Italy tour
Day 1 Fly to Rome
Flew Virgin Express from Amsterdam to Rome. This flight took us over the Swiss Alps, so I was very excited to see them for the first time. The snow covered mountains gave me a thrill of anticipation of seeing Italy, a place that I have always wanted to visit. A dream come true! We landed at Leonardo di Vince Airport and connected with our tour group and finally our tour guide.
Our tour guide, Fabiana, was from the Netherlands, but moved to Italy over 20 years ago. She was a fast talker, 100% in Dutch. My boyfriend did his best to translate, but she was a speed talker. After a 2 hour bus ride, we arrived at our hotel room in a town called Montefalco. A charming hotel that gave us a room that looked like a small apartment. With just me in the room, I was shocked to find double beds in the front room, and 2 small bedrooms with twin beds. I also found 2 hide-a-way beds. Checking out the bathroom, I was introduced to the Italy hotel towels, which can best be described as the Thanksgiving dinner tablecloth. Seriously, all the towels were identical to quality tablecloths...oh, yes, and no washcloths. The shower was a small corner, literally, just the corner. After traveling all day, I was just happy to have hot water and soap! End of Day 1.Day 2 Orvieto and Perugia
I awoke bright and early for breakfast and then a bus ride to Orvieto. Orvieto was an awesome sight to see from a distance. Dating back to the medieval times, Orvieto sits on top of a cliff.
We arrived by bus to the tourist office, where our tour guide obtained maps for us. Then we were directed to the amazing cathedral, which was started in 1290, and took 3 centuries to complete. We toured the cathedral (free admission), and admired the terrific works of art. The doors into the church had great detail and awesome images that started from the bottom of the door and continued up to the top.
Once inside, we found a small chapel in the back. We paid the 3 Euros to get in, and were greatly rewarded for it! Inside was artwork by Luca Signorelli, which he started in 1499. Some of the artwork is damaged by time and a terrible earthquake in 1997. No one has tried to renovate the artwork with the reasoning "if it is renovated, then it is not original."
After we left the cathedral, we toured the town. A local bus was supposed to pick us up at the tourist shop to drive us down the mountain to our tour bus. I saw the amounts of people lined up for the bus, so I decided to walk. It really was not far, less than 2 miles. So, after a great walk, and some very rewarding photos, I arrived at the tour bus....proof that walking beats driving...you see more! Time to go to PerugiaWe arrived at Perugia and were given a 50 cents tour that did not do the town justice at all. In order to really enjoy Perugia, one really needs an entire day. (History fact: It fell to the Romans in 310 B.C. and was given the name Perugia.)
Perugia is another city on a steep cliff and requires a lot of climbing. We were guided around and shown a bit of this, a bit of that. Then Fabiana said we have 2 hour to explore on our own...2 hours? What can one do in 2 hours in a city with so much? So, I went to the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria and were treated to some very fine artwork dating back to the 1100's. It was very impressive and a great way to spend the little time that we were given.
After returning to the group, we headed to our new hotel near Spoleto. We had a very charming meal of 2 very tiny pieces of meat and instant potatoes that resembled soup. Yum!Day 3 Spoleto and Assisi
Spoleto was a rather fun town to explore. We were lead down some old streets and came to a nice church. Instead of following the group into the town cathedral, I headed back into town for some shopping of postcards and to grab a quick cappicino at a small cafe. While sitting out in the outdoor cafe, I spotted a street vendor selling fresh sandwiches. I decided to try a traditional Italian smoked ham sandwich, which tasted better than any of the hotel food we were being fed.
After delightfully eating my sandwich, I headed back to the cathedral for some exporation away from the group. The catherdral was built in the late 1190's and was remodeled in the 17th century. My eyes feasted on the glorious art work on the ceiling, done by artist Filippo Lippi. After the tour, I strolled around taking photos of the area before having to return to the group. Once back with the group, we ventured to walked across the aquaduct dating back to the year 200, built by the Romans, which lead us to the bus.
Then time came to go to Assisi. I was antsy the entire trip! I was so excited, as we were going to see Assisi and visit St. Claire's church and tomb, and St. Francis' Church and tomb. What an honor! But we first made a stop at Santuario di San Damiano, which is built on the same spot where St. Francis wrote the "Canticle of the Creatures." We explored the monostary for Fransician monks, which is still active today. I took photos of the cells monks orginally used, which are the size of a small closet. It was wonderful! We walked the grounds and found the monument marking the spot where St. Francis came to pray. It was a true honor for me to stand there!
After that, we had lunch and then started to make our way to Assisi.
We reached Assisi and started with the Bascillica of St. Claire, where I was blessed enough to say a prayer in front of the tomb of St.Claire. Then we went on a tour in the rest of Assisi. What a wonderful place it was! There is a sense of peace there. Then right in front of me stood the Bacilica of St. Francis. I was in total awe of how huge it was. In my mind, I was expecting a small, rustic church. This was nothing like that! We made our way inside, and I made my way downstairs to the crypt. I pulled out my prayer request list and bought a candle to place by the tomb. (You cannot light the candles down there, just lay an unlit candle in the basket. They will then be lit during the next Mass). I was so emotional just to be there in front of a childhood hero's grave that I was speachless! What a wonderful experience!
