This first postcard from Rome, Italy, features the exhibition of the azaleas at Trinità dei Monti.Construction on the church of the Santissima Trinità dei Monti was begun in 1502 by French invader Louis XII. But the building was not finished and consecrated until 1585, under the direction of Pope Sixtus V.
The double staircase in front of the church was designed by Renaissance architect Domenico Fontana, who is better known for coordinating the feat of engineering needed for the 1586 erection of a 327-ton ancient Egyptian obelisk that serves as the centerpiece of Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City.1
As for the azaleas, according to the Activitaly website: "Since 1951 in April and May a great exhibition of azaleas gives to the stairway a particular fascination."
Here is today's second postcard...
This one is from Sorrento, Italy, and is branded on the back as being from Tony's Shop, which offered inlaid wood work, linen, laces, blouses and handkerchiefs. It was mailed during Christmas 1962 with a 15-lire stamp.
So what's going on in this postcard? I'm looking for caption suggestions, which you should include in the comments section below, along with your name. Whoever comes up with the best caption gets both of today's postcards, plus some other ephemeral goodies!
Caption away!
Footnote
1. The "feat of engineering" required 900 men, 75 horses and the intricate coordination of numerous pulleys and ropes over the course of 13 months. This is now the only obelisk in Rome that has not toppled since Roman times.
OK, to be clear, I do not wish to win the ephemera - but I have to start it off. He's totally saying "If I have a trussed-up horse, and YOU have a trussed-up horse, I RIDE YOUR HORSE."
ReplyDeleteObviously.
Honest, all I said was "Beam me up, Scotty", and I just turned up here.
ReplyDeleteAttention People Posting As Anonymous: You have to give me at least some hint of who you are if you want to win the Contest! I am not a psychic from one of those info-mercials!
ReplyDelete"Sorry, Dear, the Horse is better dressed and looks better than you!"
ReplyDeleteNot playing the caption game, but I absolutely love the first pic. I didn't see that when I was in Rome, darn it!
ReplyDelete"... and so, Madam, Shake Weights are a flab-busting breakthrough. They trim your arms and shape your shoulders at the same time!
ReplyDelete"(Giggling) Did the carriage driver not get the memo?"
ReplyDeleteaswope@hotmail.com
Chris,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the wonderful packet of postcards and assorted interesting ephemera. I am really enjoying looking through the assortment and reading the interesting articles in the pre war Women's magazine. I really appreciate the many assorted pieces of interesting paper items. I can't tell you how exciting it was to win the contest. Thanks again.
Jim Fahringer