Italy Photo Gallery

Memories of this summer: the island of Capri

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 24 May 2026 14:10:00 -0500

Just yesterday that I was thinking about what to do this summer and if I can go somewhere now that finally there are fewer restrictions in my country, these photos have emerged that I had stored in the hardisk.

so I wanted to share them with you not only to share the photos I took this summer but also to share the experience I had on this island that I think is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

I still remember that I took a fast hydrofoil from Naples without booking, usually there are two / three in the morning and within 20 minutes I arrived on the island, then to reach the center of Capri I took the funicular otherwise yes you can use a taxi but the cost goes up significantly.

What I recommend from my experience is to go to Capri in the spring or at the end of summer not only for a matter of heat which in any case is never so excessive but for a matter of crowding of people because in the high season the island is very busy and so it becomes really difficult to shoot it in peace.

is what I also recommend is to take a tour around the island, perhaps for the more experienced it is more convenient to rent a boat or take advantage of the many excursions that the island offers.

There is the possibility to visit the famous blue grotto where you can only enter with rowing boats and when there is high season and you can also wait several hours but the beauty is also to go around the square and here too the prices are quite enough. high precisely because Capri tends to attract a medium-high clientele so in restaurants and bars you will certainly find a menu that is not suitable for all budgets.

In the famous square you will also find many shops of famous brands in the world but nearby there is also a beautiful museum called the Caprese center Ignazio Cerius where at a cost of only 3 euros you can visit a beautiful museum where all the finds are kept archaeological sites that have been found on the island over the years.

I hope I have been able to give you as much information as possible for a future visit to the island of Capri.

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Discovering Apulia: from hidden gem to super tourist place

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:58:00 -0600

Hello to all my friends,

Some time ago, I used this blog, which I've now seen has returned, so I wanted to try this site to write something and share some photos as a memory of my old vacations spent in Puglia. I think I've talked about these vacations before; I'm not sure if I'll return this year because I have several issues with my mother who isn't doing well. But if I do return, I'll definitely share more photos with you.

One place that I absolutely loved was Castro Marina, which is essentially a district of Castro and is located along the famous Salento peninsula in Puglia. It's a place that at times reminded me a bit of Spain but also a bit of Morocco where I had been several years ago.

Most likely, a few years ago it was a lesser-known destination, but lately Puglia has become a very important spot not only for Italian tourism but even for international tourism. I have a friend who owns a local business there and he told me that recently there are many Americans and Arabs choosing this region of Italy.

Anyway, coming back to our topic, this place in Puglia is beautiful because it has a series of beaches with rugged rocks and you can also see many natural caves. As you can see, there is also a castle or rather what remains of the castle, which could also be something to visit. Personally, I haven't visited the castle because I'm not particularly drawn to culture and art; I prefer to enjoy the beach and nearby natural visits.

The downside, in my opinion, is the fact that on the beach you don't find the classic sand which is much more comfortable, especially if you want to lie down, but rather all rugged rocks. So, you need to be well-equipped.

Anyway, I definitely recommend this place. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it won't be a budget-friendly destination like it used to be, because with the increase in popularity among tourists, prices have risen quite a bit. However, my friend mentioned that there is a wide range of accommodation options, so you can still find good deals.

I hope you found this post interesting. It was great to write here again, and I must say that this site, which allows you to publish, is very well-organized and offers many useful tools to write a great post.

Goodbye everyone, see you soon!

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EuroVelo 7 - Verona to Peschiera del Garda 45 km

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 07:56:00 -0600

My first day in Verona started early because I was very excited to see where I ended up last night arriving late from the train station by taxi in this camping with an interesting name "Castel San Pietro" located somewhere on the higher grounds of Verona. I must say I was pleasantly surprised.

My italian home in Verona

I was curious to see the city of love waking up, bathed in the morning light and by good chance I was exactly in the best place for doing this from one of the camping terraces.

Buongiorno Verona!

As the name suggests "Camping Castel San Pietro is located in the area of the historic centre of Verona. This natural oasis, enclosed within the ancient city walls of Verona, is a large botanical garden that descends towards the city centre, reachable in 10 minutes on foot or with the cable car that connects the square of Castel San Pietro to the Ponte Pietra- Bridge."

The camping facilities are decent, nothing fancy but correct for the 22 EUR price/adult/pitch/day in 2022 considering the location and season.

Clean facilitiesLovely terrace to enjoy an Italian espressoMy breakfast for about 6 EUR

You can have breakfast on this lovely terrace with enough options to choose from their little grocery store located inside.

Cannot have asked for more And may be a second coffee with a view on the upper terrace? Why not!Love this camping already

Before checking out with my loaded bike which I'll go to pick up later, I decided to go for a light short walk in the historic centre of Verona since it was so close to the camping and still early.

Found the bike rental agency to which I'll return later to pick up my bikePonte Pietra, the entrance to the old townAdige waters a bit muddy this morning from the last night rainEverything is so quiet in the morningOh, that feeling of walking these streets for the first time...Scaliger tombs, gothic funerary monument from the 14th centuryFound Romeo's house at no. 4Piazza Independenza After Romeo, a visit to Juliet at no. 21 on Via Cappello was a mustAnd the famous Juliet's balcony

Actually Casa di Giulietta which is one of Verona's main turistic attractions was a former inn belonging to Cappello family which dates back to the 14th century. The Capulet family’s houses was not actually located here, but rather in the vicinity of the bank of the River Adige.

The famous balcony was later added in the 20th century after being retrieved from other medieval house which was demolished when the municipality had to build a dam to prevent the river from flooding the city. The director of the Verona Civic Museum at the time - Antonio Avena – placed it in the courtyard of the Cappello family’s tower-house, which had just been purchased by the city of Verona to be turned into a museum: thus Juliet’s balcony was born.

It is unknown if Shakespeare ever visited Verona or Italy, but his plays have lured many visitors to Verona and surrounding cities.

Juliette never actually existed but her statue is made from real bronzeIn the morning it's not so crowded, later it will be

Verona, the city of love is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since November 2000 because of its urban structure and architecture. Indeed Verona is a joy to discover on foot with so many well preserved buildings to see and its rich history to learn about.

Statue of Berto Barbarani in Piazza delle Erbe

Berto Barbarani, the poet of Verona born in 1872 was one of the most significant italian poets of the 20th century.

Piazza delle ErbeWalking on the old streets of Verona is like time travelView over Castel San Pietro

After a short two hours first walk in the old town of Verona, I think it's now time to pick up my rented bike from Itinera Bike & Travel and start this year's adventure on EuroVelo 7.

20 EUR/day for this nice red touring bike, helmet includedYou can rent an e-bike if this is what you prefer these daysLoaded and ready to go!

Now let's go discover the north of Italy together on EuroVelo 7, shall we?

Verona's tallest Medieval tower built in 1172 offering panoramic views

Since it was already in the afternoon by the time I packed everything and left the camping, I thought it's a good idea to grab something to eat on my way out of the city which luckily was through the centre where all the shops and restaurants are.

Can't leave Verona without having a gelato Arena di Verona, a roman amphitheater hosting operasCastelvecchio MuseumFinally on the open road again

From Verona I cycled mostly on secondary roads to Peschiera del Garda where I joined the EuroVelo 7 route.

Feeling like a "italiano" cycling along this beautiful countryside road

Cycling for the first time in Italy along this beautiful countryside road, a song by Toto Cutugno suddenly came to my mind which I used to listen a lot as a kid in my parents car while driving to my grandma for the holidays on the other side of my country. The good old days of the audio tape, limited songs and autoreverse.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S · L'Italiano Lasciate Mi Cantare - Toto Cutugno

Saluti a tutti!

Took this short cool off opportunity to look for a place to rest for tonight and luckily I found couple of campings outside of Peschiera on the shore of lake Garda, which is a very popular holiday destination.

Arrived on the left side of the Mincio riverCrossed the dam to the right side of Mincio to join the main routeBack on EuroVelo 7 again after one year and heading north to PeschieraThe fortress at Peschiera built between the 15th and 17th centuries

The town is encircled by massive Venetian defensive systems that have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 9 July 2017.

Didn't have much time to explore the fortress because it was already late when I arrived and my priority was to arrive at a camping site I found on Maps, but still very lucky to witness an amazing sunset on my way there.

Sunset over lake Garda

There are many campings north of Peschiera and luckily I found a spot for my tent in one of them just before it was getting dark outside. A shower and 30 minutes later I invited myself for dinner on this nice restaurant terrace near the lake. The menu choice was simple: pizza and beer for the cyclist!

