If this shot above were wider, then just a bit to the right you would see Florence’s iconic Duomo, capping the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Pictured here, however, a very similar-in-“miniature” dome graces the Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of the Princes), one of two structures comprising the Medici Chapels in the complex of the … Continue reading
Category Archives: Travel Notes
How to fall in love with Verona in one easy step
If the universe had commissioned Walt Disney to create Italy, what he would have crafted, in my opinion, would have looked like today’s Verona. Verona is that exquisite, and magical. Verona Image Credit Apparently I’m not the only one who feels this way. The entire city of Verona has been named one of UNESCO’s World … Continue reading
Snapshots from Florence: The Ponte Vecchio
Il Ponte Vecchio “Water under the bridge” is a common English saying. In Italian one would say acqua passata non macina più, literally translated as water gone no longer roils. Regardless the language, the water under this famous bridge is the river Arno, which it has spanned for centuries. The Ponte Vecchio is one of my … Continue reading
Discover the Park of Monsters with Tourist by Chance
A Guest Post by Valter Baldu I’m so happy to share today’s post by Valter of Tourist by Chance — Italian born, living in Rome and loving being a tourist in his own country. His blog is rich with Italian travel details and photos, and he often takes readers off the typical tourist path. Today … Continue reading
A Visit to Rome’s Majestic Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Basilica di San Paolo Fuori Le Mura “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – Paul the Apostle, 1 Corinthians 13:13. In the early first century Paul the Apostle Paul — one of the original followers of Jesus — was executed in Rome by order of Roman emperor Nero. … Continue reading
12 Things You May Not Know About The Last Supper
There were exactly two things I knew for sure about the Last Supper: 1. It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. 2. It was somewhere in Milan. (Clearly, I’m not an art historian.) This capolavoro (masterpiece) had long been on my wish list of Things to See in Italy, but mostly just to check it off the … Continue reading
Alberobello and its Trulli: Hidden Treasure in the Heel of Italy’s Boot
Excited to be featured on Tourist by Chance today, writing about a magical little town in my ancestral homeland. Pop over for a visit, and while you’re there, enjoy Valter’s site — a feast for all who love Italy! Continue reading
Alla Stazione: Helpful Italian words for train travelers
Roma Termini “Roma Termini (in Italian, Stazione Termini) is the main railway station of Rome, Italy. It is named after the district of the same name, which in turn took its name from the ancient Baths of Diocletian (in Latin, thermae) which lie across the street from the main entrance.” —Wikipedia Train stations in Italy can … Continue reading
Strolling Mona Lisa’s Florence
This time last year I found myself waking up in Florence — strange for a Southern California resident — the chimes of the Duomo’s bells drifting through my open window. For me, every morning in Italy feels full of opportunity and ripe with undiscovered memories. But this particular morning promised a once-in-a-lifetime gift. On a whim, … Continue reading
Week 1: Italian for Travelers
Here’s a way to jump in to learning Italian…please vote for your favorite post in the comments — high frequency words or Italian for travelers. Enjoy!
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