Category Archives: Italy

Piazza di Trevi, Spanish Steps and Dinner: Rome, Italy

Posted on October 19, 2012 | 6 comments

On our first day in Rome, we went to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps and then ended in Italian restaurant.

The Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain is a fountain in the Trevi district in Rome, Italy. Standing 26 metres (85.3 feet) high and 20 metres (65.6 feet) wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.

The fountain gets its name from the fact that it sits at the junction of three roads or in Italian “tre vie”. Traditionally Romans built rather elaborate fountains at the terminal point of their aqueducts.

Supplied by water from the Acqua Vergine aqueduct and a triumph of the baroque style, it was based on the design of Nicolo Salvi and was completed in 1762. The design centres on the triumphant figure of Neptunus Rex, standing on a shell chariot drawn by winged steeds and led by a pair of tritons. Two allegorical figures in the side niches represent good health and fertility.

The legend has it that if you throw a coin into this fountain it guarantees your return to Rome. An estimated 3,000 euros are thrown into the fountain each day. The money has been used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome’s needy; however, there are regular attempts to steal coins from the fountain.

The Trevi Fountain is beautiful, but it can also be overwhelmingly crowded, so keep an eye out while you take pictures and hold on tight to your bags. We were told by our guide again and again to beware of pickpocket so we were very careful when we were in the crowd.

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps are a set of steps in Rome, Italy, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by the Trinità dei Monti church at the top. The monumental stairway of 138 steps was built with French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi, in 1723–1725, linking the Bourbon Spanish Embassy, and the Trinità dei Monti church that was under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France, both located above — to the Holy See in Palazzo Monaldeschi located below.

The Spanish Steps are the longest and widest staircase in Europe.

We stopped there on the way to the restaurant for our dinner. There were lots and lots of people everywhere; basically it is a set of steps with the church on the top and fountain at the bottom. But it had the vibe like the Times Square in New York with lots of people on the steps or around the fountains taking pictures, having their lunch or just reading a book.

We climbed the stairs and went to the top of the stair and it was amazing to see so many people from the top.

The streets nearby are full of up-market designer shops likes of Gucci, Max Mara, Salvatore Ferragamo, Giorgio Armani and Louis Vuitton as well as bars and restaurants and are enjoyable to stroll around in.

If you are tired and want to rest for a while it is a good place to stop while you are in Rome but for us we had around an hour there and it was time for us to meet our guide to go for our dinner.

Disappointing Italian dinner

After our mini tour of Rome, we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner. I have to say this was one of the places where I was disappointed with the food as well as the restaurant itself.

We went to this restaurant and they served us a four course meal.  They started with salad and Bruschetta, followed by Pasta. Then the main was Chicken or Beef and dessert was ice cream with fruits.  Even with so much food, it was just an average experience. There were two musicians playing music during the whole time and a waiter was giving red roses to all the ladies. I found the food bland and the place too crowded.

Inspite of the dinner, overall we had a great day.

Please click here for more photos.

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Assisi : Italy

Posted on September 26, 2012 | 6 comments

On the way to Rome we stopped over in a beautiful town in the province of Perugia called Assisi. It is the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in the town in 1208, and St. Clare (Chiara d’Offreducci), the founder of the Poor Sisters, which later became the Order of Poor Clares after her death.

We arrived in Assisi in the morning. The city was beautiful and peaceful. The bus left us in a parking lot and from there we had to walk 30 minutes to the Basilica of San Francesco which is located on top of the hill. As we ascend up the hill, the place looked amazing with a green landscape and ancient buildings. It looked really pretty like I was walking in the gallis (narrow streets) of Kathmandu. The place is cleaner and more organised compared to Nepal but the place looked like it was frozen in time.

As we walked towards the top, we saw so many souvenir shops, little pizzerias and some dress shops. There were lots of tourists enjoying gelato and pizza in the little streets which had no foot or motor traffic.

On the top of the mountain was the Basilica of San Francesco and is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Mino. We decided to go inside but as soon as we entered we were stopped. I was wearing a dress with open shoulders and AS was wearing his hat. The guy told us I need to cover my shoulder and AS has to take off his hat. As my scarf and jacket were in the bus in the parking lot, we didn’t see any point going down and coming back again wasting more than an hour so we went to a nearby shop and bought a scarf to put over my shoulders. Then we made our way inside the church again.

In the main area of the church, there were lots of people praying. The architecture of the church was ancient and there was so much history behind the place. The basilica, which was begun in 1228, is built into the side of a hill and comprises two churches known as the Upper Church and the Lower Church, and a crypt where the remains of the saint are interred. The interior of the Upper Church is an important early example of the Gothic style in Italy. The Upper and Lower Churches are decorated with frescoes by numerous late medieval painters from the Roman and Tuscan schools, and include works by Cimabue, Giotto, Simone Martini, Pietro Lorenzetti and possibly Pietro Cavallini. The range and quality of the works gives the basilica a unique importance in demonstrating the development of Italian art of this period.

