We visited the scenic Amalfi Coast suring Easter 2018.
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Exploring an active volcano in Etna, Sicily
We visited Sicily in May 2016.
Taormina and Palermo are the main touristic cities in Sicily. As our primary target this time was to explore Mount Etna - the largest active volcano in Europe, we decided to stay in Taormina from where you can easily make a day trip to Mount Etna.
Taormina is a beautiful city on the Mediterranean cost in Sicily. It has all the "old world" of Italian cities. The city itself is quite small, and you can easily walk around most of the attractions. The primary attraction has to be the Ancient Theatre ruins (bellow):
While the ruins are by no means as impressive as say the Colosseum, the Mediterranean coast and mountains in the background make for the perfect panorama shot. From Taormina downtown, just follow the 'Theatre' signs; and you will be there in no time.
Taormina downtown is basically a very long street, with shops, cafes, on both sides of the street; and cobbled stairs leading to even more shops and restaurants in the vicinity. Do not forget to try the 'Tomato Bruschetta' and / or pistachio ice-cream (both of which seem to be very much the local favorites) in any of the cafes here.
For the shopping enthusiasts, do not be fooled by size of the city - you can easily find many local and global luxury brands in the alleyways.
There are many interesting places to explore in the vicinity of Taormina. And, the best way to explore them is to take one of the Hop-on / Hop-Off buses which cover all the 3 attractions mentioned below, namely Isola Bella, Castelmola and Giardini Naxos.
There are resorts / hotels on the beach and you can also stay on the beach if you so wish; but it is clearly not the most happening place during evening :) - and you will most likely end up in Taormina centre anyway.
There is also a cable car connecting Taormina centre to Isola Bella, however you are better off taking the Hop-on / Hop-off bus as the cable car is nothing spectacular and the bus will allow you to cover more at less price.
Castelmola is a charming village on the outskirts of Taormina. The village is about 1800 ft. above sea level, so be ready for a 30 mins bus ride over winding roads. However, once you reach the top, the panoramic views are absolutely spectacular - check out the pics below. There are also quite a few cafes and souvenir shops nearby where you can relax and enjoy the view at your leisure.
Giardini Naxos is a coastal town neighboring Taormina where most cruise ships dock in Sicily. It is a good place to take a break, have lunch at one of the many amazing restaurants on the coast, and enjoy the sea view.
Taormina and Palermo are the main touristic cities in Sicily. As our primary target this time was to explore Mount Etna - the largest active volcano in Europe, we decided to stay in Taormina from where you can easily make a day trip to Mount Etna.
Taormina
Taormina is a beautiful city on the Mediterranean cost in Sicily. It has all the "old world" of Italian cities. The city itself is quite small, and you can easily walk around most of the attractions. The primary attraction has to be the Ancient Theatre ruins (bellow):
While the ruins are by no means as impressive as say the Colosseum, the Mediterranean coast and mountains in the background make for the perfect panorama shot. From Taormina downtown, just follow the 'Theatre' signs; and you will be there in no time.
Taormina downtown is basically a very long street, with shops, cafes, on both sides of the street; and cobbled stairs leading to even more shops and restaurants in the vicinity. Do not forget to try the 'Tomato Bruschetta' and / or pistachio ice-cream (both of which seem to be very much the local favorites) in any of the cafes here.
For the shopping enthusiasts, do not be fooled by size of the city - you can easily find many local and global luxury brands in the alleyways.
At night, the city transforms itself into the idyllic seaside resort with live music and the delicious aroma of seafood wafting in the air.
Isola Bella, Castelmola and Giardini Naxos
There are many interesting places to explore in the vicinity of Taormina. And, the best way to explore them is to take one of the Hop-on / Hop-Off buses which cover all the 3 attractions mentioned below, namely Isola Bella, Castelmola and Giardini Naxos.
Isola Bella
Isola Bella (aka The Pearl of the Ionian Sea) is a beautiful island located slightly outside Taormina. As you can see from the pic below, it is unique in that there is a walkway (slightly below water) connecting the beach to the island. There is a small natural reserve on the island - which you easily explore in 30 mins or so. It is still a very nice experience to wade through water to the island, and definitely recommended!!
There are resorts / hotels on the beach and you can also stay on the beach if you so wish; but it is clearly not the most happening place during evening :) - and you will most likely end up in Taormina centre anyway.
There is also a cable car connecting Taormina centre to Isola Bella, however you are better off taking the Hop-on / Hop-off bus as the cable car is nothing spectacular and the bus will allow you to cover more at less price.
