All posts filed under: Italy

Random bits of Rome

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This marks my last post on Rome (sniffles) for now. Key phrase: for now. I’d love to go back and visit the places we didn’t get a chance to see (Venice, Florence, etc.). One day. :) But for now, I’m going to wrap this up by sharing some photos of “everyday” Rome. Despite the not-so-warm people of Rome and dealing with the constant fear of getting ripped off by local vendors/services, Rome really is a beautiful city. I hope you enjoyed looking through the photos from our trip and got a taste of how lovely it was. A view of a bridge over the Tiber River. The walk along the river is lined with trees. Above, at left, an inviting bookstore in Trastevere. Food! One of our favorite places to eat was Pizzeria da Baffetto. They had the tastiest, crispiest pizzas (pictured above in bottom left photo) and the best antipasto caprese dish (top left). Even though the customer service was never great (impatient servers), the food never disappointed. Yummy gelato!! We had gelato twice …

St. Peter’s Basilica

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We were told by many guidebooks and experienced Rome travelers that we must climb to the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica for amazing views. It pays to listen. We were running late (of course) and were forced to pay the €7 to take the elevator to the rooftop of the church. (The alternative was to climb all 550 steps for €5.) From the rooftop were beautiful views of Michelangelo’s dome and the church below. Factoid: the dome is 448 feet from the floor of the cathedral to the top of the lantern. Beneath the dome, under the main altar and 23 feet underground lies St. Peter’s tomb. From the church rooftop, we climbed 323 steps to the very top of the dome. And we came out to see this. Talk about a view. A view of St. Peter’s Square designed by Bernini. There are a total of 284 columns and 140 of Bernini’s favorite Saints, each 10-feet tall, in the square. You can make out the Vittoriano in the distance (the big white monument in upper right …

Vatican Museum

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Ahh, the Vatican Museum. When I think of our museum experience, the first thing I recall is the hardcore 30-minute walking jog we took to make it to the museum before they stopped giving out tickets. And thank goodness we made it. The word that best describes the art and interior of the Vatican Museum is “grand,” and if I had to choose another word, it’d be “overwhelming.” Here is where we saw Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, though I regrettably didn’t take any photos. Partly because we weren’t allowed, and partly because I was afraid I’d get caught. No worries though, because I’m determined to return one day! The tapestries room. Raphael’s workshop designed the tapestries, and they were made in Brussels. Above at left is the map gallery, which displays 16th century maps of Italy. I love how the color pops in this photo. If you can imagine what it looked like in person, you’d be even more impressed. Up next: St. Peter’s Basilica

Rome lights up

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Every evening, after the sun set around 5 p.m., we’d stroll the streets and watch the city come alive with lights. Monuments, ruins, you name it, are beautifully lit. The view of St. Peter’s from Ponte Sant’Angelo. Castel Sant’Angelo St. Peter’s Square inside Vatican City, the world’s smallest country. One of my favorite shots of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Victor Emmanuel Monument, locally known as the Vittoriano, is a monument to Italy’s first king. This guy puts D.C.’s monuments to shame… If you must know, I fell up these marble steps not once, but twice. In an effort to protect my camera, I made sure I landed on my side. The results were not pretty. I’m thankful that my camera came out unharmed, but even more thankful that my good friend Kate resisted the urge to snap a photo of me, probably because she was laughing too hard. At the base of the monument is Italy’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Marcus Aurelius sits in the center of Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitol Hill Square). Side …

Amalfi Coast

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After several hours of walking through the streets of Pompeii, we jumped in the car again to drive along the Amalfi Coast. I can’t begin to describe with words how beautiful the scenery was, so I’ll let the photos do the talking. Above, at left, I want to live in this house. Pretty please. And doesn’t that water look inviting? We wanted to dip our toes in it, but we were running out of daylight and it was a good hike to get to the shore. Rocky cliffs with charming towns. I thought this only existed in books. Our friend Rob deserves most, if not all, of the credit for these pictures since he had to concentrate on the narrow, windy road the whole time. He also learned how to stop and pull over on a dime so Kate and I could jump out to take photos. Thanks, Rob!! We stopped in Amalfi to stretch our legs and enjoy the scenery. I will always remember Amalfi for the breathtaking views and terrible pizza (it was …