I've decided to start posting about my travels, and things that I think people should do when they go to certain places... These are all just friendly opinions that are up for grabs, and also, if you are on a tight budget.
ROME
Back in the day, they wanted Rome to be a permanent city.. I definitely think they did a great job of this, as there are so many ruins still to this day!
A great place to stay when you are in Rome, is in a Roman Catholic convent. I stayed at the Instituto Santa Guiliana Falconieri. (Telephone: 011 06-6880-3344) The nuns are great and give you hard bread and water in the morning for breakfast- it's like you are in a TV series! The toilets don't have seats on them and it's a little eerie, but a great experience! Be prepared: all your senses will be bombarded. The Smells, things to look at, the crowds, street venders, cobble stone roads underneath your feet=AMAZING!
While you are there, you need to see that are close by:
Piazza Novona- entertainment, street venders, restaurants, pretty fountain. Pantheon- The BEST tortellini Alfredo you will ever have, and Trevi Fountain
They say if you throw money behind your back and it hits the back of the fountain, you will return to Roma again :)
Get on the Metro and get off at the Flaminio stop where you can see the Spanish Steps and the Egyptian Obelisk. There is a cool Catholic History to the Spanish steps- people would say a prayer kneeling down on each step to pay their indulgenes. And it's pretty... well, everything is.
Visit S. Maria del Popolo and check out the beautiful original paintings: The crucifixion of Peter and the Conversion of Paul- by Caravaggio.
REALLY just walk around as much as you can- take things in, and write them down, all the while remembering not to live through your camera lens!
ART BLITZ:
San Ignazio- Tromp L'oi (to fool the eye) ceiling- breath taking
Gesu Church- Counter reformation sculpture 'religion overthrowing heresy'-super elaborate Cathedral...aren't the all!!??
S. Maria Sopra Minerva- Tomb of Leo X, and Michaelangelo's Christ Bearing the Cross
S Luigi dei Francesi- Caravaggio's Matthew.
Go to the VATICAN- The Vatican is a country within the country of Italy, and the smallest country in the world.
Here is me in 2 countries at one time!
Check out the Museums, Sistine chapel, St. Peters Basilica
This is Michealangelo's Pieta- absolutely beautiful
Take a walk up the Dome of St. Peter's... WARNING-it is A LOT of stairs, but 100% worth it for the view at the top.
S Maria della vittoria- Bernini's altarpiece- where only the pope himself can preach from.
St. Theresa in ecstasy
S Maria Degli Angelli- Astronomical Line, Baths of Diocletian-This is amazing Roman history here
The Servian Wall-It's kinda in the ghetto, but this wall is said to have been standing since before Christ
S. Maria Maggiore- Bernini "Step" and Jerome's relics
In S. Pietro in Vincoli look for St. Peter in Chains-they truly believe these to be the original chains that bound Peter back in the day.
and Michealangelo's Moses
Take a guided tour of the COLOSSEUM-amazing history there too, it makes you want to watch the movie Gladiator.
"Trust your eye, and let the buildings speak to you"
What many people don't realize is that, all this marble and stone was painted before- can you imagine how beautiful and colorful everything must have been!!??
Have lunch on Palatine hill-BTW I took all these pictures- I am no photographer- everything is just perfectly beautiful waiting there for you to see.
S. Giovanni in Laterano and the baptistry
Scala Santa
San Clemente- you can descend below the church to the ruins of an ancient pagan temple.
The altar of the chair-Great view of Bernini's Dove window and bronze sunburst. AND of coarse:
EAT GILATTO-Lots of it!
PISA
It's just a touristy place where you can see the leaning tower of Pisa, and shop around.
FLORENCE
I stayed in Hotel Kursaal Ausonia, Via Nazionale 24 (nero). It was a great location, and within walking distance of everything you need. You'll be walking around and then all of a sudden BOOM
The biggest, most colorful, most intricate cathedral you will ever see! Because this still had paint on it, it gave me an idea of how colorful things must have been.
Things to see: The Uffizi gallery- there you will see the original works of many artists such as Titian and Boticelli.
GO SHOPPING in the market and get a kabab. Florence has lots of silk and leather. so spend your money there!!!
Hike Michealangelo's hill at sunset, reward yourself with the perfect view and a Magnum Ice-cream bar.
Have lunch at the San Lorenzo Market, Ponte Vecchio. Have a panini!
Walk to Accademia- tour around- this has Michaelangelo's David
Take a day trip to the CINQUE TERRA (Italian Riviera)- it is WONDERFUL there!
Get a slice of Pesto pizza (it's where Pesto was invented)
There are great walks/hikes and the views are amazing.
If it's warm, swim in the Mediterranean Sea!
Of coarse, I need to go back to Italy and visit all the places I didn't get to. This is probably my favorite country in the world I have ever visited, and would recommend it to everyone!
Things to bring: COMFORTABLE walking shoes!!!! No matter how unstylish they look, bring them or your feet will not survive the walking and cobblestone grounds.
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