The new house in Bologna

I’ve been pretty busy here in Bologna since Laura’s move here on July 20th. First there was the unpacking of a huge number of boxes, putting everything away somewhere, installing the bookshelf on the wall, clothes in the armoires, etc. The list was a long one but now the house is pretty well organized. Still we need to put a bunch of pictures on the walls. So finally I can show a glimpse of the house.

First a photo of the exterior of the house from across the street.

You can also see 3 smaller windows under the 3 big ones. That’s also part of our place. It’s like a mezzanine with a guest room and laundry room (that also has a bathroom.

The larger one beneath the window is from World War II. It says “Help request during air raids Via Zamboni 13 telephone number 33 516 – 23 190 – 34 076” (3 telephone numbers). Parts of Bologna were heavily bombed during WWII because it is has a major railway station. The allies tried to not bomb much of the city but the bombing technology in that period was not terribly accurate so there was quite a bit of damage in some other parts of the city.

The smaller plaque says ” The facade, recently remodeled, retains capitals from the 16th century portico. Inside there is a monumental staircase by Alfonso Torreggiani, built in 1732, when Lorenzo Panzacchi transformed the inside of the building.” So the building has been here since the 16th century – about 500 years ago. Torreggiani must be the name of the architect and Panzacchi the owner at the time (he was a nobleman- a Count).

Carducci was a very influential Italian poet who was the first Italian to win a Nobel Prize in literature. So it’s a pretty big deal to have a eulogy on the wall written by him. It was pretty difficult to translate so it’s a bit of an approximation. The plaque says:

“Here lived and in February 20, 1890 died Oreste Regnoli , who honored the jurist legal profession with interpretation and righteousness, university professor, instructor who served the homeland, fighter, legislator and ruler in difficult and glorious years with an ancient soul who gave to all the height of courtesy of manners. He was born in Forli ‘on February 24, 1816”

Giosue’ Carducci

First you see the electric meters (which are hidden inside and accessible only with a key. Then there is the big gate and a view of the long entryway with high ceilings and big chandeliers followed by the mailboxes.

Certainly an impressive stairway and the LARGE decorative window one the left shows a large terrace.

Our apartment is on the 1st floor but since the ceilings are so high it is effectively on the 2nd floor, i.e. you go up two flights of stairs but press 1 in the elevator for the desired floor.

Last Saturday evening I took a video from the window facing the street. Life is almost back to normal now. People wear mask at least when near others and it’s obligatory in any enclosed space, stores, autobus, taxi. So hopefully the virus will stay under control here until an effective cure and a vaccine are readily available.

Stay tuned for part 2. And of course I love comments!

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