A diversion to Italy - Part 1.

A diversion from my normal blog on British subjects with a recent trip to Italy and the Amalfi Coast.

After the required visit to Pompeii (interesting, but too hot to really appreciate it) a walk up Vesuvius (dusty and busy) was worth the effort. I was disappointed by the lack of on site 'interpretation' and found the shacks selling tourist tat on the top of Vesuvius an eyesore.

The Amalfi Coast offers a fantastic location with hair-raising coast roads and interesting clusters of local buildings seemingly stuck to the mountain sides. I saw a similarity to the Isle of Portland in Dorset - houses piled high one on top of another, with cliffs rising from the sea (but without the expensive apartments and clear blue water).

Baroque churches with coloured tiled domes and over decorated interiors are a feature of the local towns. The style of decoration reminds me of fairground art - lots of bright colours, gold leaf, reflections and coloured lights. There's no concern about using unsuitable lamps in traditional fitments, such as low energy bulbs in sliver candlesticks on alters and exposed strip lights making them look more like market stalls than churches .

cont...

Watts Gallery, Compton, Surrey

I was privileged to have a preview of Watts Gallery recently before it opens to the public on 18 June. The only gallery in this country dedicated to a single artist, who was considered to be one of the great Victorian painters.

An excellent restoration of the building and a fantastic setting for his works. What a change from the gallery I remember, first visited in 1970 you had to ring the doorbell and after some delay the curator would let you in and show you around (not many people knew of the gallery in those days) it was dull and damp and the paintings were difficult to see, let alone appreciate!

Even if Watts work is sometimes overbearing (and over large) a visit to the gallery is a must, its just down the A3 from Guildford.