Italy
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The Four Major Basilicas in Rome (Italy) #12
We had time to visit 3 of the 4 major basilicas in Rome. Here are some pictures. The four major basilicas are : The Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome (aka the Pope), is the most beautiful of the three that I visited St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, on the site of the tomb of the Apostle Peter The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, on the site of the Apostle Paul’s tomb The Basilica of St. Mary Major, dedicated to the Virgin Mary It is forbidden to take pictures inside the Basilica of St. Mary Major so I will just show…
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Relaxed and Local Ambiance near the Milvius Bridge in Rome (Italy) #11
This is a small article to remember the afternoon I spent with Dominique in a very local neighborhood in Rome. We met in front of the metro, before taking the bus to the Olympic district. The Olympic Games took place in Rome in 1960 precisely. For having visited the Olympic village in Sydney, this one is particularly close to the hyper-centre. There is an Olympic swimming pool not far away, accessible to the common man. Dominique shows me the column in the middle of the entrance, it is still marked Mussolini on it. Finally… !! We arrive then from the Milvius Bridge (literally, the soft bridge). The setting is very…
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Best Viewpoints in Rome (Italy) & Surprise behind the Door: Notebook #10
Simona, who is Roman, asks me one day: have you ever been to ….? ? And I answer her? And I answer her? What? Where? My answer makes her take off her jaw and she tells me that I can’t leave Rome without going there. So, on a beautiful afternoon, Simona takes her car and takes me to see what she thinks are the must-see places. Sorry for the poor quality photos. Not only was it ugly, but I only had my iPhone with me. This little travel notebook is more to remember this beautiful afternoon spent with Simona. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel…
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Where to take the Covid PCR test in Rome (Italy) as a Foreigner?
This article is addressed only to foreigners who leave Italy to go to a country that asks for a negative PCR test. For those who have just arrived in Italy, the procedure is much simpler and explained in detail here (form to be filled in and then tested directly at the airport). I didn’t have to do it as I arrived in Italy in September before this procedure was necessary. Background We decided to spend our Christmas vacations in Montenegro, via Croatia (no direct flight between Rome and Montenegro). We bought the plane tickets on November 25th, and it is only on December 1st that we learn that Croatia was…
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The Dome of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican – Rome #9
I told you about our visit to St. Peter’s Basilica here. As there was a queue for the dome, we did not visit it in September but waited until November to go up there, with 2-3 tourists this time. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Although museums and tourist attractions are getting closed in Italy, religious monuments are among the exceptions and can still be visited, and paying areas are still open. Access to the dome costs 10€ if you take the elevator and 8€ if you take the stairs. Cash payment only. The elevator only covers the easiest part, which gives us access…
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An Afternoon in Pisa (Italy), 1 hour from Florence
We take advantage of being in Florence to go to Pisa (Pisa), which is only 1 hour by train from Florence. Trains leave regularly so there is no need to book in advance. We opt for trainitalia which is cheaper than italo. Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Before going there, we are warned: the city of Pisa has nothing extraordinary, we should not expect wonders. It’s true, the station is very average, I didn’t venture there at night.To go until the Tower of Pisa, we must cross the river, it’s cute as everything. Tower of Pisa We go to Pisa the day a…
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3 Days in Florence (Italy): Duomo, Botticelli, the David, Uffizi Museum & Panoramic View
The trip from Venice to Rome takes so much time (by train) that we decide to cut the trip in two: Venice – Florence and then Florence – Rome. What a good decision because we were able to visit this nice city just before it was classified as a “red zone” (another way to confine a city without saying so explicitly). Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Our hotel Our hotel (B&B La residenza dell’Orafo, Booking link ) is just a few minutes walk from the train station, a few minutes from the central market and 15 minutes from the main tourist attractions. I…
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Top 8 Unusual Visits in Venice (Italy)
After having shown you the must-see places in Venice, places that are very pretty but not unmissable, it is time for me to show you some unusual places that I liked a lot in Venice. Jewish quarter of Venice: nice and local atmosphere, even if it is a bit small. Falafel (5€) to fall Benedetto Marcello Conservatory of Venice: stay right in front to listen to classical music in each room of the conservatory Squero de San Trovaso: Gondola making workshop, to be observed from the other side because you cannot visit the workshop Shopping or window-shopping : Acqua Alta Bookstore: where all the books are stored high up or…
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3rd & 4th days in Venice (Italy): Arsenal, churches, the Scuolas, Murano & Lido
In the previous episode, I took you to see the must-see places in Venice. In this article, we continue to explore the equally beautiful, but less visited places. Beware, some of them are very famous too, but wouldn’t have been put in the must-see list of travelers who only spend 2 days there. Program of the 3rd and 4th days in Venice: Very nice but not essential Venice Arsenal: Shipyard playing a decisive role in the construction of the Venetian Empire by allowing the rapid production of many ships. Church of Santa Maria di Nazareth: right next to the train station, this is the most beautiful church in Venice (in…
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2 days in Venice (Italy): Must-see Visits
We just spent 2 weeks in Venice. Of course, we are working at the same time, so in real life, we really only spent 5 days visiting a maximum of things in the city, including 2 full days for its must-sees. According to me, here are the musts of Venice to do in two days: Saint Mark’s Square: a huge tourist square saint Mark’s Basilica: golden mosaic everywhere the Doge’s Palace: sumptuous rooms, decorated from floor to ceiling Bridge of Sighs: connects the old prisons to the interrogation cells of the Doge’s Palace, you can walk on it while visiting the Doge’s Palace but otherwise you can see it from…
