"st. peter's basilica" - My Budget Travel -

16 Search Results for ""st. peter's basilica""

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The View from St. Peter's Basi
- From: SusanHalay
- Description:
- 1 week ago
- Views: 22
Awe at the Vatican
- From: SusanHalay
- Description:
  
  This shot was taken in the afternoon on Easter Sunday when all the crowds had gone. The nuns were snapping pictures faster than me.
- 1 week ago
- Views: 19
- Not yet rated
Essence of Rome
- From: cheaptravelbug
- Description:
  
  I've always dreamt of going to Rome all my life. I had to choose one picture which epitomizes my experience. You have the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, Coliseum, and so much more. But for me, it wasn't just about the marvelous architecture, it was about the food, the culture, and my time there. This image is by the Spanish Steps, a modest trattoria which had the most unbelievable food. I think to me, is the essence of Rome.
  
  I took this picture on my first trip to Europe with my husband in April 2009.
- 2 months ago
- Views: 99
- Not yet rated
Late afternoon in St. Peter's
- From: babytoast
- Description:
  
  This photograph was taken on March 21, 2009 in Vatican City. The sun was starting to set behind the famous dome of St. Peter's Basilica. We entered St. Peter's square from the east, and this was the first site we glimpsed: the throngs of people waiting to get into the cathedral, and what looked like to be the 'heavens" shining own upon the visitors. Though small compared to the rest of Rome, Vatican City takes at least three days to see in full. The Vatican Museum is a massive structure which takes two dull days by itself. It houses a half a dozen smaller museums, including one with authentic Egyptian artifacts, and another which houses statuary from ancient Rome. Finally, the highlight of the day was to visit the Sistine Chapel, which also resides in the Vatican Museum. Here, hundreds of people crowded to view the marvel of Michelangelo and Rafael in complete and reverant silence. It was a wonder to behold.
- 3 months ago
- Views: 122
- Not yet rated
Awaiting the Storm
- From: trcox2
- Description:
  
  This photo was taken on the roof of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. I noticed the storm developing over the city of Rome and shot this picture.
- 5 months ago
- Views: 170
Rome - St. Peter's
- From: mjrudy
- Description:
- 5 months ago
- Views: 105
- Not yet rated
St. Peter's Basilica at Sunset
- From: adria3022
- Description:
  
  While waiting in line to go to mass at the Vatican, I saw this beautiful red sunset silhouetting the statutes on top of St. Peter's Basilica. Though it is indistinguishable without explanation, I thought it was graphic and structural, and reminiscent of the indiscrimant attitude of the Catholic church, embracing indviduals from all over the world under one roof.
- 6 months ago
- Views: 129
St Peter's Basilica, Rome
- From: DAVEBRECHTEL1
- Description:
- 11 months ago
- Views: 404
- Not yet rated
St Peter
- From: hgeswein
- Description:
  Outside St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The chairs were being set up for a special event, so we were hoping to catch a glimpse of the Pope.
- 1 year ago
- Views: 389
That's Amore: Our Italian Adv
- From: blairherzog
- Description:
  
  To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our first date, my husband and I took a trip we'd long talked about but never gotten around to planning - a journey to Italy. It was difficult deciding which areas of Italy to see, but we finally chose the Cinque Terre, Tuscany, and Rome. To say our trip surpassed my wildest dreams would be an understatement. Welcome to our Italian adventure!
  
  The Charming Cinque Terre
  
  After flying into Milan, it took several trains to reach the Cinque Terre (which means Five Lands), but it was completely worth venturing off the beaten path to visit this quaint, charming, and friendly coastal area of Italy. The Cinque Terre consists of five small hillside towns that each looks like it's literally spilling into the ocean. The towns have all been in existence since Medieval times and have the ancient lookout towers and historic stone churches to prove it. The shops are quaint, the people are friendly, and the views are breathtaking. We especially enjoyed just roaming the streets, as well as the twisting stairs and alleyways (which also qualify as streets in a place as old as the towns of the Cinque Terre,) taking pictures of lovely archways and windows, and watching the locals hanging their laundry out as they conversed from window to window.
  
  Getting Around the Cinque Terre
  
  Don't expect taxis here, and whatever you do, don't plan on renting a car. In the Cinque Terre, there are three options: trains, hiking, and boats (although boats may not be available year round.) Oceanside trails passing through olive groves and terraced vineyards connect the five towns of Monterossa, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore and are a lovely way to travel - but be warned, the trails get progressively more difficult the farther north you go. So, based on your hiking ability, we advise hiking between the more southern towns and taking the train between the northern towns. We used the low-priced Cinque Terre Treno Card, which admits you to both the trails and the trains. And we sometimes found the train schedules difficult to follow in the Cinque Terre, so when arriving at the station, we advise asking a clerk when the next train to your destination is due. Overall, the trains are a pretty easy way to hop between the towns if you choose not to hike or tire of it.
  
  Where To Stay in the Cinque Terre
  
  We chose to make the town of Manarola our home base. It's the least touristy of the towns and we found our hotel, the Ca' d'Andrean simple but perfect for our stay. It's a steep walk up the hill with luggage, but worth it for the view of lemon trees and terraced hillside gardens out our shuttered window each morning. The staff here was especially helpful in mapping out future parts of our trip. For nice, clean accommodations, we highly recommend the Hotel Ca' d'Andrean.
  
  While Manarola was our favorite, when we visit the Cinque Terre again, we will gladly consider staying in any of the other towns.
  