After leaving the crypt, we made our way back to daylight and went off to explore the town a bit. We soon realized that this town was nothing but steep roads that continually go straight up or straight down. Great for the calves, but painfully so! We did get some more great photos, though! Assisi was my favorite place!
Day 4 Florence
Florence (known as Firenze in Italy) cannot be done in 1 day. It does the city a total injustice! But, we were only given less than one day to explore, so we made the best of it. I had to rejoin the group at 1:00 to meet the official guide, so I ditched the tour group as fast as I could and took off to explore. I first went in search of a WC. After successfully finding one, I then took off to explore the backstreets and alley ways, trying to avoid tourist traps. 1:00 came along, and I rejoined the group for the "official tour" of Florence.
The tour guide took us around and showed us the buildings, gave us the history, and pointed out many small details that I found in the Lonely Planet guide. After listening to her blah, blah, blah, and fending off street beggers and vendors, (known to be the best pickpockets!) we went on to explore one of the oldest bridges in the town. This bridge was the only one not bombed in WWII because it was known as an artist's bridge and sported many German artists...the Nazi's did not want to destroy something that was productive for them.
After the tour, we went for lunch and were served a meal of meat and cheese with wine. Not so filling, but enough to last us through the day. We then headed to Ronta for the hotel. Florence is a must see, but take several days to explore it!!
Day 5 Ronta
After Assisi, we were to have a free day. A day to explore Pisa and Lucca if we wanted. What the tour did not tell us is that we would have to pay the tour guide (Fabiana) 50 Euros per person to get to Pisa and Lucca, and we had to follow her touring. The tour company cons people by saying you have a free day to explore, but if you want to see Pisa, you have to pay. So, to insure that most people take the Pisa/Lucca tour, they take us to the middle of freaking no where for the hotel. It is either stay in Ronta (B.F.E.) or take the 50 euro per peron tour. I, being cheap, opted for Ronta...I decided to save the money for Rome.
So, while everyone got up at the crack of dawn to leave, I slept in. I spent the day exploring Ronta (never underestimate the power of walking) and found more great photos shots. Then had coffee, ate lunch, and went to the local grocery store and community church. That was it, and it was wonderful!!!! I took a nice siesta, enjoyed the rest away from the group, and found peace of mind again....then the tour group returned, and my blood pressure went up again...ah, happy endings!
Day 6 Siena
Siena is a wonderful place to visit. The most fascinating thing I saw was the head of St. Caterina of Siena. St. Caterina died in Rome, but Siena wanted to collect relics from the saint, so they had her head delivered and placed in a tabernacle above the alter in the Chapel of St. Caterina. We also visted the cathedral, which was completed in the 13th century. The floor of the cathedral is marble, but is decorated with artwork dating back to the 14th century. There is also the statue of St. John the Baptist, which was done by Donatello.
I expored more and found a terrific ice cream shop that gave me 3 huge scoops of ice cream for only 2 euro. After walking a bit more, I found a nice seating area in front of a fountain. There is something charming about being away from the group and spending time just absorbing the atmosphere of Italy. The everyday life of folks is quite charming, I think.
Day 7 ROME
We made it! We finally arrived in Rome! Butterflies in my stomach, we spent the day exploring. The Roman ruins! WOW! Some ruins dating back to 100 B.C.! This was a true dream come true for me! Then off to the Colosseum. We were amazed to learn that the holes in the colosseum were not made by age or weather...but by people in the early years who wanted something to decorate their home with. Instead of investing in their own sculptures, they just took stone from the colosseum. Worse, since most people during the gladiator days wanted sovenires, the loser of the games (fighting to the death) was cut into little pieces and thrown into the crowd as their sovineir of the games. Yeah, talk about nasty.
We made our way walking closer and closer to Vatican City, and my anticipation grew. We walked more and saw the history reveal itself to us. After lunch, we started the final journey of Rome...the Vatican. I could not get there fast enough. Everyone was walking so slow, and here I am trying to run. Fabiana would stop and talk and my frustrations grew and grew.
Finally we arrive at St. Peter's Square and I had to just stop and stare. We made it! I was finally standing in St. Peter's Square, another life dream come true. Again, emotion overwhelmed me as I walked around with the group. Then into St. Peter's we went. We passed through security and made our way to the doors. Again, Fabiana would stop and talk, stop and talk. By this time, I was feeling less than Christian and wanted to shove a sock in her mouth so I can get into the church...patience was never a virtue of mine.
Finally, there we were, standing in St. Peters...and there is was...Michaelangelo's Pieta. I cannot not tell you the joy and excitement that poured through me. It was placed behind glass, as years ago someone tried to hammer a chunck out of it. But it was there infront of me! Looking around, I realize how huge it really was. Sadly, the crypt where they buried the popes, (including Pope John Paul) was closed to the public. But we explored everywhere and soaked in the sights and sounds. It was awesome!
So ended the trip to Italy. My advice..go alone! Do not go with a tour group unless you are sure that the tour guide is not some money-hungry person, or that your other tour people are not morons. Being alone, you find more time to do what you want to and see what you want to see...
