Italy Photo Gallery

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

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Mon, 15 Feb 2027 09:36:00 -0600

Embark on a stress-free excursion starting from Lecce, where we'll explore the captivating towns of Galatina and Gallipoli. These enchanting destinations are conveniently close to each other and easily accessible by a slow but direct train, making it effortless to visit both in just one day.

Galatina

We started our day by taking a short and easy train ride from Lecce to Galatina, a charming town that is conveniently located along the same railway line as Gallipoli. The journey only took us 45 minutes, and as soon as we stepped off the train, we were immediately drawn to the town's mini Lecce-like ambiance.

Galatina welcomed us warmly as we explored its streets, which were adorned with centuries-old buildings that had a rich history. One particular highlight on our itinerary was the magnificent Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria.

Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria

The Basilica, built in 1383, impressed us with its exquisite artistry and religious significance. Stepping inside, we were immediately struck by a sense of awe. The walls were adorned with intricate frescoes that took us on a fascinating journey through time, depicting scenes from biblical stories and the lives of saints.

The artistry displayed in these frescoes was truly remarkable, showcasing the talent and devotion of the artists who created them so many years ago. We were amazed by the vibrant colors that still retained their brilliance. It felt as though we had entered a living museum, where history came alive before our eyes.

What made our visit even more special was that admission to the Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria was based on donations, making it accessible to visitors from all walks of life.

Chiesa Madre dei Santi Pietro e Paolo

Continuing our exploration of Galatina, we stumbled upon another architectural gem - Chiesa Madre dei Santi Pietro e Paolo, also known as the Mother Church. Its grand façade enticed us to step inside and discover its hidden treasures.

Upon entering, we were greeted by a serene and reverent atmosphere. The ornate decorations adorning the altar and walls showcased Galatina's rich religious heritage. We took our time to admire the intricate details carved into every surface, a testament to the craftsmanship of those who built this magnificent structure.

Try out the Pasticciotto

Make sure to try the pasticciotto in Galatina, where it originated. This shortcrust pastry with a creamy filling is a local specialty which you can also find in most cafes in Salento. We had a delicious one from a bakery near the Basilica di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria. It's a delightful treat that perfectly complements your visit to the basilica and allows you to experience Galatina's culinary heritage firsthand.

Where to Stay in Galatina?

The old town is pretty relaxed so if you want a quiet base then this is the place for you. I recommend staying in the center.

For mid-range, Casa Vacanza Vico Maroncelli is central and nicely decorated.

For luxury, check out the highly rated Amira 1899 Luxury Suite where you can pamper yourself in a hot tub or relax in a sauna.

Gallipoli

After our delightful time in Galatina, we hopped on a short train ride to reach the coastal town of Gallipoli. As we arrived, the refreshing scent of the sea filled the air, setting the stage for a culinary adventure.

Seafood in Gallipoli

Gallipoli is a seafood lover's paradise, thanks to its location on the Ionian Sea. We couldn't resist trying the local specialties at Trattoria Santa Monaca, a renowned restaurant in the old town. One dish that stood out was the succulent purple prawns cooked in salt. You can also have it simply grilled as it can be too salty. These local delicacies boasted a delicate flavor and vibrant color, offering a memorable taste experience.

To complement our prawns, we savored a flavorful fish soup brimming with mussels, clams, and squid. The broth was skillfully infused with herbs and spices, creating a symphony of flavors that delighted our palates.

Our meal at Santa Monaca, including drinks, came to a total of EUR 62, a reasonable price for the quality and quantity of food served. Portions were so huge that we didn't have space for dessert.

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Basilica Concattedrale di Sant'Agata

Also known as the Gallipoli Cathedral, it holds deep religious importance in this town and is dedicated to their patron saint Saint Agatha. Its history dates back several centuries, and as we wandered through its hallowed halls, we couldn't help but feel a connection to those who had come before us.

Hooded Penitents

While exploring one of the churches by the coast, I was shocked to see a hooded mannequin as I entered one of the churches simply because I wasn't expecting that and didn't do much research prior our visit. This is just a model of the hooded penitents that parade barefoot during Lent and are covered to protect their identity.

We found this at the Church of the Holy Crucifix just along the coastal road. They also have some photos of the penitents during Holy Week.

There are a few more churches that you can explore within the old town but these two are what I found most fascinating.

Left: hooded statue

Right: church interior

Take it Slow at a Café

When in Italy, take it slow. We settled into our seats and ordered comforting cappuccinos – creamy concoctions topped with delicate foam. As we sipped our drinks, we savored both their rich flavor and the relaxed atmosphere surrounding us.

Fontana Greca

The Greek fountain, believed to be built around 3rd century BC, is just located outside the fort of the old town so we visited this as we headed back to the train station.

We were here in the late afternoon and also watched fishermen and locals transact by the shore. There's also a church that you can visit from here.

