ITALY
One could keep visiting Italy for a lifetime and still not exhaust all it has it offer. It has a long, long history and pre-history. (Doesn’t it sound similar to India?) J
Our trip to Italy was for 5 days (March 25 - 30). We took a Ryan Air flight from Billund (Denmark) to Pisa (Italy). The specialty of Ryan Air is that one can get really cheap tickets sometimes. (so cheap that the international travel fare would be lesser than the local bus travel fareJ). We stayed in Florence for 4 nights. We decided to go at this time of the year (just a week before Easter holidays) because it is OFF season and not very warm. But all the cities, we travelled were crowded inspite of being low season. The crowd reminded us of India! From Pisa airport we took a bus to go to Florence. We could feel a lot of bumps during our bus ride from Pisa to Florence, which is quite uncommon in Europe. On nearing Florence we could see many buildings built around haphazardly like in Mumbai J
We spent the first 2 days, visiting various places in Florence (or Firenze in Italian). It is an interesting city with many sights, within walking distance. The city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and is famous for its magnificent art and architecture.
Most of the tourist attractions are within walking distance from the city centre. We walked through the small crowded pedestrian streets passing between many old fashioned buildings. Right opposite the Santa Maria Novella train station, is the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella. It was constructed in the 14th century. Further on our way, we crossed one of the popular street market of leather goods and scarves. The market looks very colourful not just for the colourful scarves but also because of the colourful leather bags/purses. (see the pictures…..IMG 1782a and 1783a)
On the way, we visited the Basilica of San Lorenzo. From there we walked to the most popular attraction of the city. The best-known site and crowning architectural jewel of Florence is the domed cathedral of the city, Santa Maria del Fiore, known as ‘The Duomo’ - with an exterior of patterned pink, green and white marble. It is very huge and there’s no point nearby, from which one can see the entire building. The cathedral was begun in 1296 and took almost 150 years to complete! The cathedral building is very impressive. The interiors are also very beautiful, but we did not go inside because of the large queue for it. Also one can go up to the dome terrace, but again one has to invest some hours standing in the queue. So we just enjoyed the cathedral’s beauty from outside. The area was very crowded and said to be crowded almost throughout the year. We then visited the Chisea della SS Anunziata church. We then walked to the one of the most popular squares of the city, Piazza della Signoria. It looks like an outdoor sculptor gallery with some beautiful sculptures around and the huge fountain of Neptune.
From here, we walked along the Arno river to reach the Ponte Vecchio. This bridge is a 14th century structure and the most popular of all the bridges over the river. This area has many jewellery shops. One can get beautiful view of the Arno river and the surroundings from the bridge and the other bridges. That was our last point for that day.
The second day, we walked to another bridge over the Arno river. After taking some pictures there, we walked to the Palazzo Pitti. It is quite close from the Ponte Vecchio. Palazzo Pitti, usually called the Pitti Palace, is a vast mainly Renaissance palace in Florence and belongs to the 15th century. There are different options for the tickets, all museums and all galleries or a few of them, or just individual museums. We opted for a group of some museums and galleries. First we started with the garden of the palace. It is very huge and beautiful with pond in the centre. But the garden is spread in different height levels. As one climbs higher, one gets a beautiful overview of the garden below, palace complex and also of the city. Later we visited the Galleria Palatina, the most significant gallery displaying very beautiful paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries and another museum exhibiting beautiful silver, glassware collections. The whole palace, galleries and surroundings is very big and it could take around 5-6 hours to see completely. We shortened our visit to some extent. Then we walked back along the river.
The third day, we took a train from Florence to Venice. It took around 3 hours to reach there by the EuroStar Italia. Though the name is similar to the Eurostar which run between France / Belgium and UK, Eurostar Italia does not belong to the family of TGV trains made in France.
We were hooked by the first glimpse outside the Venice station. There is a tourist office inside the Venice railway station, from where we collected information and map of the city. Venice has some nicknames which include "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Bridges", and "The City of Light." Venice is very historical and romantic.
Now it is also called “The Sinking City”. The old city is built on piles on low-lying islands in a salt-water lagoon, sheltered from the Adriatic Sea by the Lido and other small strips of land. There are about 150 canals crossed by some 400 bridges!
Why is it called “The Sinking City”?
Venice is located in a lagoon on the edge of the Adriatic Sea. When Venice was founded in the year 421, the level of the Adriatic was about 5 meters (16 feet) lower than it is today. The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles (under water, in the absence of oxygen, wood does not decay) which penetrate alternating layers of clay and sand. Most of these piles are still intact after centuries of submersion. The foundations rest on the piles, and buildings of brick or stone sit above these footings. For centuries the water level rose very, very slowly, but in the last century or so the rate has increased dramatically. With each passing year, the difference between street level and water level shrinks faster. From time to time, the city gets a brief reprieve. On more than one occasion in early 2005, unusual weather patterns caused Venice to experience exceptionally low tides—so low that boats could not navigate most of the city’s shallower canals. Nevertheless, the clear trend, as observed over centuries, is in a decisively downward direction. Also the surrounding water level has been rising at an alarming rate. This is partly due to the effects of global warming and partly due to centuries of poor environmental management in the entire region. Hence the new name as Sinking City.
