Janet Simmonds
@janetmary.bsky.social
Traveller, tour guide, thinker, writer.
Passionate about the journey
Venice, Istanbul, Palermo, Trieste
History of travel - grand tourists
Blog: www.educated-traveller.com
Specialist travel: www.grand-tourist.com
Passionate about the journey
Venice, Istanbul, Palermo, Trieste
History of travel - grand tourists
Blog: www.educated-traveller.com
Specialist travel: www.grand-tourist.com
#mosaicmonday A photo I took at #Ercolano #Herculaneum 2 wks ago detailed Roman-Greek mosaic style - we know it’s older than 79 AD - that’s when Vesuvius erupted + buried Herculaneum in pyroclastic material. Subjects Neptune+wife Amphitrite. tesserae size v.small 10 mm sq. superb composition+colour
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 AM
#mosaicmonday A photo I took at #Ercolano #Herculaneum 2 wks ago detailed Roman-Greek mosaic style - we know it’s older than 79 AD - that’s when Vesuvius erupted + buried Herculaneum in pyroclastic material. Subjects Neptune+wife Amphitrite. tesserae size v.small 10 mm sq. superb composition+colour
An alternative! A little Sunday morning reading!
October 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM
An alternative! A little Sunday morning reading!
Knee deep in Lucanian tomb paintings at Paestum - the ultimate rabbit hole @Cat_Bauer I’m trying to summarise the importance of Paestum! #Paestum #Lucania #grandtourist nearly there!
October 22, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Knee deep in Lucanian tomb paintings at Paestum - the ultimate rabbit hole @Cat_Bauer I’m trying to summarise the importance of Paestum! #Paestum #Lucania #grandtourist nearly there!
And then there’s Paestum - a site I adore - three brilliantly preserved Greek temples, a fantastic museum, incredible tomb paintings - my article: wp.me/p5eFNn-3gK
More coming soon x
#Paestum #temples #tombs
More coming soon x
#Paestum #temples #tombs
October 19, 2025 at 11:09 AM
And then there’s Paestum - a site I adore - three brilliantly preserved Greek temples, a fantastic museum, incredible tomb paintings - my article: wp.me/p5eFNn-3gK
More coming soon x
#Paestum #temples #tombs
More coming soon x
#Paestum #temples #tombs
The thing about Campania is that there’s everything here - sea, sun, thermal springs, archaeological ruins, boats, beaches, sunsets. More specifically, Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Pompeii, Ischia, Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano - just so much!
October 15, 2025 at 5:39 AM
The thing about Campania is that there’s everything here - sea, sun, thermal springs, archaeological ruins, boats, beaches, sunsets. More specifically, Vesuvius, Herculaneum, Pompeii, Ischia, Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano - just so much!
Touring Naples, Herculaneum and now Ischia - great to be back in the south - the film Benvenuti al Sud is just around the corner! #Vesuvius #Napoli #Maradona #Ischia #GrandTourist
October 11, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Touring Naples, Herculaneum and now Ischia - great to be back in the south - the film Benvenuti al Sud is just around the corner! #Vesuvius #Napoli #Maradona #Ischia #GrandTourist
#MosaicMonday a selection of photos of #Byzantine mosaics from the Daphne Monastery just outside Athens. Mosaics are 11th century, v similar stylistically to #Torcello mosaics. Especially the angels! 4th photo of Torcello to compare. Photos thanks to my friend Jill Crary.
September 29, 2025 at 6:53 AM
#MosaicMonday a selection of photos of #Byzantine mosaics from the Daphne Monastery just outside Athens. Mosaics are 11th century, v similar stylistically to #Torcello mosaics. Especially the angels! 4th photo of Torcello to compare. Photos thanks to my friend Jill Crary.
