7 Search Results for ""st. peter basilica""
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Basilica of St. Peter
- From: SusanHalay
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- 1 week ago
- Views: 16
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Prague monuments and attractio
- From: lejla06
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PRAGUE CASTLE It is the largest medieval castle in Europe. Constructed in the 9th century by Prince Bořivoj, the castle transformed itself from a wooden fortress surrounded by earthen bulwarks to the imposing form it has today. Rulers made their own additions so there is a mixture of styles. The biggest development came in the 14th century, when the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. made the Prague Castle his residence and had the St. Vitus Cathedral built there. Habsburg emperor Rudolph II. added some buildings in Renaissance style in the 16th century. Then the rulers moved to Vienna. Prague castle has had four major reconstructions, but it keeps its classical facelift it took on in the 18 century during the reign of Maria Theresa. The Prague Castle became a seat of Czechoslovakian (and later Czech) presidents in 1918.
St. Vitus Cathedral St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and the most important church in Prague. Apart from divine services the coronations of Czech kings and queens also took place in it. The remains of provincial patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops are interred here. The first stone was laid in the year 1344 in the reign of Charles IV. The first architect was Matthias of Arras, after his death Petr Parler took over and completed much of the structure in late-Gothic style. Over the following centuries renaissance and baroque details were added and the job was completed in 1929.
The Old Royal Palace Dating from 1135 it is one of the oldest parts of the castle. It was the seat of Bohemian princes but from the 13th to the 16th century it was the king's palace.
St. George Basilica St. George`s Basilica was founded about 920 by Prince Vratislav I.
The present Romanesque apperance is from 1142. It is the best preserved Romanesque church in Prague, the fasade is baroque from the 17th century though. There are tombs of Přemysl royalty. The acoustics make it a good venue for classical concerts.Golden Lane Golden Lane is a very little street with nice little houses. They were inhabited by the castle servants, perhaps goldsmiths and the castle marksmen. In the 18th and 19th centuries they were occupied by squatters, later it was the home of the writer France Kafka (house 22) and the Nobel-laureate poet Jaroslav Seifert. Most of them are souvenir shops today.
OLD TOWN SQUARE The Old Town Square is the oldest and most important square of the historical Prague. It is surrounded with historical buildings such as the Old Town City Hall with the famous Astornomical Clock, St. Nicolas Church and Church of Lady before Tyn, and many houses and palaces of various architectural styles and colourful history. It has been a centre of Prague Old Town since the middle ages, when it was a market place at the crossing of European merchants´ roads.
The Old Town City Hall It is a complex of buildings from various historical periods and a tower with the famous Astornomical Clock. The city hall was a center of Prague Old Town administration since the 14th century. King John of Luxembourg sanctioned building of the Old Town City Hall in 1338. The Old Town citizens bought a private Gothic house from Wolflin of Kamen for it. The 66 metres high tower was added in 1364.Astronomical Clock The medieval astronomical clock adorns the southern wall of the Old Town City Hall.It announces every hour with 12 apostles passing by the window above the astronomical dial and with symbolic sculptures moving aside. That makes it a popular tourist attraction.
CHARLES BRIDGE It is in Gothic style, 516 m long, 9.5 m wide and supported by 16 massive piers. Both ends are fortified by towers and was the only bridge in Prague up to 19th century. Named after the Emperor Charles IV in 19th century the Charles Bridge is Prague's most familiar monument. Designed by Petr Parler, it was completed in 1400 and it connects the Lesser Town with the Old Town. Although it is now pedestrianised, it withstood wheeled traffic for 600 years. The magnificent Gothic Old Town Bridge Tower was designed by Petr Parler and built at the end of the 14th century. It is considered the finest Gothic tower in central Europe, mainly for its decoration.
Old Town Bridge Tower The entrance gate to the Charles Bridge from the Old Town river bank, the most beautiful gate of the Gothic Europe was a masterpiece of the Court Buildingworks, it was finished before 1380. It is richly adorned with sculptures - coats of arms of the countries belonging to the Czech Crown under the reign of Charles IV, statues of St. Vitus, Charles IV, Wenceslas IV, St. Vojtech (Adalbert) and Sigmund.
Lesser Town Bridge Towers The smaller tower - the romanesque one, a relic of the Judita's Bridge, was constructed in the 12th century. The higher one is 200 years younger (1464) and its late gothis architecture draws upon the Parler's Old Town Bridge Tower.
