Tag Archives: urban

Bar Ristorantino

This photograph captures the comfortable yet ssometimes-cruffy character that we saw in Bologna. A couple of people sit at outside tables located under on of the ubiquitous porticos, between old, weathered columns. Racks hold bicycles, also common here, and an impromptu string of lights is ready for the evening hours.

Some Italian cities that we’ve visited, especially some smaller ones, have a sort of quaint charm. Others, perhaps like Milano, can present a kind of sophistication. In others, like Florence, history seems to be at the forefront. To me, Bologna feels a bit more rough-edged and unpretentious, but in an altogether pleasing way.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Bologna Portico

We do a lot of wandering when we travel, including “random walks” in the cities we visit. On this day we simply headed out, picked a direction, and walked until it fell like time to turn around and head back. We stayed in central Bologna, the old part of the city, and an area without much vehicle traffic. On much of the walk we followed these porticos, which travel under extensions of the buildings.

The porticos are a characteristic feature of Bologna, and I understand that they have a very long history. Centuries ago, as the population of the city increased, residents extended the upper floors of buildings over the streets. Eventually the structures needed the support of the columns. Today, what began as a way to produce more living space makes the street more livable, too, since the porticos provide shelter from the weather, in particular the heat of Italian summer.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Market, Arezzo

As I have mentioned in posts accompanying previous photographs from this town, Arezzo is one of the “off the beaten tracks” Italian towns we visited during summer 2023. I don’t mean to say that it is an uninteresting or unimportant place — just that it isn’t a typical tourist destination. That was clear during our visit, when we often felt like we might be the only tourists in a restaurant or other venue.

The photograph features a look through the doorway of a small store where locals shop. The cases feature a remarkable assortments of cheeses, beans, pastas, wine, and more. On our walks through this town we were more likely to encounter such places or other local businesses and less likely to see the usual tourist shops.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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Trattoria La Tellina, Night

Some years ago, on another visit to Italy, we made a quick day trip to Siena. We were there only hours. My recollection is that we walked into the old (and large) central district, did something or a rambling loop, paused for a bite to eat, and were back on the road before long. It was far too short of a visit, so we decided to include a longer stay during our 2023 visit to Italy.

We stayed at a small hotel inside the central city, not more than a few minute’s walk from the Piazza del Campo. This little restaurant was just a few doors away, and it was the first place we ate dinner in Siena. I made the photograph a few nights later as we walked past on our way back to our hotel.


G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

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Links: Articles, Sales and Licensing, my Sierra Nevada Fall Color book, Contact Info.

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