Castelmola
Castelmola is a charming village on the outskirts of Taormina. The village is about 1800 ft. above sea level, so be ready for a 30 mins bus ride over winding roads. However, once you reach the top, the panoramic views are absolutely spectacular - check out the pics below. There are also quite a few cafes and souvenir shops nearby where you can relax and enjoy the view at your leisure.
Giardini Naxos
Giardini Naxos is a coastal town neighboring Taormina where most cruise ships dock in Sicily. It is a good place to take a break, have lunch at one of the many amazing restaurants on the coast, and enjoy the sea view.
Mount Etna
Mount Etna is famous as the largest active volcano in Europe. And, we would definitely recommend this place / activity as one of those "things to do before you die". A day trip is sufficient in our opinion. We booked the following trip "Mount Etna Day Trip from Taormina" (link). As we were staying in Taormina, this was ideal for us.
The trip can be divided into 3 stages: First is the bus trip from Taormina to the Mount Etna cable car station. The cable car station (shown below) has car parking, cafes, souvenir shops, and rest rooms.
The second phase consists of a cable car ride to a stop high up in the mountains. Below, is a shot from the cable car terminal (at the top).
The third phase consists of a bus ride to the absolute top of the mountains. Below, you can see the bus going through the "fuming" mountain path,
Note that the buses are not tour company specific, and they are the same irrespective of whichever tour you have booked. The buses are included if you have paid for the cable car. Otherwise, it is possible to book the bus and / or cable car separately; for people who might be interested in hiking parts of the trip - yes, it is possible to cover most of it by hiking if you feel sufficiently motivated and energetic :)
It is an extraordinary experience once you reach the top of the mountain. The pervasive black volcanic ash (you can still see fumes at many places) gives the landscape an almost extra-terrestrial feeling!!
At the top (after getting off the bus), it is safe and easy to walk around yourself. In fact, we were promised a guide as part of our tour. However, we could not find anyone at the top, so we started exploring ourselves. There are huge craters and black ash everywhere you look, so just start walking in the direction you like - you cannot get lost. There are also some guided paths to a few craters.
The trip can be divided into 3 stages: First is the bus trip from Taormina to the Mount Etna cable car station. The cable car station (shown below) has car parking, cafes, souvenir shops, and rest rooms.
The second phase consists of a cable car ride to a stop high up in the mountains. Below, is a shot from the cable car terminal (at the top).
The third phase consists of a bus ride to the absolute top of the mountains. Below, you can see the bus going through the "fuming" mountain path,
Note that the buses are not tour company specific, and they are the same irrespective of whichever tour you have booked. The buses are included if you have paid for the cable car. Otherwise, it is possible to book the bus and / or cable car separately; for people who might be interested in hiking parts of the trip - yes, it is possible to cover most of it by hiking if you feel sufficiently motivated and energetic :)
It is an extraordinary experience once you reach the top of the mountain. The pervasive black volcanic ash (you can still see fumes at many places) gives the landscape an almost extra-terrestrial feeling!!
At the top (after getting off the bus), it is safe and easy to walk around yourself. In fact, we were promised a guide as part of our tour. However, we could not find anyone at the top, so we started exploring ourselves. There are huge craters and black ash everywhere you look, so just start walking in the direction you like - you cannot get lost. There are also some guided paths to a few craters.
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Rome - the roman capital
We visited Rome for 3 days in Fall, 2010. Rome is a dream come true for people interested in ancient history, monuments, churches and palaces. It is like an entire civilization in a city. You can just keep walking and you are likely to encounter one impressive monument after another, e.g. Piazza Venezia in the pic below.
Even for people like us, who usually avoid visiting museums / churches, the monuments here are really impressive and you should plan for at least a 5 day trip to fully explore the city.
The downside is that Rome is almost always teeming with tourists, so expect long queues at touristic places. Hotels are expensive but food / public transportation are still quite cheap (as compared to say Paris). You will also find people selling stuff on the streets here, not only souvenirs, but also products like shoes, handbags, bangles, clothes, etc. This was definitely a novelty for us, as compared to other European cities. If you are one of those Indian tourists, who go looking for an Indian restaurant wherever they go, then fret not as there are plenty of Indian restaurants here. If you are the more adventerous type, and prefer sampling the local food, then there is of course no shortage of Pizzerias here. If you are vegetarian, try the Pizza Margherita - you will find it in almost every Pizzeria and it is definitely vegetarian.
Vatican City
Vatican city is a country in itself, and is probably one of the smallest in the world. The good thing is that you do not need a separate VISA or any additional documents to enter Vatican city. It is probably also a good idea to invest 50 Euros in a tour guide as they know the right entrances - avoiding the long queues sometimes - and also the city has a lot of things to explore in a day. You will probably not get lost but a guide is definitely recommended to make the most of your trip.
