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Croatia, Greece & Italy
  • Debi Shaw
  • Debi Shaw

Croatia, Greece & Italy

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  • Debi ShawCroatia, Greece & ItalyPengembara
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    Magical Morning in Monopoli, Italy

    8 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    I woke early to the gentle sounds of the waves hitting the rocks outside our front window. It is such a soothing feeling waking up by the sea. Luckily I was early enough to catch the morning sun rising over the ocean. It was so peaceful enjoying my morning coffee sat on the balcony marvelling at the beauty before me. Sadly photos just don’t manage to capture the purity and richness and richness of the colours as the sky changes. It is truely something very special.Baca lagi

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    Lazy Day in Monopoli, Italy

    10 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    We have enjoyed our down time in Monopoli, thanks to Brad’s error. This morning we wandered around to the beach area which is so not like our beaches at home. The beach here is a small cove with minimal coarse sand and lots of rocks. The locals here sun bake on the rocks which looks extremely uncomfortable.

    Thankfully the weather was divine and we enjoyed a very refreshing swim. It is such an amazing feeling floating in the sea looking back at the historic town we are staying in. Such a simple pleasure but so enjoyable.

    After freshening up we headed out for our last stroll around town before enjoying yet another delicious meal. Brad of course had seafood and I thought I was having a panini but it was actually a hamburger. I got that translation completely wrong. It was delicious though. A Hugo cocktail or two followed by our favourite gelato and then we rolled ourselves home.

    We ended our last day in Monopoli enjoying drinks and snacks on our balcony, reminiscing on our fabulous our time here has been.    Baca lagi

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    Another Magical Morning in Monopoli

    11 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    I can’t get enough of our beautiful morning views of our balcony. I don’t want to leave here but sadly today is our last morning in Monopoli. Once again I got to witness the beauty of the sun rising over the sea and watch the local fishermen fishing for octopus. It is fascinating to watch them and what a tiring job, but a fabulous location to work in. I was lucky enough to see one of the fishermen have a very successful morning and in one of the videos he is showing off his catch to another fisherman. I would be proud too considering how long it takes to catch one. It was yet another great start to the day.

    And the bonus of our apartment is we have a loo with a view so even when you go to the toilet you can still admire the scenery.    Baca lagi

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    Amazing Alberbello, Italy

    13 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    Today we revisited Alberobello. This town was one that captivated us when we were here in 2018 and we were curious to see if it had changed much. When we first visited it wasn’t as well known as it is today and today it was packed with people and full of “tacky” tourist shops. While it has lost some of its simple charm the trulli still intrigue me.

    Alberobello was first settled in the 16th century and today is known as one of Italy’s most beautiful towns. The trulli of Alberobello have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

    We enjoyed walking among the trulli, and of course taking many photos of these unique buildings as it is still such a picturesque town. We managed to find a little bar in a side lane to have a spritz and snacks before enjoying one of the best gelatos from this trip.

    I am glad we decided to revisit Alberobello so see the changes but we can tick that off our list now. And the snack of the day was a packet of cheese ring chips and limoncello spritz while waiting for the bus home. So Italian.    Baca lagi

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    Ostuni, Italy

    14 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    This afternoon we visited Ostuni, a city in Italy’s Apulia region known as "La Città Bianca" for its gleaming white buildings. Ostuni's history stretches back over millennia with settlements from ancient tribes to the Normans and beyond, however what visitors can see today dates from between the 1400s and the 1700s. Ostuni's history is evident in its Gothic cathedral and medieval streets, and the panoramic views that sweep across the countryside to the Adriatic Sea are one of its draw-cards.

    Ostuni has quite a different feel than what I was expecting. Known as the ideal Italian getaway with its closeness to the Adriatic sea, its location amongst the olive groves and its extensive history, I was very much looking forward to visiting this town. However, after experiencing the beauty and quaintness of Locorotondo, Monopoli and Cisternino, Ostuni seemed to be lacking. Being a bigger city it has more cafes and restaurants filling the main square and the few historic buildings and churches were closed. It was just lacking the vibe we love of the smaller towns.

    After checking out the only church open, and the most prominent one, we continued walking through the town to the prime viewing point of the city rising above the green valley and sea in the distance. We could understand why it was called the white city and we can see its appeal.