Santuario di Santa Maria del Canneto

Where to Stay in Gallipoli?

Coastal towns in Italy tend to be pricey but you can still find a place on a mid-range budget. Check out Centro Storico Casa Nel Cuoro

If you're feeling luxurious, check out the 4-star Palazzo Presta in the center of the old town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch/4yqARfS5ybU

Conclusion

Our day trip to Galatina and Gallipoli from Lecce proved to be a rewarding journey filled with historical marvels, tantalizing flavors, and the ease of travel. Thanks to the convenient train connections, we seamlessly ventured from one town to another, immersing ourselves in their unique charms.

If you want something more convenient and you do not have your own car, getting a private transfer is the way to go. Check out this full day tour of Galatina and Gallipoli. They provide a comfortable airconditioned car with a private driver from Lecce which really makes a difference especially during the hot peak summer season and saves you the long trip in the slow train. You still have the independence to get around and explore on your own. Combine this with the itinerary we have provided above. Have fun!

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SUNDAY TOUR IN FELTRE IN BELLUNESE-ITALY

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 1 Nov 2026 15:21:00 -0600

After some time I managed to organize a day trip to Feltre, a town of 20,000 inhabitants in the province of Belluno.

Feltre is, however, one of the most evocative walled cities in the Veneto where we can find palaces, frescoed facades and also beautiful fountains.The cathedral is very beautiful, too bad I was unable to visit it inside because they were carrying out the religious function on Sunday, however I discovered that there is a card that gives you the opportunity to visit all the museums and palaces of Feltre at a discounted price, however it is only valid for 24 hours.

I have not researched much about the monuments before leaving home but I still like walking around to admire them.

These you see in the photos above are the Lombard fountains that still refer to the dominion that there was in the city of Feltre by the Grand Duchy of Milan.I have toured several cities in Italy but I have never seen similar ones around.

I really spent a beautiful morning walking in these historic places among these splendid streets and splendid stairways.

I was lucky enough to meet a very nice gentleman who recommended me an excellent restaurant where you can have lunch and I can tell you that you eat really well here because I ate risotto and gnocchetti which were truly a delight for my palate.

I hope you enjoyed this little trip to this city.

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A visit to Venice the Italian floating city

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Wed, 28 Oct 2026 13:27:00 -0500

My visit of Venice is what I share with you today. I do not know which adjective for a town which does not have roads for cars but only canals among more than hundreds islands. What could I say about Venice? Well has different names but the most famous one is Serenissima ( the most serene). A name which probably has origin from the doge (the duke) the major chef during the Repubblic the Venice but there are not enough evidence about that.

The agglomeration around the VI a.C was inhabited by fisherman and farmers who escaped from Longbard invasion. In the following centuries Venice developped its trades and sea power and nowaday is a town which always astounds visitors in particular during the warmest months.

From the mainland to the railstation began my exploration of this floating city built on wooden platform. The building are not based on islands but into pillings which support the platform and the whole structure from the sea bottom to the top. But the wood does not rot on the water ? These pilings are completely immerged on the water. The lack of oxigen and the salt water have preserved these woods.

This is a reason why Venice an authentic ensemble of not only these buildings but also bridges,canals and gondolas. Someone says it is a romantic location to visit. Actually I do not have further definition for this beauty on the water. Firstly I head to Saint Mark square the core of Venice.

On the way I passed below the Rialto with its market. Probably to most famous bridge in Venice. And stop in Punta della dogana. To see Saint Mark square from another corner. And finally reach the core of Venice.

The weather become hot and going inside to the Doge Palace. And began to visit part of the heritage of this attractive square. Looking at its façade it has been rebuilt in the XV century preserving its old style and on one side the Gothic Porta della Carta (Paper Gateway) on the waterfront the Porta del frumento (Grain Gateway). This building was not only the residence of chef Doge but also seat the government for some hundreds of years. It preserves the history, art, economy of Venice

The famous bridge of Sighs made of white limestone which connect palace to the prisons in the other side of the canal.

And then Saint Mark basilica an architectural masterpiece, a mix between Romanesque-Byzantine and Gothic style with some Arabic influence.

The name of Patriarch of the city related to history of two Venetian merchants who found the relics of Mark the Evangelist found in Alexandria where he died. Its decorative narthex is impressive and look made of gold.

The interior is Greek cross plan with five domes situated in the middle of the buildings. There are mosaics which represent Apostles Evangelists, part of Old Testament.
Just a tour and a short description of the basilica and then went to the bell tower to see the views on its top.

Close to Saint Mark square is situated the Hard Rock Café I usually collect T-shirt and at least visit inside to see the different instruments inside the wall. In some of them I have also eaten.

In the afternoon I walked from the Saint Mark Square area to head to Fondamenta nova. Here the wharf where I caught the ferry to Murano. Another group of island part of Venice famous for their glassmakers and a museum dedicated to it. I did not take photos inside due to my low battery. The visitor can find a range of colourful glasses and different tecniques to obtain original results.