For the uninitiated, this is of course the place where the Pope stays. You are unlikely to see / meet the Pope unless you visit the Vatican on special (festival) days. The best you can hope for is to see the stairs leading up to his chambers (pic below).
Stepping outside, one can see the huge Saint Peter's Square - which you might have seen on TV whenever the Pope makes important announcements.
St. Peter's Basilica is an equally impressive church in the vicinity. Inside, you can find a number of masterpieces, each rivaling the other in beauty, e.g. Pietà by Michelangelo (pic below).
Colosseum
Everyone who has seen movies such as Ben-Hur or Gladiator, or is aware of the legend of gladiators, would be aware of the Colosseum in Rome. The structure is huge and although some parts of it have been destroyed, one can clearly see the prisons where gladiators / animals were kept, and how the whole proceedings unfolded.
There is also a night tour that takes you much further into the Colosseum, than is usually allowed in the day, and also in smaller groups (of max. 25). However, the tours only run on specific days and they get booked months in advance. So be sure to plan for it in advance. You can get more details here.
There is also a lights display during evenings / nights that simulates the Colosseum burning. This is free, happens every night, and is quite impressive (pic below). So, don't miss it.
Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)
Trevi is one of the largest and most famous fountains in the world. Try visiting it in the night and enjoy the atmosphere. The good thing about Rome is that almost all the touristic places are easily reachable by public transportation and are well marked.
Culture / Music
Rome was not only the political, but also the cultural, foci of an entire civilization. There are numerous magnificent auditoriums where you can enjoy and relive the music / opera of the bygone era. One of them is the newly constructed Auditorium Parco Della Musica where we had the pleasure of attending a Beethoven concert (Synphonies: N. 6 "Pastorale" and N. 7) by Kurt Masur. The performance was an extremely enriching experience, and we would highly recommend it even if (like us) you have never been exposed to western classical performances before.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Corsica - the land of white cliffs
We visited Corsica in Aug 2009. Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea between France and Italy.
Napoleon was from Corsica and politically Corsica is part of France now. So a Schengen Visa is sufficient to visit it. The best way to reach Corsica is via Marseilles, France. There are regular flights from Marseilles to Ajaccio (the capital city of Corsica). There are also ferries from Nice, France and Sardinia, Italy to some of the cities in Corsica. So if you are in Nice for the Cannes Film Festival, Corsica would be a very nice stopover before heading back.
Corsica was one of those very rare places we have visited till now where we did not find an Indian tourist. This is probably because there is no McDonald's here as well (the refuge of the average Indian tourist). The touristic crowd is predominantly French and Italian. Thus if you are manage to reach this far, you will be in all likelihood be one of the very few Indian pioneers to have wandered here. Of course, that also gives you better bragging rights when you return home as compared to visiting the tried and tested places like Paris or Rome. We can assure you that Corsica is indeed a hidden gem and you will have no problems in findings things to reminiscence about on returning home.
On a more serious note, English is not so prevalent here and you will only find French/Italian restaurants here (with even the menus in French/Italian). So do not forget to take a English-to-French dictionary with you.
While Ajaccio is the capital, Bonifacio can be considered as the main touristic city. There is practically no public transportation here so either you drive or take a taxi. The city itself is quite small, so walking is definitely a viable alternative though the cliffs may dampen your spirits. Of course, the cliffs also allow you to capture amazing views of the coast from above (below).
The hotels here are on the expensive side as they cater only to tourists. There are no business travelers here as Corsica is a "conserved" state with virtually no industries. Most of the people working here are also seasonal who only live here during the peak (summer) touristic season.
Corsica played an important role in the French-British wars and hence the fortress walls surrounding the city (below).
In the evening, Bonifacio transforms itself into a chic maritime city with many cafes, restaurants, shops along the coast. There are usually local musicians playing in the streets transforming the whole evening atmosphere into a very relaxing/soothing place where you will easily forget all your worries. So get your best summer dresses out and just chill!
The ferry trip also allows you to enjoy some more spectacular sand cliffs on the way.
Napoleon was from Corsica and politically Corsica is part of France now. So a Schengen Visa is sufficient to visit it. The best way to reach Corsica is via Marseilles, France. There are regular flights from Marseilles to Ajaccio (the capital city of Corsica). There are also ferries from Nice, France and Sardinia, Italy to some of the cities in Corsica. So if you are in Nice for the Cannes Film Festival, Corsica would be a very nice stopover before heading back.
