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Italia 2024
  • Jason Muir
  • Chrys Patsalos
  • Jason Muir
  • Chrys Patsalos

Italia 2024

Follow Chrys and I as we spend 5 weeks travelling around Italy from top to bottom including major cities, the coast and a road trip through Sicily and Puglia! Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 13, 2024
  • Italia 2024
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    Day 1 - Rome

    August 15, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 23 °C

    On our first day in Rome we captured many of the sites around our hotel in Monti, saw an exhibition by Mario Testino (see seperate post) then made our way via the Jewish quarter, over the river Tiber and through the trendy Trastevere including a stop at one of Italy’s most celebrated gelato stores (delicious), the spectacular Basilica of Santa Maria and then up to the Belvedere Gianicolo lookout known for having the best view over Rome! After a rest at the hotel we found a nice little restaurant, watched some Nun MasterChef on the TV there and then had an evening stroll around the Trevi fountain and surrounding sites.Read more

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    Mario Testino Exhibition (Rome)

    August 15, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Today we went to the ‘Beautiful World’ exhibition by the photographer Mario Testino, known for his photos of celebrities including Madonna, which captured many different groups of people and costumes through his extensive travels throughout the world.Read more

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    Day 2 - Rome

    August 15, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    This morning we explored more of the sites including the Pantheon, the Spanish steps Piazza Navona, Campo De Fiori, Temple of Hadrian and many other wonderful things along the way. After that we went to the Borghese museum and a tour of the Colosseum, the Forum and Palatine Hill (see separate posts).Read more

  • Italia 2024

    Colloseum, Forum and Palatine Hill

    August 15, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    This afternoon we did a fabulous walking tour of the Colosseum, the Forum and Palatine Hill. The guide was great and we learnt so much about the incredible history of these places.

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    2Crease from a Chariot!!

    Day 3 Rome - Appian Way Tour

    August 17, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Today we went on a 26 km historic e bike tour through the Appianway, Roman aqueduct and the catacombs. The Appian way was a vital highway to connect Rome to other parts of Italy and the Roman Empire abroad including Egypt. The catacombs were where Christian martyrs were buried and was instrumental in forming Christianity in Rome and the aqueducts were a major feat of engineering bringing water from the mountains to Rome.Read more

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    Rome Day 4 - Vatican

    August 17, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Today we did the amazing Vatican City including the museum, Sistine Chapel (no pics allowed) and St Peter’s Basilica.

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    2We saw the changing of the guard here2

    Secret Keyhole and Wedding Cake (Rome)

    August 17, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    After the Vatican we went to a few places where you can get brilliant views over Rome. Firstly we went up to Aventine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, to look through a “secret” keyhole! Bizarre as it sounds, people line up (definitely not a secret) to see an awesome view of St Peter’s Dome framed by the Gardens of the Knights of Malta - through a keyhole! Then we went to the neighbouring orange garden to see more views and then to the wedding cake (Altare della Patria) where we saw really awesome views across Rome. The wedding cake building itself (named as such because it has many layers) is also striking and we even saw a changing of the guard (the Buckingham Palace of Rome if you will!)Read more

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    Siena - Day 1

    August 18, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Today we arrived in the beautiful, mediaeval town of Siena, located in Tuscany. It is an exceptionally beautiful town full of romantic, picturesque lanes and stunning churches and architecture. The Siena Cathedral (pictured) is quite distinctive with black-and-white colouring, symbolic of the black and white horses of the cities founders Senius and Aschius. Hopefully the pictures give you a bit of an idea of how beautiful this town is.Read more

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    Day 2 Siena - Tuscany Roadtrip

    August 19, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Today we hired a car from Siena and drove through the beautiful Tuscan countryside, including stops at many of the beautiful towns. We explored Buonconvento, Montalcino, Pienza and Montepulciano. Like Siena, these are beautiful mediaeval towns surrounded by the devastatingly beautiful scenery of Tuscany.Read more

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    Day 1 - Florence

    August 20, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Moving on from Siena, today we arrived in one of the most romantic cities in the world - Florence. We took in many of the sites including the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, the Pitti palace and it’s Boboli Gardens and of course one of the worlds most famous works of art - David by Michelangelo. A truly magical city.Read more

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    Day 2 - Florence (Uffizi Gallery)

    August 21, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Today I will post in a few parts, starting with the Uffizi gallery to see some very famous work of art. You’ll recognise many of these in particular Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Medusa by Caravaggio. You’ll also see some random Michaelangelo and de Vinci lol.Read more

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    411Lucca152

    Day 2 Florence - Pisa and Lucca

    August 21, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    After seeing the Uffizi Gallery, we caught the train from Florence to see the town of Lucca and the famous leaning tower of Pisa! Lucca is another charming mediaeval town but being close to the Tuscan coast has a different feel. It is a Walled City which we walked some of and took in a few of the sights (including the best gelato in Italy so far!). We then made a quick stop to see the leaning tower of Pisa on our way back to Florence. We didn’t realise that the tower is part of a series of structures called the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). Truly wonderful!Read more

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    226248Doing my best Instagram style post at Libreria Aqua Alta52