We saw the tomb of St. Francis and explored the ornate upper and lower churches, admiring the frescos and architecture. Pictures weren’t allowed inside of the church, but it was fine when we were outside in the courtyard.

On the way out, we went to the souvenir shop and bought a small statue of San Francesco as a souvenir from Assisi. From there we descended to go to the parking lot to meet our tour bus. There are many other interesting things to see in Assisi as well like 14th century castle “Rocca Maggiore” which overlooks the town and is very impressive in a grimly medieval fashion. Inside there are some historical displays, including a collection of weapons in the armoury. But we didn’t have time to do more sightseeing so we just rushed to the bus. On the way down, we went to a pizzeria and grabbed a quick-lunch (2 slices of pizzas) on the go as we realised that we were almost late for our bus.

Please click here for more photos.

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Venice: Italy

Posted on September 24, 2012 | 8 comments

After our evening tour of Venice, we were ready to discover Venice in day light.On this day we had a nice breakfast in the hotel and headed to the lagoon again.

Once we were on the island, our first stop was to see the how they make Murano glasses. It was a short, but very impressive presentation in the glass workshop. The glassmith first showed everyone how he creates a small vase from raw glass and then moulded it to make a beautiful flower shaped vase. It was really impressive that he could blow on the glass to shape the flower with all of the details in less than 5 minutes.

From the workshop we were taken through a gift shop where they explained about decorative items and jewelleries. I didn’t buy anything but what we realized later is that every other store in Venice sells the glass items. All of the jewellery stores buy their beads from Murano and make their accessories in the shops.

Gondola ride in Venice

Venice is like no other place on earth as no cars are allowed in the city and the fastest way to travel within the city is by boat on the canals. So we went to ride a gondola. It is one of the most popular things to do while in Venice and we were there for the first time so it was really fun.

The boats were beautiful with decoration and cushions. There were a few different types of gondolas and it was so nice to sit and enjoy the romantic experience. It’s true that the best way to see Venice’s gorgeous palaces is from the canal.

Once on the boat and away from the hustle and bustle of the square, we could just enjoy the ride listening to the beautiful serenading by our gondolier. Grand Canal is the largest canal in the city which is almost 3 km long and up to 70 metres wide. Many famous buildings are situated on its banks, including the baroque church of Santa Maria Della Salute, the Accademia Gallery, the Ca’d’Oro and the Grassi, Corner-Spinelli and Grimani Palaces. It is crossed by three bridges: the Accademia, Rialto and Scalzi. The most famous of these is the Rialto, lined with a double row of shops.

Our guide told us that gondoliers, uniforms were changed after the film Summertime where Katherine Hepburn put them in striped shirts with corn hats. We also went to the balcony where Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie shared a kiss in the Tourist and the building that James Bond blew up in Casino Royal. Once the boat ride was over, we had a whole day to discover the Vience on our own.

Standing in the middle of the magnificent piazza San Marco was really amazing. There was the hustle and bustle of tourists everywhere. There is St Mark’s Basilica in one corner, Piazzetta dei Leoncini on another as well as Procuratie Vecchie (Old Law Courts), Procuratie Nuove (New Law Courts) and Clock Tower. Standing on the middle of it all, I felt so happy to be in a place I always wanted to come to and had heard so much about. In the San Marco there were so many pigeons and I decided to stop and take some photos with them. It reminded me so much of Kathmandu Durbar Square.

The piazza San Marco is equally beautiful in day as well as at night.

From there we took a walk and went souvenir shopping. We ended up buying some Venetian masks, a Gondola, key rings and a few other stuffs as well. There were so many choices that you kind of get lost in the shops. Also we saw so many people wearing mask and asking money to take photos with them.

It was almost midday by then so we decided to have something to eat. Our guide had warned us not to sit down in a café as they are super expensive so we decided to get a Sandwich and coffee from a take away shop and went to Piazza San Marco. We had tuna and egg sandwiches and they tasted great. As we were enjoying the view and eating our lunch, two girls wearing orange shirt that said “San Marco Guardian” came to us that sitting out in the public place in the area was not allowed. I was a bit annoyed but as our lunch was almost over, we just got up and went for more sightseeing.

We went to so many small squares and bridges. The houses were pretty with flowers on the balconies. So many designer and leather shops were everywhere making it a heaven for shoppers. I tried my best to avoid fashion shops as I had already bought so many shoes and dresses the day before. I ended up buying a hat as it was hot and I forgot mine in the hotel room.