JEWISH QUARTER Named after the emperor Josef II, whose reforms helped to ease living conditions for the Jewish, the Jewish Quarter contains the remains of Prague's former Jewish ghetto. There are two figures synonymous with this part of the city, Franz Kafka (1883 – 1924) and the mystical humunculus Golem created by Jehuda ben Bezalel, also known as Rabi Löw.
Old Jewish Cemetery Founded in 1478, it is Europe's oldest surviving Jewish cemetery. People had to be buried on top of each other because of lack of space. There are about 12 layer and over 12,000 gravestones.
Pinkas Synagogue Founded in 1479 by Rabbi Pinkas this synagogue was rebuilt many times over the centuries.
Klausen Synagogue This Baroque synagogue was completed in 1694. There is a good exhibition of Hebrew prints and manuscripts, an exhibition of Jewish traditions and customs and also drawings of children from the Terezín concentration camp.
Old New Synagogue Built around 1270, it is the oldest working synagogue in Europe and one of Prague's earliest Gothic buildings.
Maisel Synagogue Built by Maisel the original Renaissance building was a victim of the fire in 1689. A new neo-Gothic synagogue has been built in its place.
Spanish Synagogue Built in 1868 the Spanish synagogue was named after its striking Moorish interior.
High Synagogue Its prayer hall is on the first floor, this synagogue was built in the 16th century and financed by Mordechai Maisel, mayor of the Jewish Town.
www.jewishmuseum.cz, Prague 1, Josefov
LESSER TOWN The Lesser Town was founded in 1257 on the slopes bellow the Prague castle and conected with Old Town by Charles Bridge.
Church of Our Lady of Victory - the Prague Bambino An early baroque building from the year 1611, 1634 - 1669 rebuilt by the Carmelite Order. The church is world-famous thanks to the Prague Bambino - Infant Jesus wax figure (of the Spanish origin), which was presented to the church by Polyxena of Lobkowicz (1628). www.pragjesu.info, Karmelitska 9, Praha 1
Powder Tower A monumental entrance to the Old Town built by Matej Rejsek in the gothic style in 1475. Once it served as a gunpowder depot. In the late 19th century it was rebuilt by J. Mocker. When the Royal family moved from the Royal Court in the Old Town back to the Prague Castle in 1488, the Powder Tower was left unfinished. Some building work was done in 1592, when the new spiral staircase was built.Loreta A remarkable place consisting of a cloister, the church of the Lord’s Birth, a Holy Hut and clock tower with a world famous chime that has been situated in Prague Hradčany for more than 300 years. www.loreta.cz, Loretanske nam. 100, Praha 1
Na prikope, Praha 1
Vysehrad Ancient legends situate the original seat of the Czech princes - the legendary Princess Libuse and the first Przemyslides - on the hill. In fact, however, this fort had not been founded until the Prague Castle was already in existence, since it dates back to the mid-10th century. In the latter half of the 11th and in the 12th century Vysehrad used to be the Przemyslides princes' main residence which brought about a generous building activity within its walls. Among noteworthy sight there are the precious romanesque rotunda of St. Martin (interior only for groups announced in advance), the gothic church of St. Peter and Paul (in the late 19th century rebuilt in the neogothic style), the Vysehrad cemetery used as a burial site of the Czech outstanding personalilties since 1869 with a collective tomb called Slavin, the underground casemates housing the originals of several baroque statues from the Charles Bridge. The Vysehrad site is open the whole day.
www.praha-vysehrad.cz, V pevnosti 159, Praha 5
Not only Prague!
Cesky Krumlov ��" very popular destination. Its destination number 2 after Prague. Definitely not for one day trip only due there are lot of things to discover. Mainly during spring and summer season its very popular place to chill out, do rafting, horse riding and of course sightseeing.300 protected buildings in the historical centre designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the second largest castle complex in the Czech Republic, and the oldest Baroque theatre in the world.Ideal buget place for backpackers, many hostels in historical center.
Kutna hora ��" perfect place for one day trip. Only one hour by train from Prague.900y old town with huge history and famouse Bone Church.
Karlstejn Castle - High Gothic castle founded in 1348, which has a unique position among Czech castles. It was built by Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV as a place for safekeeping of the royal treasures, especially Charles's collection of holy relics and the coronation jewels of the Roman Empire.About 40min by train from Prague.
Terezin Memorial ��" the concentration camp located about 1,5 hour from Prague by bus.The key mission of the Terezin Memorial, the only institution of its kind in the Czech Republic, is to commemorate the victims of the Nazi political and racial persecution during the occupation of the Czech lands in World War II, to promote museum, research and educational activities, and look after the memorial sites connected with the suffering and death of dozens of thousands of victims of violence.