Inspite of all these facts, one cannot stop going there and enjoy the beauty of the city. Our first look at the city from outside the train station was itself very impressive – historical buildings, canals and bridges. There is the Grand Canal, immediately after stepping out of the train station.
Venice city is very small but has many attractions. It is said to have more great art and architecture per square inch than any other place in the world. Its roads, being canals of water, it has no cars or buses; its stone built sidewalks are elegant and historic. As we had less time, just 4 hours, we decided to take a look at the city partly by boat. So we took a motorboat to reach the most significant attraction of the city - St Mark's Square. It took nearly 25-30 minutes to reach there. As we were nearing the stop of St Mark’s Square, we could see another small island on the opposite side and a cathedral. It is called Basilica of San Giorgio Maggioreand and lies on the island of the same name in Venice, Italy. It was designed in the 16th-century Renaissance. Sailing in the canals is a memorable experience with various colourful and artistic buildings passing by.
The canals of Venice are different from the ones in Amsterdam. The Venetian canals follow a natural course and serve as “streets” with boats being the only means of transport (see picture below), while the canals in Amsterdam are artificially made in a concentric manner.
As we got down we could see a part of the famous palace – Doge’s Palace or Palazzo Ducale. This beautiful palace was constructed in the 15th century. It stands in the St Mark’s Square. St Mark's Square (the Piazza San Marco) is at the centre of Venice. Just next to the palace is the 11th-century cathedral of St Mark, who is the patron saint of the city. This five-domed Byzantine cathedral is decorated with marble and mosaics, and four Greek bronze horses dating from the 3rd or 4th century. Sculptures of lions, the symbol of St Mark, are found in the square and on its buildings. For its opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power from the 11th century on, the building was known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro ("church of gold"). It is indeed very magnificent and grand.
As the central landmark and gathering place for Venice, Piazza San Marco is extremely popular with tourists, photographers, and pigeons.J It was very crowded with people on the sides and the pigeons on the ground! We had difficulty in taking pictures with so many people moving around. We think, it is an indeed must-see place in Venice. From there, we started walking in to the narrow crowded lanes towards the train station. On the way, we saw many shops, cafes and market with the souvenirs, especially the Masks. These Masks are worn during the famous “Carnival” festival in February. After some distance, we reached the Rialto Bridge /Ponte di Rialto). It is a bridge spanning the Grand Canal in Venice. It is the oldest bridge across the canal and probably the most famous in the city. Further on way, we visited the Camp dei Frari church. There are some beautiful colourful buildings and a bridge near it. Just behind the Frari, is another Venetian treasure chest.
Walking further, we reached the opposite side of the train station near the main Grand Canal again. Here we took some pictures of the Santa Maria di Nazareth (Scalzi) church (next to the station) and the big bridge Ponte Degli Scalzi. We then took the train back to Florence. In those 4 hours, we saw all the significant attractions in Venice.
The next day, we took a train to Rome, the capital of Italy. It took just one and half hour from Florence with the faster Eurostar train (300 km per hr) though the distance between Florence and Rome or Venice is almost same. Rome station is very big and splendid, with information centre, cafes and shopping centre. We collected the map and information of important attractions in the city. Rome is a big city with loads of attractions and sights. To see it with leisure completely, one needs atleast 3 days. But we had just 5-6 hours! Well, Something is better than Nothing! We purchased the one day ticket (can be used in metro, bus, tram) from the tourist office and started off.
We headed off to the most visited place in Rome – St. Peter’s Cathedral/ Basilica in the Vatican City. Vatican City (State of the Vatican City) is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. At approximately 44 hectares, it is the smallest independent nation in the world. Vatican City is a non-hereditary, elected monarchy that is ruled by the Bishop of Rome — the Pope. The St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican State inside Rome is the largest Christian church in the world. The cathedral covers 23,000 sq. m and accommodates 60,000 people.
We took a bus from outside the Rome train station, which stops close to the St. Peter’s Square. On the way, we saw some beautiful monuments/buildings and bridges. The St. Peter’s Square is very big and grand. This was the only place which looked less crowded because of the vast area. After taking some pictures, we walked towards the Castel di Sant Angelo museum, which is also in Vatican city, opposite to St. Peter’s Square. There’s also a bridge near it with beautiful sculptures.
Later we took a bus to Piazza Venezia. The Piazza Venezia is a large square in central Rome and takes its name from the adjacent Palazzo Venezia (palace). It is dominated by the imposing Victor Emmanuel II monument which was built to honour Victor Emmanuel, the first king of unified Italy. The monument, from the 20th century, built of pure white marble and features majestic stairways, tall columns, is very dominant in the Square and very splendid. We further walked towards the Colosseo, which is at 10 minutes walking distance from the square. On the way, we saw the Foro Romano (Roman Forum), the remains from the Roman Age. It was the central area around which ancient Rome developed, in which commerce and the administration of justice took place.
