For today, I’m moving away from Sicily, but will probably return as I have a few more images to share. Instead, we’re off to Provence and staying with the Romans. I have been searching high and low for an image of the old Roman tombs in Arles, Provence. Finally found this one (a print so scanning it hasn’t produced the best image)…I am walking down this gloomy path between these ancient tombs.
The Alyscamps is actually a large Roman necropolis, apparently one of the most famous necropolises of the ancient world. It was referred to by Dante in The Inferno. This site was Arles’ main burial ground for nearly 1500 years. I found it a very sombre place.
Yes, sombre indeed.
It was, and as I recall it’s on the edge of town and I think either near an industrial area or a waste disposal area…there was ‘something’ in the air…🙁
Those trees don’t help!
😊
It is near a canal – and perhaps the name of the canal affected your nose; Canal du Craponne!
Oh my, surely that has to be the answer!!!
A great square of many many pasts
Many, indeed!
It’s a great place to wander with the ancients. And I didn’t know about the Dante reference.
I always carry images of Van Gogh and Gaugin’s paintings of the cemetery and feel more cheerful
OK, I knew they painted there.The Dante link is interesting, I didn’t know that until recently
I have been to Arles a couple of times, but never got outside the centre to visit the necropolis.
Best wishes, Pete.
I don’t recall why we went, but the old green Michelin guide probably suggested it…might look, I still have it somewhere
Nice place to walk. 😀 😀
Well, a tad gloomy.
Like Pete above, I’ve been to Arles twice but never got beyond centreville. I don’t think I’ve missed too much though, and it does look very sombre.
An interesting history