Italy -in 2 weeks

If you love history, monuments, landscapes, beaches and more importantly food and wine then Italy is a must do. I realised that I am neither a art and history buff nor a foodie, also that i prefer a jungle full of  wildlife and dust to a  city full of tourists and monuments.

we did a 13-day trip and it was a mix of arranged tours and exploration on my own. The bookings of hotel, trains and the guided tours were done by Leading Edge a travel management company run by Ms Farzana Tiwari ( farzana@leadingedge-india.com ). This company is so professional in their approach and handling that we did not have to worry about anything including my check-in for both the onward and return flights. On this trip we took every form of transport available from trains, trams, bus, metros, boats, hydrofoils and water taxis, taxis and most importantly walked a lot the only thing we missed taking were the cycles. There is good news for all Indians who hate toilet paper. All over Italy in the hotel bathrooms you find the bidet.

we did the following cities in Italy and each of it was done at a leisurely pace

• Naples

• Rome

• Florence

• Venice

• Milan

Naples

This is one city where even before you go people put a lot of fear into you as it has a notorious reputation for pickpockets and scamsters but I had a very nice pleasant experience here. Some of the homeless immigrants when they approach you are aggressive and intimidating but if you ignore them they go away. Probably Napoli as the locals call it gives you the deep divide between the rich and the poor. Napoli’s mainland is home to the normal middle class and the very poor and the island of Capri and the Amalfi coast boasts the addresses of the rich and famous. Amongst all the cities I visited Napoli is the cheapest in terms of food. Where the average meal for 2 costs around 15 euros. People visiting Italy have to remember that the restaurants do not allow you to drink your own water and water that they give is expensive at 1 euro for half liter. There is also a cover charge of 1 euro per person in most places with a 15% service charge added. These are not there incase you order for take aways. you get amazing pizzas and ice creams in this city.

Castle Nuovo

Ovo or Egg castle

Mount Vesuvius

Pompeii

This ancient site has the ruins of the once thriving city of Pompeii which was completely destroyed and buried in ash and pumice spewed by mount Vesuvius in 79AD. The excavated ruins are worth a visit and for this would recommend taking a local organised tour

Capri & AnaCapri

A visit to this beautiful island is a must. This island can be reached by taking a hydrofoil from the Naples port. It takes around 50 minutes for it to reach Capri which is a beautiful island. You can hire a boat to take you round the island where you will get some breathtaking views of natural rock formations and caves shaped over centuries by the wind and the sea. The lemon ice creams of this island can become an excuse to visit this place again.

Ana Capri, which actually means the above Capri, Ana Capri can be reached taking a cab or bus. there is a chairlift ride of 13 minutes one way costing 13 euros for a return trip to Monte solaro which is worth taking  The view from the top is spectacular.

Amalphi coast drive

This is a drive over the mountains offering amazing views of the coast. Once you reach the small town of Amalphi you can take a boat ride along the coast which offers a good view of the villas  on the mountain edges. These villas and castles are the homes to the rich and famous from all around the world.

Rome 

Legend has it that Romulus and Remus, who were nursed and brought up by a she wolf, founded this city. I as a photographer found the night walk to be very good and found the ancient historical sites less crowded then. I had read up on the net for the places worth visiting in the night the list of places I covered are listed below. i have also posted a map marking these places.

• Pons Fabricius

•    Temple of Apollo Sosiano

•   Piazza Venezia

•   Campidoglio

•  On your way down (to the right of the piazza) you will see a great view overlooking The Forum.

•    Colosseo

•   Foro Traiano

•    Trevi Fountain

•   Pantheon

•   Piazza Navona

Pons Fabricius

Temple of Apollo Sosiano

Piazza Venezia

Campidoglio

Forum

Colosseo

Trevi Fountain

Castel Sant’Angelo

St Peter’s Square

The Moses is a sculpture by the Italian High Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome. the legend goes that after finishing the statue  Michelangelo felt that his work was so real he wanted Moses to speak to him and threw his hammer at him shouting Parlare.

Vatican

Taking a guided tour for a visit to Vatican is advisable as it helps one understand the various aspects of the church and also avoids the queue to get in. The opulence and the grandioseness of these churches are mind-boggling. The ceiling of the ssistine chapel painted by Michel Angelo is worth the trip.

An interesting fact about the Vatican is that Private mercenaries who hail from Switzerland guard this state within the state where even Italy has an embassy and the Italian police have no authority.

Florence

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy. This area is probably the most beautiful and picturesque place in Italy. In this region one can find beautiful rolling mountains, lovely beaches, historic sites and culture. Florence city is a small beautiful city, which houses one of the most famous galleries the Uffizi gallery. The Santa Maria del Fiore is a vast Gothic structure better known for its huge Duomo and tall bell tower . The sunset view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo is amazing.

Florance City

Santa Maria del Fiore known for its huge Duomo and tall bell tower

Palazzo Vecchio

Night view of Florance  city from Piazzale Michelangelo

sunset view of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo

A street on the way to Piazzale Michelangelo

Ponte Vecchio

Uffizi gallery

If one is interested in art a guided pre booked visit to the Uffizi gallery is a must. The opulence of the Medici family room must be  seen to be believed

The Birth of Venus is undoubtedly one of the world’s most famous and appreciated works of art. Painted by Sandro Botticelli between 1482 and 1485

Doni Tondo by Michelangelo

Caravaggio painted two versions of , the first in 1596 and the other presumably in 1597.The first version is also known as , by the name of the poet who wrote about it. The second version, shown here, is slightly bigger (60×55 cm) and is not signed; it is held in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

The Venus of Urbino is a 1538 oil painting by the Italian master Titian. It depicts a nude young woman, identified with the goddess Venus

Tribuna (Tribune)

The octagonal room called Tribuna was commissioned by Francesco I, son of Cosimo I de’ Medici and completed round 1584 by the architect Bernardo Buontalenti

San Gimignano

The medieval walled city of San Gimignano has some interesting structures with its tall towers.  This place is also famous for an Ice cream shop called Gelateria Dondoli whose chocolate and saffron flavors were rated the best ice creams in the world in 2007 and 2008.

Pisa

The visit to the miracle square in the coastal town of Pisa is also beautiful

Venice

This island city where the primary mode of transport is by boat  According to me is overhyped and It is very expensive. The boat visit to the Murano to see its glass blowing factory and Burano a beautiful fishing village is worth doing. We stayed in Venice Mestre that is on the mainland and is around 11km from the island city of Venice and is well connected by train. The ticket cost is 1.25 euros one way

Milan

This city is known for its fashion houses and the painting of the last supper by Leonardo da Vinci in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Also can visit Teatro alla Scala.La Scala is an opera house, The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778. If one does not have the inclination to shop or the required bank balance would advice to spend the least time in this city. A half day guided city tour of Milan is all that is needed to see Milan. The best way to travel in this city is the beautiful trams. Travelling by them  is an experience.

last supper by Leonardo da Vinci

Teatro alla Scala

Tram in Milan