Following Elisa & Francesco’s wedding, we spent 10 more days hopping around Italy on trains and buses. Rather than give a run-down of every church and piazza we visited, I thought it would be better to let the pictures tell the story – why not, when there is so little in Italy that isn’t beautiful, or at the very least interesting to look at.
I would be remiss, though, if I didn’t mention all the typical Italian hospitality we received, especially in Florence & Rome. Our other friend Elisa not only collected us at the airport and hauled us across town to the apartment we rented, she also treated us to a tasty home-cooked meal from aperitivi and antipasti to dolci (although no gnocchi…). Her lovely husband Stefano chauffeured us around to the wedding and on a day trip in the Tuscan hills. When we decided to stay an extra night, my cousin Joanne and her husband Roberto took us in for a night, fed us WAY too much (which was just fine), helped us to make sure we didn’t have to lug around our wedding finery for 6 more weeks, and schlepped us around town as needed.
We were also treated to more LaFranca family warmth, as our friend Max (originally di Roma, but now di Bangkok) somehow convinced his sister Georgia – and her husband and toddler son - to host 2 strange Americans for 3 nights at their flat in Rome. They graciously invited us in, gave us little Lorenzo’s room for our stay, and truly made us feel that their casa was our casa.
No wonder this is my favorite country to visit!
A day trip to San Gimignano
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| A house in San Gimignano |
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| Atop the Torre Grossa, San Gimignano |
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| View of the town below from the tower |
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| We couldn't resist the World Champion gelato |
1 day in Siena
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| Within the Palazzo Pubblico at Il Campo, Siena |
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| Streets of Siena |
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| At the Duomo, Siena |
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| A view to the Duomo from our hotel patio |
3 days in Rome
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| The Pantheon |
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| The Coliseum |
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| Inside the Vatican Museums |
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| Creation of Light, Michaelangelo - Sistine Chapel ceiling |
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| Central dome at St. Peter's Basilica |
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| A conversation in Piazza San Pietro |
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| Streets of Rome |
2 days in Bologna (with Modena)
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| Piazza Maggiore, Bologna |
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| Atop the straighter of Bologna's due torre, Torre degli Asinelli |
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| View of Bologna from the tower |
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| Under the porticoes in Modena |
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| Inside the Modena Duomo |
1 day in Venice
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| View from our window in Venice |
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| Us & the crowds at San Marco's Basilica |
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| Old Venice |
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| Canal traffic jam |
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| Rialto Bridge |
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