I thought you might approve of the company……we’ve got James Morris, John Julius Norwich and Robert Macfarlane - esteemed group! Not to mention Baedeker (1870s) and of Monsieur Snoopy! @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social
@caroline-venezia.bsky.social
@faberbooks.bsky.social
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social
@caroline-venezia.bsky.social
@faberbooks.bsky.social
September 8, 2025 at 4:11 PM
I thought you might approve of the company……we’ve got James Morris, John Julius Norwich and Robert Macfarlane - esteemed group! Not to mention Baedeker (1870s) and of Monsieur Snoopy! @pgjonesvenice.bsky.social
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social
@caroline-venezia.bsky.social
@faberbooks.bsky.social
@robgmacfarlane.bsky.social
@caroline-venezia.bsky.social
@faberbooks.bsky.social
Just over a year ago I encountered the art of Paula Nicho at the Venice Biennale - she is an incredible painter, weaver & folklore artist - creative, colourful & magical. From Guatemala. Watch out for this woman - a tour de force! My article from last year: wp.me/p5eFNn-8Mv
August 14, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Just over a year ago I encountered the art of Paula Nicho at the Venice Biennale - she is an incredible painter, weaver & folklore artist - creative, colourful & magical. From Guatemala. Watch out for this woman - a tour de force! My article from last year: wp.me/p5eFNn-8Mv
10th August ‘Notte di San Lorenzo’ in Italy, a night full of stars, ideal for engagements! Painter Giampaolo Talani painted these scenes in style of #Chagall - whilst San Lorenzo the saint suffered a more gruesome fate - mosaic in #Ravenna c. 5th century #MosaicMonday
August 11, 2025 at 6:36 AM
10th August ‘Notte di San Lorenzo’ in Italy, a night full of stars, ideal for engagements! Painter Giampaolo Talani painted these scenes in style of #Chagall - whilst San Lorenzo the saint suffered a more gruesome fate - mosaic in #Ravenna c. 5th century #MosaicMonday
Philip Gwynne Jones latest book has arrived (yesterday) I’m already on Page 143. It’s very well written, nicely constructed, great character development. Thoroughly enjoyable….
Proper review to follow soon. PJ it’s impressive - complimenti!
@pgjonesvenice.bsky.social @caroline-venezia.bsky.social
Proper review to follow soon. PJ it’s impressive - complimenti!
@pgjonesvenice.bsky.social @caroline-venezia.bsky.social
August 2, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Philip Gwynne Jones latest book has arrived (yesterday) I’m already on Page 143. It’s very well written, nicely constructed, great character development. Thoroughly enjoyable….
Proper review to follow soon. PJ it’s impressive - complimenti!
@pgjonesvenice.bsky.social @caroline-venezia.bsky.social
Proper review to follow soon. PJ it’s impressive - complimenti!
@pgjonesvenice.bsky.social @caroline-venezia.bsky.social
Very impressed with Gabriele Bella at @QueriniVenezia fantastic chronicle of 18th century Venice - fascinating relatively unknown artist. Including a women’s regatta in c. 1760 - For more: wp.me/p5eFNn-9Lz
July 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Very impressed with Gabriele Bella at @QueriniVenezia fantastic chronicle of 18th century Venice - fascinating relatively unknown artist. Including a women’s regatta in c. 1760 - For more: wp.me/p5eFNn-9Lz
Crazy busy at the moment, big group in Oxford in a week or so, then Lakes & Edinburgh. Venice (twice) then Naples, Ischia, Amalfi! It’s exhausting. No time to write ✍️ How do I make time? Please help me!
July 17, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Crazy busy at the moment, big group in Oxford in a week or so, then Lakes & Edinburgh. Venice (twice) then Naples, Ischia, Amalfi! It’s exhausting. No time to write ✍️ How do I make time? Please help me!