I think I could probably cross Italy only running on this fuel :) Day 1 map: Verona to Peschiera del Garda 45 km

Full sunny days like this is what I love about bike touring, what's driving me to find a way to come back on EuroVelo each year, the unique blend of local natural and cultural elements and flavours plus a drop of adventure on top is what I love about cycling on EuroVelo and also my recommendation for you.

Until next time,

©Discover EuroVelo

All photos were taken with my iPhone 11 and Sony DSC-HX60V camera.

EuroVelo, the European Cycle Route Network are registered marks of ECF asbl.

I have no affiliation with EuroVelo or other organisations mentioned here, I am just a traveller sharing his bike touring trips, views and opinions.

EuroVelo is a network of 17 long distance cycle routes connecting and uniting the whole European continent totaling over 90,000 km of cycling itineraries.

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The Best Things to Do in Alberobello, Puglia, Italy: Home of the Trulli

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:52:00 -0600

Welcome to Alberobello, a charming town in Apulia, Italy, known for its unique trulli houses. Step into a fairytale-like setting as you wander through the narrow streets lined with these centuries-old limestone dwellings. In this travel guide, we will take you on a journey to discover the best attractions and experiences that Alberobello has to offer.

The following is a 3-day chill Itinerary but a lot of tourists do everything on a day trip. I encourage that you stay at least one night to experience the place during the best light at sunrise or sunset without the crowd. Most of the photos in this post were taken before day trippers arrive or when they have gone home because it can really get crowded during the day.

Table of Contents

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Stay in a Trulli Holiday Home

One of the most unique and unforgettable experiences you can have in Alberobello is staying in a trulli holiday home. These traditional Apulian dwellings are made of limestone and feature cone-shaped roofs.

Historically, one of the reasons these were made was to cleverly evade taxes.Trulli were made without mortar so these were easy to dismantle when tax assessors are in the area.

We had the pleasure of staying in the historical trulli zone. Our trulli holiday home by Trulli e Puglia resort is around 300 years old and is located in Rione Monti! It's a huge 2-bedroom home and there are at least 4 trulli or cone roofs above it since traditionally a trulli house is smaller.

As it's situated in one of the most photographed street and our trulli home is also a photogenic spot with the bicycle outside, it does get busy going in and out of the apartment. But we have a private patio within the trulli home and the place itself is quite sound proof.

Left: Entry to the trulli home

Right: Private patio and view

Waking up each morning surrounded by history is truly magical. The best part of staying here is being able to see Alberobello early or late enough that there are no crowds. It is the most magical times to be here.

We stayed for 2 nights here which is enough. If you plan to stay longer and even make Alberobello your base in Puglia, I recommend staying in a Trulli holiday home in Rione Aia Piccola which is less busy. More about this later.

Check out our apartment tour video, best viewed in YouTube Shorts:

Experience staying in a trulli home

Another beautiful option is Romantic Trulli. This was one of our options but they get booked out fast. We always pass by some of their trulli apartments with a romantic outside seating. Another photogenic spot in Alberobello.

Check Availability in Romanti Trulli

Explore Rione Monti - The Trulli Zone

No visit to Alberobello would be complete without exploring Rione Monti, also known as the Trulli Zone. Rione Monti is the oldest and most iconic district in Alberobello.

This UNESCO World Heritage site is filled with narrow streets lined with clusters of trulli houses, restaurants and shops creating a fairytale-like setting that will leave you captivated.

Visit the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua

While exploring Alberobello, make sure to pay a visit to the Church of Saint Anthony of Padua. This charming church is not only a place of worship but also an architectural gem in its own right.

This church stands proudly among its cone-shaped counterparts. Step inside and marvel at its simple yet elegant interior adorned with religious icons and beautiful frescoes. The peaceful atmosphere invites contemplation and reflection.

Stroll Through Rione Aia Piccola

Another delightful area to explore in Alberobello is Rione Aia Piccola. This neighborhood offers a more tranquil atmosphere compared to the bustling Trulli Zone, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll.

As you wander through the picturesque streets of Rione Aia Piccola, you'll come across charming trulli houses that are equally captivating but with fewer crowds.

One highlight of this area is the opportunity to find excellent trulli holiday homes tucked away from the tourist hotspots. Imagine staying in one of these beautifully restored dwellings, enjoying privacy and serenity while still being within walking distance of Alberobello's main attractions.

We had difficulty finding it so check it in Google Maps

For longer stay or if you simply want a more quiet area, I recommend staying here. It's just walking distance to the busier Trulli zone and very close to some of the panoramic viewing areas. One holiday home that I would consider staying is the highly rated Trulli Holiday Deluxe & Wellness.

Marvel at the Largest Trullo - Trullo Sovrano

A visit to Alberobello would not be complete without a visit to Trullo Sovrano, which holds the title as the largest trullo in town.

Trullo Sovrano is the only trullo with two floors. It also houses a small museum where you can learn more about the history, a display of what the home looked like back then and construction techniques of trulli.

Discover the Smallest Trullo

In addition to marveling at the largest trullo, make sure to seek out the smallest trullo during your visit to Alberobello.

Located within Rione Monti, this miniature trullo is a souvenir shop. Patiently wait as other tourists check out the shop as not a lot of people can fit in this place.

Shop and Enjoy Panoramic Views

Some of the shops in Alberobello even have terraces that offer breathtaking panoramic views of the town and its iconic trulli rooftops.

While there is no obligation to make a purchase, many shops have donation boxes where you can contribute to help maintain these picturesque viewpoints. It's a small gesture that goes a long way in preserving the beauty of Alberobello for future visitors to enjoy.

View from one of the shops’ rooftop

Miniature Alberobello

Capture Stunning Panoramic Photos

Head up to elevated spots for sweeping views over clusters of trulli against the backdrop of Apulia's rolling hills. The golden hour at sunrise or sunset casts a magical glow upon the landscape, creating perfect lighting conditions for capturing Instagram-worthy shots.

Here are the Google Map Pins for the best viewpoints

Trulli Panoramic View

This is the first viewpoint you will see as you enter Alberobello but it is usually crowded.

Villa Communale Belvedere Parco

This is one of the best place to sit an enjoy the panoramic view. It is less crowded as well. Below were taken on differenttimes of the day

Experience the Thursday Market

This is the fourth time we've seen this bustling market as they move around Apulia region during the week, and we have been to different towns that we made as our base for a few days to a few weeks and we never got tired checking out this weekly market.

This market is located outside the tourist zone but still walking distance. From 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., you will find busy streets lined with stalls or trucks with fresh produce, local products and good quality clothes at affordable prices.

Bought my straw hat from the market

Take a Peaceful Stroll at Night

One of the most romantic things to do is walk around Alberobello at night. Some trulli shine with fairy lights and there's just a few people around this time as most visitors are here for a day trip.

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Discovering Puglia: from hidden gem to super tourist place

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 16:56:00 -0600

Hello to all my friends,

Goodbye everyone, see you soon!

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My Bitter Experience in "Lecco City, Lake Como" - Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 16:54:00 -0600

I always write about good travel experiences whenever I write about my travel journey or the locations I explored. But sometimes behind the story I skip or just don't like to recall them. I guess it's not just me, many do the same. Traveling without hassle is kinda fairytale because the fun part is you definitely gonna face some problems while you are traveling. I think many of you can relate to that. Even if you plan everything before the journey, sometimes it doesn't go according to the plan and that's the fun part. Today I am going to share an experience with you that not only makes me regret my decision but also I feel angry about it whenever I think about it.

Last summer I mean this summer 2023, when we were on our vacation to Switzerland and Italy trip, one of our destinations was Lake Como, Italy. Yes, the famous Lake Como people talk about social media and post a lot of photos and videos. During our trip, I was so excited about Lake Como after seeing all of those photos and videos; also planned what to do what not to do, where to go; almost everything. However, my biggest mistake was not understanding the detailed location of Lake Como or the details of Lake Como.

So, when the day arrived we drove from Milan to Lake Como by car and decided to spend the entire day at Lake Como. Like I said without any research, I went there thinking it was a city/village located near Lake Como where I would walk and explore. Before ranting about my exploration, I would say Lake Como really is a picturesque and gorgeous lake area located against the foothills of the Alps. Como City is located at the bottom of south east branch of the lake. It's true what you see on social media, beautiful villages like Onno, Bellagio, Lecco, etc located at Lake Como. As I said earlier, I thought it was an entire city or village, but I didn't know that to visit villages, either you need a water boat or you have to visit there by car.

So our tour guide or group guide drove to a location called "Valmadrera", a commune in the province of Lecco. It's a town basically and our car left us in an area called "Giardini pubblici con giochi", a local park. At first, I was so confused about what was happening, and our entire group was confused as well like me. It was summertime so everyone was sunbathing in the park and some were swimming. So, at first, we all scattered and decided to see the surroundings. We didn't find anything worthy of seeing almost for 3 hours.

