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Author:

Ms (Leigh) Bella St John aka Luxurious Nomad ~ https://ElegantisVitae.com/

Exploring Dolo in provincial mainland Venice

Dolo rests on the Brenta River, the waterway that connected Venice/Venezia to Padua/Padova.

During mostly the 1500s, the Venetian aristocracy built grand country homes in this area to escape the city and enjoy large gardens and hunting grounds – of which my amazing villa is one such grand country home.

Around the 16th century, Dolo was the heart of the economy and craftsmanship of Riviera del Brenta, with mills, post offices, locks and the only ‘squero’ where boats were built.

This is the oldest part of town…

There is sooooo much more to see here, but this is at least a quick snapshot to give you an idea of how lovely it is – and only about 30 minutes from Venice!

~ Bella

My Italian villa on the Riviera del Brenta

Welcome to my home for the next month…

I even have my own mini-villa in the grounds of this glorious estate… and I love my morning ritual of opening all the shutters…  This is the view from my bathroom…

…view from my bedroom…

…and view from my front door…

This villa is also part of the estate but was damaged first in the earthquake of 2012 then in the hurricane of 2016.  They are hoping to raise enough money to restore it…

Buonasera…

~ Bella

Hello Italy and Lake Como

The first place I stayed was a delightful little family-run hotel near Lake Como.

The next morning, continuing my drive across from Milan to Venice, I drove around lovely Lake Como… complete with skinny, windy roads and crazy Italian drivers!

Oh, and this was the bus going the other way that clipped my mirror…

Despite appearances to the contrary, this is a road with traffic going both directions…

Parking with wifi cameras?

~ Bella

Farewell to the UK

All packed and ready for another adventure, this time to the Riviera del Brenta in Italy.

My flight departed from Edinburgh, so I decided to stay a couple of days in Dalmahoy, a lovely 18th century mansion – also where James VI of Scotland (who became James I of England) stayed in 1589 in the castle that was on the site before the current building.

…and I had booked one of their prettiest rooms – only to find when I arrive that it is at the top of the oldest part of the hotel and there is no elevator (look down and down and down at those staircases)……………  oh, well…  I just had to consider it part of my physio…  🙂

Friday was a bit wet and dreary, and since there were three movies at the cinema I wanted to see and the nearest cinema was one of the type with comfy armchairs – I decided to see them all!

‘Judy’ – followed by ‘Ad Astra’ – followed by ‘Downton Abbey’.

…and home in time for cocktails…

At the airport, there was pandemonium when it was announced that only one piece of hand luggage was allowed…

Flying over the River Forth…

…and buongiorno Italia…

   

Picked up my rental car and stayed overnight at a cute little family-run place just near Lake Como… but more on that in my next post…

~ Bella

Exploring Ayrshire

Even more ‘Outlander’ locations on this lovely drive through Ayrshire…

Btw, I don’t know if you can tell from the photos, but these speed ‘bumps’ are about 10″ high!!!

Dunure Harbour and Castle…

In ‘Outlander’, the little harbour in the village of Dunure in Ayrshire stood in for Ayr Harbour as Claire and Jamie left Scotland in pursuit of Young Ian. Less than a mile away is Dunure Castle that featured as Silkie Island in season three. The harbour featured again in season four, where Brianna and Roger were reunited in Wilmington, North Carolina.

~ Bella

Linlithgow Palace

Birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, Linlithgow Palace and”once a majestic royal residence of the Stewarts, Linlithgow Palace today lies roofless and ruined. Yet entering the palace gates still inspires awe in visitors.

James I ordered work on a palace to begin in 1424, following a fire that severely damaged the earlier residence. The elegant, new ‘pleasure palace’ became a welcome rest stop for royals on the busy road between Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle.

The Stewart queens especially liked the peace and fresh air, and Linlithgow Palace served as the royal nursery for:

  • James V – born 1512
  • Mary Queen of Scots – born 1542
  • Princess Elizabeth – born 1596

But the palace fell quickly into decline when James VI moved the royal court to London in 1603, following his coronation as James I of England.” [Historic Scotland]

…and my camera decided to have a life of its own but thought I would include the photos so you can see what a glorious day it was and such a lovely view from the vehicle…

  

…back past the Kelpies…

…and home for a dip in the spa…  Not a bad day, all in all…  🙂

~ Bella

 

Blackness Castle – another Outlander filming location

I have been to several film locations for the ‘Outlander’ production, and Blackness Castle is yet another.

…but first past the enormous horse head sculpture know as the Kelpies…

This 15th century fortress provided the setting in ‘Outlander’ for the Fort William headquarters of Black Jack Randall, as well as featuring in the heart-wrenching scene of Jamie’s incarceration.

In Mary Queen of Scots (2018), starring Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, Blackness Castle featured as the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the place where she married Lord Darnley and where her secretary and good friend David Rizzio was murdered.

~ Bella

Lady Penelope’s Doctor

Lady Penelope, my beloved Baby Jaguar, is going in for some TLC while I am in Europe – and when I went to visit her ‘doctor’, this is what greeted me!

…and then I spied a 1949 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith – and not just any old Rolls Royce – this one was previously owned by Grace Kelly!

Fancy an VW Beetle limousine, anyone?

~ Bella