pictures Italy - second batch-
More pictures from Italy!
Once we left the Milano area, we traveled East towards Venice, where our second hotel was.
Our first stop on the way was Sirmione, which is a gorgeous little city on a peninsula on Lago de Garda. For the first time since we had arrived that first afternoon in Stresa, the sun was out and it was glorious. Starting from the 1st century BCE, the area of the Garda, including what is now Sirmione, became a favourite resort for rich families coming from Verona, then the main Roman city in north-eastern Italy.
To get on the peninsula, you have to walk through the fortifications of the Scaliger Castle
This is the private terrace of an hotel.
I've seen all through the trip houses with motifs painted on them. This was a really great example.
After a too short stop in Sirmione, we headed for Verona. I had absolutely no expectations whatsoever but I was totally charmed. The tour guide was really interesting and of course we had the rundown on the Romeo and Juliet story - though at least they didn't try to make us believe it was true and explained where Shakespeare found his inspiration.
The Capulet were a real family in the city, though, so here would be Juliet's infamous balcony
Many superstition at work, from touching the breasts on a statue of Juliet for luck in love or to leave a love note on the walls in the tunnel leading to the courtyard.
Gorgeous buildings in Verona, among others the Arena. It was completed around 30 AD, and is the third largest in Italy, after Rome's Colosseum and the arena at Capua. It's still used each night for the Opera - at the time of the year we were visiting -, with an acoustic that allows the 25000 spectators to hear perfectly with no additional technology
The second hotel of the trip was in Jesolo Lido, sort of the suburbs of Venice.
I had never realized that Venice was near beach resorts! there were several hotels with hundreds of spots just awaiting the crowds... (it was WAY too cold, though. I touched the water with my toe just for show, I know.)
Of all the places I've seen, my favorite was Venice-Murano-Lugano. To be honest I had never felt an urge to go there, though I was curious. I think I left a piece of me there, it was so fantastic. I've heard good and bad things about Venice, but my stories are all positive. At the time I went there were no smells, and we didn't experience the Acqua Alta where Plaza St-Marco gets flooded. Weather and humidity are harsh on the buildings, but the paint/stucco falling off in places makes most of its charm. Venice is also the first time I ever got lost with a map (if I can call what I had a map, with most of the streets/passageway with no names). It didn't matter because Venice is quite small and you cannot stay lost for long, but it was an experience for sure.
Pictures!
Little bridges everywhere!
a couple of big ones, too! (this is the Rialto)
speaking of bridges... this is the Bridge of Sighs, between the Pallazo Ducale di Venezia where the courts were and the prison - hence the name, because the prisoners would sigh stepping on the bridge going towards the prison. The buildings are being renovated and the publicity that they wrapped them in? Jeez. I found it kind of horrible. By the way I did a gondola tour, at some point. We shared 3 gondolas between 15 of us, so it cost me something like 20 euros for the tour.
I took a gazillion pictures of doors
and balconies
I saw a little rat! (note: I love rats in general and this one was small and cute. IMHO, of course. I probably would've like it a bit less if it had startled me in the dark or in my house.)
the magnificent Grand Canal
hey, look at that! Italians in uniforms! =D (okay, okay, it's a thing with me!)
In this post I'll go with Murano, too, that is an island a bit outside Venice reached with the vaporettos (buses, but they are boats). Murano is known for its stain glass. Believe me, it's GORGEOUS.
The buildings on the main canals are lined with shops selling glass in every shape or form
one of many examples
colorful pieces
oh, I kept taking picture of masks in Venice/Murano/Burano, too.
when you get off the touristic path, Murano Island is pretty industrial looking
The prettiest city of them all though, Burano, will be for tomorrow!
Once we left the Milano area, we traveled East towards Venice, where our second hotel was.
Our first stop on the way was Sirmione, which is a gorgeous little city on a peninsula on Lago de Garda. For the first time since we had arrived that first afternoon in Stresa, the sun was out and it was glorious. Starting from the 1st century BCE, the area of the Garda, including what is now Sirmione, became a favourite resort for rich families coming from Verona, then the main Roman city in north-eastern Italy.
To get on the peninsula, you have to walk through the fortifications of the Scaliger Castle
This is the private terrace of an hotel.
I've seen all through the trip houses with motifs painted on them. This was a really great example.
After a too short stop in Sirmione, we headed for Verona. I had absolutely no expectations whatsoever but I was totally charmed. The tour guide was really interesting and of course we had the rundown on the Romeo and Juliet story - though at least they didn't try to make us believe it was true and explained where Shakespeare found his inspiration.
The Capulet were a real family in the city, though, so here would be Juliet's infamous balcony
Many superstition at work, from touching the breasts on a statue of Juliet for luck in love or to leave a love note on the walls in the tunnel leading to the courtyard.
Gorgeous buildings in Verona, among others the Arena. It was completed around 30 AD, and is the third largest in Italy, after Rome's Colosseum and the arena at Capua. It's still used each night for the Opera - at the time of the year we were visiting -, with an acoustic that allows the 25000 spectators to hear perfectly with no additional technology
The second hotel of the trip was in Jesolo Lido, sort of the suburbs of Venice.
I had never realized that Venice was near beach resorts! there were several hotels with hundreds of spots just awaiting the crowds... (it was WAY too cold, though. I touched the water with my toe just for show, I know.)
Of all the places I've seen, my favorite was Venice-Murano-Lugano. To be honest I had never felt an urge to go there, though I was curious. I think I left a piece of me there, it was so fantastic. I've heard good and bad things about Venice, but my stories are all positive. At the time I went there were no smells, and we didn't experience the Acqua Alta where Plaza St-Marco gets flooded. Weather and humidity are harsh on the buildings, but the paint/stucco falling off in places makes most of its charm. Venice is also the first time I ever got lost with a map (if I can call what I had a map, with most of the streets/passageway with no names). It didn't matter because Venice is quite small and you cannot stay lost for long, but it was an experience for sure.
Pictures!
Little bridges everywhere!
a couple of big ones, too! (this is the Rialto)
speaking of bridges... this is the Bridge of Sighs, between the Pallazo Ducale di Venezia where the courts were and the prison - hence the name, because the prisoners would sigh stepping on the bridge going towards the prison. The buildings are being renovated and the publicity that they wrapped them in? Jeez. I found it kind of horrible. By the way I did a gondola tour, at some point. We shared 3 gondolas between 15 of us, so it cost me something like 20 euros for the tour.
I took a gazillion pictures of doors
and balconies
I saw a little rat! (note: I love rats in general and this one was small and cute. IMHO, of course. I probably would've like it a bit less if it had startled me in the dark or in my house.)
the magnificent Grand Canal
hey, look at that! Italians in uniforms! =D (okay, okay, it's a thing with me!)
In this post I'll go with Murano, too, that is an island a bit outside Venice reached with the vaporettos (buses, but they are boats). Murano is known for its stain glass. Believe me, it's GORGEOUS.
The buildings on the main canals are lined with shops selling glass in every shape or form
one of many examples
colorful pieces
oh, I kept taking picture of masks in Venice/Murano/Burano, too.
when you get off the touristic path, Murano Island is pretty industrial looking
The prettiest city of them all though, Burano, will be for tomorrow!