Unfortunately, locals don't speak English, they only speak the Italian language so it was very difficult to figure out what we gonna do, and how to explore Lake Como. Well, our tour guide left us and went somewhere else without saying anything to us. All we could do was sit in the park and watch the big Alps mountains in front of us. My internet connection was also so bad that day, what an unlucky day was it. Suddenly I noticed waterboats coming and going, a small docking area. We went there and it was too late already when we figured out that there were so many villages and small towns nearby and a boat was needed to go to those areas. Well, better late than never, we started waiting for the boat. People were asking where we wanted to go, and which village/ town we wanted to see but because I didn't do any research and was feeling exhausted because of the heat, I couldn't say anything. Even at that moment, I didn't know the name of the village called Bellagio and Como where I wanted to go so badly.

The biggest problem of social media is, that it basically writes about Lake Como but never mention clearly the village or town name and how to get there. Well, I didn't know who to blame, our tour guide who just left us somewhere near Lake Como or the social media for misinformation, or, just myself.

After one hour of waiting near the docking area, finally the boat arrived. We finally decided that we would see the lake and its surrounding scenario and would spend leftover time in Lecco City which was nearby. Unfortunately, unplanned trips are always like that and I realized it that day. Until we figured out, it was too late to see places. We had a time limit for the tour guide because he would eventually pick us up from Valmadrera.

My mood was already spoiled and I was very upset so I didn't take photos or anything. I was just looking at the huge Alps mountains and small tiny villages picture from the boat.

We took the wrong boat and we didn't even know that. Like I said nobody there speaks English. Normally from Valmadrera to Lecco city, it takes 20 minutes by boat but we took that boat which takes 60 minutes to reach Lecco because it goes to different villages and then its last stop is Lecco. So another hour was wasted in the lake. When we reached Lecco city, we were already tired and had only 55 minutes to see the city because we had to catch the boat again.

The city was crowded, a lot of tourists were strolling around, taking photos, and having dinner/lunch. We decided to walk a little bit near the lake because one hour is not enough to see a city. Basically, you cannot do anything within one hour if you don't know the city.

Not only me, but our entire group was upset because nobody did the research.

We started to see around, basically wandering around without any plan. Things happened, disaster happened and sometimes unplanned things happened. We didn't find anyone to blame because we should have asked or done some research before coming here.

Lecco city is nice, so much to see but yes, we were already late and had no time to see unique locations.

I know it's not the way I explore the city. At that moment, my mind was full of sadness because I didn't expect to have such a horrible day. I felt like a fool.

Lecco City is one of three sections that form Lake Como. To be honest, the city is really nice to spend time. You can enjoy the harbor area, and beautiful mountains and can go kayaking, and swim in the lake. From far away I saw the Church of Saint Nicolò, you can see it in the photos. Luckily I went to the city center which was not far away from the lakeside area and saw Piazza XX Settembre, in the centre of the town, and the San Martino mountain. source

Piazza XX Settembre (can't pronounce it) is the old town city center surrounded by old buildings and restaurants. From the center part, you can see beautiful Alps mountains and the Church of Saint Nicolò. During summer a lot of tourists spend their time there. Most of the buildings are neo-classical style architecture. One part of this square is linked to the lake (Piazza Cermenati) and the other part is connected to Piazza Garibaldi.

We did go to Piazza Garibaldi later but I figured that out later. source

This is Piazza Garibaldi and from here you can also see a glimpse of the Alps mountain. Many shops, and supermarkets are located here and I liked the cobbled walkways. It's not like a pebbled path, it was smooth and well-finished materials.

I don't know what to say or how to explain the feeling I felt at that moment being in Lecco. Obviously, it was not what I expected or had planned for Lake Como but something is better than nothing. Instead of running all day in the park at Valmadrera, we managed to see something. I have regret and upsetness about the Lake Como trip but still, I consider it as a lesson. Sometimes you have to accept reality and my mistake was, that I couldn't realize that time was running and instead of enjoying and accepting fate, I complained a lot.

My wishlist is not fulfilled so I wanna go back to Lake Como again but this time definitely I will have a proper plan.

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Molinetto della Croda in the province of Treviso Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:53:00 -0600

A really beautiful and enchanting place that in a certain way reminds us a little of fairy tales, this water ulino is still fully functional and is located in a lesser known place in the Veneto region.

I am a lucky girl because I live right near Treviso so I am a few kilometers from this mill.

This mill still dates back to 1600 and remained in operation until 1953 only to be unfortunately abandoned, fortunately after a few years, the municipality of Refrontolo bought it, invested money to restore it and today it is possible to visit it and it is fortunately still in operation.

This beautiful frame that you see in the photo has also been installed to be able to take beautiful photos to share on social networks.

This beautiful mill also represents an opportunity in my opinion to be able to explore the Prosecco hills and its numerous villages that populate it and from this place numerous paths depart to travel the old tracks that the miners used to do.

During the opening days it is possible to visit the interior of the Mill where the Antica Macina was rebuilt but above all they have created a museum that tells a little about the history of this mill season by season Admission is paid and costs 3 euro.

I am really happy that this cultural heritage has been recovered and can be visited because I who have visited it several times is always a wonderful experience.

The beauty, however, is not only visiting the ancient mill but also the surrounding landscape which is very naturalistic.

I leave you under the official website of the Mill so that if you have to plan a visit you have all the information you need to do it.

https://www.molinettodellacroda.it/

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Visit to the Soave Castle (Verona) - Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:53:00 -0600

The Soave Castle is located in the province of Verona and is considered one of the most important castles in the whole of Veneto

Although I live nearby it had been several years since I hadn't visited it, I think my last visit was when I was still 15, now I'm almost 40 so it's been enough time.

courtyard

The castle was built in 1379 by the will of cansignorio della Scala, naturally over the years it passed from hand to various families, when unfortunately in 1500 it was set on fire at the end of the Republic of Venice, but then it was bought by an important noble family of the area and let's say that towards at the end of 1800 it was recovered to bring it to its ancient splendor and still be open to visitors today.

You enter from a small entrance that has been created in the walls because the main entrance is almost always closed and it is the one where we find the drawbridge.

You immediately enter the large courtyard but inside there are two, the first where there are also the remains of a small church, and the second which leads to the main building.

staircase leading to the keep tower

In the second courtyard where there is the staircase to climb the walkway that leads to the keep tower that served as a prison, there is the house of the captain who was the one who directed the castle and took care of the defense of the valley.

Unfortunately, for issues related to covid-19, it is no longer possible to enter this house which housed the original furnishings of the time and the ancient armor that have come down to our days.

keep tower

It is right to say a few words about the use of this keep tower which, in addition to serving as a prison, unfortunately, those condemned to death were thrown down from above.

In fact, under the base of the tower many skeletons of people were found, so its function was not only to offer a sighting point of view, but also an instrument of death.

the visit lasts about an hour is a fairly small building so in a short time you can make this visit I also recommend you to visit the Borgo di Soave which is located at the foot of this castle in fact there is a beautiful walk that starts from Borgo and go up to the castle I leave you below the video I made a few months ago.

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Galatina and Gallipoli Day Trip Itinerary from Lecce, Puglia, Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Wed, 7 Jan 2026 07:49:00 -0600

Welcome to Italy, the land of timeless beauty, rich history, and mouthwatering cuisine!

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 3 Jan 2026 16:49:00 -0600

Welcome to Italy, the land of timeless beauty, rich history, and mouthwatering cuisine! From the ancient ruins of Rome to the romantic canals of Venice, Italy offers a unique blend of old-world charm and modern vibrancy. Prepare to be captivated by its stunning architecture, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality.

Italy is famous for its iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum, where gladiators once fought, and the magnificent Leaning Tower of Pisa. Explore the wonders of art in Florence at the renowned Uffizi Gallery or admire Michelangelo's masterpiece in Vatican City's Sistine Chapel. Keep in mind that popular places such as Venice can get very busy, especially in high season. To avoid the crowds, opt for beautiful, but less-visited regions such as Basilicata or Puglia.

Indulge your taste buds with authentic Italian cuisine. Feast on mouthwatering pasta dishes like spaghetti alle vongole or savor a slice of traditional Neapolitan pizza. Don't forget to pair your meal with a glass of local wine from vineyards that date back centuries.

Immerse yourself in Italian culture as you stroll through charming cobblestone streets lined with quaint cafés and boutique shops. Experience la dolce vita (the sweet life) as you relax at a sidewalk café with an espresso or gelato in hand.