  Highlights of our Time in the Cinque Terre
  
  We found something truly unique and delightful at every turn in the Cinque Terre, so it's hard to narrow it down, but here are a few faves:
  1. The quaint, bustling Riomaggiore waterfront
  2. The especially charming Medieval streets of Corniglia (pronounced Cornelia, by the way)
  3. The view of Vernazza from the trail leading to Monterosso
  4. The ancient monastery high atop Monterosso
  Cinque Terre Fun Facts
  1. Cat lovers rejoice: Cats are plentiful in the Cinque Terre - you will see them everywhere you go, including on the trails.
  2. Residents of the Cinque Terre towns are more likely to own a boat than a car.
  3. Before the 20th century, each town was so isolated that most people married residents of their own tiny community.
  Finding Romance in the Cinque Terre
  
  Romance was pretty much everywhere here, but here are a few tips for romantic moments with your significant other:
  1. Look out over the Mediterranean by moonlight from Manarola's "vineyard walk."
  2. Dine on Vernazza's waterfront Piazza Marconi
  3. Stroll between Manarola and Riomaggiore on the wide promenade of the Via dell'Amore - the "walk of love."
  If you want to stop and smell the roses - or the sweet scents of lemon trees and lavender in the air - schedule some time for the Cinque Terre in your trip to Italy. We spent only two and a half days there and wished we'd had more time to simply soak up the slow-paced seaside charm of this traditional slice of Italy. Italian charm at its best.
  
  Under the Tuscan Sun
  
  From the Cinque Terre, we took the train to LaSpezia, where we rented a car. Warning: Driving a car in any sizable Italian city is a challenge when you can't read the signs and don't know the general rules and customs of the road. But once you get out of the city into more rural areas, driving is fine.
  
  Our plan to drive through Tuscany, hitting as many hill towns as possible along the way, worked out well. We spent two days meandering the twisting roads across rolling gold and green hills, stopping to soak up Medieval history along the way. It was amazing to be driving along and suddenly see an ancient fortified city appear in the distance.
  
  Where to Stay in Tuscany
  
  We made our home base at the Castel Bigossi, a lovely thousand-year-old castle in the heart of Tuscany near the fort town of Monteriggioni. It was off the beaten path, but we enjoyed the drive through the countryside, dotted with still more historic towns, each time we returned there. The exterior and grounds of the Castel Bigossi were lovely - the perfect Tuscan postcard - and the staff was friendly, talkative, and helpful. The interior was an unusual mix of modernity (spiral staircases and an elevator) and history (ancient wood beams on the ceiling of our bedroom) and all the rooms in the castel are spacious suites - more room than we needed, but we didn't mind. This would be a great place to stay for a longer visit than the two nights we spent there.
  
  Other thoughts on accommodations: Tuscany also boasts many agriturismos - these are working farms that also provide bed-and-breakfast type accommodations. And if you're more of a city person, all the hill towns offer rooms, as well.
  
  Getting Around Tuscany by Car
  
  Like I said above, once you're away from traffic, driving is a breeze, but be warned: Italian street signs and American street signs differ greatly. In Italy, roads are not marked with any sort of name or number, so it's hard to tell where you are most of the time, even when following a map. You are instead guided by arrows that point the way to the nearest town in any direction, and these tend to appear in groups at the frequent roundabouts.
  
  Also, be prepared for crazy drivers who will merrily pass on blind curves and motorcycle riders who consider it perfectly acceptable to pass between two cars without a lane. Our advice: Drive safely and normally, but be on guard.
  
  Medieval Hill towns Aplenty
  
  The Tuscan landscape is dotted with lots of Medieval hill towns, each with its own personality. Meandering through these places was fascinating not only because we were walking streets and seeing buildings that have been there for nearly a thousand years, but also because these are all still thriving communities where people live and work. Wandering the stone streets and piazzas, I expected to see knights in shining armor come riding up on horseback any minute.
  
  It would be difficult to see all the hill towns in the region (yes, there are that many,) so we picked a few that sounded especially appealing based on guidebooks and advice from our hotel staff. A few of our favorites were:
  1. Montepulciano: This is a must for wine-lovers, but even without being into wine, we enjoyed the Medieval sights here a great deal. We spent time hanging out at the large Piazza Grande with its unfinished Duomo, built around 1600.
  2. San Gimignano: Fabulous Medieval architecture, including fourteen remaining watch towers, some dating from the 10th century. And if that's not enough for you, this town also boasts the World's Best Gelato in 2006, 2007, and 2008 at the Pluripremaia Geleteria
  3. Montalcino: What made Montalcino outstanding for us was the fabulous castle-like fortezza (that's a fort) built in the 14th century. Dark clouds looming overhead while we were there made it appear particularly eerie.
  Note: As hill towns go, Siena is the largest in the region and pretty much considered a must-see. Personally, we were disappointed by how modern and commercialized even the historic part of town is (Foot Lockers and other American mall-type stores lined the stone streets.) But it's still worth a stop for the stunning Duomo, dating from 1215, and the huge Piazza Il Campo where a wild, no-rules horse race is run every July and August.
  
  But Back to the Rolling Tuscan Hillsides
  
  We made a small project out of locating some of the best-known postcard views of Tuscany's cypress-lined roads - a task made more difficult by the lack of road signs. However, before leaving home, we Googled on the topic and found other travelers' notes on how to reach some of these scenic spots. Finding them felt like a special victory! But with or without them, we came home with countless pictures of fields teeming with red poppies, villas flanked by vineyards, and some lovely cypress-lined roads we stumbled across on our own.
  
