhere that show an eventful portrayal of the Bible so vividly and dramatically.

Frescoes inside the Cathedral of San Gimignano

There are a few interesting museums that are combined with the Municipal Palace (Palazzo Comunale). Dating back to the 13th century, this building hosts many frescoes and historical artefacts related to the visit of the poet Dante Alighieri, which interested me. This also includes a visit to the Picture Gallery (Pinacoteca) showing some examples of Florentine art. At the end of the gallery, there is also the entrance to the Torre Grossa tower. If one is not an admirer of too much information and just wants to feel the place, just sitting in a corner in the courtyard and looking around can give what you want.

Entrance of Palazzo Comunale to the courtyard

The courtyard of the Palazzo Comunale caught my attention. There are some slightly worn frescoes around and a cistern dating back to the 13th century. It interested me that there are different sights to see even before entering the museums that are situated on the upper floors of the building that you see when you go further into the courtyard.

A cistern and some frescoes in the courtyard of the Palazzo Comunale

Spending a few days exploring the cityscape and outskirts of San Gimignano has been one of the best getaway holidays I've had recently. The charming medieval architecture, picturesque landscapes, and the serene atmosphere made for an unforgettable experience.

How living in a foreign land matters- an experience

Living in a new country on your own is something to experience once in your lifetime. With everyone you know thinking that you are having the best time of your life, you might be going through a feat on your own by coping with the culture of the place, its rules and regulations, and most importantly, finding new connections.

Living on my own has helped me jump out of my comfort zone and enjoy my freedom, which has made me find a lot about myself. When you start to appreciate yourself, you will even be able to celebrate your own birthday alone!

At some point in life, everyone goes through a phase of anxiety and trauma that hits them in varying degrees and angles. Me, coming from a foreign land, found my first few years very challenging to adapt to the central European culture. Though I appreciate the idea of more personal space compared to what I had in India, my home country, connecting with people required tremendous effort from my side, which wasn't easy and not one of my memorable moments. When going through tough times, I realized that there was no one noticing my struggles, as if almost invisible. Being generally shy to ask for help, I thought of helping myself out by doing small fun things alone.

At this point, on one fine day, I decided to embrace the immense personal space that I had to explore. I started by taking short visits and hikes across Switzerland, where I lived, which made me discover the immense beauty of the place in a new light. It was scary at first for a foreigner like me, who was not used to navigating everything in my life on my own, to put a foot forward. Anxiety soared many times, leading me to cancel plans by intentionally finding reasons. But eventually, I realized that I was enjoying my own company, by doing fun activities and learning from mistakes. This new confidence even made me more productive in my research. 

It all starts with pursuing what you love to do, and deciding what you want to do. Making decisions can be scary, even making a step forward for a coffee or a hike outside, but if you do it once, you find the utmost fulfillment. 

In the end, everyone has a story, with each writing style different from the other. I share mine with the hope that someone else finds theirs!

Embracing the art of authenticity: a personal journey

 

Living in a world that demands to be successful and popular, I have most of the time chosen to navigate life with a different compass. For that, it has always been important to view life with a different eye. While my profession demands adherence to facts and logic, most of the places that I have visited have been bits and pieces of my never-ending poem. 

Travel, for me, is not just about visiting destinations but about immersing myself in their essence. Take for instance, my travel to Prague. Instead of preparing for the journey by looking up video reels that say about 'ten things to do in Prague', I plundered over my interests. Each detail meticulously researched, and every corner explored with curiosity, the travel itinerary had everything I wanted including time for spontaneous plans, to eat a Trdelník (chimney cake) for instance. After I left the place, I was quite sure that I missed an important or highly recommended landmark, but the true essence of the place lingered in my mind, thus validating my approach in the end. 

From my own travel experiences, I have come to realize the importance of embracing individuality when crafting one's journey.  When one wants to travel somewhere and plans what to do, it is always good to think how another person in the same position might be thinking the same way when visiting your homeland. A European colleague of mine had asked me which places are interesting in Kerala, my homeland in India, if she is visiting. I gave this some thought. Clearly, a journey on a touristy houseboat along the backwaters of Kerala, though appealing to many others, might be too artificial for her. Experiencing the monsoon in the rainforests along the Western Ghats mountain range would definitely be interesting. In the end, it took me so much time to answer what would be interesting for her to do in Kerala, even though Kerala is one of the most beautiful places I know. This was also a reminder for me to remember when I travel that true exploration lies not in ticking off the 'must-see' sights, but in maintaining meaningful connections with the places that I visit.

Due to these reasons, I firmly believe in the power of the individual mind and its perspectives. Whether through travel, art or any creative endeavor, every interest is subjective, and every decision is connected. Though I am writing a blog for the world to see and be influenced, I think following my mind and maintaining my own style is the best way to convey ideas to the world. A unique voice and lens matter. In the end, it is all about not following the crowd, and having a signature of your own. There lies the influence.