Whether you're exploring ancient ruins, cruising along picturesque coastlines, or simply enjoying an afternoon siesta under the Mediterranean sun, Italy will leave an indelible mark on your heart

Weekend in the countryside of Latina: Terracina and Fossanova

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:08:00 -0600

It's been a long time since I wrote on Hive, and I would like to do it, for once, without too many frills, telling you about the last weekend spent in the countryside around Latina, between Terracina and Fossanova.

Together with my partner we went to discover a real gem of Lazio. We visited the Fossanova Abbey, which is famous because Saint Thomas Aquinas spent his last hours there before dying.

The Fossanova Abbey was built in the 19th century and still retains its originality typical of the Benedictine monks who founded and maintained it over the centuries.

The style is very simple and bare, but for this reason it wants to recall the sacredness, without giving too much importance to large decorations and gaudy motifs.

The beauty of this medieval village and its Abbey lies in the Church, in the large spaces and high vaults, so tending to the spiritual, in the tranquility of the cloister and in the beauty of its geometry and simplicity.

We were lucky because we had the opportunity to visit the church that was being prepared for a wedding but, having arrived very early in the morning, we were able to visit both the church and the interior spaces of the Abbey, without visitors and in total tranquility, in the typical silence of the Benedictine monks.

We visited the chapel where the relics of Saint Thomas are kept and we had the opportunity to discover his story thanks to a series of explanatory and illustrative panels of his history and that of the abbey.

From 2022 to 2025, according to the Vatican State, there is the possibility of receiving plenary indulgence; penitent visitors who vacate the threshold of the Chapel of St. Thomas, will have to recite a series of prayers subject to certain principles and rules to be observed in order to have the validity of the indulgence by the Church.

Just outside the abbey, inside the medieval village there are small shops dedicated to visitors; in particular a small bakery that was opening at that moment, intrigued us and we were dragged inside by the smell that emanated.

The lady who ran the bakery had just baked some magnificent chocolate sweets, and we stayed inside to get a little greedy. In the end, we couldn't help but buy lots of sweets and biscuits.

There was truly something for every taste: cinnamon biscuits, chocolate biscuits in coconut flour chocolates, corn flour and much more.

We took a bit of everything and in particular I was tempted by the biscuits that she had just baked: the chocolate peaches that we brought as a gift to my parents' house.

In addition to having typical and quality products, the shop had a very particular and unique decor because it used old antique furniture to showcase all the products for sale, emphasizing the importance of the local tradition of baked goods and more.

We were very satisfied with this short but intense visit to Fossanova which is a very particular village, unique in its kind, easily reachable from Rome. This short visit of ours was interspersed with our walks along the beach of Terracina, at sunset. A pleasant discovery that I recommend to anyone passing through those parts.
I use pinmapple to give you the location of the place:

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Explore the Mystical and Romantic Venice on a Budget!

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:50:31 -0600

The day trip to beautiful Venice.

Who doesn’t want to visit Venice?

Explore the mystic and romantic town of Venice, Italy on a Budget. We all want that and now I want to show you that its possible for less than 40 euros for 1 day for two persons.

The city that is a must see and one that shows up in the search option on google to visit when in the north of Italy is ofcourse VENICE.

The city of love, gondolas with singing gondeliers, and know for its beautiful buildings , the unique houses in the water of the many canals and the San Marco square.

We went there and it wasn’t the first but it’s always like you are there for the first time. It’s mystical and romantic. The character of this unique place is everywhere!

Today I want to give some travel advice to go into the city of love , quick and easy for a day at a rate of 35 euros with 1 car. ( counted two persons )

From our place to Venice parking near the harbour

From Desenzano del Garda to Venice its 1 hour and 44 minutes by car. There is a train option aswell. Because we came with a car here we choose to go by car. I made sandwiches and took some fresh cold bottles of water with me. Its very hot so a summer outfit is adviced and sunscreen might be an good one aswell. I forgot a little umbrella or a poncho and that was a mistake.

The heavy rain at lunch was the reason I was soaked in Venice. But he I danced in the rain and the pictures were cool. I was so happy to be back again.

Source: thetrainline.com / but you can buy a ticket at any station

We choose to go the route with the toll roads, it’s less busy. For 4 euro it’s also the quickest in this case.

After an hour and 45 minutes the harbour and the huge parking lots are visible from the road. You arrive in Venice over the large entry bridge. The Venice letters on the road are your guide to romance and history today. In the far you see the cruise ships, not near the city but at tender distance and for us a sight for our eyes. We never on the cruises we did with the famous italian shipping company MSC, docked in Venice but we will some day.

the tickets of the great day in Venice

Back to the city trip…. You enter Venice from the large entry bridge and stay on the right to park at TRONCHETTO VENEZIA PARKING. A huge parking lot where you have multiple layers to park and thats where you wanna be. The floors have signs and numbers and its adviced to take a picture when you park so you can easily find the car when you return. The parking has toilets and elevators. You can also buy a drink at the soda machines. Its adviced to not leave any thing of value in the car. The fact that its in sight might attrack the non tourist kind of people that will ruin your day when they break into your car. After you parked your car you walk to the left side ( also the exit when you leave ) and go to the VENEZIA UNICA ~ PEOPLE MOVER. That is the train ( electric ) that will take you to Venice waters and the central bus station in 5 minutes. It has three stops.

The stops are the parking, the cruise terminal and the busstation, the exit into Venice.

the ticket is 1,50 one way and you can sit and enjoy the short ride on the train.

When you exit the train at the third stop end the end of this train line, you go outside and take the stairs into the square top the bridge and enter the city of love for a day. Ofcourse there are plenty of romantic getaways and great hotels, but for us its a day trip.

This is the exit from people mover and the the train from the parking lot to one of the many bridges that will take you into Venice city centre.

You see many tourists with suitcases and bags, always beware of pickpockets. When you go on tik tok you will see that there is a war against the people that are doing this, and you see how refined they work. Its wise to go and see, I learned a lot. Just type in pickpocket Venice and you will see the lady with the whistle, and her “attenzione borsesatrice, pickpockets” or something its hilarious ( sorry my italian is not the best )

All your day has cost untill now is toll ( 4 euros ) parking for up to 24 hours ( total of 25 euros ) and the train ~ the people mover ( 1,50 per ride per person ) so 6 in total for two people.

Its a great trip for 35 euros. ( we drive electric so no gas ) That is if you don’t buy gifts, souvenirs and drink a beer on san Marco square. For the budget people , take your own water, freeze it and take sandwiches. If you go by train its similar in price as you saw at the beginning of the blog. The exit is a little bit further into the city, opposite of the waterbusses. I hope you like the advice for a trip to Venice and enjoy the romance. If you haven’t ever visited Venice, you have to make time and plan this. Its something you have to see, and when you do please tag me, so I can visit your blog and travel with you while reading.

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Wint'ry weather in Tuscany - Small walks

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 18:07:00 -0600

Soft snow envelops everything in this little town close to San Marcello Pistoiese, just a bit off the most famous ski tracks of Abetone. The town seems dormant with all this soft snow, there wasn't many people this saturday and most of the shops and restaurants were closed. Contrary to what I belived here is more of a summer venue for tourist while Abetone have many visitors on both seasons.

We enjoyed the walk around the silent town and played with snowballs, and came back all dirty and wet(it was tollerable as the weather was kinda dry on that day!) to the only bar open in the center of the city.

We got to eat some stuffed frozen pizza and wine in the only place that was open but the waitress was super nice with us and there was quite a small town atmosphere up there that we ended up enjoying the meal even if it wasn't anything fancy. After we walked back down to the cars and drived back to Pistoia.

Wint'ry weather in Tuscany - Small walks

The weather this days is on default grey with some glourius sunny hours I found this two photos that I took around in Capalle the first with the pilons sprouting up from the grasslands and the iron leaf fences of a garden close to the center of Firenze.For no particular reason other then I found they match and tell perfectly how the weather is going these days.

Mushrooms PillarsThe iron leaves

On a side note I want to say that I do really like how travelfeed has evolved in such a short amount of time, grats to the devs. The map feature is really cool and I really like the way the layout is right now. One thing I hope is in the works is an option to draw eventual routes of the travels other then the putting a pin at one position only. I would really like to show on the already cool map the way and paths that have been taken in some journeys!

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Naples is a Scary Place

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 18:03:00 -0600

But it is kinda a special he?

