The Bauhaus

Stephan and Sandra are standing in front of the Bauhaus school of architecture and design (photo thanks to Matt). The two houses at right are examples of German modernist architecture. The 'Meisterhaussiedlung', far right was designed for the artists Kandinsky and Klee who taught at the Bauhaus.

The home of Lucas Cranach the Elder

We also visited the town of Wittenberg, home to artist Lucas Cranach the Elder who lived and worked there in the 1500s. The house he lived in (above left) is still standing, with a little help from its neighbours. Cranach used the winged snake as a signature on his works.

Ferropolis

We hired a car and visited Ferropolis, a former strip mine which is no longer operational and has been turned into a park and museum. There are five of these giant industrial machines which you can climb onto, and there are child-size ones in the playground which were cool fun. Thanks to Sandra for the pic.

the streets of Leipzig

There are a lot of beautiful old apartment buildings in Leipzig, but also some interesting smaller homes. The one above right would not suit arachnophobics. I thought the giant industrial pipes in the streets were pretty interesting too.

Volkerschlachtdenkmal

This huge monument in Leipzig was completed in 1913. We climbed the 500 or more steps to the viewing platform at the top, passing these 'guards of the dead' which were sculpted by Franz Metzner.

the spinnerei

The Spinnerei complex in Leipzig used to be an actual spinning factory and there is now a museum there which includes photographs of the workers. These days there are some great galleries there, also artists' studios and some interesting wall art.

home cooking!

This was our first home-cooked meal in a while, and it was delicious, thanks to Gerd in Leipzig.

Villa Borghese gardens

Roman ruins

The Vatican Museum

and now to Rome

some unusual stone work, Asissi

and from the streets of Asissi...

The street art in the old part of Asissi generally shares a common theme. There is very little 'interventionist' work. The spraypainted Jesus appeared overnight but would probably not last very long as the police were already in attendance when we passed by.

Evening, Asissi

tattoo studio, Asissi

A view from the Fortezza Medicea, Arezzo