(The glass Museum)

The origin of Venetian glass industy is still uncertain. There is theory which mention some Venetian people in some Roman empire colonies somewhere in the coast of Adriatic Sea. They learn to technique of glassmaking from Romans. In the X century a document which certified the production of type of hollow glasses to make up bottles. The only evidence are through some glass fragments found in 1960's. More documents certified that the attivity of making enamel glasses the end of XIII century. A procedural guideline began to rule who was involved in the glassmaking.

This area is full of glass retailers who continue this old tradition. Whoever comes to Venice, should not miss it.
I came back to Fondamenta nova and walk through between he narrow streets and the canals to reach the Rialto bridge and take a look around his market.

I would conclude the post with a photo of a church close to the bridge named San Giacomo di Rialto (Saint James of Rialto) I just pass on the way head to the main railstation I found attractive its façade and its clock. It looks a particular and unique Gothic style

Time to come back to the mainland and leave this town buoyed up on the water.

Anyway, I suggest you to pay for a Venice card if you want to have admissions with a discount.

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Today I take you to the temple of Canova in Possagno in the province of Treviso

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 13:59:00 -0500

In this article I want to take you to discover this particular place that I think many of you already know because it is famous all over the world and is located at the foot of Mount Grappa in the province of Treviso in the town of Possagno.

By now we can say that I am a bit at home in this place because when I have the opportunity I often come there anyway this place is very easy to find also because you can see it practically from a distance and then the country is not that big.

This temple is dedicated to Antonio Canova who was born in Possagno and when we arrive in front of this monument for a moment we seem to be in Greece but in reality we are in this beautiful town on the slopes of Monte Grappa.

The visit inside this sacred place is free except when there are religious services, also because this place technically had to replace the old parish church of the town, but then Canova designed it with the intention that it should have housed his tomb, in reality Antonio Canova who died in 1822, never saw the temple completed, but the work was completed by his half-brother.

every time I visit it I am impressed by these large columns and also by its beautiful interior.

Of course it is clear that Canova was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome for the design, while the facade with these columns was most likely inspired by the Parthenon in Athens.

I want to reveal a curiosity of this place, maybe if one day you manage to visit us, before entering if you have a good eye you will find some fossils set among the stones of the stairways and there is a legend that says that if you find at least one you will be very lucky in life.

Not always but sometimes and there is the possibility through the caretaker to be able to climb the Dome of the Canovian temple certainly from there if you can see a beautiful panorama.

I will attach you to the official website below so that you can plan your visit and I also recommend that you take a trip to the famous Gipsoteca and where the plaster casts that Antonio Canova needed to prepare his sculptures are still kept.

http://www.tempiocanoviano.it/

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10 tips for a holiday in Venice, Italy

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:25:00 -0500

From narrow streets to gondolas and colorful houses... Venice is a city you must see. One of the most beautiful and enigmatic cities in the world, Venice, is surely one of the places where you have to go even once in your life.

Known as the city of lovers, artists and poets, Venice is a magical city. One of the most important tourist destinations in the world, Venice is renowned for the architectural buildings that will impress you. It is considered to be one of the most romantic cities, thanks to the canals that you go on with gondolas.

Venice is made up of 118 islands and is divided into six parts, called sestiere: Dorsoduro, Santa Croce, San Polo, San Marco, Cannaregio and Castello. It has over 120 churches, 175 canals, 38 km long and 398 bridges.

This unique city has many tourist attractions, including the Basilica of San Marco, the Grand Canal and, of course, San Marco Square.

We arrived in Venice, Santa Lucia Station, with the train that we took from Vicenza.

There was our accommodation. We walked down the narrow streets to San Marco Square. If you do not like crowded places, you can go on sight routes, but you won't see the stores with colorful masks and souvenirs.

San Marco Square is the central square of Venice, the heart of the city, where are the most famous buildings of the city: St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), Doge's Palace and Torre dell'Orologio, a clock tower built between 1496 and 1506. What and how much you want to see is up to you. Venice is willing to show you everything if you are willing to pay.

San Marco Square is a place where you no longer want to leave, an animated place that everyone is heading for.

The largest canal in Venice, called the Grand Canal, has the highest water traffic. Gondola is a slow and expensive means of transport, and there are other options, for example the famous vaporetto.

Grand Canal

The Grand Canal is about 4 kilometers long and variable width - ranging from 30 to 70 meters. The Canal starts from Piazzale Roma (the place where the Mestre bus leaves you) and ends at San Marco.

Rialto Bridge

Going by vaporetto, at some point you will see the most famous bridge in Venice - Rialto, one of the 4 bridges that cross the Canal Grande.

Venetians are culinary masters, and your walk through the city will also be a real gastronomic experience.