  Note: As we traveled the winding roads that criss-cross Tuscany, we were kept company by the abundance of American music on the radio - everything from Dionne Warwick to Bruce Springsteen to Green Day.
  
  Finding Romance in Tuscany
  
  Romance is pretty easy to find in Tuscany, too, but here are some recommendations:
  1. Enjoy in the stunning view from the walls of Montepulciano over a glass of their famous wine.
  2. Stroll the quiet town of Volterra after dark.
  3. Take a lazy drive along cypress-lined roads, delighting in fields of wild poppies, Italian villas, and ancient fortresses.
  Tuscany is a must-see for those who enjoy lovely, rolling landscapes. The rich Medieval history and striking hill towns are wonderful perks to this region teeming with romantic ambience.
  
  All Roads Lead to Rome
  
  All roads may lead to Rome, but here's a tip: leave your rental car at the airport and take the train into the city. Even that was a bit of a challenge - remember, Italians don't seem to value signage as much as we do in America - but it was still by far the best choice.
  
  You can look at Rome in two ways: it's a zoo or it's a party. Choose the party attitude and you'll have a much better time. This large, busy city seemed to have as many pedestrians as cars, and it was usually unclear who had the right of way, especially on small streets left over from older times.
  
  Getting Around Rome
  
  To walk or take the train around town? It's a toss-up. Rome is a walking city, but things are often farther away than they appear and you can put many a mile on your sneakers by day's end. On the other hand, some of the subway terminals were confusing to navigate and had broken ticket machines, or they were far enough out of the way that it just seemed simpler to walk.
  
  The streets are confusing - remember, this is a very old city, full of twists and turns. Our advice: Follow the signs toward major landmarks and don't be frustrated if you get lost. On one particular evening, after listening to street musicians for a while at the popular Piazza Navonna, we started the twisting trek toward our hotel, following signs and making good progress - we thought - until, about fifteen minutes later, we emerged right back onto the Piazza Navonna. We just looked at each other and cracked up laughing.
  
  Where to Stay
  
  We made our home in Rome the LaResidenzia Hotel, near the Via Venetta, a major thoroughfare. Despite the fact that two lap dance clubs sit directly across the street from the hotel, we were very happy with our choice - which is to say we never really saw any traffic at the clubs and they seemed very quiet. Like our other Italian accommodations, the staff was knowledgeable and friendly. Sitting areas in the lobby were spacious and elegant, our room was nice with lots of storage and a turn-down service, and a pretty good breakfast buffet was included in the price of the room.
  
  Ancient Rome - Walking Through History
  
  If you're a history lover, this is why you're here. We loved the Colesseum and the Forum, as well as Palatine Hill (where many Roman rulers built their palaces.) Our advice: It's worth it to pay for the tours here. Not only do you get good, interesting information along the way, if you enter with a tour, you bypass the long lines to get in.
  
  We spent a couple of hours roaming around the Colesseum, and more time outside, just taking pictures and enjoying the ambience of the area. As this was a sight I'd only dreamed of seeing, it felt almost surreal to actually be there. I had the same reaction to the Roman Forum and enjoyed knowing I was walking the same paths Julius Caesar and so many other historic figures had traveled. I found myself wanting to take a picture at every step to be sure I captured it all, and I truly felt the impact of being in the cradle of modern Western civilization.
  
  Roaming Around Rome
  
  Of course, there's much more to see here than just the ancient ruins. We enjoyed sitting on the Spanish steps, hanging out at the Trevi Fountain, touring the Pantheon (an amazing piece of ancient architecture,) and taking in the views from the Victor Immanuel Monument (although not as famous as some stops in Rome, you can't miss it on your way to the Colesseum - it's an enormous building that looks like a giant wedding cake.)
  
  Rome is filled with countless piazzas - or town squares - both great and small, and each has it's own personality. Some are large, sporting numerous cafes, shops, fountains, and street artists, while others are smaller and less busy. It was fun to be walking along a narrow street and suddenly exit into another new piazza and see what it had to offer.
  
  Adventures at the Vatican
  
  How many people can say they've been kicked out of St. Peter's Basilica? I don't know, but we are now among that number. More to come on that in a moment.
  
  First, some facts. This is another place where it's wise to pay extra and enter with a tour group - it cut our wait considerably and we truly got a lot out of the tour. Also, you must where clothing that covers your shoulders and knees to be admitted to St. Peter's Basilica.
  
  Our tour covered St. Peter's Square, the Basilica, and the Vatican museum, including the Sistine Chapel. Upon entering the Basilica, we'd barely gotten started when an angry man approached our tour guide and began yelling at her in Italian. She reported that we were being thrown out because he didn't believe we were a real tour group and that she'd bring us back later. Weird but true, and we never did really understand what happened there. But on with the show.
  
  We were, honestly, a little let down by the Sistine Chapel, which I'd long looked forward to seeing. It's an amazing piece of art, yes, but the ceiling is higher than I'd envisioned, so it's really pretty difficult to see. The whole room was packed with people craning their necks to try to take it in, which made everyone prone to bumping into each other. Plus you can't take pictures (understandable) and you can't talk (less understandable.)
  
