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Big Italian Break
  • Janine Roney
  • Janine Roney

Big Italian Break

A 68-day adventure by Janine Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 28, 2024
  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    121

    Marvellous Milan

    August 31, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Segways tour and the devine Duomo. Next a speakeasy bar “The White Rabbit” and having our fortunes told ending with local amazing food and company.

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
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    Sicily - Castellammare del Golfo

    September 4, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Met up with the kids at this amazing town in Tripani. We stayed at an awesome argritismo. Spent the days touring the coast by boat, visiting the salt pans, and the little town which lights up at night. Evacuated due to spot fires near us for a few hours. Nothing a few Aperols and the fire brigade couldn’t fix.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
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    Sicily - Party in Palermo

    September 7, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Great place to celebrate our 60th in vibrant Palermo The main streets are buzzing with action. We were in the midst of the Saint Rosa festival. Our taste buds were alive with Sicilian “street food” and a divine bday dinner made extra special by sharing it with people we love.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    Temple of HeraclesRoman Mosaics are dated from the hairstyleUNESCO cathedral Modics2Antonio Modica our host in ModicaView from our balcony in ModicaBeautiful blue watersLocal market. Oyster & wine Only 3 euro"The Boys" local football team. Club house opposite us was ceased by police.Ear of DionysusSyracuseSyracuseUnderground tunnels of SyracuseLocal cafe in SyracuseIsla Bella in TarominaTaromina

    Sicily - Unesco tour

    September 12, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Off on our road trip with Jenny and James starting with the ancient city of Agrigento - Valley of the Temples dating back to 5th century BC. Next Modica. Amazing cathedrals, we stayed in an authentic hotel with a stunning views from our balcony. Stopped into villa Romana del Casale where there are incredible Roman Mosaics ( I’m sure this is the depiction of the 1st mullet ). Then off to Syracuse staying on Ortigia Island right on the coast. Mark could not resist the local market deal for breaky. There are tunnels that the Greeks built that run kms under the town. These had many uses ove the ages, including as bomb settlers during the war. For those Indiana Jones fans you might recognise a few places. Finally, we day tripped to Taormina. Just for a bit of White Lotus fix.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    Lipari crest
    Off in the ferryView of LipariOur amazing hotelLipari colourful homesThe steep stair up to the castle and St. Benedictine cathedralBenedictine monastery cloisterAbove ground coffinsMy favourite archeological find. Attractive and functionalLocal delights. Meats and fried bread sticksPrickly pear liqueur HmmmmA rumble, a puff of smoke and a flash of red lava. We were delighted

    Aeolian Islands -True Escape

    Sep 15–19, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌬 22 °C

    What a find. Just an hour by ferry off the coast of Sicily we arrived at Lipari one of the 7 Aeolian islands (only 5 are inhabited). We spent the next few days exploring Lipari now a fishing/ tourist village but what amazing history dating back to 4000BC with unique archeological finds; such as because the ground was so hard their dead we laid to rest in above group coffins. The last day we went on a boat trip to visit Panarea Island (where if you are lucky you might spot a the rare Clooney). Then off to Stromboli island for a bit of volcanic action.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    A close call at a restaurant in BariThe bikers. Day 1 LecceMost of the country side was cover in old olive treesAncient stone hutsGallipoliNothing like a cuppa at the end of a hard rideWhat a lunch!A quick dip in Poro Badisco GrottoSurvived the ride celebrationBday dinner No2

    Riding the Heel

    Sep 20–26, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Such fun riding around the heel with Jenny and James. We did a circuit of about 55km per day. Lecce to Gallipoli to San Leuca to Otranto ending back in Lecce. Incredible countryside scattered with old olive trees and ancient stone homes, along a spectacular coast line with beautiful blue grottos to swim in. Only one puncture and a minor wipe out by me. On the last night we celebrated my birthday at a restaurant run by Anna, the friend of our hotel owner. Now older and wiser! I did not partake in the lamb entrails like the others. A great way to finish a fabulous tripRead more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    Tenuta Danesi Matera- home of the bubble rooms
    300 yr old oliveBubble RoomMateraMatera RestaurantOutside the Purgatory Church- Considering going inMatera Studio AKA SassiMateraCastle Dal MontieTraniTrani celebrationsOur new motto

    A bubble room & cave homes

    Sep 26–29, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Thought we’d try a bubble room in the middle of Puglia. Very luxurious. 🥂Visited Matera-the oldest town in Europe. Houses are in the side of the mountain. Bond and Wonder Woman fans might recognise it. The cave homes called Sassi’s were still lived in until 1950’s. Finally, we headed to Trani to help celebrate the end of Summer. We are definitely taking our Puglia time. 😆Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    Da Boys!
    Monopoli"This place was created before Paradise"Motley crewA day on the Adriatic SeaMark and captain GiuseppeBlue GrottoPublic beachStatue of Domenico Modugno the singer of "Volare"Gotta love a doggy poo pick up signOstuniOstuni - the white cityCastellana GrotteCastellana GrotteBat attack at Castellana GrotteAlberobelloAlberobelloAlberobelloMark makes a friend

