In the Via degli Orefici in the old city of Genova in the north of Italy is the doorway to a shop, nothing special really.
…but look above the doorway.
You will see a relief…Adoration of the Magi, attributed to Giovanni Gagani and dated 1460.
That it is still there intact is amazing. We wouldn’t have noticed it if a kindly local had not directed us towards it.
Italy is full of surprises like this.
It is the history living in our current wanderings of Italy that is so compelling. I enjoy your posts.
By: Abroad's View on March 28, 2014
at 6:40 pm
There is something amazing around every corner.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:23 am
The old city in Genoa is fascinating, those beautiful narrow streets… We did not see this has relief; however, we will look for it next time we visit. Thanks Debra!
By: mulino dominillo on March 28, 2014
at 6:48 pm
We were lucky to find it. There is a lot to see in Genova.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:24 am
What a great discovery. We will certainly follow your example and track down this simple doorway when we visit Genova next month. Thank you.
By: jenny on March 28, 2014
at 7:18 pm
I’m sure you will enjoy wandering the narrow streets of the old city.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:25 am
Beautiful. I am glad it is still there. Too bad about the ugly entryway underneath it.
By: Monica on March 28, 2014
at 7:25 pm
The shop is not beautiful, but at least the relief is still there.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:27 am
They are beautiful,I mean those photographs.
By: ranu802 on March 28, 2014
at 7:45 pm
It is an amazing piece of art.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:28 am
Wonderful story, thanks for sharing, Debra.
Counting the weeks until I return to Milano, probably the
first week in June. Lots of thing happening w/ writing projects.
Hope to see you again this summer!
Jack
By: Jack Erickson on March 28, 2014
at 8:16 pm
We will be here in BdL. Let me know if you come this way.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:29 am
Loved reading this one on Genoa. That relief almost goes back to Marco Polo’s time or does it miss by a century?
By: Dianne Cant on March 28, 2014
at 8:36 pm
Christopher Colombus was around about then. His house is not far away.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:31 am
How amazing is this, the age and the condition. I’m looking forward to visiting some of the places I have read about on your blog, so thank you Debra.
I will be checking out all the shop entrances!! We are coming from Australia, have already booked a couple of night in Lucca. So looking forward to enjoying the area.
By: Denise on March 28, 2014
at 10:20 pm
I’m sure you will love Lucca. It is a gorgeous place. Enjoy a walk around the wall.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:32 am
So detailed! It’s amazing that it is still intact.
By: Jim & Kerry on March 28, 2014
at 11:04 pm
Incredible that it can be hundreds of years old and look as good as that.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:35 am
Such detail – it goes to show that in Italy you need to always look up to see such wonderful discoveries
By: Helen Close on March 29, 2014
at 12:36 am
You need to have eyes everywhere in Italy to take it all in.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:36 am
I think the clash with all the ‘new’ bits – the shop front. the stickers and our beloved cables and wires 😉 just makes the work feel even more precious and magical for having survived. A fabulous find Deb! x
By: janinevasta on March 29, 2014
at 2:47 am
Lucky for us an old gentleman stopped us for a chat. He was so proud of his town and wanted to share it with us.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:38 am
Beautiful!!
By: simplysands on March 29, 2014
at 4:39 am
I think it is stunning. I wonder how they care for it.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:39 am
Wonderful thanks for pointing it out – there’s a blog at http://dearmissfletcher.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/ladorazione-dei-magi-in-via-orefici-un-presepe-di-caruggi/ which also mentions the same but yours is the first mention in English.
By: Francis on March 29, 2014
at 5:13 am
Thanks Francis. She obviously gives much more description than I do, but my photos are more clear I think.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:42 am
Fantastic. Thank you for showing us this. We’re planning to go to Genoa in the summer and will seek this out.
By: chris oconnor on March 29, 2014
at 11:26 am
I’m sure you will enjoy wandering in this amazing city.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:43 am
Amazing artwork to be hanging above a door of an unassuming shop. Hard to believe that it’s still there after all this time, intact and not damaged. Great find!
By: Jackie Cangro on March 29, 2014
at 4:25 pm
I couldn’t find any damage at all, it is amazing.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:44 am
Italy truly is full of surprises! What a find…it’s a high relief where the figures are standing way out from the background. So lifelike. Thank you for sharing this.
By: timelessitaly on March 29, 2014
at 8:35 pm
It is incredibly lifelike, even to the expressions on the faces.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:45 am
It is incredible the detail that still remains! 😮
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on March 30, 2014
at 12:14 am
Someone must be keeping an eye on it. I’m surprised it was not covered by glass.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:47 am
Wow! Amazing….so much detail!
By: Pauline on March 30, 2014
at 12:31 am
It is great that it is still there.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:48 am
What a pleasant surprise. If I recall, Genova’s Old City is one of your favorites.
By: aFrankAngle on March 30, 2014
at 1:56 am
It is a terrible place to get into. The maze of streets is incredible. Our Satnav to us to a nonexistent car park and we ended up in a tiny dead end alley and we had an awful time getting out. Next time we will take the train., but it is a fabulous place to see.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:51 am
Is a train station close to the old city?
By: aFrankAngle on March 31, 2014
at 10:11 am
We haven’t tried that way yet, but it can’t be all that far. It has to be better than driving.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 6:17 pm
That’s beautiful! I was in Italy recently and noticed many similar things. Maybe not all with the same pedigree, but the ancient and the modern side by side everywhere we went. It’s not something we are used to here in the US. It’s part of what makes Italy and other parts of Europe so magical for me. Thanks for all the lovely pictures – I can’t wait to go back and I’ll be looking for some of the places you have introduced me to.
By: Paula on March 30, 2014
at 2:57 pm
Our modern cities in Australia don’t offer the interesting old things we find in Italy either…one of the reasons we love it here.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:53 am
Really lovely, Debra. 🙂
By: anotherday2paradise on March 30, 2014
at 3:46 pm
Thank you, it was a great find.
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:54 am
What a gem – and so much detail…
By: Suzanne Courtney on March 30, 2014
at 6:25 pm
Amazing, isn’t it?
By: Debra Kolkka on March 31, 2014
at 4:55 am
That is incredible, and one of the reasons I love Italy (and Europe) is exactly this kind of thing. What an amazing example of history, art, culture, skill, appreciation…
By: Where's Wiwi? on April 1, 2014
at 11:06 am
Love that carving 🙂
By: Wandering Iris on April 2, 2014
at 7:38 am
Amazingly beautiful. We see so many people walking around with their faces in a map, and missing so many sights….look up, people! You are missing your vacation!! LOL!
By: Our Kitchen Inventions on April 2, 2014
at 1:15 pm
Nativity scene carvings … I love it. Though, it reminds more of the carving on the Arche de Triomphe in Paris.
By: rommel on April 5, 2014
at 3:45 am