Entering the city from the sea like Garibaldi
Strolling in the streets of Marsala during the #italiagrandsketchingtour.
The city of Marsala is famous for the Italians because Garibaldi arrived here in 1860. And from here he marched throughout the peninsula to arrive in Rome. It is from here that started the creation of Italy as we know it.
It always makes me think the idea that Italy is such a young country and that through history it was never united. You can still feel so much those differences, I experienced it every day of my trip.
I believe that Italians often forget about it, and instead of being proud of the diversities we have and the way we manage to get along as a country we just see the negative sides of the situations.
Marsala was a city that I couldn’t decipher, it is very beautiful and majestic with the richness of its palaces but at the same time it felt empty and decadent. Maybe it was the wind and the clouds or maybe the tiredness that started to hung over me and makes me sort of numb to the surrounding. I arrived to this point that probably I just need to restore, those months of travel were like a big binge and I need now the time to digest everything.
Anyway I couldn’t miss the opportunity to draw this door, it is called the Porta Nuova (New Door), one of the four entrance doors that existed and of which survive only this and the Porta Garibaldi. This door is very simple, built in the ‘500 following the style of that period. I decided to draw this one because when, on my afternoon stroll I stopped in the bar for a coffee, the guy told me a ‘secret’: few knows that on the May 11th, 1860 Garibaldi slept in the palace on the side of the door.
Title of the painting ‘Marsala Porta Nuova: The Home of Garibaldi’
This is a painting from the Italia Grand Sketching Tour Collection, a series of original ink and watercolor paintings done on location during my tour to discovery the marvelous Italian heritage. All paintings are also available as numbered and originally signed prints.
The painting is also featured in the book about my motorbike Italian tour. By acquiring this work you will get to know better Italy also thanks to a personalized story about this place that I will include in the package.
Painting information:
- Watercolor and ink on white paper
- Size 19 x 28.5 cm (7.5 x 11.2 inches)
- Shipped in a box
- Certificate of authenticity will be sent with the painting
