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The Doge's Summer Palace
The Villa, although really a Palace Our wonderful guide and interpreter is having a well deserved rest from us today. After a leisurely start, Piero, Pierina, Lindsay and I headed to Condroipo to visit a Villa Manin originally owned by the Doge of Venice. It is set in the countryside, not too far from Udine to the north east. It is now run by a trust it seems but someone lives in the top storey. The Doge must have poured money into the property as it is palatial with huge grounds, beautiful trees, statues, paths, ponds and walls. Nothing has been spared. We first visited the Chapel which has incredible statues, paintings, ceiling frescoes and carving done in stone. Stories could be told by reading the carvings - Eve tempting Adam; the Devil confronting Adam after he had succumbed to disobedience; heaven and hell. The floor was stone inlay as well. Next was the carraige display of many different types of transport used in the horse and cart times. Next to that was the armory of swords, spears, guns and other ghastly implements for killing. The armor must have been almost impossible to move in since it looked so heavy and cumbersome. I think I'd settle for a bullet rather than the awful implements we saw.
We then walked around the huge estate which was set out in paths and groves of lovely trees. It was very nice indeed and you could imagine the women hoi poloi wandering along the paths in their best clothes while the men went out hunting.
Inside we visited the room that Napolean had used when he stayed there. He must have been a little man as the bed seemed very small. There also an art exhibition of recent artists be displayed in the Villa. Compared to the last exhibition we visited, this time the art was mostly good and some very good. However, there was the usual rubbish that a person would have to be insane to have painted such pictures. I wonder who the selectors are - perhaps they are nutty too.
We visited a country restaurant at Sterpo by the Stella river not far from the Villa for lunch. There were four of us but the lady who served us had enough to feed 10 people. We had gnocchi for starters which was very nice, then 3 different meats with polenta. We'd never had polenta and it is okay but nothing to write home about. Even thought there were two interested looking dogs about, we took the rest of the food in a doggie back for us.
After some time reading in the afternoon, at 5pm Lindsay and I got some instructions for somewhere to bike since it had cooled down a little. It has been up to 32degrees today and just too hot to get out and do anything.
Tonight we learned how to play Briscola, a card game with different pictures and values than we are used to. Piero had obviously played this game a lot in his life time and was just too smart for us. Good for Lindsay though since he was his partner!
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