    After having a wander through town and the steep laneways we chose one of the many restaurants to sit and enjoy yet another delicious Italian lunch. We had the most delicious fresh salads, Brad’s was with octopus and mine was with chicken. The freshness of the ingredients over here make all the difference. It was a lovely light lunch followed with a few Hugo spritz while we waited for our driver to return.

    Ostuni doesn’t have that rustic feel we love and does have a modern vibe to it with the collection of bars and restaurants crowding the middle of town. It really isn’t a place for people watching and the views were of the other restaurants and I think that is what made the difference.

    It is certainly a lovely town to visit but it hasn’t knocked the others off my “favourites” list.    Baca lagi

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    Chiesa di San Francisco d’Assisi, Ostuni

    14 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    The first church we came across, and couldn’t miss, was the Church of San Francesco d’Assisi, located in the main square. It was founded in 1304 by the Order of the Minor Friars, who took care of it for the next five centuries, and like most historic building it has undergone major transformations through the centuries.

    This altar is a replica of the altar of the Immaculate Conception, sculpted from local stone by local craftsmen in the late 18th century and painted to resemble marble.
    The original altarpiece has been modified to fit a papier-mâché relief of Our Lady of the Rosary. It is a typical piece, using humble papier-mâché to recreate a nearly three-dimensional scene of intense devotion.

    What caught my eye the most in this church were the striking stained glass windows, and yet I can’t find any information about when they were created and who by. Obviously part of the later renovations and the style of this is quite eye-catching.    Baca lagi

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    Lights of Locorotondo, Italy

    14 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    After our day out we returned home to Locorotondo for an afternoon siesta before heading back out for dinner. While we have been here we have noticed the large light installations adorning a lot of the buildings and lining the streets but have not been turned on. I thought they might be a Christmas thing but it appears they are turned on for Sunday nights. I will admit they seem out of place against the historic buildings but they do look pretty and the laneways look lovely in the bright lights.

    We had a very simple but delicious dinner of pasta and gnocchi at Trattoria Tlvecchio Arco and while finishing our meal a procession walked past the front door. While not a big procession it was interesting to see the parade of three religious icons held high by the locals as the walked and sang their way to the nearby church. Our server informed us it is a regular Sunday night thing. What was amusing was a priest walking along with the speakers and another priest following behind singing into a microphone.

    It was a bit of entertainment to finish our night.    Baca lagi

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    Back in Bari, Italy

    15 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We sadly bid farewell to Locorotondo, one of our favourite towns from this trip, to start making our way home. With our train leaving for Milan early tomorrow morning from Bari we opted to spend the night in Bari instead of the added stress early in the morning. I must add that our transport from Locorotondo to Bari was done in style in a Maserati, although Brad was way more impressed than I was.

    While we have already spent time in Bari there is still more to see as we explore further afield from where we last stayed. Still some lovely laneways we hadn’t seen before and great cafes tucked away from the crowds. And of course a couple of more churches we didn’t see before.

    We did come across a few market stalls and we bought a lovely original piece of wooden art from an older Italian lady. We do love finding unique items when travelling.

    Another thing I love is the street art over here. While there isn’t a lot in Bari we did come across a couple of pieces that caught my eye.    Baca lagi

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    Last Afternoon in Bari, Italy

    15 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    After a stroll through Bari and the old town it was time to rest our weary legs and enjoy one of the last few Italian lunches before we head home. The restaurants and cafes here can be quite deceptive as from the front they don’t look that inviting but often have lovely outdoor area behind that have such a lovely feel. We actually stumbled on our lunch location by seeing the outdoor dining area down a quiet alley. It ended up being a good option with Brad choosing yet another seafood dish and me having my first ravioli of this trip, and wow it was delicious.

    Feet rested and our bellies full we decided to enjoy a couple of afternoon cocktails in the sunshine overlooking the sea before calling it a day. It was such a relaxing way to spend our last day in the Puglia region and we are sad to be leaving but excited to get home to met our new grandson. With an early start in the morning we chose to have a night in.    Baca lagi

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    Milan, Italy

    16 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Today we start out journey homeward bound and sadly farewell the beautiful Puglia regione of Italy. We have loved our time exploring this diverse, interesting and stunning part of Italy and look forward to returning. But for today we are making our way to Milan to spend two nights before flying home.