  After the chapel, it was back to the church, but we had to pretend we were not a tour group. (Again, confusing, I know.) But we enjoyed the un-tour of the basilica and were taken aback by the scope and size. Particularly notable items in the church: the famous Pieta by Michelangelo, the enormous canopy marking the (official but who knows) burial spot of St. Peter, and a statue of St. Peter to which, tradition holds, one should hold onto the toe, make three wishes, and they will come true.
  
  One nice thing about being kicked out of St. Peter's Basilica: when we returned, hours had passed, and the sun shone through small windows in the dome, casting a heavenly glow on the floor, which made for amazing photos.
  
  A Few Tips for Your Time in Rome
  1. You can sit on Roman ruins in the Forum and Colesseum - they are so plentiful that they are literally set about to be used like park benches - but whatever you do, don't sit on the ground near the Trevi Fountain (policemen blew a loud whistle in my ear for this and looked at me as if I'd knowingly committed a heinous crime.) And definitely don't sit anywhere inside the Victor Immanuel Monument, where you will also be firmly chastised by a whistle-wielding guard.
  2. Hungry for a taste of home? McDonald's are everywhere in Rome, and we happened to visit what might be the fanciest one on earth - a two-story affair complete with marble stairs, replicas of famous Roman statues, and a separate gelato bar, dessert bar, and breakfast bar in addition to the normal counter.
  3. Need to use the bathroom? In Rome - and everywhere else in Italy - it's wise to carry some toilet paper or (as I opted for) individually packaged Wet Ones. Toilet paper just isn't a hot commodity there. And be prepared to find yourself squatting over a hole in the ground - which, oddly enough (to us Americans anyway,) usually come complete with fiberglass inserts around the hole, so that it's not dirty, but it's quite awkward and just makes you ask: Why? In Rome, we often took advantage of McDonald's bathrooms - they weren't the cleanest, but we knew we'd at least get a commode.
  4. Want to drink a Coke? Your best bet - again - is McDonald's. At gelato shops or bars (in Italy, a bar is what we think of as a quickie mart crossed with a snack stand or deli) you'll usually pay the equivalent of $3 or $4 for a 20 ounce bottle, and should you be unfortunate enough to be thirsty near the ancient sites, you may pay up to $8 at a portable concession stand.
  Finding Romance in Rome
  
  Rome is busier and a bit more challenging in ways, but you still need not look far for romance here:
  1. Toss a coin over your shoulder in the Trevi Fountain and it's said you will return to Rome.
  2. Share a bicycle built for two at the city's largest park, the Villa Borghese
  3. Share a bottle of wine on the Spanish Steps, then stroll the city as dusk turns to night. The Forum and Colesseum are particularly striking to behold at nightfall.
  Ah, Rome. Two-thousand years of history and culture and architecture. It's a lot to take in, but it would be a crime to visit Italy without fully embracing it's exciting, bustling capital.
  
  Ciao!
  
  We travel a lot, but our trip to Italy was truly the romantic adventure of a lifetime.
  
  Final tip: Take your time exploring romantic Italy, and eat a lot of gelato because it's just not as good at home, no matter what anyone says.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 2444
Discovering Rome - For the Fir
- From: marjen
- Description:
  
  San Pietro Inn
  
  From Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport just outside of Rome, we were whisked by our driver onto a very American-looking freeway. It was just after noon, local time, a balmy eighty-degree day in early May. Sun glistened along the highway's warehouses, buildings, and businesses. Strange, exotic trees with pine needles stood like umbrellas shadowing the structures. Before long, our van plunged down an off-ramp onto a narrow winding road outside Rome. For what seemed liked miles, we rode beside a tall, vine-covered wall, snaking along the tree-covered road. Suddenly, the wall ended and buildings lined both sides of the street. After a minute or two, the driver pulled over along a small, but private street anchored on the corner by a Chinese restaurant.
  
  We were greeted by the landlord of the apartment we would be staying in. (www.apartmentsanpietro.com) Even though our connecting flight had been delayed for five hours, she still had managed to have her driver meet us at the airport and was waiting at our apartment. Rosa Maria Chirico was an amazing landlord, hostess, and concierge. Her excellent English and kind manner relaxed us immediately.
  
  From the street, she guided us through a marble-floored lobby to an elevator, up to the third floor. From the landing she opened the door to apartment number 8, we were greeted by pale yellow walls as she raised the electric blinds. Golds and burgundies shone from fabrics around the room and the polished mahogany floors gleamed. The apartment sparkled. Immediately, we felt at home. No wonder the apartment's name is "The Sun Room."
  
  Rosa Maria showed us where to locate light and blind switches, as well as how to use the accoutrement of buttons in the large marble bathroom with huge shower! Opening a small fridge, she explained that she had stocked it with sparkling water and milk. In addition, she had supplied us with pasta, sauce, fresh fruit, coffee, and cereal. She encouraged us to eat it all as it was free of charge. Before leaving, she indicated on a map where to locate her bed and breakfast and how to negotiate the city, specifying which busses and trains were best and even made recommendations for dinner. An amazing apartment for less than most hotel rooms!
  
  Vatican Tour Scams?
  
