Well, I undervalued Warszaw. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the polish Capital, and I wasn’t in high spirts at 6.30 am weaking up to take train from Widzew Lodz railway station to Central Warszaw, starting point of the trip.

Once in Warszaw, I reached to Ujazdowski Park, built in 1893. Alfons Grotkowski created the waterfall and water supply; along its leafy autumnal avenues you’ll find two monuments. The first represents MarshallJozef Pilsudski, the second the statue of Fryderyk Chopin, a great scenario for open air concert.

Renewed in 2002, there are many special features: weird species of bushes,a new trellis, a modern playground and decorative street lamps. There are many specimens of rare trees species growing in the park, as maidenhair, black walnuts…

Palace on the Isle

Łazienki Park is huge, a dense grid of main roads and paths leading towards the Historical Center (UNESCO Heritage); the crown jewel is the Palace on the Isle, summer residence of King Stanislaw Poniatowski.

Very close to the Palace there is also an ellenic-style Amphiteather designed by the dutch architect   Tielman van Gameren.  

In the Royal Garden I had also the time to…strut out!

If the outside of the Palace is wonderful, you have to create another word to describe it inside. On the first floor,  there’s a wonderful sculpture by the Antonio Canova, Venus Italica. It is not the only remind to classical myths; that’s a statue depicting Atlas holding the world on his strong shoulders !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You remain amazed about how many beautiful painting and rich rooms decorate the Palace.

Abraham Van den Tempel

Portrait of a Noble Family (1672) was painted by the Dutch master to celebrate the noble status of the family. The father of the family, according to a well-established tradition, wanted to emphasize the distinct roles of his wife, privileged by a woman free from the need to work, and her husband powerful and wearing a black dress, a symbol of pride and self-esteem. To the right of the couple, a young girl offers a basket of apples to the wife.

The Solomon’s room is another interesting place.

Rectangular layout, frescoes by Marcello Bacciarelli.

The paintings tell the story of King Solomon (a tribute to Polish King Stanislaw) and various episodes about him (dream, judgment, temple discussion). The rich ornament intensifies the sensation of grandeur, derived from a glorious past, a ploy used in a little flashy gouache on top left by the Russian painter Dymitrowicz. The other paintings in the hall carry the signature of Le Brun, Pfelsch and Louis Falconet.

The Historical Center

Starting from the Palace to the Center, 40 minutes needed to complete the Trakt Krolewski, the Royal Street.

I arrive to Royal Castle’s Place, the place of declaration of Constitution of 3 May(1791) , the first in Europe.
During the Second World War the Royal Castle was destroyed, today it is a museum. Not to be missed some original paintings by Rembrandt and Canaletto. Warszaw’s views of Canaletto were very important in understanding how to rebuild damaged parts of the city. Left to the Castle, the statue of Zygmunt III.

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Before arriving at the last stop of tour (Barbacane), I decide to check the atmosphere in Market Square (Rynek). It is interesting to see how are  the buildings: pastel colors, in the Nordic style, with often pretty bas-reliefs and artistic decorations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, the Barbacane: the Renaissance defensive fortress was created by an Italian, Giovan Battista Veneziano, although its effectiveness lasted a few years due to the evolution of artillery.