From here, the Colosseo / Colosseum is clearly visible. Although it is now in a severely ruined condition due to damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, it is said to be the iconic symbol of Rome. It is one of the finest surviving examples of Roman architecture. It is one of modern Rome's most popular tourist attractions (further popularized by the movie GLADIATOR). The Colosseum is a giant amphitheatre located in the center of the city of Rome. Originally capable of seating 45,000 –50,000 spectators, it was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. It was built on a site just east of the Roman Forum, with construction starting between 70 and 72 AD. The amphitheatre was the largest ever built in the Roman Empire and was completed in 80 AD. The Colosseum remained in use for nearly 500 years with the last recorded games being held there as late as the 6th century. The Colosseum is a definitely must-see place in Rome.
But along another line of thought – should such structures, which are symbols slavery, trading of human beings and killing of humans for entertainment, be glorified?
From the Colosseum, we took a metro to Piazza di Spagna. It took just 5-6 minutes to reach there. Here lies the Trinità dei, a famous church in Rome. It is best known for its scenographic dominance above the Spanish Steps (138 steps) that descend into the Piazza di Spagna. At its feet is the Fountain of the Little Boat. The square with the church and the fountain is beautiful but was swarming with people all over, hence we could not really enjoy the place. We then walked towards the Fontana di Trevi/ Trevi Fountain. On the way, we crossed the Parliament building. The Trevi Fountain is the largest standing (85 feet high and 65 feet wide) and most ambitious of the Baroque fountains of Rome. It is the front of a large palace (Palazzo Poli) decorated with statues and bas-reliefs on heaps of rocks. It is extremely beautiful and a unique fountain. But again, it was too crowded to enjoy its beauty or to take pictures. That was our last place of visit, and then it started raining. We then took a bus to the main train station and later train back to Florence. Even though, we had just some hours to see the city, we were quite satisfied, because we visited some of the most significant attractions.
But if one has more time, it is worth staying in Rome for 2-3 days. Roma, non basta una vita – Rome, a lifetime is not enough!
On the last day, we left for Pisa in the morning. We were to take our flight in the evening from Pisa. After reaching Pisa station, we headed straight to the Leaning tower of Pisa – the most popular place and also the symbol of the city. While the Leaning Tower is the most famous image of the city, it is one of many works of art and architecture in the city's Campo dei Miracoli or "Field of Miracles", to the north of the old town center. The Campo dei Miracoli also houses the Duomo (the Cathedral), the Baptistry and the Camposanto (the monumental cemetery). It is a wide, walled area at the heart of the city of Pisa, recognized as one of the main centers for medieval art in the world.
In 1987 the whole square was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tower of Pisa is also famous for experiments by Galileo! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pisa/galileo.html
The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Cathedral. Its construction began in the August of 1173 and continued (with two long interruptions) for about two hundred years, in full fidelity to the original project, whose architect is still uncertain. In the past it was widely believed that the inclination of the Tower was part of the project ever since its beginning, but now we know that it is not so. The Tower was designed to be "vertical" (and even if it did not lean it would still be one of the most remarkable bell towers in Europe), and started to incline during its construction. Both because of its inclination, and its beauty, from 1173 up to the present the Tower has been the object of very special attention. During its construction efforts were made to halt the incipient inclination through the use of special construction devices; later columns and other damaged parts were substituted in more than one occasion. Today, interventions are being carried out within the sub-soil in order to significantly reduce the inclination and to make sure that Tower will have a long life.
After spending around 3 hours or so, we took a train from Pisa station to the Pisa airport.
Few other things in Italy, which are similar to India:
We had read some warnings and threats in Italy in the Lonely Planet travel guide. Pick pocketing is very common in crowded areas, metros, buses and shops and also camera and bag snatching is quite common. We were warned by a ticket checker at the Rome metro station to be careful about camera and purses while travelling in the metro.
The ticket rates are higher for non Europeans for entry into some museums / tourist attractions as it is for Taj Mahal or Lal Killa in India. Nowhere else in Europe have we seen this kind of discrimination.
The traffic is chaotic. Sometimes vehicles, particularly motorcyclists, do not stop at red signals or at pedestrian crossings. The accepted mode of crossing a road is to step into the traffic and walk at a steady pace. Look the motorist straight in the eye. (Else simply follow an Italian or a Priest / Nun, if near you while crossing. It is said that “Everyone stops in Rome for God” J. (This is what the book says.) And of course, heavy traffic means high pollution.
You can see numerous scooters / motorcycles on the roads in Italy, whereas in rest of Europe they are quite rare.
The link below leads to a small cartoon film clip made by an Italian, depicting how Italy is different from rest of Europe. (You may replace Italy with India and it would still be the sameJ) – Hilarious!
http://tcc.itc.it/people/rocchi/fun/europe.html