Cagliari (Cemetery Bonaria and Art Class)
|
Tuesday 17th February – Cagliari (Cemetery Bonaria and Art Class) 39:12.064N 9:07.510E
Today we woke up early and as the sun was shining we went for a walk to make the most of the good weather.
We found ourselves by the old city cemetery of Bonaria, just behind the large nearby church (Basilica di Nostra Signora di Bonaria), and it was open. A number of people had recommended a visit to the cemetery (due to it being of interest rather than us having offended, we hope) and so we went in.
They are used to visitors and have a small information centre with leaflets and a map of the cemetery. Armed with a map we wandered around for a couple of hours – and although a visit to the local cemetery is not usually high on the list of priorities and may sound a bit creepy, it was anything but. It is a really unusual and interesting place.
The cemetery was inaugurated on the 1st of January 1829. Near the entrance are some remains from when the hillside was used as a necropolis back in Punic-Roman times, and then the cemetery extends out beyond it. The cemetery has been extended many times over the years, right up the hillside. As well as many individual family mausoleums, there are long lines of buildings with row upon row of tombs. Also the cemetery has many sculptures by Sardinian and mainland artists who worked in Cagliari in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Fadda, Sartorio, Sarrocchi, Galavoni).
[Whilst we probably shouldn’t say this, the cemetery was also impressive for the many bright yellow wheelie bins and the very smart red bus for taking people around the grounds.]
Next door to the cemetery is a park with paths which lead you past old caves in the hillside to the top of the hill, from where you can look out across to the city and down to the harbour.
On the way back we visited one of the chandleries and managed to secure some antifoul ready to paint Pyxis when we manage to get her out of the water.
After lunch I went up to the gazebo to join in the water colour class – the classes are twice a week and organised by Delores from one of the other boats. This was my first visit and I’ve never painted before but the regulars made me very welcome. Delores lent me brushes, paper and paints and supervised my efforts, and Sarah and Lynne provided suitable encouragement. After Delores had earned a gold medal for patience, she was able to send me home with my very first water colour. I even have homework!
Whilst I was painting, Richard tackled the seized brakes on my bike and has managed to fix the front brake so far, the rear brake is proving more difficult to fix, maybe a new cable if the grease does not work overnight.
Cagliari: Around cemetery Bonaria
Cagliari: The cemetery bus
Cagliari: Views towards the city
Water colour: An original Karen
|