  Because the apartment sat a block and a half from the Vatican, we set out to conquer our first tourist site. We wandered through the columns of San Pietro Square and located the line for the Vatican Museums. It was nearly three p.m. and we had read that the last patrons were admitted at 4 p.m. Based on the way the line was crawling, we feared we would not make it in that day. However, after a few minutes, we were approached by an American who asked us if we spoke English. Expecting her to ask us questions, we were surprised when she offered to acquaint us with a tour forming nearby, promising that we would bypass the line. Leery of being scammed, we declined, but she encouraged us to listen to the tour guide who headed a group of a dozen or so English-speaking natives huddled a few feet away. We obligingly trod over to the group and listened as a young woman showed pictures and diagrams of the history of St. Peter's Bascilica. She seemed knowlegdgeable, friendly, was American, and didn't seemed phased by direct questions about the tour, its cost (25 Euro each in addition to the cost of admission - 14 Euro each).
  
  Fears somewhat alleviated, we followed her down the block past the queue of people and around the corner to the security line. After passing through security, she collected our money. My husband, at 6'2" didn't let her out of his sight as she walked up to the group tour window. She actually returned to our group, doled out the tickets and led the way up a sprialing marble staircase into the museum. Our tour guide was, in fact, knowledgeable, informative, and appeared to know where she was going and what she was doing. Rooms and halls were adorned with amazing sculpture and artwork. Ceilings were painted brightly and floors held amazing mozaics. Our tour guide even explained that the Vatican had placed fig leaves or disfigured many of the statues. Though, it plagued us for the rest of the tour that the Vatican would intentionally deface works of art. The Vatican museums hold and amazing collection of art. The crowds and security, however, made lingering impossible. Next time, we would arrive earlier, but would definitely pay for the tour. In fact, when we visited the Colosseum the next day, we signed up immediately!
  
  Dinner at La Vittoria
  
  Rosa Maria had recommended a restaurant between our apartment and Vatican. So after visiting the Vatican museums and the inside of St. Peter's Bascilica and the tombs below, we stopped at Ristorante La Vittoria for dinner. (www.ristorantelavittoria.com) Invoking the landlord's name, we were immediately ushered to a window seat. The waiters spoke English well and didn't laugh at our attempts in Italian. We started with a seafood antipasto - a wonderful assortment of fish and shrimp along with Bresaola - salted beef sliced paper thin served with rocket (rocket turned out to be a form of spiky lettuce with a slightly bitter taste, similar to endive.) We also ordered vino rosso, or red wine, which arrived in a glass pitcher. After the appetizers, we shared pasta alla carbonara which consists of pasta, eggs, parmesan, pancetta, and black pepper. We followed the pasta with veal, Marsala and Saltimbucca, both delicious! Capping dinner with a shared tiramisu and grappa, we chatted with our table neighbors who were enjoying their last night in Rome from their home in Germany.
  
  After dinner, we walked down the street, looking through shop windows at wares glistening in the streetlights, feeling like Romans as we entered our apartment. Ah, Rome...
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 450
Bonjourno! Our one week trip t
- From: bettchia
- Description:
  
  My boyfriend and I just came back from our one week trip to Italy (October 13-20) to Rome, Florence, and Venice and we would love to share our experiences.
  
  Rome:
  
  Day 1
  
  We arrived in Rome on Sunday October 14 in the early afternoon. From the airport you can buy an express ticket that takes you directly to Termini Train station for $11 euros. No one even checked our ticket on board (probably because it was a Sunday). Termini is only a 30 minute ride from the airport and our hotel was directly across (Hotel Corot-see my review). We decided to go to the Coliseum around 3:30pm and the public transportation is very convenient and you can take the B line directly to the Coliseum. The line was not too long as it was about to close within an hour and one ticket is good for both the Coliseum and for Palantine Hill until 1:30pm of the next day. After the Coliseum, we walked over to the Pantheon square and then walked over to Piazza Navona to eat dinner. I agree with all the other members who have written on this particular topic, please do yourself a favor and do not eat at any place that has a "Menu Tourista" or has English subtitles in the Menu. During our stay in Rome, we ate around all the touristy areas, Piazza Popolo, Pantheon, etc..and we were disappointed with the quality of the food (Italian food in the States tasted better than the food that we had there!). After dinner we headed over to the crowded Trevi Fountain which was crowded with tourist even at 11pm at night but it made it sort of festive. We finished the night off with some gelato at a local shop near our hotel next to the Termini station.
  
  Day 2
  
  Day 2 started off seemingly well for us as we headed over to the Palantine Hill, Circus Maximus, and the Forum ruins. Because we headed over there around 8am, we beat the crowd and it was very peaceful and a great way to see the sights. Unfortunately, as we were riding on the Metro to our next destination, we got pickpocketed! I urge everyone to be very careful! It happened in an instance! We were shoved into the metro and these teenage girls used this distraction to take my boyfriend wallet's which contained a lot of money! When we went to the American Express to pick up a temporary card, 3 other people in line told me that they were pickpocketed or had their purses stolen that morning as well, so be very very careful when you are there in Italy, I cannot stress that enough! Despite the stress and the loss of our money =( we tried to enjoy the rest of Rome. We walked to the Vatican (the line was extremely long and somehow we were lucky enough to be swept in with some of the other tourist, but go early or go late to the Vatican City since St Peter's basilica and the Vatican Museums are a must when you are in Rome. We strolled along the river passing Castel D' St. Angelo (closed on Mondays) followed by a coffee break at a sidewalk cafe at the Piazza Poppolo. There's high retail shopping near the Spanish Steps with Gucci, LV, Dior boutiques etc. but we got there when the stores were already closed. We ate dinner near the Pantheon at a cafe with lots of people which we thought would be a good indicator that the food would be good but it turns out that most of the diners were also fellow tourists and the food was not that great. We finished the night by walking over to the Spanish Steps (crowded at all hours of the day) and the Trevi Fountain and then taking a nice stroll back to Termini.
  