This city is dirty and full of homeless people: a lot of them allegedly emigrated from Africa. I've read that the mafia has a major influence in the town and that here their laws apply. Holes made by bullets in a shop window or in an entrance door are not a rare sight. Just like security or police located close to ATM machines to make sure that your money withdrawal really stays yours. But what I miss the most is that there is no greenery. I haven't seen a single green park where I could go jogging. Every now and then I ask myself: “Where am I wandering?” I’ve surprised myself because I’m not locked in an apartment, all scared and hiding under the blanket. Well, even though nothing happened to me, it's still a horrible feeling. When panic hits me, I just look at Ian. His calmness instantly affects me. We decided to visit a nearby castle, so I could see a nicer side of this city. A view from the top of the castle opened up widely. Silently, I watched this big city and the majestic Mount Vesuvius in the background. He explained to me that Vesuvius is still alive and an eruption considered a threat. That made me think about the connection Naples-Vesuvius and I can say that the city radiates the energy of the volcano. Here, the people live in uncertainty. They don't know if evacuation will happen in their lifetime, or it will be a part of the next generation. It may also never happen. No one knows. Volcano aside, each one of us has an uncertain future: what matters is how you handle the present. What if someone went on a journey and lost everything due to the eruption? How would he accept this fate and the hint of the gods? Would he become angry and devastated or would he realize that he is the lucky one because his life has been spared?

Exploring the streets has become great fun and I’ve got rid of the unjustified fear. What if we somehow influence bad things happening to us just by thinking about them? The best way to comfort my soul when I host my own pity party is a good dessert: it always has been and it always will be. Some things just don't change. There is nothing that a gourmet dessert can't fix. And here, I can choose from a wide variety of sweets. The streets are full of pastry shops: everything looks yummy and it's hard to decide which one to pick. However, what about the famous pizza?

We were wandering in a small street and looking for a good place, where you get that real Italian pizza. In some restaurants, you can see pictures of famous persons, who were eating there. However, our attention was drawn to a pizza place with a long waiting line. Well, if everybody’s waiting just to get some pizza, it must be good! And it really was. There, I ate the best pizza of my life. The crusty and soft dough, and, at the same time, just a few tasty fresh ingredients on the top. Oh, the place was called Gino Sorbillo. Newt time I will tell you more about this yummy pizza.

Buildings are something special in here

The biggest question is, would I return to Naples? Yes, a million times. I know how our imagination is playing with us and probably some Mafia-influenced movies left something on us as well but I wanna see more and taste it more in detail. Next time we will dive deeper into Napoli flavors and try to know more about the people who are nice, I bet.

Lock on a lock with a lock...

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Teatro Manzoni: Pistoia, ITALY

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 6 Dec 2025 18:01:00 -0600

Another little memory from the last year in Europe... this time from a trip to Italy, in the very pleasant region of Pistoia. We had a last concert of a tour here, and we had stayed in a pleasant villa just outside of the town... which also led to an early morning plane flight that I had written about quite a long time ago.

Anyway, the Teatro Manzoni, a little theatre which has a concert series. You can find many of these places in these Italian towns... little old theatres that have managed to last through the decades and centuries. Oddly enough, many of them look very similar on the inside!

So, this is the theatre as pictured from the stage... box seats on the top and a general seating on the bottom... unfortunately, unraked, so it makes it a bit difficult for audiences to see well. It is more of a speaking theatre than a music one... the difference in acoustic is quite profound for a musician (or an actor). The speaking theatres usually emphasise a dryer acoustic, and one that maximises for clarity... whilst a music place will have a slightly wetter acoustic that is better for blending.

Obviously, as a musician, I do prefer a place that has a wetter acoustic.. the dry ones are a bit harsh and quite difficult to play in. On the other hand, with the dryer acoustics, you can play around more with the softer end of the dynamic range of instruments.

The stage was a bit cramped for a full orchestra and choir... perhaps a chamber ensemble would work better here?

Anyway, I had mentioned that the audience seats weren't raked... but instead, the stage is slightly sloped to help with sightlines for the audience. This is quite a common trick for spoken word theatres... but it is pretty annoying as a musician... especially if you are sitting down!

Still, it was a nice place to play in... even if the acoustic wasn't the best.... at least the sound shell helped a bit! And often, when you are in less than ideal conditions... well, you just step up and make it work! Well... that is probably the better strategy rather than a righteous crank-out!

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Juliet's castle in Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza)

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 17:59:00 -0600

Where is Montecchio Maggiore

Today I would like to talk to you about the famous castles of Montecchio Maggiore in the province of Vicenza.

The story of Romeo and Juliet is one of the events that are deeply rooted in the collective imagination, also leaving the literary sphere, the story of love between two young people belonging to rival families, the all-encompassing dreamy character of the sentiment, its clash with the harsh adverse reality is on the tragic end.

It has never been possible to understand if this story is true or if it is a legend anyway in Montecchio Maggiore according to the poet Luigi da Porto there were the castles of these two families, which is why today I will tell you about Juliet's while tomorrow I will write an article on that of Romeo.

entrance to the castleentrance to the castle

the bellaguardia castle is called Giulietta's castle and rises at an altitude of about 250 meters, at a distance of about 300 meters from the other castle that we will see in the next article, it is moved towards that part of the village of Montecchio historically called the "cost" is not a large building but a modest building to defend a tower from a previous era which is built in a manner similar to that of the keep.

large entrance courtyardlarge entrance courtyarddrains lead to the panoramic terracedrains lead to the panoramic terrace

As soon as you enter the castle there is a large courtyard which in recent years has been used as an outdoor bar, turning right there is a staircase that takes us to the panoramic terrace above the restaurant because in recent years this castle has become a restaurant where banquets are organized and weddings are celebrated.

panoramic terracepanoramic terraceKeep towerKeep tower

From the panoramic terrace you can have a 360 ° view of the entire Chiampo valley and it is clear from here that the castle had to perform exclusively military functions, but was abandoned when it passed under the Republic of Venice and the castle remained in a state of neglect until to the execution of the first restorations in the 1930s.

Romeo’s castleRomeo's castle

As you can see, you can see Romeo's castle very well Unfortunately I was unable to enter the restaurant because I found it closed but inside you can find the Scenes from the story of Romeo and Juliet painted.

entrance to the restaurantentrance to the restaurant

the advice if you are in those parts that in addition to visiting the castle you go to eat in this restaurant because it is really worth it I have already tested it several times and I must say that it prepares excellent dishes.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to read my article tomorrow the one about Romeo's castle will come out.

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Visit to the Soave Castle (Verona) - Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 17:57:00 -0600

The Soave Castle is located in the province of Verona and is considered one of the most important castles in the whole of Veneto

Although I live nearby it had been several years since I hadn't visited it, I think my last visit was when I was still 15, now I'm almost 40 so it's been enough time.

courtyard

You enter from a small entrance that has been created in the walls because the main entrance is almost always closed and it is the one where we find the drawbridge.

You immediately enter the large courtyard but inside there are two, the first where there are also the remains of a small church, and the second which leads to the main building.

staircase leading to the keep tower

Unfortunately, for issues related to covid-19, it is no longer possible to enter this house which housed the original furnishings of the time and the ancient armor that have come down to our days.

keep tower

It is right to say a few words about the use of this keep tower which, in addition to serving as a prison, unfortunately, those condemned to death were thrown down from above.

In fact, under the base of the tower many skeletons of people were found, so its function was not only to offer a sighting point of view, but also an instrument of death.

As usual I hope that this article has made you discover a new place in my wonderful Italy and that maybe one day you can visit it in person follow me because I will surely let you discover other places.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

I leave you this information to reach Soave by car from Milan take the A4 motorway and there is the Soave exit.

By train, the nearest railway station is San Bonifacio, then it is possible to reach Soave by bus because it is approximately 5 km away.

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A day in Toblach exploring the surroundings

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 17:54:00 -0600

The views from this camping are amazing!My home in Toblach for just 14 EURO shower included Capucino 2.3 EUR + apfelstrudel 4.5 EUR

Indeed the coffee helped with the return plan. As I was looking at the map and to that strudel and back to the map I noticed that I actually made it close to the Austrian border, which now explains how good the strudel was.

Day 7 planning

While sipping at my coffee and admiring the scenery a train just passed by and suddenly all made sense to me. I said to myself that is no point of continuing touring into Austria just for a day considering I still need to return to Italy the following day and catch the train back to Verona to return the rented bike, which for sure will take me some time in transit. So instead, I decided to relax, ordered a second coffee and just checked the surrounding area on the map for a while. Doing so I discovered a lake nearby with lots of reviews and another camping near it which all inspired me to change camp and go there to discover the beautiful nature around me for my last day of bike touring on EuroVelo 7 this year.

Camping Olympia was great

Let me show you around.

