Florence is situated right in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, surrounded by the hills of the Apennines. Over the centuries, its look was shaped by aristocratic families like the Medici, who not only nourished the arts and sciences in the city but also understood the power and beauty of architecture. At sunset, especially, the shades and forms of the city seem to come alive and paint a living picture.
In 2015, I had the privilege of revisiting the Baltic states, marvelling at magnificent medieval towns like Tallinn, and enjoying the equally beautiful nature of these countries. A few impressions.
The Palace of Rundāle is situated in southern Latvia. Far apart from any larger settlement, it is a beautiful baroque building surrounded by nature. Rundāle was erected in 1768 and planned by the renowned Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who mainly worked for the Russian Zars before and was also responsible for the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg and the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoye Selo. In Soviet times, the palace was used as a school; today, it is refurbished and houses a museum. Part of the historic site is also a beautiful English garden on the rear of the building.
Michael Hoffman Photography 