April 22-30, 2014:
We had previously toured Rome and surroundings in 2003, so we started this tour of Northern Italy in Milan.
MILAN:
Day One:
Milan is a big city with rapid transit.
Riding the subway
The Castello Sforzesco, also known in English as Sforza Castle, is a medieval fortification located in Milan, Northern Italy. It was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remnants of a 14th-century fortification.
Castello Sforzesco (Sforza Castle)
Milan Cathedral, or Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Nativity of Saint Mary, is the cathedral church of Milan, Lombardy, Italy. Dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan
St. Bartholomew the Apostle
Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano)
We found some of the best pizza we’ve ever had on a walking tour of Milan.
Walking tour of Milan
Enjoying wine and a snack
Day Two:
The Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie is a church and Dominican convent in Milan, northern Italy, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent contains the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which is in the refectory.
Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie
The Last Supper by Leonard di Vinci
The San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore with its beautiful murals is perhaps the most beautiful church in Milan Italy. It’s also called the Sistine Chapel of Milan.
San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore
The Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio (Church of St. Ambrose) is an ancient Romanesque-style, Roman Catholic church in the center of Milan.
Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio (Church of St. Ambrose)
Apse mosaic – Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio (Church of St. Ambrose)
Tomb of St. Ambrose (340-397) – Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio (Church of St. Ambrose)
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, the Galleria is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
The Teatro alla Scala is a historic opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as il Nuovo Regio Ducale Teatro alla Scala.
Teatro alla Scala
The Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery) is one of the two largest cemeteries in Milan, Italy, the other one being the Cimitero Maggiore. It is noted for the abundance of artistic tombs and monuments.
Cimitero Monumentale (Monumental Cemetery)
We took a train from Milan for our next stop…
VERONA:
We did a self-guided walking tour of Verona…
Old Town of Verona
Casa di Giulietta: Juliet’s House in Verona
Castelvecchio
Arena di Verona
Basilica di Sant’ Anastasia
Torre dei Lamberti e Piazza Erbe (Tower of Lambert and Erbe Square)
Ponte Pietra
We had a lovely B&B overlooking Verona…
Lovely B&B overlooking Verona
The next day we made our way to…
LAKE GARDA:
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is a popular holiday location in northern Italy, between Brescia and Milan to the west, and Verona and Venice to the east.
This was a very busy day – an Italian National Holiday!
Lake Garda
The Scaligero Castle is a fortress from the Scaliger era, access point to the historical centre of Sirmione, on Lake Garda. It’s one of Italy’s best preserved castles.
Scaligero Castle
Built in the middle of the 14th century, this small church dedicated to St. Anne of the Rock (Sant’Anna della Rocca) initially served the small community of Sirmione around the castle.
Chiesa di Sant’Anna della Rocca (Church of St. Anne of the Rock)
Our next stop was…
VICENZA:
Vicenza is a city in the Veneto region of northeast Italy. It’s known for the elegant buildings designed by the 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio.
Piazza dei Signori
Piazza dei Signori at night
Olympic Theater (Teatro Olimpico)
Oratorio di San Nicola
Church of Saint Mary of Servants (Chiesa di Santa Maria in Foro o dei Servi)
Ponte San Michele
Cattedrale di Santa Maria Annunciata
Enjoying a gelato
Our next stop was…
PADUA:
We were glad to find a laundromat (about time)…
Laundromat in Padua
And a sewing machine???
Sewing machine in Padua
The plumbing broke in our booked room in Padua, Italy – got upgraded to a Four-Star Hotel down the street at no extra charge. Yeah!
Our hotel in Padua
When we arrived, many of the streets were blocked off – for the Padua Marathon…
Padua Marathon
We were still able to see the major sights. First the Scrovegni Chapel, the masterpiece by the Italian Artist Giotto.
Scrovegni Chapel
Then the Basilica of St. Anthony, which includes the tomb of St. Anthony and his relics for pilgrims.
Basilica of St. Anthony
We had dinner at La Fiorentina in Padua. No Menus! Tell the Chef what you want!
La Fiorentina Restaurant – Padua
Our next stop was…
VENICE:
It was a short car trip here, but a longer ride by vaporetto (water taxi).
Vaporetto on the Grand Canal – Wikipedia – Jean-Pol GRANDMONT
Inside the vaporetto
Arriving in Venice
St. Mark’s Square:
Lots of long lines – we skipped the Doge’s Palace & Duomo (we saw then last time we were in Venice in 2003).
St. Mark’s Square
Last Judgment mosaic on St. Mark’s Basilica
Bridges in Venice:
Famous bridges in Venice: Bridge of Sighs, Santiago Calatrava’s Ponte della Costituzione Bridge, and the Rialto Bridge.
Bridge of Sighs
Santiago Calatrava’s Ponte della Costituzione
Rialto Bridge
Accademia Art Gallery:
Famous paintings by Bellini, Titian, Tintoretto, etc.
Sala dell’Albergo – Accademia Art Gallery
The Feast in the House of Levi by Paolo Veronese (1573)
Procession in Piazza San Marco by Gentile Bellini (1490’s)
Miracolo della Croce al Ponte di San Lorenzo by Gentile Bellini (1500)
Peggy Guggenheim Museum:
Some very crazy modern art…
Peggy Guggenheim Museum
Frari Church:
Masterpieces by Donatello, Bellini and Titian.
Frari Church
Frari Triptych or Pesaro Triptych by Giovanni Bellini (1488)
San Rocco Church:
San Rocco is a beautiful small church that has paintings by famous artists like Tintoretto.
San Rocco Church
Jewish Ghetto:
Separate island – segregated from Venice…
Jewish Ghetto
Venice Enoteca:
After all this walking in Venice, we stopped at a Venice Enoteca for a drink.
Drink at an Enoteca (wine bar)
We went south to…
MILANO MARITTIMA:
We stayed here, on the Adriatic Sea, southeast of Ravenna.
Milano Marittima
From Milano Marittima, we explored…
RAVENNA:
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. It was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century until its collapse in 476, after which it served as the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom and then the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna.
Chapel Sant’Andrea:
Beautiful mosaics…Notice unshaven Jesus…
Chapel Sant’Andrea
Arian Bapistry:
The mosaics emphasize the humanity of Christ…
Arian Bapistry
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia:
Galla Placidia was the daughter of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, consort to Ataulf, King of the Goths, and Empress consort to Constantius III.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia
Neonian Bapistry:
More beautiful mosaics…
Neonian Bapistry
Basilica of San Vitale:
Dazzling mosaics featuring Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.
Basilica of San Vitale
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo:
More excellent mosaics…
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Botanical Gardens:
Springtime in the botanical gardens…
Botanical Gardens
Ravena Self-Guided Walking Tour:
With help from Rick Steves…
Mosaic art show
Mercato Coperto
Stone memorial statue to Giuseppe Garibaldi
Piazza del Popolo
Dante’s Tomb
Bailica of San Giovanni Evangelista
Narrow shopping street
Porta Serrata
Torre Civica
Basilica of San Francesco
This concludes Part 1 of our 2014 trip to Northern Italy.