  Tips for Rome:
  
  *Watch out for your personal belongings! Use a money belt, keep your money stored in different places, keep your hand on your money/wallet at all times!
  
  *Visit the Coliseum/Palentine Hill early in the morning to avoid the crowds
  
  *Do not eat at the touristy spots! Do your research to find good restaurants, ask for recommendations, or wander away from the touristy restaurants to get good fare.
  
  *Note that the line for the Vatican Museums is probably long at all hours of the day.
  
  Florence:
  
  Day 3
  
  We took the train to Florence from Rome and it was a very enjoyable 1.5 hour ride with great views of the countryside. We arrived in Florence and immediately loved it. There was a feeling of tranquility as soon as we got there; drastically different from the crazy hustle/bustle of Rome. Our hotel, the La Fortezza (separate review) was only a 15 minute ride from the station and we loved our little hotel. After checking in and dropping off our things, we started to explore the city of Florence. It's a charming city and the people seemed friendlier than those in Rome. We pre-booked our tickets to the Uffizi gallery for $3 more (highly suggested) and bypassed the huge line. I enjoyed viewing all of the different works and my favorite was Botticelli's Spring. After the Uffizi gallery, we had snacks and rested at the Piazza de la Signoria before walking over to the Duomo and climbing up the 436 steps to get a wonderful bird's eye view of the city of Florence. After climbing down the Duomo we walked over to the Ponte Vecchio to catch the sunset over the bridge. For dinner, we ate at La Ghiribelini (recommended by fellow members) and we had our first delicious meal in Italy! We had pizza and two pastas and everything was great! The restaurant is away from the touristy sights but well worth the walk to.
  
  Day 4
  
  Early reservations to the Accadamia got us up and out of the hotel at 8:00am. Michelangelo's David is magnificent. How could a statute be so universally appealing? I thought the same thing until I saw it, there's no other way to explain it, you just have to see it in person to truly grasp the beauty, other people's pictures are not going to cut it. After the Accadamia we walked over to the Medici Chapels and to the Mercaceria where the indoor market sold meats, cheeses, and fresh fruits and vegetables. We then sauntered past the San Lorenzo marketplace with its leather goods and cashmere pashminas. We crossed the Ponte Vecchio to Oltrano and spent all afternoon at the Boboli Gardens and museums. The place is huge! We spent hours just looking at the exhibits, walking through the garden, and taking a much needed nap on the grass and near the fountains. To catch the sunset, we walked over to the Piazza Michelangelo and climbed up the hill to see a wonderful night view of Florence. After making our way back across the Ponte Vecchio, we had dinner at Leo's in St. Croce which was also another lovely authentic Italian meal. We attempted to go to the famous Harry's Bar but when we got there it was quiet and there was no jazz music (maybe they only play it on certain days?) so we walked along the river and stopped by a bar to get some late night dessert and expresso before going home.
  
  Tips for Florence:
  
  *Reserve your tickets in advance for the Uffizi and Accadamia! You pay $3 more for each ticket but it's worth it not to have to wait in line when you are there! David is a must see!
  
  *The view from Piazza Michelangelo is really nice but it is a bit further away from the main touristy spots
  
  *Florence is a great city just to walk around, make sure you spend time just relaxing and enjoying the atmosphere.
  
  *Climbing up the Duomo was fun and well worth it for those without any health conditions (parts of the stairs are really narrow and dark and could make someone really dizzy or sick)
  
  Day 5 Venice
  
  The ride from Florence to Venice is a bit longer-almost 3 hours and not as comfortable as our ride from Rome to Florence. The Venice train station is more hectic than Florence but our service lady at the tourist office was extremely affable and gave us some well needed information. We hopped onto the 51 Vaporetto to get to our hotel, Sant Elena (see my separate review) which we loved! I was a bit apprehensive because it was raining when we got to Venice but luckily the rain subsided within a couple of hours. The rain made the Venetian night look beautiful as the air was crisp and fewer people were out and about because of the rain. We headed out to St. Mark's Square and strolled down all the little alley ways looking at shops and restaurants. Unfortunately, for dinner we decided to eat at the Piccolo Martini, a little restaurant that seemed crowded and not on the main road but again we were really disappointed with the food! After dinner, we spent the evening crossing bridges and watching gondola riders before heading over to listen to the dueling orchestras in St. Mark's square (very fun!). We had dessert at one of the restaurants and enjoyed the music for the rest of the night before heading back to our hotel.
  