In the morning, take a long breakfast at an Italian café with espresso and a chocolate croissant.

Here are 10 tips for a holiday in Venice

You should avoid the July-August holidays for a trip to Venice, but also for February, when the famous local carnival takes place. They are the most crowded and expensive periods of the year. In addition, tourists complain about the unbearable odor of water during the summer. The months of May to June and September to October are reasonable both in terms of prices and the low number of tourists or temperatures.

Fix some points/places you want to reach and do not have a purpose to check them in a certain order! Sooner or later, you'll still get to them. Maybe by chance. At some point you will get bored to look at the map.

If you want to go with the gondola, try to lower the cost (80 euros) by going to a group. It will be less romantic, but you will be able to afford it. Sometimes you can negotiate with the gondolier.

Venice offers accommodation in general at high prices. You can find accommodation in Maestre, which is very close to Venice Santa Lucia Train Station. If you stay in Venice, you will see that it is very crowded and noisy. The city is full of tourists. Find a hotel that is not located on the main tourist pedestrian routes.

If you choose the option of accommodation at the periphery, you have nothing to worry about not staying permanently in the heart of Venice, because the transport is very well established.

Visit the stores and you will find everything from watches to all sorts of ornaments. Not all the items inscribed with "Murano Glass" are original.

Avoid eating in San Marco Square because it is very expensive, it is best to go to the restaurants on the sidewalks. A lot of terraces waits for their customers. A coffee costs 6-7 euros in the San Marco Square, and you can find it at half price if you go 2-3 streets further.
It is good to be in shape when you visit Venice because you will have a long walk.
Avoid taxis on water and take with vaporetto. A ticket costs 7.5 euros. Parking rates, whether it's in the port or at the railway station near Piazzale Roma, are quite expensive, reaching tens of euros for a single day.

You can not leave Venice without going to Boutique del Gelato, on San Lio Street. Although it is crowded, you will eat the best ice cream in your life.
Venice is a quiet city, but of course, there are also bars open until late, if you want to have fun.
You can also visit the islands around Venice: Murano, Burano and Torcello.

Conclusions

One of the most stylish cities in the world, Venice deserves to be visited every season.
You will be impressed by the majesty of the palaces, the romanticism of the bridges and the elegance of the canals, as well as the hotels with a seductive atmosphere. Definitely, in Venice there are two of the most stylish hotels in the world: Danieli and Cipriani, where Hollywood celebrities lived like Angelina Jolie, Johnny Deep or Julia Roberts.

If you've been to Venice lately and you've found some great places, reasonable prices, and good tips to tell others, I'm waiting for comments with a lot of thanks!

I've already missed Venice. In the following posts I will show you Verona, Padova and Vicenza.

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Savignano sul Panaro, the land of my uncles

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:57:00 -0500

Hello friends

Today I want to take you to the discovery of a place to which I am very attached, because I often go there to visit my aunt and uncle who live in this beautiful village in Emilia Romagna, which is called Savignano sul Panaro and is located in the province of Modena, to give you some idea of how far it is from Modena, let's say we are about 20 km from this important city in Emilia Romagna.

What I like most about Savignano sul Panaro, is the fact that it is surrounded by beautiful hills, the altitude of these hills is about 400 metres, in fact we can't call them mountains, but it is very nice because in these places there are lots of paths certainly for trekking enthusiasts, but also I have always met lots of people who also go horseback riding, because the beauty of these paths is that they go through beautiful woods.

I honestly never understood what it was for. It seems to me that it was a kind of balanceThis is my uncles house

These photos are from a few weeks ago, and as you can see the hills are practically dry, because in Italy we are going through a bad period of drought, which has been going on for quite some time, in fact I am very worried and I think that this summer, unfortunately, if the rains don't come, they will have to ration the water almost certainly.

Honestly, I don't know much about this village, I've always been around it since I was very young because of course I used to come here with my parents, to visit my aunt and uncle, and as I told you, I've always been fascinated more by the nature surrounding this beautiful village, it's not very populated, in fact the inhabitants are not even ten thousand, and it's dominated by the castle that still today offers these unique and very suggestive views, as I told you, over the hills but also over the Modenese plain.

I have always been fascinated by this beautiful Pozzo since I was a child

There are lots of wine cellars nearby because the farmland near the hamlet is used for growing vines, and so the primary production is definitely the local wine but also the famous balsamic vinegar which, as you well know, derives from wine. In fact, I have to say that in terms of cuisine, I have always eaten well in these places, the typical cured meats and cheeses, and I like coming back here also because my uncles often prepare more traditional Emilian dishes, which are tortellini.