Mini market on siteClean bathroom and showersIs that a dishwasher? I need one of these back home :) badlyNo excuse to stink while touring (4 EUR washing + 4 EUR drier)

Indeed camping Olympia is a 4* camping considering all the facilities, services offered, cleanliness, prices and location. I liked it here and would recommend it to all my fellow travellers in transit.

Look at them, Dolomites are fantastic

Now let's get closer to them, shall we?

Junction point properly signposted

Here, there is a junction of two routes: EuroVelo 7 (Sun Route) which I followed so far and Munich-Venice route which traverses the Dolomites. Will take the Venice route south towards the Toblacher See which is just couple of km away.

Happy to discover Toblacher See with you, it's so beautiful up here

Camping Toblacher See is perfectly situated near the lake and offers everything you would expect from a modern camping for a fair price of 25 EUR/day, stunning views included.

Camping mapSet up camp quickly and went exploring this amazing placeThe bathroom by the way

I propose a walk around the lake first.

Pristine stream flowing to the lakeInteresting to watch this trout fishermanDolomites...can just stare at them all dayA few happy cowsZen spot

Considering it was still early, around noon when I finished the lake tour and impressed by the beautiful nature around me, I decided to explore the area a bit further upstream towards those magnificent mountains in the back.

No cruising speed today, just slow exploration and enjoymentWe are on Cortina d'Ampezzo bike route, let's go furtherOMGThis is amazing!Look at that!The monumental trio "The Three Peaks" 2857-2999-2973 mInteresting history to read about on these panelsThe once Dolomites Railway is what I'm riding my bike on todayDurrensee (Lago di Landro)Same wheel different times

It started raining soon after I arrived at Lago di Landro, so I began searching for a place to take shelter and noticed a restaurant just across the road that seemed like the perfect spot to be right now.

And it surely was considering I also had a fabulous lunch while waiting for the rain to stop.

Had this local tyrolean dish which was just perfectGot served a rainbow for desert :)Monte Cristallo (3,221 m)

The new refreshed atmosphere and those mountains in the distance kept calling me to get closer which is exactly what I did after lunch when the sun came out.

Here at the border of Trentino-South TyrolI with Veneto I decided to stop my exploration and head back to the camping cause it was getting late. I’ll definitely return to cycle in the Dolomites one day – it's a must-do.

Monte Cristallo in the evening light

Here the scenery is always changing based on the weather and time of the day.

And back, just in time to catch the sunset over the Toblacher SeeD6 map

So, I've got a bit off track the main EV7 route for my last day of touring in the region but it was well worth it. It was by chance that my days of touring ended exactly here close to the border, otherwise I would have simply continued along EuroVelo 7 towards Austria and missing the opportunity to experience these breathtaking lakes and mountains up close and really savor life, which is exactly what Discover EuroVelo is all about.

Until next time,

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Travel to Pompei and Vesuv

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 8 Nov 2025 17:50:00 -0600

In the morning we followed the instructions to the port, where we board the ferry. A beautiful sunny day is ahead of us. Our ferry has only one stop on the way to Naples. This is the island of Procida.

Procida

I was tempted to go see this island as well, but due to lack of time we did not succeed. Nevertheless, in addition to learning, we also wanted to swim in the sea, relax and relax.

After waiting for a while in front of the entrance gate and taking the first photos, we enter the place where time stood still. In 79, this thriving city of the Roman Empire on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea was hit by tragedy. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried him under a 4 to 6 meter layer of pumice and ash.

But let's do it gradually. After all, until the city was hit by a catastrophe, it was a cultural and social center and was of great importance in the Roman Empire and before it.

Tribunal of the Basilica

The first place we enter in the city is the Tribunal of the Basilica. Despite the fact that it was largely destroyed after the eruption, it affects me impressively. We have just started and I am already fascinated by this place.

The first traces of settlement in this place date back to 3 millennia before Christ. At the end of the 7th century BC, the Osk tribe settled here. They established a settlement here, which stretched to the foot of the volcano. They named her Gens Pompeii.

The great expansion of the city occurred when the city came under the rule of the Samnites. They focused their efforts on building the city. They gave it a rectangular urban structure, expanded the city center, built two forums with public buildings and, last but not least, built walls that protected the city. Pompeii under their rule achieved prosperity and economic prosperity.

In 310 BC, they were defeated by the Romans and Pompeii became the site of military veterans. The Romans continued to develop the city. Fountains, water mains, shops were built and the city was enriched by the beautiful artistic decoration that we can see in this house.

Public, religious, economic and political life took place in the main forum. Public buildings were built around the large square, which served to manage the city. The whole forum was surrounded by Doric columns.

As we walk through the alleys, we see masculine nature depicted on the corners of some buildings. I originally thought that this was how they distinguished street names or numbers, but I was wrong. Male nature indicated the location of the nearest public house. Handy marking.

We went to look inside one of them. The decoration on the walls tells us what happened here, even if we didn't know it in advance. The decoration was supposed to evoke the right atmosphere. I must admit that the Romans enjoyed themselves.

So what were the streets named? On each street, a water tank was connected to the city's water supply. Each of them had its own symbol, and according to him, the street bore its name.

The roads are also extremely interesting, as you can see in the picture. The middle lane was used to cross cars and rainwater. People walked on the right and left side, and if they wanted to cross to the other side, they crossed the stone in the middle.

Teatro Grande

We come to the Teatro Grande. 5000 viewers came into view. I can vividly imagine sitting in the stands and watching a theatrical performance.

Scholl of gladiators

We walk through an alley, where we can cool down under the treetops, at least for a while. But not for long, because right behind it is a school of gladiators. Here the brave men trained and prepared for their life-and-death struggle.

This is how the cuisine looked like in the time of Ancient Rome.

I mentioned that the Romans knew how to enjoy themselves. Not only in public houses, but also in spas like these. It amazes me how beautifully they are decorated and that the decoration has been preserved to this day. Paradoxically, we can thank the catastrophe that has befallen Pompeii.

It's hot and we try to find a cool place and hide at least for a while from the rays of the sun where we can. Whether it's behind the walls of houses or behind one of the well-preserved Doric pillars.

At the end of the tour, we walk past the finds from Pompeii from which it freezes. Several castings are collected in a large room. These were created by archaeologists pouring gypsum into cavities in the ground. It froze, and when they pulled it out, they found that it was the last resting place of the people of Pompeii and their location at the time of their death. The castings show us exactly the position in which they died. In front of me I see a figure sitting and as if praying and hoping to survive this catastrophe. Next to it is a cast of a dog that hanged itself on a rope while trying to escape from the city. It made a big impression on me.

We saw Pompeii, at least some of them. In some places, excavation work is still in progress and archaeologists are finding new and new houses, objects, remains.

Vesuv

But what would it be like was to visit Pompeii and not look at the crater of the volcano that caused the destruction of the city.

In the heat we climb the steep hiking trail up. It's a dusty sidewalk. At the time of the eruption and destruction of Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius was much higher than it is now. We are grateful that the volcano is currently only 1279 meters high and we do not have to go even higher.

View from Vesuv to Naples

The volcano is still active and as it is located near the city of Naples, it is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes. The last eruption was not so long ago, it was in 1944.

What did it actually look like in 79?

The volcano of the people of Pompeii and the surrounding area has warned before. The earthquakes in the area were nothing special, and from time to time a dark cloud appeared over the crater and ash fell on the city. People considered it the wrath of the gods, and it never occurred to them that it was about to erupt.

Various warnings preceded the eruption. Drones could be heard from the depths of the earth, and sulfur fumes escaped in various places. The animals knew what was happening and were restless. In my opinion, however, the biggest warning was that the water in the wells had dried up.

On August 24, 79, Vesuvius awoke from his sleep. A cloud of thick black smoke rose above the crater, overshadowing the sun during the white day, as if it were night. Lava began to flow out of the foothills and the volcano began spewing ash and pumice. Rain of ash, pumice and stones began to fall on the city. Many people died right on the street. Some believed that they would be able to hide in their homes. They were wrong. If they were not killed by the roof of their own house, which did not keep the burden of stones and pumice, they were killed by poisonous gases. The layer of ash and pumice was so high over time that it was no longer possible to walk the streets. Only those who managed to escape from the city in time were saved.

The eruption was described in detail by Pliny the Younger. Let me quote his letter to his friend Tacit. It would be a shame if I didn't list him here.

