Next in the high paced agenda - Venice

I picked this tour because it seemed a slower pace than others, giving more time in each city. Whilst this is true, it's still exhausting. Each city gets far too little time, most I could easily spend a week in - though that might make the tour a touch longer.

Today was Venice, the city of love. With so many beautiful cities visited, each one has to compete with some tough competition. If you only did Venice, you would not be disappointed. The city itself is very famous for having been built on the water, but what's not apparent from various movies, TV shows, books, etc, is that it's not a big city. When you think about it, I guess it's a pretty obvious fact - despite being built on the water, there's only so much usable space, and the original purpose for the watery foundations have long since become irrelevant. Firstly it was actually built on a series of small island in a shallow body of water, linked together with the construction we recognise today. The original intention of the location is it made Venice very difficult for the barbarians to attack.

I enjoyed Venice, but I'm not sure I'd put it on my must visit list. It's fame precedes it, but with that, it's difficult for it to exceed expectations.

Hey Pisa isn't the only place with a leaning tower. Same reason too - inadequate foundations. Though I think Venice has a better excuse.

Flávio, our guide, has a winged lion called Cimba. Here is Cimba's dad - the winged lion statue in Venice. It does look like parental love there.

Civitas Vacticano (Vatican City)

Date: 14th Jan

Note: this entry was published almost a week after writing it.

Today we visited the Musei Vaticani, the Vatican museums, located in the smallest nation in the world. It was again time for a criminally quick run-through what you could spend an entire day doing, and many more if Catholic history is of interest.

The above is only one example of beautifully painted and sculpted ceilings that, in my potentially controversial opinion, rival the chapel.

The Sistine chapel, which is well known for its beautiful ceiling, I found underwhelming. The amazing aspect is the story of its painting, which most people know. The frescos themselves, while quite beautiful, aren't unique in their beauty. The chapel is of no significant note architecturly, so in my opinion it only retains its importance through the frescoes, the story behind who and how they were painted, and it's own self sustaining reputation.

St Peters on the other hand was an amazing cathedral, spectacular architecture and sadly overshadowed in fame by the Sistine chapel.

As one enters St Peters the massive size is almost overwhelming.

I think those who visit appreciate St Peters once they see it.

One fire station i really wish i could have visited!

Gloria Di Roma

Rome is so much, you could easily spend two weeks here, indeed I encourage everyone to do so. This was one of those blink and you miss it style stops. Rome is so huge, and to only have one (and a half) days is almost a crime.

We arrived at Rome in the early evening, and in order to give us more time, we did a walking tour of Rome that night. It was interesting seeing the sights at night.

I really can't describe everything I saw. I shall simply post some photos

And that's just the evening tour.... The Vatican is next entry, but that will have to wait to tomorrow, I'm rather tired. 

Orvieto

Date: 14th Jan

We did a nice stop in the hilltop town of Orvieto for lunch. For a number of centuries Orvieto was home to a few popes at various times. The town is built on top a hill in the Terni Provence of Italy and it's location was an ideal defensible position, and was used when Rome wasn't an ideal location. 

Today the hilltop town has a distinct small town Italian feel. The buildings on the hill, much like in Florrence, are all stone with beautiful narrow cobblestone roads in the centre and main roads of the town. Coming through at midday on a Wednesday gave the impression of a sleepy village.

The Cathedral built here celebrates and houses the Corporal of Bolsena. The building is very beautiful, it took a 100years to complete, primarily due to running out of money.

Lunch was wild boar sandwiches, a local delicacy. 

I sort of want to revisit Pisa so I can work out exactly how it differs from, for example, this place. This place isn't exactly rich but it's clear that the economy is sustained, presumably by tourist dollars and holiday homes (the view is quite something and it is a wine producing region).

Wandering further off the tourist track here, I find the wealth decreasing, but it doesn't feel as poor as Pisa. I feel it's a great shame that such an iconic town as Pisa seems to have so little money flowing back to the local economy. Perhaps I'm wrong, I certainly hope so.

Time: 1600h

Location: Orvieto, Terni Provence, Italy

Popes Seen So Far: 0

The beauty of Florence

I must withhold judgement on the most beautiful city I've visited, but it's hard not to simply say it must be Florence.

After the illusion that was Pisa, Florence was a thing of beauty. The city retains its Renaissance history, statues and buildings from the most famous to the lesser known Italian artists adorn many locations. 

Even the "side streets", the back alleys, the alleys with graffiti are still beautiful. The graffiti seems to only be on the metal garage doors, there is little on the stone walls. Little evidence on the stone of painting over, what graffiti there is is small.

I had a good chance to explore Vennice during the day and night and it was beautiful. I could easily spend days, if not weeks exploring here. Having a smattering of Italian would be enough to get by.

Today we are on our way to Roma (Rome), this is a short ride, as opposed to the long haul from Switzerland to Florence.

Location: 1 hour south of Florence

Time: 1035h

Weather: Sunny

Temperature: 10°C

The misconceptions we have

Pisa was interesting. What the post cards and TV doesn't show is that it is a small town, and does not appear to reflect it's income. We drove through the neighbourhoods on the way to the official bus parking lot - the size of which is evidence of how busy it gets in summer. 

Our driver and guide were both stunned they'd finally fixed the road leading into town, apparently for years it was in a very bad state of repair - this is a town that gets €200 per bus that comes in - and in summer, that'll be at least 200 buses a day!

The town itself looked low-mid socio-economic. It's hard to describe without sounding elitist or worse. However once we passed through the gates to the town centre suddenly it was picturesque, perfect postcard looks, neatly manicured lawns with beautiful classical, but well maintained, walls.

It's very evident that Pisa knows where it's money comes from and only spends it precisely where it must. Money does not flow outside the walls.

My tour guide explained privately that despite the significant wealth coming in, somehow a lot of it "disappears". 

I am reminded, on a much smaller scale, of the great pyramids of Egypt and what they look like from the other direction, facing towards the town. 

Time: 1730h

Welcome to Italy

Time: 1131h

We just pass over the border into Italy. Switzerland was a beautiful place, it started to snow as we left.