Trip to Italy 22-27 january 2016
22 January
After the previous trip to France - Paris, this round, I had decided to select Italy as my destination.
I will be visiting Rome, Pisa/Florence and Venice within 5 days, isn't it amazing. This round is not alone though, my female colleague is joining me for this "rushing" tour :).
It was winter and this period is consider "low peak." It was simply unbearable for me and because of the weather, it somehow affected the holiday mood more or less.
To made the trip easier without having to carry the luggage around, we had booked tour package and left our luggage at ROME.
This company we had read reviews and finally decided to make arrangement with them.
Argiletum Tour Operator
http://www.argiletum-tours-rome.com/tours/italy-rail-tours/tour-italy-train-visit-florence-venice_3.html?fromsrchtour=1&PHPSESSID=142ecea74e3bc128dcc9e592f4cc0e50
After the previous trip to France - Paris, this round, I had decided to select Italy as my destination.
I will be visiting Rome, Pisa/Florence and Venice within 5 days, isn't it amazing. This round is not alone though, my female colleague is joining me for this "rushing" tour :).
It was winter and this period is consider "low peak." It was simply unbearable for me and because of the weather, it somehow affected the holiday mood more or less.
To made the trip easier without having to carry the luggage around, we had booked tour package and left our luggage at ROME.
This company we had read reviews and finally decided to make arrangement with them.
Argiletum Tour Operator
http://www.argiletum-tours-rome.com/tours/italy-rail-tours/tour-italy-train-visit-florence-venice_3.html?fromsrchtour=1&PHPSESSID=142ecea74e3bc128dcc9e592f4cc0e50
We booked an EASYJET to fly from Bristol Airport and headed to ROME. We will be spending over night at ROME. Through friend's recommendation, we booked a so called homestay. The location is convenient and near to famous St. Peter's Basilica.
Home Stay
I am not a particular customer for hotel, but this homestay was some kind of not so convenient in the sense that the owner, a very friendly and warm lady, was renting out her 3 rooms apartment and maybe we were unlucky to get the common room whereby there was no attached bathroom and we will have to lock the common toilet, our room and the door. From the moment we enter the building, we will have to lock everywhere we enter, entrance door, main door, room door. I will not recommend to anyone. But overall the owner and the room, breakfast are satisfying, considering also the location.
First night in ROME...walking around taking photos of night view as we will have to leave very early to Roma Termini Train Station to board a train to Florence the next morning.
First Dinner in ROME, Italy
All ready to travel to Florence.
There is a bus stop just nearby to where we stayed and the owner had shown us way and told us which bus number to take. This indeed helped us to save money on the transport.
There is a bus stop just nearby to where we stayed and the owner had shown us way and told us which bus number to take. This indeed helped us to save money on the transport.
23 January 2016 - ROME > FLORENCE > PISA
Freezing morning, after around 2 hours, we had reached Florence train station. The hotel was nearby the station but however, their check in time is 1400hours and it was only 1000hours, we were far too early. We had to left our belonging at the Concierge and walked around the area. The waiting point for the afternoon tour to PISA is just close to this area hence we do not want to travel too far just in case we get lost.
After meal, shopping and loitering around, we finally joined other to board the tour bus to PISA, can't wait to see the The Leaning Tower of Pisa, the most remarkable architectural structures from medieval Europe.
Arrived at the destination, walked a distance to the main door. Taking photos non-stop. The guide introduce to us the Campo dei Miracoli, Pisa, it was the cathedral, or Duomo di Pisa, which rests on a white marble pavement and is an impressive example of Romanesque architecture.
Arrived at the destination, walked a distance to the main door. Taking photos non-stop. The guide introduce to us the Campo dei Miracoli, Pisa, it was the cathedral, or Duomo di Pisa, which rests on a white marble pavement and is an impressive example of Romanesque architecture.
24 January 2016 -FLORENCE > VENICE
Our package include a morning half day tour around Florence. Cannot be miss is the Splendid View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo. It was very cold but the spectacular view caught me and I have to bear with the coldness and continue to take lots of scenery photos. Piazzale Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square) is a square with a panoramic view of Florence, Italy, located in the Oltrarno district of the city.
The status you see from the photo is actually David
David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture created between 1501 and 1504, by Italian artist Michelangelo. It is a 5.17-metre (17.0 ft) [a] marble statue of a standing male nude. The statue represents the Biblical hero David, a favoured subject in the art of Florence.
The status you see from the photo is actually David
David is a masterpiece of Renaissance sculpture created between 1501 and 1504, by Italian artist Michelangelo. It is a 5.17-metre (17.0 ft) [a] marble statue of a standing male nude. The statue represents the Biblical hero David, a favoured subject in the art of Florence.
Tour also include entrance to the most important museum of Florence, the Uffizi Gallery.
The Uffizi Gallery hosts works of art by great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello, just to name a few of the most famous. Its large collection has works from all centuries but a large part dates back to the periods between the 12th and 17th centuries.
The Uffizi Gallery hosts works of art by great Italian artists such as Botticelli, Giotto, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello, just to name a few of the most famous. Its large collection has works from all centuries but a large part dates back to the periods between the 12th and 17th centuries.
FLORENCE > VENICE
We reached Venice pretty late, fortunately the hotel is just opposite the train station, just along the Grand Canal.
When i stepped out of the station, I can immediately feel a completely different world. No cars, no pollution. Venice's Canal Grande (Grand Canal) - also known by Venetians as Canalazzo - is the major water-traffic corridor sweeping through this amazing city.
We reached Venice pretty late, fortunately the hotel is just opposite the train station, just along the Grand Canal.
When i stepped out of the station, I can immediately feel a completely different world. No cars, no pollution. Venice's Canal Grande (Grand Canal) - also known by Venetians as Canalazzo - is the major water-traffic corridor sweeping through this amazing city.
VENICE / 威尼斯
Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal - Venice
Hotel is clean, I considered this the most comfy and standard hotel I stayed throughout my few days in Italy.
Hotel is clean, I considered this the most comfy and standard hotel I stayed throughout my few days in Italy.
25 January 2016 - VENICE City
Took a fabulous breakfast and wait for the tour guide to pick us.
After breakfast while waiting, we went around the hotel premises and captures the beautiful city pictures.
Took a fabulous breakfast and wait for the tour guide to pick us.
After breakfast while waiting, we went around the hotel premises and captures the beautiful city pictures.
A late-twenties female guide arrive and we begin a 2 hours "walking tour" as there is no transportation beside boats and water taxi. Along the way, she will introduce the Venice and Venician's culture, living style, building and answered our question.
I think I need to experience Venice with an enchanting Gondola Ride, we cruised past grand buildings & through narrow backstreet canals.
26 January 2016 - ROME
Back to ROME and spend overnight at the home stay. Glad we reached safely by taking a very late bus from ROMA Termini station.
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
St. Peter's Square, Vatican City
With that, we marked the end of my Italy trip. Though kind of rush but I do enjoyed these place and attractions we visited and the only down side is the weather, I am not one who can withstand winter season.