Those times I've been here, I've always seen so many young people and couples living here, and I've always asked my uncles and aunts that it must be quite complicated to live in these villages far away from the big cities, but they really told me that lately a lot of young people, especially young families, have decided to come and live here in Savignano sul Panaro, precisely because of the tranquillity was in relaxation that there is in this place, and this really struck me, as I am used to living in Milan, where I always need stimulation, and maybe after a while in this village I would get bored.

from these images you can understand how dry the ground is

Thank you for reading I hope you enjoyed the photos, I tried to do the best I could, but unfortunately I am not a professional photographer and it shows, see you next time and have a nice day everyone.

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Venice #1: Palazzo Fortuny - A journey through time ... A must visit for art lovers

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:23:00 -0500

A journey through time

It was when I got separated from my Venice tour, so I walked around the streets thinking If I should do a gondola ride, since it was a bit expensive for a single person. And I stumbled upon this place – Palazzo Fortuny.

Palazzo Fortuny - Once owned by the Pesaro family, this Gothic building in Campo San Beneto, near the church of the same name, was transformed by Mariano Fortuny into his own photography, stage-design, textile-design and painting atelier. Source

Paradise for art lovers

The building from the outside looked Gothic -style, not sure what was to expect, I went inside with not much hope. As soon as I entered, it felt like a completely different world, it was an artist’s paradise with a rich and varied art collection from statues, to textiles, architecture, paintings, and much more.

The place is a perfect intersection of art, design, and architecture.. But what excited me most was the paintings and the Delphos gowns. I have admired them since the time I read about the finely pleated Delphos gown from the ancient Greek sculptures and I can see it close, it was beyond anything for me!

DELPHOS GOWNS

Delphos pleated dress – Mariano Fortuny

Printed silk tunic over a Delphos dress by Mariano Fortuny - Palazzo Fortuny

The dress was inspired by the Hellenistic classical sculpture of the Charioteer of Delphi, discovered in 1896.

You enter a dark room, and from the first glance, the paintings capture your eyes and thoughts. It is a mysterious place, and so much to see, the walls are adorned with rich tapestry, and paintings, the space with a collection of paintings and sculpture, furnishing lamps, theatre models, the famous Delphos and theatre costumes. Every single artwork is a masterpiece in itself which cannot be missed. you can't help but marvel at these incredible work of arts.

The Bottega Cadorin - A Dynasty of Venetian Artists, Sculptor - Vincenzo Cadorin

I would recommend anyone going to Venice to include this if you are even remotely interested in the arts.

The collections within the museum comprise an extensive number of pieces and materials which reflect the various fields investigated in the artist’s work. These are organized under certain specific headings: painting, light, photography, and textiles.

• Painting: there are around 150 paintings by Mariano Fortuny, which illustrate the various phases of his career as an artist, where the Wagnerian period (until 1899) holds a central place.

• Light: the main focus of Fortuny’s work was light design, perfectly identified with the creation of the celebrated theatre dome.

• Photography: photographs exhibited were taken either from the collection left by Mariano Fortuny or from the Musei Civici di Venezia's collection, comprising works from 1850 to the Second World War, in a rich variety of styles, techniques, and historic images.

• Fabrics: the collection of clothes, fabrics, prints, materials and ornamental clothes make up a rich sample of Fortuny’s work in the field of fabrics and fashion design, in which the artist took ornamental motifs and reinterpreted them in a modern decorative style. Source

PAINTINGS

‘Portrait of a muse’ painting by Mariano Fortuny, 1935

Portrait of Henriette Fortuny in Pompeian costume with a Delphos dress and Knossos scarf designed by Mariano Fortuny

Still Life. The plasters in the atelier (1940) - by Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo

SCULPTURES

Wood carved sculpture Fortuny Palazzo

Guido Cadorin – nude female sculpture relief

ARCHITECTURE

TEXTILES

THE MUSEUM

I hope you enjoyed reading my post and I am grateful for every Upvote, Resteem, and Comment. Until next time!

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When in Rome: Rugby & Ruins

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:56:00 -0500

A few years back whilst living in Madrid I was fortunate enough to have a few jaunts to some other great European cities. I’ve discussed Berlin and Lisbon a little, but this encounter sees me take in the enchanted capital of Italy - Rome!

The idea was to go there for the rugby. The Six Nations Championship was on and Italy were playing at home to Ireland. That was one premise for the trip but also just to go there in general and sample its emphatic delights.

A friend of mine at the time was planning to go with a few rugby mates, as it turned out it was him, his girlfriend and a friend of hers. They were just staying the weekend whereas I was there for 5 days, so a real chance to take it all in.

To start we were a little unfortunate with the weather but that brightened up for the last couple of days. Great for me, as I saw the place in its full glory, not so much for my friends as they saw it all whilst it was a bit dour.

Still a fantastic place either way, and I was super impressed. It wasn’t so much all the obvious stuff like the Colosseum and the like (although great) but more the interesting architecture and structures you see round random corners that may not be in a guide book.