Mosaic Monday inspired by @Cat_Bauer yet another visit to Aquileia… photos all Mine - strongly recommended - articles that I’ve written about #Aquileia start here: wp.me/p5eFNn-9De #mosaicmonday #mosaics #Aquileia #journeys
June 9, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Mosaic Monday inspired by @Cat_Bauer yet another visit to Aquileia… photos all Mine - strongly recommended - articles that I’ve written about #Aquileia start here: wp.me/p5eFNn-9De #mosaicmonday #mosaics #Aquileia #journeys
It’s all about Austria this week as I travel in the footsteps of the Habsburgs from Schonbrunn (Vienna) to Trieste #research #grandtourist #educatedtraveller #journeys #wien #lichtenstein #Mayerling #Graz
June 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
It’s all about Austria this week as I travel in the footsteps of the Habsburgs from Schonbrunn (Vienna) to Trieste #research #grandtourist #educatedtraveller #journeys #wien #lichtenstein #Mayerling #Graz
Revisiting the exceptional 4th century BCE mosaics at Aquileia - detail, precision, story telling - just wonderful - especially like the sea monster disgorging Jonah and the escapee snail - 🐌 wp.me/p5eFNn-263
May 17, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Revisiting the exceptional 4th century BCE mosaics at Aquileia - detail, precision, story telling - just wonderful - especially like the sea monster disgorging Jonah and the escapee snail - 🐌 wp.me/p5eFNn-263
An A to Z of Venice - it’s purely personal: educated-traveller.com/2020/05/06/my-…
#venezia #laguna #grandtourist #discovery #quality #learning
#venezia #laguna #grandtourist #discovery #quality #learning
May 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
An A to Z of Venice - it’s purely personal: educated-traveller.com/2020/05/06/my-…
#venezia #laguna #grandtourist #discovery #quality #learning
#venezia #laguna #grandtourist #discovery #quality #learning
There’s something about the Venetian flag that makes me go all ‘jingoistic’ for La Serenissima and the republic x
April 27, 2025 at 5:46 AM
There’s something about the Venetian flag that makes me go all ‘jingoistic’ for La Serenissima and the republic x
Today is Festa di San Marco in Venice - it’s the day when couples present a rose to their beloved - it’s the feast day of Venice’s patron saint. Lastly it’s Liberation day in Italy (the day that Italy emerged from fascism). Here’s an article that I wrote mostly about the roses 🥀 🌹
wp.me/p5eFNn-6jy
wp.me/p5eFNn-6jy
April 25, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Today is Festa di San Marco in Venice - it’s the day when couples present a rose to their beloved - it’s the feast day of Venice’s patron saint. Lastly it’s Liberation day in Italy (the day that Italy emerged from fascism). Here’s an article that I wrote mostly about the roses 🥀 🌹
wp.me/p5eFNn-6jy
wp.me/p5eFNn-6jy
That’s interesting Cat - I didn’t know Carpaccio had painted two versions of George slaying the dragon. We can compare the two! Lots of similarities…my photos below from Scuola S Giorgio (March 2025). Painting 1502. So 10 yrs before SGM version.
April 24, 2025 at 6:03 AM
That’s interesting Cat - I didn’t know Carpaccio had painted two versions of George slaying the dragon. We can compare the two! Lots of similarities…my photos below from Scuola S Giorgio (March 2025). Painting 1502. So 10 yrs before SGM version.
Can kindness be written on your face? I think it can. You’ll be sadly missed Papa Francesco - much loved by so many. Feeling very sad. Shout out to mosaic artists of Spilimbergo who created this magnificent mosaic. #spilimbergo #pope #kindness #honour wp.me/p5eFNn-9vP
April 21, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Can kindness be written on your face? I think it can. You’ll be sadly missed Papa Francesco - much loved by so many. Feeling very sad. Shout out to mosaic artists of Spilimbergo who created this magnificent mosaic. #spilimbergo #pope #kindness #honour wp.me/p5eFNn-9vP
Getting excited about Istanbul + Türkiye trip I’ve created. Starts Istanbul 02 April. Especially keen to investigate Ottoman influence & spread thro’ Europe to Venice. From Orhan Pamuk to painter + archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey - fascinating #Türkiye #Istanbul #Ottomans #grandtourist #orhanpamuk
March 23, 2025 at 8:02 AM
Getting excited about Istanbul + Türkiye trip I’ve created. Starts Istanbul 02 April. Especially keen to investigate Ottoman influence & spread thro’ Europe to Venice. From Orhan Pamuk to painter + archaeologist Osman Hamdi Bey - fascinating #Türkiye #Istanbul #Ottomans #grandtourist #orhanpamuk
Playing with my new toy!
I love it! A little bit of Sicily today - restraint has been applied @caroline-venezia.bsky.social - note the route!
I love it! A little bit of Sicily today - restraint has been applied @caroline-venezia.bsky.social - note the route!
March 14, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Playing with my new toy!
I love it! A little bit of Sicily today - restraint has been applied @caroline-venezia.bsky.social - note the route!
I love it! A little bit of Sicily today - restraint has been applied @caroline-venezia.bsky.social - note the route!
Having fun with some little journey graphics…..inspired by Amerigo Vespucci sailing ship
March 13, 2025 at 7:40 AM
Having fun with some little journey graphics…..inspired by Amerigo Vespucci sailing ship
Let’s not be too serious! After all Snoopy is always a good idea!
Even without Woodstock!
Even without Woodstock!
March 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Let’s not be too serious! After all Snoopy is always a good idea!
Even without Woodstock!
Even without Woodstock!