Above the Butcher's shop

It is very hard to know where to begin to describe this shopfront and why I love it so much.
 
A "macelleria" (which means Butcher's) with so many strange and ugly things all together in one place! The typeface is horrendous with a choice of red which I think has quite an unhappy association with a butcher's shop. The sun canopies above the windows would be much more at home on a beach with their garish colour scheme. The curtains at the windows seem very "cheap", I can feel their thick cut out pattern without going anywhere near them. But the shrine is the icing on the cake, a vase on each side complete with plastic flowers, and, horror upon horror the electric lightbulb halo! Nevertheless I have grown to love this shopfront and when I ride past on my bike, whatever the time of day or season, the halo lights are always turned on and in perfect working order. I think someone must be taking pretty good care of them!

I have added this photograph to my album of Turin snapshots on Flickr, take a look here.

Les Lunettes

Just look at this super opticians shop that I found in one of the grand avenues in the centre of Turin, in a listed building, and, under the most amazing porticoes! The shop sign is mirrored and very old. The typeface is fabulous. 

It's hard to believe that the owner had the courage to commission this paint job. Strangely enough it works perfectly and certainly catches the eye so to speak. This image can be seen on Flickr as part of a little collection of snapshots that I take when I am out and about in the lovely Turin!