Visions of Italy

Visions of Italy: an enchanting living museum… bursting with history, art, science, architecture, music, cuisine, big nature, and an engaging citizenry like no other…

Table of Contents


About My Photo Essays

(Click image to learn more)

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Map of Italy

The instantly recognizable boot…


Rome (Roma)

Timeless, enchanting, atmospheric, delicious, and romantic… truly the eternal city…

Vatican, Saint Peter’s Basilica

Pilgrims on their way to Saint Peter’s
If the nuns me could see me now!

Super interesting man (and his mother) from Sardinia asking the Swiss guard to see the Pope… and inviting me to join them! (True story)


Vatican Museum

I will leave it to the visitor to decide just how nauseating is the wealth of the Catholic Church.

Sistine Chapel


Coliseum


Rome Food & Drink


Rome Street Scenes

Castle Saint Angelo

Fontana della Barcaccia (at the base of the Spanish Steps)

Trevi Fountain


Pantheon


Serious Matters

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Sorrento

Gateway to Pompeii, Vesuvius, and the island of Capri…


Mount Vesuvius
Summit of Vesuvius

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Pompeii

A monument to Roman history, art, and architecture and a stark reminder of the power of mother nature, forever frozen in time…

Vesuvius

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Capri

An escape for the well-to-do since ancient Roman times, she makes for a fun and relaxing day trip or overnight from Sorrento.

A scenic forty-minute ferry ride from Sorrento to Marina Grande.

Enjoy the sweeping views from the summit, take a leisurely stroll downhill back to town, then meander the cozy and colorful alleyways before taking the bus back to Marina Grande for your return ferry to Sorrento.

Take the bus to Anacapri, and the cable car to Mount Solaro.

Ciao to Capri!

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Florence (Firenze)

Birthplace of the Renaissance!

Florence Cathedral (Duomo)

The scale of Brunelleschi’s dome is mind-blowing (Do you see the people?)
Sign of the times: a highly-visible security presence.


Michelangelo’s David

A photograph does Michelangelo’s masterpiece no justice.

A Michelangelo work in progress

Porcellino


Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is basically a gaudy jewelry store.
ponte vecchio

Renaissance Museum

amerigo vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci, namesake of two continents.

Galileo
Paying my respects to Galileo’s finger.

Leonardo

stradivarius
Stradivarius

Florence Food & Drink


Florence Street Scenes


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Cinque Terre

Vernazza, Monterroso al Mare, Riomaggiore, Manarola, and Corniglia… five vibrant, romantic, inviting, and quintessentially Italian villages brimming with tradition, history, and culture–each one a sliver of civilization clinging for dear life between the rugged hills above and unpredictable Mediterranean below.

Beware of pickpockets!
Don’t forget to validate your ticket!



Corniglia

Manarola
Manarola

Olive press

Riomaggiore

Vernazza

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Orvieto

A still unspoiled Tuscan Hill town, home to Saint Patrick’s Well…

Going up!
“Bilingual” signage

Orvieto Duomo


Orvieto Street Life


Orvieto Food & Drink

Alas, the kitchen just closed, but when I express my heartbreak…
… the generous owner above (above) invited me in and insisted I have a glass of wine on the house!


Saint Patrick’s Well

Going down

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Pisa

Climbing the tilted, deeply worn, eight century old spiral steps to the top of the 180 foot tall Leaning Tower is a fun and unique thrill. But Pisa will charm you with much more. So, check your luggage at the train station and enjoy a photogenic two-mile stroll to the famous tower that offers some intimate glimpses into local attitudes towards life.

Pisa Street Scenes

Arno River


The Duomo & Field of Miracles


Leaning Tower of Pisa


Pisa Tourist Area

After climbing the tower, reward yourself with some of the most delicious pizza in the world!

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Venice (Venizia)

A labyrinth of stone and water… unique in all the world… dripping with music, tradition, culture, history, and romance…

Venice Public Transporation Pass, good for outer islands of Burano and Torcello, too!

Grand Canal


Venice Street Scenes

The best water anywhere in the world.

Rialto Fish Market


Piazza San Marco

The area in and around Saint Mark’s is a congested madhouse by day (but not so much by night!)

The well fed pigeons are as famous and popular as Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s palace!

One of many orchestras tuning up for the evening.


Doge’s Palace

Bridge of Sighs
Bridge of Sighs, looking out

The Palace Prison

Intimate access to exquisite carvings in the prison.

Yes, a gondola ride is expensive, but so what! Don’t be an unromantic cheapskate!!! If you are there with your sweetheart, just do it! Life is too precious and short to do otherwise.

Scala Contarini

Wandering the atmospheric maze of canals and alleyways on foot is uniquely magical, especially at night.

Oh well.


Peggy Guggenheim Collection


Burano & Torcello

Make sure to spend a half day exploring the much less touristic outer Islands of Burano and Burano.

Burano


Torcello

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Where to next? (Travel Stories)


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12 thoughts on “Visions of Italy

  1. It’s incredible seeing your photo footage Frank; I feel like I’m travelling without the bother! I’ve been to Rome and found it the most amazing place with wonderful sights. Still need to visit some other places you’ve travelled in Italy. You must pack a lot in! And this is just one of the countries you’re sharing!

    1. Thank, as always, for the most kind words or appreciation, Kath. I’ve been deeply blessed with the opportunity and means to travel. I hope others see that it’s been a huge and necessary part of my education that has made me a better human being. Cheers!

    1. Happy to trigger some fond memories, Brian. On the subject of having been around… I’ve been very privileged to have had sufficient time, health, freedom, and means to experience so much of the wider world… to my great benefit. Cheers, man.

  2. Frank, you’re saving everyone a fortune in travel expenses! All kidding aside, it’s quite an undertaking to document journeys in a way that takes the viewer on a cultural odyssey.

    1. Thanks for the good humor and for seeing these as more than my personal travel souvenirs, Michael. All the best to you in writing and life.

    1. Thanks for diggin’ the pix, Nilla.

      Trying my best here “up over” despite so many forces conspiring against common decency. All the best to you in travels and life.

        1. Please don’t despair. There are still many millions of us turning our rants and laments into meaningful action… and doing the right thing… sometimes out loud but more often quietly behind the scenes. Cheers!

  3. Beautiful! I was thinking as I read through your other posts and this fabulous creation of the Fodors travel guides. We would buy a copy of take one out of the library when we were traveling and plan our itinerary that way. Eventually we used a travel agency but those books were everything.

    Thank you for another great post!

    1. Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your travel style, Kiki. Your system is a great way to see the world. All the best in travels and life!

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