Our Second Week

From scenic snow-capped mountains to the Mediterranean Sea, Italy blessed us with her glorious basilicas, artistic masterpieces, ancient history, fine dining, exquisite wine, and colorful culture. Venice, Orvieto, Florence, Massa Marittima, Rome, and Cinque Terre offered a cornucopia of Italian experiences.
Here are just a few!
 

The Grand Canal via gondola ride was a one-of-a-kind experience. Was it touristy? 100%! But still pretty cool. The Rialto bridge is beautiful and the gondolas are works of art. 

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My amore. =) 

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A delightful side trip took us to Ahmid Seddighi, who initially came to Venice as an architecture student and instead became a master Venetian mascherer, or mask-maker. His enthusiasm was contagious as we learned the intricacies of his craft. 

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To the delight of the wives in the tour group, our husbands were called upon to model various masks. The Plague Doctor (on my beloved), was one of the many masks modeled by the good sports in our group. 

Exploring this store will tantalize your senses. I truly wished I could have found an excuse to purchase a mask and a ball gown. The garments themselves were works of art.

Every bridge afforded another opportunity to marvel at the unique makeup of this one-of-a-kind world heritage site. 

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Besides the grand canal, gondolier's take you behind the scenes, as well. 

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This was one of the more elaborate rooms on our tour. Decorated in the Venetian style, it exuded such elegant character. 

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The view from the top was amazing. In the square, it was fascinating witnessing the tide back in through the drains and partially flood the area. 

The word "stunning" doesn't do this basilica justice. It's absolutely incredible. Covered in ground gold mosaics, the walls glow.

We took the entire tour and it was worth every penny. We do recommend the skip the line tickets and buying a few months in advance.

These incredible bronze horses are a must see. They're inside St. Mark's after you see the museum. They originally formed part of a monument depicting a four-horse chariot that was used in Roman chariot racing. There are replicas outside of the basilica. These are the originals. 

This image of Christ is found on the interior of St Mark's Basilica.

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Be sure to hit the side streets and dip into other churches and buildings as you're able. This gorgeous depiction of Christ was found in the Santa Maria Dei Miracoli church in Venice. Not originally on our "to-do" list, it was an enchanting surprise. 

What a delight to hear this jolly gentleman play and sing "That's Amore" in the square - on an accordion, no less. He was adorable and Italy came alive just that little bit more.

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While we didn't find a working one, these wine windows offered a quirky glimpse into Florentine history when families sold wine to folks on the street directly from a little hole in the wall.

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Michaelangelo's David is the highlight of this museum for me, but don't stop there. This museum is home to grand masters of sculpture, painting, carving, and more. As a lover of Renaissance art, Florence didn't disappoint. 

The Birth of Venus, by Botticelli, at the Ufizzi in Florence. 

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Madonna del Cardellino (Madonna of the Goldfinch) by Raphael. Another must-see Renaissance artist. 

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The Annunciation by da Vinci. It's worth a Google to learn about the forced perspective in this incredible piece of art! Or better yet, go to Florence and see the phenomena for yourself. Leonardo was a genius.

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It's believed by some that the men standing bent over the wall in this mural were actually painted by Michaelangelo when he was Ghirlandaio's student. 

This was the first great basilica in Florence. It was built by the Dominican Order. It was consecrated in 1420 and is another world heritage architectural marvel. 

This red, white, and green marble tower has an incredible view from the top - if you can survive the 414 steps one way. Be sure to take breaks on your way up!

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Almost to the top, we stopped to catch our breath at the bell. One of us almost died (not pictured here). ;-) Just kidding...mostly. Although I'm in good shape, this tower was still a challenge.​

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Trip tip, even if you're in shape, this climb will wear you out. We also bought tickets to climb the dome and ended up passing them on to friends who couldn't get tickets. It would have been too much to attempt both the tower and the dome stairs in a single day. 

The Ponte Vecchio ("Old Bridge") spans the Arno River in Florence. It's a medieval stone bridge that now houses merchants.

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A surprise stop on our tour was the town of Orvieto. Their cathedral is known for its facade of intricate bas-reliefs of Bible stories. Perched on a hill, this sleepy little medieval town is a quick funicular ride up from the valley and a great place to wander, have lunch, and enjoy the crisp, fruity wine.

Our smiles couldn't be contained as we marveled at the incredible Coliseum. How astonishing it must have been in its heyday. 

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Rome, the birthplace of civilization. This picture shows the Roman Forum - the religious, social, and political center of the ancient Rome - the heart of the Roman Empire. Be sure to keep an eye out for the rose-ringed green parakeets that nest here.

This once Roman temple from the 2nd century is now known as the Basilica of St Mary and the Martyrs. 

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We loved seeing the dome of the Pantheon. It's the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome! The oculus not only provides light, but its beam tracks the passage of time. 

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This popular site can be super crowded. Some businesses have better vantage points to see the fountain, so take time to shop the area and have a coffee. You might find a lovely place to view this spectacular sight without the crowd. 

Another popular site is the Spanish Steps. This area is a vibrant hub of activity and a great place to people watch.

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We were blessed to tour the sanctuary at the exact time the sunset illuminated Bernini's "Dove of the Holy Spirit" stained-glass window. 

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Once one navigates the treasure maze that is the Vatican Museum, the small but magnificent Sistine Chapel surrounds you with all its artistic glory. And on the ceiling is one of the most famous paintings of all. Truly a sight to behold. 

We stayed in Monterroso al Mare. Our first night's sunset radiated brilliant orange and purples on the way to dinner.

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Our first night in Cinque Terre featured an unforgettable seafood stew. Tangy and a little spicy, it included whole chunks of an assortment of fresh fish - with some seemingly staring at you. ;-)  

On our full day in Cinque Terre, we explored all five towns by land, sea, and train. Super colorful and full of neat places to visit.

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We enjoyed lunch perched atop the cliff on a landing all our own with the best view of the sea. The food was delicious.

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And finally we napped and soaked up the sun on the beach until the sunset. This was my hubby's first time dipping his toes in the Mediterranean. Take your time here and relax.