  Day 6
  
  Our hotel receptionist told us that it would be cloudy but when we woke up, we could not have asked for a more perfect day. The sun splendidly greeted and basked us in its warm light. The weather was so nice we strolled along the river from Sant Elena to St. Mark's square stopping by to admire the parks, bridges, boats, and homes along the way. Once we got to St. Mark's square, we went window shopping at some of the high end boutiques because we didn't get to do that in the other two cities. We then headed our way up the Campanile tower to get a view of the Venice from atop. It was $6 euros and we thought climbing the Duomo in Florence was more worth it but you're there so why not do both? We also went inside St. Mark's Basilica but after seeing all the different churches, we were a bit "churched" out. In St. Mark's Square, there are tons of pigeons and they are so friendly and perch right up on your arm or your head if you just stand there. My boyfriend got a kick out of that. For lunch, we ate at the Osteria da Maria for $30 where we got some very tasty vegetables and fresh made ravioli. We took a ride on the 1 vaparetto up and down the Grand Canal. Since we got the 36 hour pass, we were able to get on and off the vaparetto and explore the different areas from Ca D'oro to the Accadamia (yes they have one too). Getting lost in the little streets of Venice was kind of fun and so was walking up the streets of local shops, bakeries, mask and glass stores. We didn't know that the gondola rides end around 9:00pm and we had originally planned to take it after dinner but once we found out, we ran back to St. Mark's from our hotel. Luckily, we found one gondolier but he charged us $100 euros (he claimed that it was the night time surchage but since it was our last night there, we had no choice. The ride was nice, it was peaceful and our gondolier rode just close enough to another gondola that we got free musical accompaniment! Sadly, our ride was abruptly cut short because we felt some drops of rain and he said it was going to start raining. I think our ride was only about 25 minutes instead of the 40. That was the only bummer about the gondola ride. I would recommend going at sunset, I think that would be the most peaceful and romantic time to see the Venetian canals. If we get a chance to go to Venice again, we might do that :). Our last dinner in Venice was at the Osteria Da Franz located in Giardini. It was the nicest restaraunt that we ate at and the food and service were both outstanding. We spent about $120 euros there but could have easily spent more. After dinner, we took one last stroll to St. Mark's Square to get one last gelato since it was going to be our last night in Venice. We had to catch the night vaporetta at 3:00am so we didn't have much sleep, but luckily we got to the airport with the public transportation and without a hitch!
  
  Tips for Venice:
  
  *Ride the vaporetto on the Grand Canal during sunset towards and against Lido, it's beautiful.
  
  *Take a sunset gondola ride
  
  *Catch the dueling orchestras in St. Mark's
  
  *walk along the boardwalk towards Sant Elena
  
  *stroll up and down all the little shops
  
  Overall tips:
  
  I would dress in layers
  
  T otally wear comfy shoes
  
  A lways keep your money and belongings close to you
  
  L learn to love gelato and cappucino-we had that everyday
  
  Y es, have a blast!
  
  Ciao Ciao
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
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St. Peter's Sq. Fountain at Ni
- From: Cosmo
- Description:
  I was fortunate to capture the glowing grandeur of both the fountain and St. Peter's Basilica that night.
- 1 year ago
- Views: 369
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St Peter's Basilica
- From: traveleyed
- Description:
- 1 year ago
- Views: 553
Girls Getaway to Rome, Italy
- From: catg79
- Description:
  
  I came home from work on the afternoon of June 3, 2008, to find my live-in boyfriend of a year and a half standing in the kitchen, awaiting my arrival through the door. I walked in, smiled as usual and told him that I was happy to be home. He then offered the biggest blow I had come across in my adult life as he told me that he was moving out and had already packed up his belongings. I thought that my world had ended on the spot--he was the one--but after a few days of going through the motions of thinking "what could I have done wrong," I decided to do something for myself. I called up one of my friends and told her I needed a trip away, and fast. We booked a trip to Rome, Italy the following week, and were set to go for Labor Day. As the weeks passed, 4 more women joined in for our getaway, all needing the same reassurance of themselves as I did.
  
  We arrived in Rome on the morning of September 2, 2008...Hurricane Gustav was nearing our homes as we evacuated, yet we didn't seem to be bothered by it; it should have been a sign. The first of our many "gris gris" (what us Cajun people refer to as a small curse) happened upon our arrival at the airport, when my suitcase, as well as that of one of the other women, did not arrive. We made do, hopped on a couple shuttle busses and made our way to the historical center of town where we found our apartment. Although the description stated it was air conditioned, we found that "air conditioned" in Italy meant a unit in the living room that pumps out lukewarm air. Again, we made do, as we were just happy to be away from the hustle and bustle of the US. Almost immediately the gris gris struck again with one of the women in our group finding herself with a sudden onset of strep throat. Needless to say, she missed the first day of touring. The rest of us, stricken with jet lag, managed to pull ourselves together for the start of our adventure. I had carefully planned our itinerary to include "free" activities on the first day, as we were planning on purchasing a Roma card the following day for our tours. So, day one included a stop to the Pantheon and Piazza Navona area, as well as getting our bearings along the rather confusing and winding streets of the historical area. We ended the night with a very pleasant alfresco dinner in the Campo di Fiori. Day 2 began a little late, and started with a confusing purchase of our Roma cards. We then headed out to the Colosseum and were thrilled to see what the purchase of a Roma card could do--we skipped the entrance line and walked right in! That in and of itself was well worth the 20 euro purchase for the card. After touring the Colosseum, we walked across the street to the Roman Forum. We found ourselves exhausted from both the heat and lingering jet lag and decided to call it an afternoon. However, me being sans luggage, had to make my daily purchase of clothing for that night and the next day. We ended the night with dinner in Trastevere followed by meeting up with my new Roman friend, Francesco at a bar around the corner from the restaurant. After a few drinks, I felt brave enough to allow Francesco to take me on a tour of Rome on his Vespa....it was wonderful! I somehow managed to locate the rest of my party after taking a cab ride back to the Campo di Fiori; at this point it was 2am, and my girlfriends came strolling through the piazza as though they had been planning to meet me there all along. We laughed at the night and then followed our non-English speaking friends they had picked up along the way to a bar/night club a few blocks away. There we spotted two mid-twenties men sitting in a Lotus parked outside the night club. After attempting to speak with them, and them letting us check out their car, we made our way to the roped off doors of the night club. We were greeted by a bouncer who promptly told us "no, capacity," and would not let us enter....Our Lotus-driving knights in shining armor came to our rescue as they said something we could not quite make out to the bouncer, who then allowed us all in and escorted us to the VIP section of the bar. We danced, drank expensive champagne and had a great night of fun for a bunch of women pushing 30! When 5am rolled around, we decided it was time to head home, but not before stopping in the Piazza Navona for a laughable dip in the fountain.
  