It was really hot and humid day so I was really tried after few hours so we decided to go to the port and wait for our boat to take us back to the mainland. While we were sitting at the edge of the water, one of our tour friends took this photo for us. That is one of my favourite photos from the day.

Please click here for more photos. 

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Buying fake designer bags can get you arrested in Italy

Posted on September 18, 2012 | 28 comments

When we were in Italy, we saw lots of illegal immigrants selling fake designer bags like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Chanel in the street. You’ll see the vendors and their makeshift shops spread out on blankets everywhere in Venice. When the police come, they pack up and vanish. After the coast is clear, they set up again and are back in business.I think if you can name a brand, they have it. I had also seen these kinds of fakes in Thailand and Malaysia before.

When we were in Italy our guide warned us not to even talk to these vendors who sell these bags. Everywhere in the world if someone is selling illegal fake designer bags, the vendor is arrested and prosecuted while people who buy get away with a warning, but not in Italy.

In Italy, they fine you for buying these bags because they don’t want to arrest these illegal migrants. Italy has lots of illegal migrants because of the unrest in North Africa lately. The number is so high that the Italian government doesn’t want to arrest these people as it will cost them lots of money to follow proper process to deport them. They have to keep them in jail, feed them and follow a long legal procedure which means lots of money and resources in the process. The Italian government doesn’t want this headache so they have another policy.

They will issue fine for anyone caught buying these product on the spots which can range to thousands of dollars. They are hoping this will discourage tourist from buying goods from these illegal immigrants who in turn will stop income for illegal immigrants and finally they will leave Italy. But I have seen so many people buying the fakes from them. I think if you don’t go on a tour, no one will let you know that you can be fined. I didn’t see one sign during my whole trip mentioning anything about being fined for buying fake bags.

Here is one of that news from shortnews. com

Tourist Fined $1,450 for Buying Fake Louis Vuitton Bag for $10

65-year-old Austrian tourist Ursula Corel has been fined $1,450 for purchasing a $10 fake Louis Vuitton bag off a street vendor in Italy. Officers taking part in a crackdown on counterfeit goods observed the transaction through binoculars.

Corel says she knew the bag wasn´t real and purchased it “because it looked very nice”. She says she didn´t know it was illegal. Mayor Francesco Calzavara stood by the crackdown, saying they were trying to reduce demand and vendor numbers.

A local tourism organisation, alarmed by the prospect that the crackdown will drive away tourists, apologised to Corel and offered to pay the fine. The organisation is calling for warning signs and better communication with tourists on the issue.

I don´t think buying the bag was right but I don´t think fining the tourist is good idea either. I think there should be enough warning for tourist so they won’t risk buying them.

Imagine going on a holiday and having to pay $1000 unexpected fine which can easily ruin your holiday.

So if you are ever going to Italy, do keep this in mind.

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Posted in Fashion, Italy

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Hot chocolate, no Cioccolata calda

Posted on September 17, 2012 | 6 comments

I am not a coffee drinker as coffee gives me a headache so if I have to drink, I would order a hot chocolate while my hubby enjoys his mocha or cappuccino.  During our Europe trip as well I had hot chocolates instead of coffee whenever we sat down in cafes for drink.

While in Burano, we fell like a coffee and cookie so we went to this small café along the way. We asked for a hot chocolate, a cappuccino and some cookies. The cookies were yummy and AS was happy with his cappuccino but I was surprised to get a cup full of thick hot chocolate with no milk.  It looked more like a dessert you get in Max Brenner  than a drink I was expecting. It was so thick that it stuck to the sides of the cup. It was very dark and with a bitter edge but too sweet for my liking. I didn’t know what to do with it as I could not drink it. I dipped a few cookies into it but did not drink rest of it . I was a bit disappointed that I could not get my normal hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate, cioccolata calda

That was not the only time we were served a thick hot chocolate. In Rome as well, I got the same drink when I ordered a hot chocolate. Luckily we had an Italian couple in our tour group so they helped me get a cup of warm milk and I made my own hot chocolate by mixing the thick chocolate with milk.

Hot chocolate, cioccolata calda

So after coming back to Sydney, I goggled what really happened to my hot chocolate in Italy and this is what I found. I got Cioccolata Calda when I asked for hot chocolate. Chi-o-co-la-ta Call-da is Italian for Hot Chocolate. Cioccolata Calda is described as authentic Italian Hot Chocolate which is a cup of thick, delicious, creamy, pudding like consistency, hot chocolaty goodness. I should have asked for milk chocolate if I wanted my normal hot chocolate. So remember if you ever visit Italy, do keep in mind the difference.

I learnt my lesson to do some research on food and drinks for the next time I travel.

If you want to try your own Cioccolata Calda, click here for the recipe.

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