    With an early start and a long eight hour train ride we eventually arrived in Milan to wet and miserable weather. We have been extremely fortunate with the weather for the majority of our trip and thankfully we have visited Milan before so it hasn’t dampened our arrival. I think Italy is crying because we are leaving.

    One thing I do have to mention about Milan is how amazing the train station is. It was built in 1931 to replace the old central station which was built in 1864 and is such a stunning building. Each day 330000 people use the train station.

    While very impressive it does have a dark history as there was a secret track under the station that was used during the Holocaust in WWII to deport around 1200 Jewish prisoners to extermination camps. While we love the history of these places, many times it is a sad and brutal history. And it is hard to believe such horrors can take place in such beautiful places.

    If it wasn’t for the rain I would have spent a lot more time admiring the train station from all angles. And I do love the giant apple sculpture in the piazza in front of the station. You certainly can’t miss it.

    After checking into our lovely apartment five minutes from the stunning Duomo Di Milano we ventured back out into the rain to get a very late lunch or very early dinner and thankfully enjoyed another (but almost our last) Italian meal of pizza and pasta at Cucina Nazionale Della Italiana.

    After a quick bit of shopping and a very quick photo of the Duomo in the rain we have called it a night with the weather certainly not being conducive to strolling around town. Fingers crossed we have a bit of a break in the weather tomorrow as we have tickets to visit the roof top of the Duomo and we don’t think that will be much fun in the rain.    Baca lagi

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    Milan Cathedral Rooftop Terrace, Milan

    17 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    With the early morning rain easing just enough for us to venture out, our first stop today was to the Milan Cathedral or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary. Dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan.

    With construction starting in 1386, the cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete and the final details were completed in 1965. It is the largest church in the Italian Republic (the larger St. Peter's Basilica is in the State of Vatican City, a sovereign state) and the third largest in the world.

    Even though we have visited the rooftop terrace on a previous visit we decided to visit again. With 256 stairs to climb we opted for the lift up but took the stairs down. Thankfully the rain held off while we admired the 135 spires, the 150 gargoyles or water spouts, 96 giants and many of the 3500 plus statues adorning the rooftop terrace. I just love the gargoyles in all their different shapes and forms and am amazed at the detail and artistry of the whole structure.

    The first level of the terrace is around 45 metres high and the higher terrace at 65 metres, so you could image how amazing the views would be, however we had to image too as the visibility from the bad weather was not good. Thankfully we did get to enjoy and admire the amazing architecture and stonework. The amount of detail and the quantity of statures and adornments is just amazing and it is easy to understand why it took six centuries to complete it.

    We took our time enjoying the experience for as long as possible before heading down the stairs to see the interior of the Cathedral.    Baca lagi

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    Milan Cathedral Interior, Milan

    17 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Once we had explored the rooftop terrace we made our way into the Cathedral just as the rain started again. The weather god was on our side.

    Inside the Cathedral is vast with soaring ceilings held up by ginormous marble pillars and amazing stained glass windows metres high. The interior includes numerous monuments and artworks and there is so much to see.

    One of the most famous statues in the cathedral is Saint Bartholomew Flayed (1562) by Marco d'Agrate, which shows the saint carrying his own flayed skin thrown over his shoulders like a stole. It is certainly eye-catching.

    Sarcophagi of numerous archbishops from the 14th century line the walls beneath the brilliant colours of the stained glass. Even with the poor weather outside the colours of the windows was still so rich and vibrant.

    The altars and presbytery are masterpieces in their own right and the two large organs are beautiful. The 5-manual, 225-rank pipe organ, built jointly by the Tamburini and Mascioni Italian organ building firms on Mussolini's command, is currently the largest organ in all of Italy.

    There is a small red light bulb in the dome above the apse that marks the spot where one of the nails reputedly from the Crucifixion of Christ has been placed. The Holy Nail is retrieved and exposed to the public every year, during a celebration known as the Rite of the Nivola.

    In November and December, in the days surrounding the birthdate of Saint Charles Borromeo, a series of large canvases, the Quadroni are exhibited along the nave. These were in the process of being put up and are certainly impressive.