,, ... It had been a day for about an hour, but the light was still uncertain and dim. The houses around had already collapsed, and although we stood in the open but narrow space, we were very afraid of collapsing buildings. So in the end, it seemed reasonable to leave town. We were followed by a terrified crowd, which, in fear, seems cautious, forces its will on others and persecutes and pushes those who escape in great crowd ... The sea was seen, swallowed up by itself and almost pushed out by the earthquake. Surely the coast widened and many fish remained dry. On the other hand, a black and terrible cloud torn by a rapidly circling hot wind opened in long tongues of fire, they were like lightning and still more lightning ... and not much time passed, the cloud descended to the ground and hit the sea. He covered and hid Capri and hid the view of Cape Miseno ... The ashes were already falling, but not yet thick, I turn and see a thick fog hovering behind my back like a tide, scattering across the ground and chasing us ... night, not like those cloudy nights without the moonlight, but like when you're in a closed place without light. You would hear the moans of women, the cries of children, the cries of men, he sympathized with his own destiny, he with the fate of his loved ones. There were those who called her out of fear of death. Many prayed earnestly to the gods, many thought they were gone, and that night must have been the last night of the world ... ,,

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The most beautiful subway system in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 1 Nov 2025 18:46:00 -0500

When we were wandering in Naples - Italy, we were enchanted by their subway system. Those subway stations are true art, and can be a great example to the world! Vivi was so excited about it, she even dances there. Well, now she was dancing, but only a few days before she was scared to death. Naples is a kinda scary city before you get used to it and know its magic.

Getting lost in Pienza, Tuscany, Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:40:00 -0500

Pienza was the first city we visited on our big photographic travel in Tuscany. I cannot remember if this was the first planned point from our long bullet list or it was by a chance, a morning decision over the cups of coffee we had in the lovely garden with stunning views towards the hill towns of Montalcino and Montepulciano.

Going to this hill establishment only opened our eyes and prepared us for the divine beauties of the region, accomplished by the united efforts of Mother Nature and the local people with artistic inclinations, if I may say that.

Let me present to you our story and experiences in a chronological order. The first building we noticed by lifting our eyes up was the beautiful brick bell tower with the metallic cross and the coat of arms on top:

The flags at the city hall suggested the city is under the aegis of UNESCO. The three flags, of the European Union and Italy, go hand in hand here.

The feeling I got that day was calm, people were relaxed and almost everyone was smiling, enjoying the good energy of the day and the place.

This says year 1462, if I read the Roman numbers correctly? See what the quality of the details is and how it persisted through the ages...

This rest place of this pigeon has put a smile on my face :)

A city of colors. Such tiny lovely details only make the warm feeling warmer:

We passed by few small shops offering several different types of prosciutto, salami and smoked/dried meat, of course, we fell into the temptation and tasted some of them, along with local red wines, of course. But only few tiny sips for me, as I had to drive back to our house later in the same evening. A must try, I have to say!

If you happen to be there, try searching for small details. I loved these casted iron decorations over the rings used in the past to tie the horses, I suppose. I've seen such in many countries I've traveled to, but they rarely are made so beautiful!

Once I got to the outskirts of the city, I enjoyed walking a narrow pedestrian street with amazing view towards the valley. I took plenty of photos from that alley, all angles were breathtaking!

Those beautiful lines of cypress trees along the roads are so typical for Tuscany.
How could one not fall in love with this region???

Here is how this street looks, a tiny part of it of course. The panoramas from there are unique and no wonder we spent much time there, and of course it wasn't only us.

Flowers everywhere :)

Those beautiful plowed autumn fields viewable over the roof of the houses covered in ancient tiles...

Here's how the street names plates look like around:

I heard that in the winter some of the places in the mountains are hard to live in but in the autumn everything was looking and feeling warm.

... and if by any chance it starts raining and you don't have an umbrella, borrow one and don't forget to return it here when the rain is over :)

It's typical for the people here to dry their laundry at and over the narrow streets. Now imagine the smell of the clean clothes :)

At some point we ran into this motor show of those simpatico three-wheeled vehicles, their sound suggested they are built upon the engines of motorcycles but interestingly it seems they are allowed to be driven without vehicle registration. Interesting.

Scenic laundry drying at one of the houses built on the top. The wind and the Sun are the best and the most eco dryer, aren't they :)

Few more views from the external alley that took my breath away and a lot of storage from my camera card memory :)

I love getting lost in the small streets, pathways and alleys. They are away from the noise of the crowd and there are always things that could be found within a specific time interval and then they disappear, one reason or another.

We check few artisan and art shops and it was very pleasant to exchange few words with their owners. I found out the local artists are very open, the most of them looked happy.

Another colorful street details, caressing the eyes.

As my final image from this story I have decided to show you this huge tall wall, that had protected the city in the past, now covered with this thick knots formed by the roots of the plants growing here for centuries.

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A visit to Trieste, Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 18 Oct 2025 18:38:00 -0500

This wasn't my first visit to Trieste. When I was a child, shopping tours from my country to this city were often organized and I visited this city several times with my parents, but I only remember shopping malls. Now I have visited Trieste with different interests. Although I love shopping very much, this time there wasn’t enough time for it. This visit was accidental and short because we stayed in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Before this visit, I visited this city for the last time on an excursion in high school, but that visit was also based on shopping in large shopping malls.

The first impression when we arrived in Trieste was, "are we in Italy?" Honestly, I didn't feel the Italian spirit like in other Italian cities I've traveled to before. I felt some special, unique spirit. Trieste was part of Austria in the past and the cultural and historical heritage is imbued with the Austrian spirit and architecture.

I also felt at home. Italians are very kind and hospitable people. I was amazed by the architecture, cleanliness, and tidiness of the city. The city is rich in religious buildings and cultural and historical monuments.

We visited the Piazza Unità d'Italia or the Unity of Italy Square, the main square in Trieste, and perhaps the largest square I have ever seen. I am sorry that we were not in the square in the evening because then the blue lamps placed on the surface are lit and they symbolize the sea. Around the square are the 7 most luxurious palaces in the city.

Here is a monument to Carlo VI d'Asburgo who played a significant role in the development of the city and its architectural appearance and also a monument that I liked very much - The fountain of the Four Continents. It represents four continents by different animals. The horse represents Europe, the crocodile America, the lion Africa and the camel Asia (Australia was not yet discovered at that time). The symbol of the city of Trieste is a female figure at the top who flies over the symbols of the continents and hospitably welcomes guests from all over the world.

The place that left a strong impression on me is the Teatro Romano, where gladiatorial fights used to take place. Today, music events are held here.

I also liked Scala di Giganti. It is a large and steep stairway that connects the heart of Trieste with its streets. When you climb here the view of the city is amazing.

Trieste is much more than shopping and I am happy to have found out even though it took me many years.

Thank you very much for reading.

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Romeo's castle in Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza)|now it is an open-air theater!

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 18:35:00 -0500

Even this castle like the previous one had been practically destroyed by the Republic of Venice so that it was not taken by the enemy but fortunately after a recovery work we can now admire the keep, the main tower which has a height of about 25 meters.

You enter from a single entrance and the castle is always open on Sundays and public holidays from 3 to 6:30 pm, while Juliet's castle can always be visited during the restaurant's opening hours.

view from the meadow below

There is a beautiful path that runs around the castle and gives you the opportunity to grasp the charm of the entire building.

interior of the Castleinterior of the Castle

Inside Romeo's castle on the left we find a staircase that leads to the upper terrace of the tower, dating back to 1930, which unfortunately I found closed that day because they were doing some work on the tower.

Currently inside the castle it has been set up to host theatrical reviews and concerts, in fact, as you can see from the photos, armchairs have been installed to accommodate the public and a stage where the event takes place.

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Rome: the Eternal City - the right place to swear eternal love to each other

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 4 Oct 2025 18:31:00 -0500

In the distance, we could already hear the water of the Trevi Fountain splashing - our next destination. According to legend, tossing a coin over your right shoulder into the fountain is supposed to bring good luck. Everyone seems to want to do that too. Wow... it was so narrow and crowded at the edge of the pool! We only took one photo (although we came back later again to try with fewer tourists and also at night) and quickly walked on to one of the most important squares in Rome: the Piazza Venezia.

It is one of the city's main transport hubs. From here all roads lead to Rome's main attractions. There are also magnificent buildings as far as the eye can see. One of them is the monument to Victor Emmanuel II, also called Vittoriano. This huge white marble building was dedicated to the first king of Italy. Very showy but also very impressive. Especially at night.

Only a stone's throw away is the Roman Forum, the former market square and one of the most important archaeological sites of ancient Rome.

Right next to it is the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater in ancient Rome, the city's landmark, and the largest circular theater ever built. The legendary and cruel gladiator fights took place here from 80 AD to 313 AD. Up to 50,000 spectators fit into the arena.

