In contrast to the Illuminism and the rational thinking, the XIX century showed the blooming of Romanticism.
As an homage to the ellenic Art, this period (1800-1850) gave the impulse in several parts of Europe to the building of loecus amenus full immersed in the nature.
individualism, self consciousness and subjectiveness were the new mantras and Lord Byron and Charles Baudelaire were maybe the most famous example.
It was really surprising for me to discover a place called Arkadia in the small municipality of Nieborow.
A little oasis of frehsness between Łodz and Łowicz.
I have to thank Juan(ito) and Justyna because otherwise I should follow to ignore this place.
Be prepared: bring some flies-spray because we were literally devored by dozen of annoying mosquitos!
Arkadia
Then, the crew discovered the English Garden Park set up by Helena Radziwiłł in 1779 with the designers Szymon Bogumil Zug and Henryk Ittar .
Obviously a lot of references to the myths of Greek architecture: here I want to talk you a bit about the great Temple of Diana, the hunt’s Goddess.
The construction of classical proportions is based on four Ionic columns.
Under the timpanum facing the pond we can see the inscription ‘Dove pace trovai d’ogni mia guerra’ (it was here that I found peace after each of the battles).
The temple shows the Vestibule, the Etruscan Cabinet and the Oval Bedroom.
Aleksander Orlowski wanted to build a scene presenting Cupid and Psyche and the walls were decorated with paintings of Etruscan vases.
Really interesting also the Acqueduct of Queen Helena and the ‘ Mouth of the truth’: without doubt clear homages to the Roman empire.
Another interesting story to learn it is about the sentence ET IN ARCADIA EGO…
The literal translation of “Et in Arcadia Ego” is “Even in Arcadia, there am I’.
It’s the title of a famous painting of Nicolas Poussin, the enfant prodige of French Baroque.
Poussin’s earliest biographer, Giovan Pietro Bellori, understood the ‘I’ of the phrase to refer to Death, thus making the painting a memento mori, reminding the viewer that even in the blissful utopia of Arcadia, death still exists.
Łowicz
After the whole visit of the park (2 hours approx) we decided to eat something good and typical of the Lowicz county.
Here below what I took, a sort of potatoes gnocchi tipped by goat cheese.
Discover Łowicz was a surprise: the town was the residence of Polish primates in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
They served as regents when the town became a temporary “capital” of Poland during; further, Łowicz has an important ethnographic museum (Muzeum w Łowiczu) exhibiting Polish art.
Blue light majolikas coming from Italy, Spain and France and a lot of interesting pieces, you cannot lose this lovely museum.
Also, Łowicz features a popular skansen with traditional wooden houses: I found less interesting but it’s worthy to give a glimpse.
The city has also a nice Synagoga (Dawna), who is a witness of the Jewish influence over there: before World War II around 30% of the inhabitans were Jewish.
Near the town is the Maurzyce Bridge, the first welded road-bridge in the world, built in 1928 across the river Słudwia.
Last but not least, in the main square you’ll find all the signs referred to twinnings between this nice Polish town and other European ones, included our Saluzzo.
In conclusion, if you want to have an unusual trip in a quiet but interesting place, Łowicz could be an excellent choice.