Olomouc - the ancient town of Olomouc lies in the heart of the so-called Haná region. Its history dates back to the 10th century AD when it became an important trade crossing-point. It has the second most significant collection of historical monuments in the country after Prague. The second oldest university in the Czech lands was founded in Olomouc in the year 1573.Deffinitely not for daytrip. Its about 3hours by bus or train. You can find there hostel or buget accomodation like pensions.
For more go to prague central hostels
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 1141
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That's Amore: Our Italian Adv
- From: blairherzog
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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:
- The quaint, bustling Riomaggiore waterfront
- The especially charming Medieval streets of Corniglia (pronounced Cornelia, by the way)
- The view of Vernazza from the trail leading to Monterosso
- The ancient monastery high atop Monterosso
Cinque Terre Fun Facts
- Cat lovers rejoice: Cats are plentiful in the Cinque Terre - you will see them everywhere you go, including on the trails.
- Residents of the Cinque Terre towns are more likely to own a boat than a car.
- 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:
- Look out over the Mediterranean by moonlight from Manarola's "vineyard walk."
- Dine on Vernazza's waterfront Piazza Marconi
- 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:
- 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.
- 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
- 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:
- Enjoy in the stunning view from the walls of Montepulciano over a glass of their famous wine.
- Stroll the quiet town of Volterra after dark.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- Toss a coin over your shoulder in the Trevi Fountain and it's said you will return to Rome.
- Share a bicycle built for two at the city's largest park, the Villa Borghese
- 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: 2443
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St Peter's Basilica
- From: traveleyed
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Description:
- 1 year ago
- Views: 553
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Rediscovering Rome
- From: antfern
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Description:
Rome, September 12-18, 2008
After four earlier trips to Rome, we decided to use the opportunity of a Mediterranean cruise that departed and returned from and to Civitavecchia, to stay in Rome after the cruise for about six days. For the purpose of this journal, we will arrange our experiences around five topics: Churches, Plazas, Fountains, Ruins, Outside Rome. At the end of this writing I will offer you some points about lodging, transportation and security.
Churches: Don’t miss St. Peter Basilica in the Vatican City. As you walk through Bernini’s colonnade you will be leaving Italy and entering in another country: The Vatican. Normally everyone enters the great basilica and takes a couple of pictures in the Plaza. However, I would recommend two other things to do here: 1. Climb the 320 steps to the top of the cupola for the best views of the Gardens of the Vatican and the whole city of Rome. Once you reach the top you are in the highest point of the city. 2. You may visit the Scavii (Excavations under the main altar of St. Peter). This will require that you made a reservation; it can be done by e-mail. St. Peter’s Basilica web site offers information about these two areas as well as other points of interest in St. Peter: http://saintpeterbasilica.orgThe list of churches in Rome could be like a telephone directory of a small city. It is impossible to mention all of them here. Keep in mind that there is a dress code requirement for entering them and you must preclude from taking pictures while a religious ceremony is taking place. Also they are quite dark and provide you a cool refuge from the Roman heat as well as a place to sit down and relax for a while. Catholics have a saying that whenever you enter a church for the first time and you do a prayer you can ask for a favor….Your wish list in Rome could be quite lengthy.
Plazas: Rome give the impression of grow and live around plazas. As you walk around you will not be able to avoid them: regular shaped or without any designs, small or big, old or new, crowded or strangely deserted. The list here, like the churches, is large. Almost every church has a plaza in front, or around it somewhere. I would mention only about a dozen of them: Piazza de Spagna, San Pietro, Venezia, Navona, del Popolo, della Boca della Verita, del Quirinale, della Repubblica, di Santa Maria in Trastevere, del Campidoglio, dell’Esquilino, and Campo de Fiore. In the plazas you could find a place to eat or drink a cappuccino. I would recommend to look for a gelateria (ice cream shop) mainly in Piazza Navona. Also most of the plazas aside from one or more churches you will find also one or more fountains. To sit around a fountain is one of the Romans preferred outings in the middle of the afternoon or early evenings. Don’t forget the saying: “If in Rome do like the Romans”
Fountains: The fountains of Rome have been the subject of classical musical pieces or well known-movies. Many of the fountains you will find in Rome were like public works constructed by the Popes for the benefit of the various sectors of the city. Likewise the list of plazas, I will offer only the names of few fountains that should be in any visitors' lists: Starting, probably with the most worldwide famous fountain: The Fontana de Trevi. This fountain together with the Triton Fountain in Barberini Square are the subject of two of the symphonic poems of Respighi, Fontane di Rome.