The place is like walking through a museum and has such a cool vibe. Yes, there’s a little chaos. You’d have to question whether you could live there. The public transport for one was fairly poor for a capital city (especially coming from Madrid where it’s pretty good) and it has other drawbacks.

But that is part of the charm. You have to take the rough with the smooth, and it really shines the light of what the place is.

I was staying around Trastevere which was a nice area… but quite a distance from where my companions were staying. This made things a little awkward for meeting up, but I definitely got my steps in!

So on the day of the rugby, it was off to the Stadio Olimpico… via a trip to another famous landmark and institution, the Vatican! There were queues and tourists galore but we eventually got in and in amongst it. An essential stop off on a trip to the Italian capital. Then it was a case of getting from there to the Olympic Stadium for the rugby.

We got chatting to an Irish/Italian girl after we had stopped off somewhere on the way. We were at the bus stop but the best way of getting there and in good time was via taxi, so we all jumped in together. On arrival she dashed off to meet her mates and mentioned an Irish bar she was going to later. Ok, noted.

There was a lively atmosphere at the stadium and Ireland beat Italy fairly comfortably as expected but a great vibe.

What next? After some fun with trams and the like, my companions jumped on one and I continued walking. They were off the next day so we said our goodbyes and I went on with my adventure. Perhaps to this Irish bar that was mentioned?

As I walked through the city I was amazed at all the sights I saw. I had no idea exactly where I was but there was a real buzzing atmosphere and more great looking architecture and features in multiple squares that I passed.

I did eventually make it to the Irish bar and there was another rugby match on that day so that was being shown. Once that was over, the band started and all hell broke loose. Those Irish know how to party.

Our old friend Athena (I think that was her name, the half-Irish/half-Italian girl) popped up in amongst the melee. We had some exchanges but she was on the go as her friends were going for dinner (so she said?). Off she went, and on I went with the night.

I got involved in the party and took off at a reasonable hour. Got some food from nearby and called it a night. There must have been some pizza in there somewhere… the Italians do a fair job of that! Although like anywhere, it can vary a lot, especially in tourist areas.

As for the rest of the trip, I just took it all in. Sampled some delicious gelato and anything else I could get my hands on. Did much of the tourist stuff, some less obvious and generally enjoyed my time there before returning home.

That is still the only time I’ve been to Italy but I’m hoping to change that soon. Of course there’s far more to Italy than Rome, but I will be back there too… I did throw a penny into the Trevi Fountain after all :)

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Wandering on the streets of Venice #4

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 13:22:00 -0500

I LOVE VENICE ❤️

And I am sure all those who are following me have known by my other blogs, how much I love this place.. even with all the crowd and the expensive hotels this city has not disappointed me. Venice is amazingly unique, every little Calle or square has its own discoveries, architecture or a hidden gem around every corner.

View from my Room

Venice Vaporetto (Water Taxi)

Most of my days were spent just wandering around the streets, eating Pizza, tasting wines, admiring the artworks and wishing if I had a million euros I would buy the glass jewelry- which was quite expensive.

Street Performance

EARLY MORNING BREAKFAST

A quick heavy breakfast of decaf coffee and pancake—if you are a fan of pancake-like me one must check out this place ‘Handay’- it lets you make your own pancake or gelato, you can choose your own toppings. the place has a small sitting area and a very friendly and welcoming staff. Their yogurt and gelatos are fresh and organic, haven't tried so can't comment. But their pancake was good and an overdose of sugar for me. ;)

But I would suggest if in Venice must try the local gelato- as they are superbly amazing. I loved Pistachio ...kind of already missing it!!

SHOPPING IN VENICE

Venice is irregularly planned for the most part, with busy shopping ports between the bridges and the medieval architecture. One can find all kinds of cafes, restaurant, and bar with shops selling the unique artworks of the place. The streets are filled with Murano glass products, Carnival maks, postcards, and other fashionable items.

Shopping streets as per my experience :
Le Mercerie and Salizada San Moisè - for luxury shopping - the streets have many brands like Loius Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Mui Mui etc, and one can find fine italian leather products here.

San Samuele - for craft shops, unique products, and art pieces. This street is a perfect place for art and crafts.

St Mark’s Square is the most famous place for the tourists, it is busier most of the time, except midnight when you could few tourist just sitting under the moonlight. It is the main place for shopping- where you can find all kinds of items- glassware, leather goods, postcards, luxury boutiques, masks and all kinds of souvenirs.

WHAT I LOVED THE MOST

It's amazing to just walk there without any cars, or other vehicles honking... coming from the city I never realized how amazing and satisfying it is to walk without the noise of vehicles.
I spent most of my evenings sitting near the bridge or a canal with a glass of wine watching gondolas just pass by, tourists relaxing, marveling and enjoying their ride. It was a different kind of satisfaction watching people so happy. It made me happy. This was my favorite part of visiting Venice. :)

Walk around the city into the maze of narrow alleys which will lead you to empty quieter lanes away from the crowd where you can gaze at the architecture, interact with Venetians, find small cafes, and try local wines.