Too bad the queue in front of the Colosseum was too long, so we could not go inside with a waiting time of about 2 hours. But we came back at night for another round of pictures:

On our next visit, we will definitely take more time for the Colosseum and the Roman Forum!

The path took us further to the Pantheon and the Egyptian obelisk on the Piazza della Rotonda. What majestic entrance columns! The Pantheon is an architectural masterpiece! The visit is free. So we walked right in. Inside, we admired the huge dome and the oculus, the opening of the dome that gives the entire church unique lighting.

There is a lot of hustle and bustle on the piazza. The perfect place for a break in one of the cute cafes. You can also find Piazza Navona very close by where the church Sant'Agnese in Agone invites you for a short visit.

The sun was already setting while we walked comfortably along the boulevard that runs along the Tiber to Castel Sant'Angelo or the so-called Castel Sant'Angelo. Just up the stairs and we were standing on the bridge, which is decorated with 10 angel statues - just in time for sunset.

And because we hadn't seen enough for the first day, we walked to St. Peter's Square in the dark to take a picture of St. Peter's Basilica at night as well.

We had planned a visit to the Vatican, the smallest country in the world, and the Sistine Chapel for the second day.

To get to the Vatican, we crossed the huge St. Peter's Square. In St. Peter's Square, on special days, the Pope can be seen giving his blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

After a long wait (luckily in the shadow of the many columns), we were finally able to enter St. Peter's Basilica. Of course, we wanted to go up to the dome to see the entire city from above. To get to the dome, we climbed more than 300 steps through a narrow, low-ceilinged corridor. It wasn't easy... but we were rewarded with a gorgeous 360-degree view of the city.

Then we walked to the visitor magnet par excellence - the Sistine Chapel with the world-famous frescoes by Michelangelo. You are not allowed to talk or take photos from these to keep modern flashlights from damaging the art. So all the people are huddled together and looking up at the ceiling, which has some of the most famous paintings in the world, like The Creation of Adam or The Last Judgment. We both don't know that much about art, but the paintings in the Sistine Chapel are very impressive. Linda made one little Snapshot from the frontal area before we left:

But you are allowed to take pictures of some very impressive pieces of art that cover the whole room on your way to and from the Chapel through some of the museums:

You can feel with every step you take through the Vatican grounds, that this place has a very long and very impressive history. Not just because of the art or the buildings, but the whole atmosphere has a different kind of feeling.

On our third day, we needed a little break and drove to Villa Borghese. This beautiful and tranquil park is approximately 5 km² in size and houses the Galeria Borghese, a private art collection, and a zoological garden. It´s a really nice place to just relax and calm down from the hectic city for a couple of hours.

In the afternoon we drove to one of the most beautiful districts of Rome - the Trastevere district.

There are many cute restaurants, bars, and cafés in the narrow, winding, colorful streets. In addition, small markets invite you to stroll and look. And there is street music on every corner in the evening. After listening to the music for some time and enjoying the sunset on the river, we had dinner in a good restaurant in Trastevere, and afterward, I was able to convince Linda to walk with me up the Gianicolo mountain, which is located above Trastevere to see the city from above at night.

From there we had a wonderful view of the city on the one hand and on the other hand, the fountain "Fontana dell'Acqua Paola" offers a beautiful backdrop for the question of all questions. Linda was just looking at the city and when she turned around again, I knelt in front of her, declared my love to her, and asked her the question. After what felt like an eternity, she finally said "yes".

On our fourth and last day in Rome, we rented bikes and raced with the cars on the street through the city before leaving the crowded streets onwards to the historic Via Appia. It's a miracle that we survived with the driving style of the Italians

The Via Appia used to be one of the most important trade routes in the Roman Empire. Along the entire street, we saw ancient columns, tombs, castles, and other structures from ancient times that have more or less been integrated into everyday life. It´s quite humbling to see so many structures and other remains still standing.

We are very glad that we had eBikes because otherwise, we would probably not have made much progress on the cobblestones.

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Travel to Ischia

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 11:47:00 -0500

This island of volcanic origin is located in the Gulf of Naples and I also wanted to visit Naples. Besides, the beach and the sea, but what more do we need?

I have to admit, the road to our destination was a bit daunting. In Slovakia, no travel agency offers a holiday on the island of Ischia, so we arranged the holiday through an Italian travel agency. But she will take care of us only in Italy after arriving in Naples. Until then, it is in our hands.

From Spišská Nová Ves, where we live, we get on a train and go to Budapest. We have to sleep right here and in the morning a hotel taxi is to take us to the airport.

We slept well and in the morning we pack up quickly and go in front of the hotel, where a taxi is waiting for us. Instead of the car in which we would put our luggage, a driver with a tablet in his hands is waiting for us. He shows us something about it and tries to explain something to us in Hungarian English. We take a closer look and see a list of scheduled flights from Budapest on the screen. The red canceled sign flashes for the first three. Fortunately, our flight is not among them. Ours is the fifth in a row.

The Lord explains to us that they suspected a bomb on board one of the planes that landed at the airport, then evacuated and closed the entire airport. He could be seen thinking about how he would help us. We still had time and so we only stressed a little. After half an hour of waiting, he came to us and told us to get in the car. A friend said to him that the airport had already been opened. We took a deep breath.

They found no bomb at the airport and returned to the old tracks. We get on a plane and hooray, we go in the direction of Naples.

The flight goes smoothly and we are landing in Naples. We are looking for someone from a travel agency to take us to the island. Fortunately, as we exit the airport lobby, we see the gentleman with a sign that says my name on it. He will take us to the bus and head to the port. When disembarking, he gives us tickets for the ferry that will take us to the island.

The ferry leaves in an hour and we buy buns to eat, water to drink and we walk around the port a bit.

The ships moored here are truly enchanting.

We board the ferry. As soon as we moved, a flock of seagulls surrounded us. They circled around, waiting for someone from the ship to throw something good under their teeth.

As we leave the port, we see a lighthouse and a statue of the Pope blessing every ship that enters or leaves the port.

We love the surroundings and we are glad that we have set out on this journey. It is our first ferry trip and actually the first holiday on the island.

After less than an hour of sailing, we swim around the castle of Aragonese. This castle is connected to the island of Ischia only by a narrow road.

We enter the port and disembark. There are a lot of people everywhere who have scattered in all directions. We also stand with our luggage in a large parking lot, looking around and looking for someone who came for us from the trip.

People dispersed, the last taxi left and we were left alone in the port. Only seagulls kept us company. Fortunately, after half an hour of uncertainty, a smiling guy stopped by. Peaceful and in a good mood, he greeted us on the island. He put his suitcases in our car and took us to the hotel. We are finally here!

Ischia is a small island with an area of 46.3 square kilometers, located in the Gulf of Naples. It is an island of volcanic origin. There are larger or smaller volcanic centers on it. The last eruption was in 1302. The volcano is currently inactive, but earthquakes predict the movement of magma beneath the island and the possibility of an eruption in the future. We hope not when we are on the island.

We unpack our things and go to the night city. The nightlife here is not as intense as in the big resorts, but there is a small promenade surrounded by shops and stalls, where you can buy whatever you want or sit in one of the restaurants. Ischia is a fishing town and has retained its character to this day.

The most beautiful view of the city at night is, in my opinion, from this pier.

I was immediately attracted by small cars on the island, which found their place in these narrow streets.

We are on the island for the third day and after a day of relaxation on the beach and evening walks around the city, we went to visit the island's landmarks. It is the castle of Aragonese.

We are accommodated close and so we go down the hill, we cross a little around the historic center and we are in front of the pier that connects the castle built on a rock with the island.

We walk through the entrance gate and delve into the history of the castle. Its origins date back to 474 BC. In that year he built a fortification and two towers on the castle hill of Hiero I. Syracuse. The fortifications served to control the enemy fleet. Later the castle was occupied by the Neapolitans, then by the Romans and finally again by the Neapolitans. In 1441, King Alfonso I of Aragon of Spain had a fortified castle built on an island near Ischia and connected it to the island by a bridge. The castle protected the island from pirates.

Later, the castle became a refuge for the nuns of the Poor Clares and the Basilian monks. There were 13 churches and 2,000 families. In 1809, the island was besieged by the British under French command and the castle was almost destroyed but not conquered. The castle has been privately owned since 1912.

We like the castle. Not only is there a nice view of the island and the sea from here, but the small narrow streets are not a mistake.

After a walk and getting to know the castle, we come to the beach. We want to relax and enjoy the sea.

On the other side of the island is the town of Forio. The church located here is known far and wide. The Chiesa del Soccorso was originally a Augustinian monastery, built in 1350. In 1883 it was destroyed by an earthquake. They restored it, but in a more modest style.

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