    Puglia with the Potters

    Sep 29–Oct 5, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

    Starting off in the iconic seaside town of Monopoli we had a boat trip with Captain Giuseppe along the blue waters, then headed to the white hillside town of Ostuni and the amazing Grotte Di Castellana. Next a unique Trulli accommodation of Alberobello. Philip and E were the perfect passengers as we drove around Puglia through tiny streets, blind corners and survived AutoStrasa. Lots of fun.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    Welcome to San Foca!
    San Foca beach.A change in the weatherGelati on steroidsTropea beachTropeaWWII unexploded bomb the church in Tropea.Trusty PANDAJust a few twists and turnsThe Statue of Christ can be seen at the top of Mount San Biagio - MarateaThe Statue of Christ can be seen at the top of Mount San BiagioMaratea crazy roadsFun local restaurantMaratea

    A bit of down time

    Oct 4–11, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Decided a bit of down time was needed. Starting in San Foca, which extinguished any desire to purchase an Italian casa. We went sea side grotto hopping. One even had a cafe right on the edge. A few days in Tropea our favourite town sitting on cliff over the ocean. Finally the last few days in hillside towns that our trusty Fiat Panda managed to handle the many switchbacks like a Ferrari.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    The colourful fishing town of Procida
    Little cars for narrow roadsProcida walking/road pathNot only do you have to dodge cars but there are cats everywhereA shave and a haircut in IschiaShort cut on IschiaAragonese Castle IschiaAragonese Castle frescoesLooking good at the thermal poolsIschia Poiesdon GardensRobot statue in CapriThe death defying Fenicia stairs in CapriWe made it the Fenicia stairs Joining Anacapri to Capri

    The Islands of Napoli - hike

    Oct 13–20, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Despite our first rainy weather we somehow managed to hike/walk around Capri, Ischia & Procida. All very beautiful places to visit. Ischia the largest has an amazing Castle on a rocky outcrop and being volcanic has incredible thermal pool spa aptly named Poseidon Gardens. Only Capri was set up for hikers with walking tracks. Nothing like having to share small narrow roads with Italian drivers to cement your will to live.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    First day of school
    Cooking classOur underground bedroomThe stair down to our bedroomCertificate of completionClass of week 4 October 2024

    Getting the grey matter going

    Oct 24–30, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Although not logical at all we went at week 7 of our trip to Italian school in Bologna for a week. Not sure if our Italian language skills improved but it was such fun. The school arranged our accommodation which was part of an old convent.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    Faenza town square
    Tasting the local wineLongest piece of chocolateFaenza weird ceramicsFaenza wine timePick the tourist - MarradiMarradiLocal produceMy kind of wine $1.50 a glassMarradi's slot machineMarradi's festival dancers

    Festivals of Faenza & Marradi

    Oct 26–28, 2024 in Italy ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Decided to head to the province of Revenna. We happened upon the chocolate and local wine festivals in Faenza. Where they set a world record for the longest piece of chocolate. Naturally, we had to the produce. Next the chestnut festival in Marradi a small mountain town.Read more

  • Janine RoneyBig Italian BreakTraveler
    Varrena
    Wind in my hairCastello di VezioPlaster shrouds made by the locals for Halloween-creepySpooky NunThe terrace of Villa del BalbianelloGarden from Casino Royal at Villa del BalbianelloVilla del BalbianelloComo FunicularView of the lakePinacoteca AmbrosianPainting by Leonardo da VinciAmazing mosaic staircase in the Pinacoteca AmbrosianA bit of a virtual tour in the crypt which is really an underground churchLeonardo da Vinci fresco in the cryptModern interpretation of the Shroud of TurinMilan canalBusy MilanYummmSaluti

    Lake Como & Milan the last stop

    Oct 28–Nov 2, 2024 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    We stayed in the lake side town of Varenna which was not as busy, on the ferry line and had a spooky castle. We took a tour on classic wooden speedboat around the Lake including Villa del Balbianello known for the scenes in Casino Royal and Star Wars Episode 2. The view from the top of Como of the lake via the funicular is amazing. We ended our Italian break in Milan eating pizza, drinking red wine and visiting the Pinacoteca Ambrosian, filled with incredible pieces of art; new and old. So it’s Caio for now Italy 💚🤍❤️Read more

    Trip end
    November 3, 2024
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