    There is just so much history and so many items of interest that it would be easy to go on and on. The cathedral truely is a place of beauty and history. I’m so glad we chose to revisit it.    Baca lagi

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    San Bernardino alle Ossa, Milan

    17 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Next stop was a visit to the San Bernardino alle Ossa, a church best known for its ossuary, a small side chapel decorated with numerous human skulls and bones.

    In 1210, when an adjacent cemetery ran out of space, a room was built to hold the bones. A church was attached in 1269, renovated in 1679, and rebuilt after it was destroyed by a fire in 1712. While the interior of the church is quite simple with the lovely coloured travertine floor being the most eye-catching feature.

    The main attraction which does sound quite gruesome is the ossuary filled with and decorated with human skulls and bones. Death is treated quite differently over here and we do find it quite fascinating, with many finding our fascination odd.

    The origins of San Bernardino alle Ossa can be traced back to a time long before the ossuary was built. The area itself has been significant for religious activity since the 4th century A.D. and at that time, a cemetery and a small Christian church dedicated to Santo Stefano were established in this part of the city. By the early medieval period, a hospital was built adjacent to this cemetery and with the growing population and the proximity of the hospital meant that the cemetery quickly filled with the remains of the dead. Hence a more permanent solution to house the bones was built, resulting in the ossuary as it stands today.

    The beautiful ceiling fresco is quite a contrast to the darkness of the skulls and bones that adorn the walls but there is a real sense of awe in the chapel. A very interesting place to visit.    Baca lagi

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    Last Lunch in Italy, Velavevodetto, Mila

    17 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    With our church visits done for the day we chose to have lunch away from the main square, and luckily we chose a restaurant where the locals seem to eat which is a good sign. Velavevodetto was the name of our restaurant which means I told you but I’m not sure what they told me. For our last Italian lunch we wanted to make sure we had one more authentic pasta before heading home.

    For our starter when share breaded and fried mozzarella cheese which was so gooey and delicious. I then enjoyed a very tasty pumpkin and sausage pasta dish while Brad had an ossobuco pasta dish. After asking for a take home container of our delicious meals because we could not finish them, we still managed to order a dessert each with my tiramisu being the winner. A couple of wines and a coffee later and we were ready to walk off our lunch. It was such a fabulous final lunch before we head home.    Baca lagi

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    Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan

    17 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    Before we called it a day as the forecast storms were rolling in we took a stroll through the galleria. Once again we have been here before but we still find it fascinating and so interesting to photograph with its many angels, curves and intricate wrought iron and glass ceiling. It is a feast for the eyes.

    The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is Italy's oldest active shopping gallery and a major landmark of Milan. Housed within a four-story double arcade in the centre of town, it is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy. It was designed in 1861 and built by architect Giuseppe Mengoni between 1865 and 1877.

    I’m not sure if there were less people here due to the bad weather but I even managed to notice some lovely mosaics on the ground of the central octagonal. There are four mosaics portraying the coat of arms of the three capitals of the Kingdom of Italy (Turin, Florence and Rome) plus Milan's. Tradition says that if a person spins around three times with a heel on the testicles of the bull from Turin coat of arms this will bring good luck. Having done this before we didn’t repeat the process today and you can see the damage caused by this practice with a hole developed on the place of the bull's genitals. To be honest it is a weird custom.

    After more photos than necessary were taken we strolled a bit further before calling it a day. While we would have loved to be out and about on our last night of Italy, the forecast storm hit and we are happy to be warm and dry.    Baca lagi

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    Farewell Italy

    18 Oktober 2024, Itali ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Sadly we farewell Italy today and start our long journey home. One I am not looking forward to but it must be endured if we want to visit Italy and the rest of Europe.

    I will have to say the Milan airport is impressive in its food offerings with an Italian restaurant on site making authentic Italian meals. We could not resist a last Italian meal and had an early lunch instead of just a croissant and a cup of coffee. We shared a caprese salad and Brad had spaghetti with a pecorino and black pepper sauce and I had ricotta filled ravioli with tomato and basil sauce. Both meals went down very well with Brad’s beer and my very strong limoncello spritz. A great way to farewell Italy.

    And of course the Milan airport features some interesting art pieces. Our last reminder of this amazingly beautiful and creative country. Italy, we will miss you.    Baca lagi

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