I was excited to discover that after his banishment Odo went to Palermo to his fellow Normans and is buried in Palermo Cathedral. (Somewhere!) pic: mine of the crypt.
December 20, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I was excited to discover that after his banishment Odo went to Palermo to his fellow Normans and is buried in Palermo Cathedral. (Somewhere!) pic: mine of the crypt.
#MosaicMonday - detail from early 12th C La Martorana church in Palermo built as an act of worship by George of Antioch, Admiral of Sicily.
December 15, 2025 at 6:24 PM
#MosaicMonday - detail from early 12th C La Martorana church in Palermo built as an act of worship by George of Antioch, Admiral of Sicily.
TY encouraged me to see the first episode. Disappointed not to hear a mention of Galla Placidia,sister of Honorius, abducted by Alaric & later married to next Goth King Ataulf who then allied with Honorius. Daughter,sister wife & mother of Kings, Emperors and Regent in her own right.Tomb in Ravenna.
November 30, 2025 at 8:06 AM
TY encouraged me to see the first episode. Disappointed not to hear a mention of Galla Placidia,sister of Honorius, abducted by Alaric & later married to next Goth King Ataulf who then allied with Honorius. Daughter,sister wife & mother of Kings, Emperors and Regent in her own right.Tomb in Ravenna.
Yes 5 days in Palermo exploring the Arab Norman unesco sites !
November 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Yes 5 days in Palermo exploring the Arab Norman unesco sites !
I was at Mon Réale in Sicily last month gazing at a mosaic of St Thomas a Becket. The cathedral was being built directly after Beckets canonisation by the Norman king William 11 of Sicily. Isn’t history just enthralling ! I also discovered Bishop Odo was buried in the Norman Palermo Cathedral.
November 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I was at Mon Réale in Sicily last month gazing at a mosaic of St Thomas a Becket. The cathedral was being built directly after Beckets canonisation by the Norman king William 11 of Sicily. Isn’t history just enthralling ! I also discovered Bishop Odo was buried in the Norman Palermo Cathedral.
so interesting to hear about the 13th C Westminster Retable, painted by a Spaniard and its rel’shp to Cosmati pavement. I’m just back from Palermo & its Arab-Norman fusion wondering if the octagonal motif is moorish. Also pictured the original floor at Mon Réale 12th C @bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social
October 23, 2025 at 3:58 PM
so interesting to hear about the 13th C Westminster Retable, painted by a Spaniard and its rel’shp to Cosmati pavement. I’m just back from Palermo & its Arab-Norman fusion wondering if the octagonal motif is moorish. Also pictured the original floor at Mon Réale 12th C @bendorgrosvenor.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday (Norman) King Roger 11 of Sicily’s bedroom or dining room in the Norman Palace in Palermo. 12th C. One of many Arab/Norman UNESCO sites in Palermo. My pics 😎
October 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
#MosaicMonday (Norman) King Roger 11 of Sicily’s bedroom or dining room in the Norman Palace in Palermo. 12th C. One of many Arab/Norman UNESCO sites in Palermo. My pics 😎
#FunghiFriday Bignor/Sutton border, West Sussex
October 4, 2025 at 10:49 PM
#FunghiFriday Bignor/Sutton border, West Sussex
I wonder if this is calathea - (mallow) celebrated in Ravenna mosaics as a healing plant used post meteor climate change in the ensuing plague ….. very distinctly pink tipped white flower …. 🧐 (yes that’s a fridge magnet!)
August 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
I wonder if this is calathea - (mallow) celebrated in Ravenna mosaics as a healing plant used post meteor climate change in the ensuing plague ….. very distinctly pink tipped white flower …. 🧐 (yes that’s a fridge magnet!)
#MosaicMonday detail from Galla Placidia Mausoleum ceiling 5th C Ravenna but copied from earlier 5thC church in Rome.
August 18, 2025 at 3:16 PM
#MosaicMonday detail from Galla Placidia Mausoleum ceiling 5th C Ravenna but copied from earlier 5thC church in Rome.
Great to see you @butserancientfarm.co.uk today! We had a fab time
August 13, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Great to see you @butserancientfarm.co.uk today! We had a fab time
#MosiacMonday ‘House of the Stone Carpets’ in Ravenna discovered under a church in 1993/4: mosaic floors 1-6th C. Very early daisy shape floor found under later but still early floors. Highly recommended to visit.
