Italy 2011

Italy 2011 - Page Text Content

S: Italy Trip 2011

FC: roma

1: September 9-23 2011

2: 14 days in Italy with our friends Bill and Sharlene Brewer

3: An amazing journey that took us through Rome, Vatican City, south to Angri, Sorrento, Massa Lubrense, Positano and driving along the magnificent Amalfi coast .... | Across the Mediterranean Sea to the Island of Capri..driving north to explore the ruins of Pompeii. Traversing through the rolling hillsides and twisting roads of Tuscany... | Exploring towns such as Sant Angelo in Colle, Montepulciano, Volterra, San Gimignano, Florence, Radda in Chianti, Panzano and Sienna. | Stopping to enjoy the sights, meeting the colourful people,tasting fresh foods, enjoying local wines, and of course, cappuccinos and cannolis...

4: Our trip started in Roma, exploring the streets, the many beautiful piazza's with their sculptures and fountains... | September 10

5: Roma !

6: The Spanish Steps at Piazza di Spagna

8: Legend has it you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the water. It worked for Sue, she was here 23 years ago. Hopefully we don't have to wait that long to come back again... | Fontana Di Trevi

9: Spectacular !!

10: The next morning we set out for the Coliseum | September 11

12: Completed in 80 AD, the Coliseum was capable of seating 50,000 people.

13: The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology

14: Palazzo Venezia also known as the Wedding Cake

15: The Constantine Arch

16: Road traffic is cut off on Sundays so we can walk down the main streets.. perfect time for a Peroni !

18: The Pantheon 126AD | At the top of the dome is a large opening, the oculus, which is its only source of light.

20: Piazza Navone

22: Dinner At Da Francesa in Rome. Wooden tables, paper tablecloth, simple menus, awesome food. Sue and Sharlene were oblivious to anything other than Fabio the waiter, "Another napkin for the ladies please,,,"

23: a prime spot for people watching... | Cocktails after dinner at Cafe Della Pace

24: On Monday, our last day in Rome, we toured The Vatican, The Sisteen Chapel and St Peters Basilica | September 12

25: It would take 5 photo albums to display just 1% of the amazing art, sculptures,frescoes and paintings.

26: Stanze di Raffaello ("Raphael's rooms") | The School of Athens At the top of the stairs in red is Plato, in the likeness of Leonardo Di Vinci and to his right in blue, his student Aristotle.

27: Inside St Peters Basilica

28: The black on gold letters are 6 feet tall

29: THe Goddess of Fertility. Those are not breasts, They are bull's testicles

31: Four hours south of Rome, just south of Napoli, is the beginning of The Amalfi Coastline... We stayed in a little town called Massa Lubrense in a villa with a great=view of Capri. | Mr Lorenzo, a local policeman, owns the Villa Penelope.

32: A trip into the hills to a little marketa to stock up on produce, cheeses, sausage and wine. The owners gave us a bottle of their home-made Limoncella | September 13

33: Our first night we went out for dinner at a seafood restaurant in Sorrento with some of Bills clients who were travelling in Sorrento.

34: Day trip to Capri ! | September 14

35: A trip to Capri would not be complete without a visit to the famous Blue Grotto ! | Thats Bill crammed in there ! | 30 minutes crammed into a mini rowboat for 4 minutes in the grotto !

36: Touring around Capri

38: Sorrento | September 15

40: Driving the winding Amalfi coast | September 16

41: Incredible views !!

42: Positano

44: Amalfi

46: Tuscany

47: September 17

50: Voltara !! | September 18

52: San Gimingnano

56: Florence | September 19

64: Montepulciano

65: September 20

68: September 21 | Radda in Chianti

69: Dinner at | Le Fonti Winery in Panzana in Chianti. An authentic meal of fresh Risotto, Wild Boar Stew and lots of Chianti. Thanks to Luca and Sauro (and Luca's mom)

70: Salut !

71: September 21 | Sienna !

73: The Duomo

75: Piazza del Campo