GETTING LOST

You might end on a different island but it doesn't matter where you are, eventually you will find your way back. if you get lost, don't worry, you will reach someplace beautiful and you can always ask the humble Venetians for directions or just follow the crowd and you will most likely reach St. Marks Square! There are about 340 bridges (Ponti) in Venice which connects their islands and its interesting to just walk from one to another.

It easier to get lost in the alleys of Venice even with all the signs but I somehow managed to get lost on Vaporetto, while coming back from Burano island. Since I had my day pass, I could hop on as many ferries, visit as many islands I can in the day, I wanted to get down at Murano but unable to explain I reached some other island, till now I don't where I was but somehow I loved the whole journey I walked around for a while, and found a nice cafe and ate the most delicious pizza. I wish I knew what place was that!!

STREET FOOD

Being a vegeterian I didn't had much choice, but I enjoyed eating Pizza, gelato, chips, and frittelle (normally served during Carnival)

I liked the colors and the look of it- but too much sugar for me :P

Frittelle - I loved these-- tasted like doughnuts with a flavour of lemon <3 they are to die for!

AROUND BURANO

I met these two cute birds while wandering around....

Black-backed Gull

Birds eye view

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Google map view of Venice

Even with a google map, I feel I will be lost in this complex and beautiful city. Can you see the parking lot on the left of the map...I didn't know there was one.

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A small fishing village.

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 4 Oct 2026 13:50:00 -0500

Hello friends! It has been several days since I last wrote here because I took a short vacation break. And it is precisely about this wonderful experience that I want to talk to you about today, as I had the privilege of visiting a charming fishing village located in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, near the municipality of Grado. The latter is a renowned seaside resort that I believe many of you, especially those residing in Austria and Germany, are familiar with. The beauty of this place has truly left an indelible mark in my heart, and I want to share with you every detail of this fantastic adventure.

We are talking about the village of Punta Sdobba Natura, a charming place located just a few steps from the coast, which offers guests the opportunity to enjoy both the sea and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. It is situated just a short distance from the banks of the Isonzo River, a river of great importance that flows through Slovenia before flowing into the Adriatic Sea, near the city of Monfalcone.

I discovered this place thanks to a friend of mine who is still a fisherman in these areas and actually lives in this village, which for the most part is in a state of complete abandonment. Many of these fishermen used to live in the famous Casoni, which were wooden huts, and then they built this village with these houses that are made of brick and are even more beautiful and comfortable. So I took a walk through the streets of this village, and it's nice to see that these people are still carrying on this work, which is very demanding but certainly brings them a lot of satisfaction.

Naturally, since I was nearby, I also visited the town of Grado, which is essentially an island connected to the mainland by a raised road, and as I mentioned earlier, it is a popular holiday destination for tourists from all over the world.

I focused particularly on the ancient and charming part of the city of Grado, with its picturesque alleys and historic buildings. The pulsating heart of the city is home to numerous restaurants, cafes, and shops, but what makes this place even more famous is the fact that it is renowned for its thermal waters. These waters boast unique healing properties, offering an unparalleled experience of relaxation and rejuvenation.

I must say it was a wonderful and unforgettable experience to visit this enchanting village that proudly preserves its ancient traditions. These traditions, although no longer economically rewarding, provide authentic emotions and a deep connection with nature, offering satisfactions that go far beyond money.

I want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to read my story, and I genuinely hope that the photos I shared have fascinated you and allowed you to experience my journey in this extraordinary place. I can't wait to share more adventures with you, so see you soon!

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The Basilica of the Holy House

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 14:44:00 -0500

Last year for work I went to Loreto a beautiful town in the province of Ancona, in the Marche region and unfortunately I was able to see them only externally the famous Sanctuary of Loreto.

It is also called the Basilica of the Holy House because it is a particularly important place for Catholics because according to tradition the holy house of Nazareth is kept inside this church where Jesus lived and his mother Mary was born.

Practically as I understand it is a very important place as a pilgrimage destination In fact here it has been visited by almost all the popes and has been visited by about 200 saints and blessed but in any case it is a beautiful place to visit even for those who are not super believers like me because in any case they are constructions of these beautiful churches that it is right to keep over time.

So if you have the opportunity to visit the Marche region I recommend you take a trip here and maybe unlike me to be able to visit the interior of the Basilica.

There are documents that also various archaeological excavations have confirmed that the walls that are inside the Holy House are those of the cave of Nazareth because they were then transported on a ship, which is why then in 1400 to protect these humble walls of stone this magnificent sanctuary was built and it was one of the most valuable works from my point of view of Bramante one of the most famous sculptors and architects of all Renaissance art.

the fountain you see in the photo built much later than the sanctuary in 1600 you have to think that Loreto until 1400 was a small country town and then thanks to this sanctuary of the Holy House it developed in an impressive way being half of pilgrimages therefore from my point of view it is certainly worth a visit because it is one of the most important pilgrimage points in Europe.

