Home > Grotto

The word comes from Italian grotta, Vulgar Latin grupta, Latin crypta, (a crypt). It is related to the word grotesque: in the 15th century, Italians unearthed ancient Roman houses decorated in strange arabesques of garlands and animals. Because of the caves in which they were discovered, this form of decoration was given the name grotesque.

The creation of artificial grottoes was a huge architectural fashion in the Renaissance in both Italy and France from the 15th to the 17th century. The outside of these was usually designed like an enormous rock or a rustic porch or rocky overhang; inside one found a temple or fountains. The inside was often decorated in stalactites and shells (sometimes made in ceramic), herms and mermaids, mytholgical subjects (sleeping gods or the rivers). They were cool places to retreat, but they could also serve as baths, chapels or simply as bizarre and mysterious spots with often highly symbolic decorations. They would eventually give rise as well to cascading fountains in Renaissance gardens.

The Grotto of the Redemption is the largest grotto in the world, and is located in West Bend, IowaIowa Flag of Iowa (In Detail) (Full size) State nickname: "The Hawkeye State Other U. States Capital Des Moines Largest City Des Moines Governor Thomas Vilsack Area Total % water Ranked 26th 145,743 km2 0. 71% Population Total ( 2000) Density Ranked 30th.

The grotto of Catherine de Medici's château in Paris, the Tuileries, was renowned. It was designed by Bernard PalissyBernard Palissy (~ 1510 1590), French potter, is said to have been born about 1510, either at Saintes or Agen, but both date and locality are uncertain. It has been stated, on insufficient authority, that his father was a glass-painter and that he served. One also finds grottos in the gardens designed by André Le NôtreAndre Le Notre ( March 12, 1613 September 15 1700) was a landscape architect and the gardener of king Louis XIV of France from 1645 to 1700. He was most notably responsible for the construction of the park of the Palace of Versailles. Le Notre's other wor for the Palace of VersaillesLouis Le Vau opened up the interior court to creat the expansive entrance cour d'honneur later copied all over Europe The Chateau de Versailles often called the Palace of Versailles or simply Versailles is a royal chateau, outside the gates of which the v.

Santa's Grotto is usually an area set up in a department storeA department store organizes its goods by departments, such as women's clothes, home furnishings, electronics, and the like. Department stores range from collections of elaborate, fancy shops to practical outlets for ordinary merchandise. They differ from at Christmas for an actor dressed as Santa Claus to distribute gifts to children.