August 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM
#MosiacMonday ‘House of the Stone Carpets’ in Ravenna discovered under a church in 1993/4: mosaic floors 1-6th C. Very early daisy shape floor found under later but still early floors. Highly recommended to visit.
#TombTuesday the tomb of Theodoric, King of the Goths in Ravenna, Italy - 6th Century. Aurisina marble from Trieste with 270 ton monolithic dome which “has no equals in ancient or modern architecture” (UNESCO) bridges Roman and goth architectural styles.
July 29, 2025 at 5:46 PM
#TombTuesday the tomb of Theodoric, King of the Goths in Ravenna, Italy - 6th Century. Aurisina marble from Trieste with 270 ton monolithic dome which “has no equals in ancient or modern architecture” (UNESCO) bridges Roman and goth architectural styles.
Born jn 1954 I remember the Corona cart coming by horse - my mum refused to buy but went after the horses with a bucket for her dahlias ….
July 27, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Born jn 1954 I remember the Corona cart coming by horse - my mum refused to buy but went after the horses with a bucket for her dahlias ….
@nedboulting.bsky.social HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ned ! Tried to find ITV at Saint Malo today but no luck ! Fantastic morning at the Tour though, supporting Geraint in his last Tour
July 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
@nedboulting.bsky.social HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ned ! Tried to find ITV at Saint Malo today but no luck ! Fantastic morning at the Tour though, supporting Geraint in his last Tour
#MosiacMonday St Apollinaire Nuovo (Ravenna) 6th C King Theodoric & his Court were bricked over in gold mosiac (later Arian belief backlash) but a courtier’s hand got left behind on the column ! @drrjwarren.bsky.social
June 23, 2025 at 4:23 PM
#MosiacMonday St Apollinaire Nuovo (Ravenna) 6th C King Theodoric & his Court were bricked over in gold mosiac (later Arian belief backlash) but a courtier’s hand got left behind on the column ! @drrjwarren.bsky.social
#MosaicMonday @drrjwarren.bsky.social back to 6th C Ravenna or Classe to be exact at San Apollinaire di Classe
June 16, 2025 at 8:42 AM
#MosaicMonday @drrjwarren.bsky.social back to 6th C Ravenna or Classe to be exact at San Apollinaire di Classe
Aw …. I’ve got a fluffy blackbird fledge flapping and floundering around my garden and a flurry of new baby sparrows like the twittering bluebirds in Disney’s Cinderella.
June 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Aw …. I’ve got a fluffy blackbird fledge flapping and floundering around my garden and a flurry of new baby sparrows like the twittering bluebirds in Disney’s Cinderella.
@drrjwarren.bsky.social concert last night at San Vitale Ravenna celebrating 500 anniversary of Palestrina - absolutely astonishing and in that setting ….
June 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
@drrjwarren.bsky.social concert last night at San Vitale Ravenna celebrating 500 anniversary of Palestrina - absolutely astonishing and in that setting ….
#MosiacMonday the breathtaking 6th century San Vitale in Ravenna - twinned with Chichester but I find that a tad embarrassing ….. @drrjwarren.bsky.social
June 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
#MosiacMonday the breathtaking 6th century San Vitale in Ravenna - twinned with Chichester but I find that a tad embarrassing ….. @drrjwarren.bsky.social
I rescued and developed a hedgerow at bottom of my garden - so satisfying - now dense green foliage, spindleberries and blackthorn doing particularly well. Both pics are After. Before was broken wire fence/overgrown ivy on beaten up hawthorns. Feb&May.
May 21, 2025 at 5:49 PM
I rescued and developed a hedgerow at bottom of my garden - so satisfying - now dense green foliage, spindleberries and blackthorn doing particularly well. Both pics are After. Before was broken wire fence/overgrown ivy on beaten up hawthorns. Feb&May.
Lovely ! I was talking about it yesterday at Herstmonceaux as I felt the gardens there inspired by Great Dixter ! Absolutely gorgeous in both cases !
May 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Lovely ! I was talking about it yesterday at Herstmonceaux as I felt the gardens there inspired by Great Dixter ! Absolutely gorgeous in both cases !
I bet - I thought the ones I saw on South Downs yday were amazing until I saw your field !!! You’ll need to zoom in 😂
May 8, 2025 at 8:46 AM
I bet - I thought the ones I saw on South Downs yday were amazing until I saw your field !!! You’ll need to zoom in 😂