    Day 1 - Venice

    August 22, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Today we arrived in one of Italy’s and the world’s most iconic city’s - Venice. With our hotel right on a canal, we took the opportunity to check out many of the most famous sites including around St Mark’s Square and more out of the way sites such as the worlds most attractive bookstore (Libreria Aqua Alta) LOL! Tomorrow we will tackle more that the City has to offer, including a night time tour of St Mark’s Basilica.Read more

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    Day 2 - Venice

    August 23, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    Today we got a vaporetto (waterbus) out to other parts of Venice such as Dorsoduro (including the Peggy Guggenheim Museum with works by Picasso, Dali and more), Giudecca (for great views of San Polo - the main part of Venice) and Canneregio (the Jewish Ghetto) where Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice is set and home of Venice’s best gelato store (incredible). These areas are more residential and much less touristy than San Polo as you will see from the photos. In the afternoon we visited Doge’s Palace followed by a twilight group tour of St Mark’s Basilica (separate post).Read more

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    7Inside St Mark's Basilica
    4Doge's Palace33Last glimpse of freedom from the Bridge of Sighs4Used until 1920s!Doge's PalaceInside St Mark's Basilica

    St Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace

    August 24, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    To finish our stay in Venice, we visited the Doge’s (Duke’s) Palace followed by a stunning night time tour of St Mark’s Basilica. It was incredible to see the Basilica all lit up including to be able to go down into the crypt which is under the sea level so stinks of sea water! It was also fascinating to visit the palace which includes a jail that was used up until the 1920s! We walked across an internal bridge called the Bridge of Sighs where you can see the outside world knowing it was your last moment of freedom - hence sighing! A bit like the Italian Alcatraz! It was a great way to round off Venice as our tour guide was a native and gave us some great insights into the history of, and living in, this amazing city.Read more

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    4Milan Duomo
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    Day 1 - Milan

    August 24, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Today we arrived in Milan. Milan is a very different city to most other Italian cities. It has a very modern, international feel with comparisons made to cities including Vienna, Lyon or even NYC - with a dolce La vita attitude! We took a little rest today from sight seeing but did a tour of Da Vinci’s Last Supper (see separate post). In the evening we caught up with the lovely Julia who is doing a gap year in Milan.Read more

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    4Close up Jesus
    Start of the sequence2The whole piece

    De Vinci’s Last Supper

    August 24, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    Nothing can prepare you for seeing De Vinci’s last supper. It’s one of the world’s most iconic pieces of art yet it’s in a very unassuming church that looks more like a scout hall from inside! But there it is, right in front of you, no glass barrier and no photo restrictions- voilà! As it’s quite big you can’t get a good view from a single shot so I have taken a sequential series of shots to give you a better view.Read more

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    Day 2 - Milan (Lake Como)

    August 25, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Today we got the train down to Como then headed out on a ferry on the famously beautiful Lake Como to the equally famous Bellagio - home of the rich and famous! Being on the lake and in this stunning town has been such a gloriously beautiful day.Read more

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    Day 3 - Milan (Duomo)

    August 26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    This morning we went up to the top and inside the Milan Duomo (Cathedral). As you will see from the pics, it’s the most incredible structure inside and out. This afternoon we are making the one hour train trip out to Turin (separate post).Read more

  • Italia 2024
    4Turin like Milan is very gay friendlyCathedral of St. John the Baptist (home of the Shroud)Shroud of Turin (print)4

    Day 3 - Milan (trip to Turin)

    August 26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Today after visiting the Milan Duomo, we took the train out to Turin. Turin is a very beautiful town, and being the first capital of Italy after unification you can see its regal history everywhere. We took in many of the sights including going up the Mole Antonelliana tower. We got magnificent views from the top and they have cleverly turned the lower floors into a museum of cinematic history, which was brilliant (see separate post). Of course you can’t visit Turin without seeing the shroud of Turin. They only bring out the original a couple of times a century but took pics of the print and bought some merch!Read more

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    Day 1 - Cinque Terre

    August 27, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Today we arrived in Cinque Terra (five towns) on the Italian Riviera. They are beautiful little towns full of colourful houses nestled in the rock faces. We are staying in the beautiful Monterosso al Mare and today visited some of the towns including doing the iconic del’amore (Lover’s Lane) walk between Riomaggiore and Manarola. It really is a stunning part of the world!Read more

  • Italia 2024
    3Portofino Liguria
    2Views from Corniglia (CT)2132Rappallo and Portofino2425Me in the Mediterranean SeaView from CornigliaView between Rapallo and Portofino

    Day 2 - CT (Rapallo & Portofino)

    August 28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    On our second day in Cinque Terra (CT) we went up to the last of the five towns - Corniglia. Corniglia is a little different to the other towns in that it is set in the mountains rather than on the sea, and as such has beautiful views! After that we went back north to explore the ritzy end of the Italian Riviera - Rapallo and Portofino. This is where the elite live and vacation and we even did some of the famous ‘walk of kisses’ between the two towns. I even went for a couple of dips Italian style, with the Nonnas and Nonnos!Read more

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