We should mention also the three fountains in Piazza Navona: Four Rivers, the Moor and Neptune. There are beautiful and worth mentioning fountains in Piazza del Popolo and Nicosia. There are numerous fountains in many of the plazas that are worth the visit and to enjoy their cool environment. One of my favorites is the small fountain at Santa Maria Cosmedin in the Forum Boarium, see picture of the fountain as well as the Temple of Hercules in the back.
Ruins and Monuments: Aside from churches, plazas and fountains the other ever present element of Rome are its ruins and classical monuments. From the countless Egyptian obelysks to the classic roman buildings and monuments, your selection is overwhelming. They are everywhere! The most famous probably is the Colisseum, followed by the Roman Forum. I would recommend that you buy a combined ticket of admission covering these two points of interest plus the Palatine. The Palatine is a place that most turists pass or simple ignore. I strongly recommend that your itinerary includes these three attractions. This time we tried to visit the Domus Aurea, the old ruins of Nero's palace next to the Colisseum, but unfortunately it was was closed that day. Also among the recommended ruins you should visit are the Forum Imperiali and the Forum Boarium. There is a beautiful old Roman monument well preserved in a modern museum: Ara Pacis Augustana. Is an altar built by the Senate and People of Rome (SPQR) to conmemorate the peaceful era of Emperor Cesar Augusto.
Outside Rome: Rome is a place that must be visited by everyone… but also visitors of Rome should adventure outside the City and go to places such as Tivoli, Amalfi Coast, or even Florence and Assissi. The pictured attached is from Positano, the jewel of the Costiera Amalfitana. To drive the Amalfi Coast that runs south of Sorrento, until the area around Salerno, will take a full day. But it may be shortened by returning a short while after visiting Amalfi turning toward Naples through the interior highway and thus avoiding the slow traffic of the coastal winding road.
Practical Guidelines:
Let me end with some general guidelines: During this last trip we avoided the museums due to the long lines and by the fact that we have visited the major ones during earlier visits. However, the Vatican Museums should be a priority for everyone visiting Rome.
Lodging: In our first visit to Rome in 1975, we stayed at D’Inghilterra, great location but we couldn’t afford it now. We have stayed in far out places and in the middle of the city. During our last trip we stayed at the Alimandi Tunisi about two blocks from the Vatican Museums. This was a great experience and we highly recommend it. However, the most important thing we would recommend about a hotel or pension in Rome is to find one that is close to a Metro station, this will provide you with the necessary mobility in this magnificent city.
Transportation: As we were planning to stay for six days we purchased at the Metro station a Carta Integrata Settimanale for Euro 16. This allowed us free access to the Metro and all city trams and buses for our complete stay. One of our best purchases ever! We recommend that you obtain this pass as well as a Roma Metro-Bus map for Euro 6, in any newsstand as a companion guide to the pass. That’s all you need to move around besides your own two feet wearing the most comfortable shoes you may have. Try to stay away from flip flops or high heels. The streets and pavement in Rome are quite uneven without considering the ancient cobbled streets and water running from a myriad of fountains around the city.
Security: In Rome, like any other large city, you may run the risk of being pick pocked if the basic security steps are not observed. Never carry valuables in your back pockets, carry your bags closely held next to your body, leave what you don’t need in a safe deposit in your hotel, carry copies of your passport, never put a bag in the floor or in an empty chair while you dine (regardless of the type of restaurant). Avoid strangers that approach you with a map or a book or any article trying to show or ask you something. Stay always alert. We never have had a problem in Rome regarding our security!
Accept the fact that you are going to be surrounded by hundred of thousand people living and visiting Rome at the same time that you are there. If you don’t like people in your pictures of buildings, plazas, parks, etc. you need patience and creativeness.
Enjoy the food and don't be afraid to drink water from any of the running fountains in Rome. The water is fresh and safe, unless there is a post indicating that it is not good for drinking.
Also, be prepared for the fact that Rome is not a cheap place to visit.
Each of the pictures appearing on this journal is individually explained in detail under the "My Photos" section. As an alternative you may click the photos appearing here for expanded information.
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- 1 year ago
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Girls Getaway to Rome, Italy
- From: catg79
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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!
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- 1 year ago
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