Cagliari and Sardinia

An Outlying Italian Island

In a word Cagliari was just okay.  Located on the island of Sardinia, about half way between mainland Italy and Spain, it is probably my least favorite city in Italy.  While we didn’t have any major set backs like in Malta two days prior, the city’s few attractions and bad neighborhoods limited our attention to a few hours.

Standing in the shade of one of the narrow streets of old Cagliari.

When in Rome. . . Make the Most of It

Three Days in A City of Centuries

Rome, city of contrast, its buildings from the ancient, modern, renaissance, and baroque all meld into one maze of streets and people.  I was so excited to finally be in Rome after spending so many days bouncing around Italy.  We got in early and after dropping our bags at our hotel near the train station we hopped on the subway en route to have lunch at the Spanish Steps, a glorious staircase on which many a romantic movie has been filmed.  I dreamed of getting some takeaway lunch from nearby and lounging while eating pasta and drinking wine on the steps.  With this scene in my mind we emerged from the metro station to see the steps covered in a giant tarp, with restoration evidently ongoing.  Then it started to rain.

So excited to be in the all famous coliseum in Rome!

Florence and Piza

Two Cities in a Pod

After Venice, Florence was a culture shock, or maybe it’s an anti culture shock.  After checking into our hotel across from the train station, we realized the Galleria dell’ Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s world famous statue of David was open for another few hours.  So we set out on the fifteen minute walk to the gallery, paid our twelve euros each at the door, and headed inside to see the giant sculpture looming above the hoard of tourists.  That’s when David and I noticed the only language being spoke was American English.  There in the middle of Italy we were surrounded by other Americans.  This would set the tone of our time in Florence.

Trying to get twelve euros worth of enjoyment out of starring at David in Florence.

My Introduction to Italy: Venice

Venice Museums and Churches

Venice like some many cities of architectural wonder was born out of desperations, much like Mesa Verde.  Islands within the Venice Lagoon were habited during the times of the Roman Empire, but Venice as we know it now really took off when the Roman Empire fell and the cities it once protected, such as on the mainland area of the Venice Lagoon fell prey to barbarians of the north.  Citizens of ex-Roman cities flocked to the islands of Venice seeking shelter.  On those islands a unique culture and societal system emerged, one I was recently able to experience on my tour of the Mediterranean. 

The "Bridge of Sighs", son named because it is though prisoners would sigh at their last sight of Venice before walking from their trail on the left to the prisons on the right.