Photo therapy: Views of Italy help heal wounds from the Boston Marathon bombings

Globe photographer Stan Grossfeld was vacationing in Italy in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings. Feeling powerless, he decided to turn his camera lens on his beautiful surroundings to create some “photo therapy’’ for Boston.

He also penned a letter to his 10-year-old nephew Jared, who experienced nightmares as a result of what he witnessed while waiting at the finish line for his mother to complete the Boston Marathon.

Pictured is Porto Venere, which is located in Italy’s Liguria region.

Chef Lillian offered appetizers in Montelpuciano, which is located in southern Tuscany.

A man smiled in Vernazza on April 22. The town is located in Italy’s Cinque Terre region.

A view of a landscape in the Cinque Terra region of Italy.

A view of Corniglia from the sea on a misty day. The town is located in the Cinque Terra region of Italy.

A view of a blooming landscape in the Cinque Terra region of Italy.

Flowers are seen after rainfall in Monterosso al Mare.

A seagull was tossed some bait fish near the water in Vernazza.

A view inside the Siena Cathedral.

A view of the mountains near Vernazza in Cinque Terre.

This cat had the run of a Chianti vineyard and villa.

A woman relaxed on the steps near the Duomo in Siena.

A man is seen framed by wine bottles in Vernazza.

A white bird flew over tile roofs in San Gimignano.

A man smiled in the center of Siena.

Orange trees lined the town of Monterosso al Mare in Cinque Terre.

Boats are seen docked in Vernazza.

Fresh strawberries awaited customers in Tuscany.

Vernazza is seen at sunset.

Vernazza is seen from a scenic vantage point.

Flowers were displayed in a box in Tuscany.

A cat is enjoying life at a Chianti vineyard and villa.

Different flavors of gelato were displayed for customers in Tuscany.

Two bicyclists traveled through a vineyard in the Chianti region of Tuscany.

Rain soaked a lemon tree in Monterosso al Mare.

Puddles were left behind by a rain in downtown Monterosso al Mare.

Montepulciano is seen from a scenic vantage point.

The sun set on Montepulciano.

Candles were lit for victims of the Boston Marathon bombings at the Siena Cathedral.