Corsica was one of those very rare places we have visited till now where we did not find an Indian tourist. This is probably because there is no McDonald's here as well (the refuge of the average Indian tourist). The touristic crowd is predominantly French and Italian. Thus if you are manage to reach this far, you will be in all likelihood be one of the very few Indian pioneers to have wandered here. Of course, that also gives you better bragging rights when you return home as compared to visiting the tried and tested places like Paris or Rome. We can assure you that Corsica is indeed a hidden gem and you will have no problems in findings things to reminiscence about on returning home.
On a more serious note, English is not so prevalent here and you will only find French/Italian restaurants here (with even the menus in French/Italian). So do not forget to take a English-to-French dictionary with you.
Bonifacio
While Ajaccio is the capital, Bonifacio can be considered as the main touristic city. There is practically no public transportation here so either you drive or take a taxi. The city itself is quite small, so walking is definitely a viable alternative though the cliffs may dampen your spirits. Of course, the cliffs also allow you to capture amazing views of the coast from above (below).
The hotels here are on the expensive side as they cater only to tourists. There are no business travelers here as Corsica is a "conserved" state with virtually no industries. Most of the people working here are also seasonal who only live here during the peak (summer) touristic season.
Corsica played an important role in the French-British wars and hence the fortress walls surrounding the city (below).
In the evening, Bonifacio transforms itself into a chic maritime city with many cafes, restaurants, shops along the coast. There are usually local musicians playing in the streets transforming the whole evening atmosphere into a very relaxing/soothing place where you will easily forget all your worries. So get your best summer dresses out and just chill!
Lavezzi Islands
From Bonifacio, there are numerous ferries that take you to one of the many small islands nearby. One such option is the Lavezzi Islands. Corsica can get pretty hot in summer and the island provides tranquil conditions to spend most of the day under water, sleeping on your sail boat (the perfect summer pass time) or enjoying a picnic on the beaches.
The ferry trip also allows you to enjoy some more spectacular sand cliffs on the way.
Sardinia, Italy
Of course, if you have a little more time in hand, or would simply like to continue your trip to Italy - you can take a ferry and cross over to Sardinia, Italy. The journey time is around one hour and there are daily excursions from Bonifacio that make it possible to go and come back the same day. The ferries (operated by Moby Lines) are actually quite big (pic below) and also allow you to take your cars with you.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Milan, Italy and Lugano, Switzerland
Milan, Italy
We spent a weekend in Milan in Mar 2012.
Milan is one of the more cosmopolitan cities in Italy, so you will for instance find more people speaking in English here than in Rome.
Tourism in Milan is very centralized. So as soon as you have freshened up and are ready to start exploring the city, proceed to the Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) via Tram, Metro, Bus, or rented car whichever you find convenient.
Tourism in Milan is very centralized. So as soon as you have freshened up and are ready to start exploring the city, proceed to the Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano) via Tram, Metro, Bus, or rented car whichever you find convenient.
Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di Milano)
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
For panoramic shots of Milan, climb up the Cathedral. The entrance to the elevator/staircase may be a bit difficult to locate at first but try going around the Cathedral and you will see it.
View from Milan Cathedral over Milan City
Milan being one of the fashion capitals of the world along with Paris, you are probably wondering for a place to sample the collection here. The nearest mall to Duomo that we can definitely recommend is "La Rinascente". We have been to many big cities over the world and seen many impressive shopping malls, but "La Rinascente" has a collection of top brands like no other. Note that the avg. price of goods here can easily be $500 with no restriction on the upper limit - but that never deterred us serious window shoppers now, did it?
Lugano, Switzerland
Milan is located close to the Swiss border. So if you have time, it is worth it to cross over and visit some places in the (Italian speaking part of) Switzerland. One such city is Lugano. There are both buses and trains connecting Milan airport with Lugano. The journey by train takes around 50mins and by bus 1.30 hrs.
Lugano is a picturesque lake side town in the Italian side of Switzerland.
Lake Lugano
The fastest and easiest way to see the town and go up the hills (for those nice lake shots) is to take the Funicular from Lugano train station (frequency: 1 every 5-10 mins). It is definitely worth spending a night here (see the beautiful lake views at night below!)
Lugano is a picturesque lake side town in the Italian side of Switzerland.
Lake Lugano
The fastest and easiest way to see the town and go up the hills (for those nice lake shots) is to take the Funicular from Lugano train station (frequency: 1 every 5-10 mins). It is definitely worth spending a night here (see the beautiful lake views at night below!)
Lake Lugano at night
If you wish to keep traveling further into Switzerland from here, the German side is closer (Zurich is 2 hours by train from Lugano).
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