  It goes without fail that the next morning came and went, as we laid in our beds. Finally, at about lunch time, we managed to gather our composure and head out for the quickest meal we could get---McDonald's. Again, the gris gris struck as we got up to leave our seats at McDonald's and realized that one of our purses was missing. We searched high and low, but the purse was no where to be found. The police were kind to inform us of the "Gypsy Kids" who are known for their clever theivery. Clever it was--not one of us saw anything suspicious as someone stole the purse literally from underneath her nose. After cancelling credit cards, we decided to try for a small bit of touring for the day. We headed to St. Peter in Chains church and observed the chains that supposedly held St. Peter before he was to be murdered. From there, we made our way to the Metro station where once again, the nasty gris gris struck again...one of the women in our group (who did not care to ride on the Metro) was too slow on getting on the train and the doors closed on her just as she slowly approached the car. Not having paid attention to where we were headed, she instead went back upstairs into the enormous Termini train station and looked for help. It should be noted that I was holding her cellular phone and money in my purse. After 2 hours, we finally located her, panicked and wanting to hop on the first plane back to New Orleans. That incident put an abrupt end to our day....
  
  The next morning began early, with a train ride out to Florence for our bike tour of Tuscany. (Mind you, we still had not received our luggage and were continuing to buy clothes and shoes daily.) Upon arriving in Florence, we walked straight to the small museum holding the statue of David, observed David, and headed toward the Ponte Vecchio. Along the way, we passed the breathtaking Duomo--one of the most ornate cathedrals I have seen in all of my travels to Europe. Not having time for a tour, we continued toward the river to meet our bike tour group. We met our guides--2 Scottish gentlemen and an American woman (Keith, Andy and Mary)--and were then all loaded onto shuttle busses for our ride to reach our bikes. Our tour began at a 13th century castle surrounded by vineyards, which not surprisingly produced several varieties of wine and olive oil. After sampling and purchasing the castle's finest, we were paired up with our bikes and began our tour. Roughly 20 seconds into the biking, one of the women in our group (the same whose purse was stolen) ran smack into a wall and sprained her wrist as she attempted to stop herself. She bravely continued on, but nervously hung toward the back of the group. We pedaled our way through rolling hills of vineyards, stopping periodically along the way for pictures. At lunch time, we came upon a tratoria where we were served with a typial Italian lunch complete with dessert and wine. And yes, wine does mix well with biking! We continued on our way until we were very near the castle, and some of the brave souls--including one brave lady from our group--took the stomach churning ride uphill toward the castle....the rest of us hopped in the shuttle busses and made our way back uphill in style. At that point the bike tour was over and we headed back to Florence and the train station. It should be noted that while in Florence, Alitalia Airlines finally called stating that our luggage had arrived and they would be delivering it to our apartment----typically, as we would be in Florence the entire day and would not be there to receive it. So, upon our arrival back in Rome, me and the other unfortunate woman whose luggage had been missing since day 1, made our way out to Leonardo daVinci airport to retrieve our luggage. After an hour and a half of travel time, my compadre crying at the ordeal, searching through a room of luggage for our own and then hauling our luggage down the cobblestone streets of Rome to our apartment, we were greeted at our apartment door by the rest of our crew, who were sitting outside sipping wine from cappucino cups (the only ones available in the apartment). We joined them for wine and somehow managed at midnight to locate a hotdog stand not far from the Campo di Fiori. After hot dogs and a nice long day, we called it a night.
  
  Our final day in Rome consisted of visiting every place we had not previously seen, including Vatican City--where we were initially suckered into entering the Vatican with a tour guide. After two and a half hours with the tour guide, and still barely progressing into the Vatican museum, we broke free of the tour group and continued on our own. We spent time admiring the ceiling of the Sistene Chapel and then headed to St. Peter's to view the most spectacular church that Catholicism can afford. Having spent the majority of the day at the Vatican, we walked across the street to Old Bridge Gelaterie and picked up some of the best gelato in town. That was followed by souvenir shopping, our last dinner in Rome, and a late-night stop at the Trevi Fountain.
  
  The gris gris struck yet again on our way home. You see, while we were away and Hurricane Gustav tortured our homes, one woman in particular was still left without electricity. This same woman found that upon our arrival into the US, her luggage had not arrived with her. This ended up being more complicated of a process than usual, as we were in New York, having to recheck our luggage after going through customs, and she had no luggage to follow her back to New Orleans (where she was then going to hop on a plane to meet up with her family in Houston, TX). Long story short, her luggage came 2 weeks later.
  
  We learned a lot about ourselves and others on this trip, and I grew as a person and realized that life is too short to put off that vacation of a lifetime for "next year" or "when I get married." Fact is, you don't know if that will ever happen. Carpe diem!
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
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Inside St. Peter's Basilica
- From: catg79
- Description:
  Photo taken looking up into the Basilica at St. Peter's.
- 1 year ago
- Views: 414