I hope as usual that this article has been useful for you to plan a future visit to Italy and to not miss this beautiful place absolutely.

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Italy again

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:19:00 -0500

Autumn dreams

Autumn is the best time to travel. Firstly, not hot. Cool weather allows you to walk for a long time and not experience any problems with the hot summer sun. In autumn there are few tourists. Or rather, there are usually fewer tourists, since during this period ordinary people end their summer vacations and are busy with work.
If the number of tourists is less, then the prices are also lower. This is a plus.

All these thoughts turned me towards Italy. This gorgeous country is very beautiful. I remembered the autumn in Italy in 2017. I was then in the small town of Pordenone near Venice.

Of course, I could not help but visit Venice. Venice is a fantastic place. Canals, facades of palaces, the smell of the sea and history. All this makes visiting Venice as if immersed in a time machine in ancient times.
Of course, to know more about this, you should open books, read, work hard to study history. It's hard, it's worth it.

Today I just want to remember Venice and show some of my photos of their city.
I want to say that thoughts about Venice and Italy were inspired by the fact that I had the opportunity to visit this country again. I found cheap tickets from Moscow to Bari. This is the south of the Italian boot and I have not been there before. I had a burning desire to visit this place.
I don’t have free money to arrange this trip, but it seems that I will find reserves to ride in this amazing place.

I have already looked at the maps of the places that are next to Bari, and I have more and more interest in looking at southern Italy.
In a word, I really hope that my trip will be able to take place. And what photographs can I bring from those places.
I have one Italian friend. His name is Giovanni. He lives in my city. He came here to work. He is from Bari. I should find him and discuss how best to spend several days in his native places.
All this anticipation of the trip very much excites my blood. The more I look at the photos, the more I think about it, the more I want to go.

I hope you enjoy my photos from Venice. By the way, from this series I myself really like photographs of Venice at night. I took these photos from the side of the boat, which replaces public transport in Venice.
I remember how I was delighted with this magical sunset, glare on the water, blue night.
I really want to experience these feelings again.

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New Year's Eve in Italy - cz 2 - San Marino

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 14:44:00 -0500

The next day of our small expedition, we decided to visit San Marino.

It is the second enclave besides the Vatican in Italy as well as in Europe. The republic consists of four cities: Fiorentino, Montegiardino, Serravalle and Faetano.
The capital, located in the central part of the country on the western slopes of Monte Titano is San Marino and we focused mainly on exploring this place. On the top of the mountains, which are part of the Apennines, there is a castle that, according to legend, was built by Saint Marinus. As the legend says, he was supposed to hide in it from the then persecutors of Christians.

After reaching the top, at the castle gates is on the observation deck from which there is a breathtaking panorama. With good air transparency, the horizon is wide and extends far to the horizon. On the one hand, we can see a panorama of the Adriatic Sea and nearby Rimini - which will be our next stop;)

on the other hand, we can admire the Apennine peaks, almost up to the vault.

I admit that I am an avid lover of places from which the human eye can glide far ahead without stopping on buildings and such obstacles, several such in my life I have scored the view from the Monte Titano summit has so far impressed me the most.

A picturesque city with a charming and small center, where you can stroll through the narrow streets as befits Italian architecture was inscribed in 2008 on the UNESCO World Heritage List

All photos in this post are my authorship.

Wall sculpture depicting Saint Marinus, the founder of the city.

In the northeastern part, at Piazza Domus Plebis, there is the Basilica of Saint Mary dedicated to the founder of the republic, it is the main church of the city.

San Marino itself has numerous monuments, which include, among others, the fortress of La Rocca o Guaita, which contains the ashes of St. Maryna.
Town Hall - the seat of the government of the republic.
Palazzo del Governo town square under its surface is a complex of tankers from the medieval period collecting rainwater for the needs of the city.

Monument on the square - Statue of Liberty, Palazzo Valloni - painting museum and gallery, wax museum, Philatelic museum, church of Giovanni Michelucci, church of S. Francisco from 1361, fortress "Guaita" from the 11th century. Fortress "Fratta" from the 13th century Montale fortress from the 13th century

Personally, I really liked this city, the climate there and the awareness of a separate state in the state. I would love to go there again, for a longer time, preferably on New Year's Eve, and watch the Monte Titano fireworks show for miles along and across :)

Thank you for your time to read and warm greetings.

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Again in Venice. Repaired my bike. Day 24 of cycling Ukraine-Portugal

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:17:00 -0500

Second day I am hanging around Venice :)

How it happened?

If you remember from my previous post, the front wheel of my bike was somehow broken - looked like "8". So, had to fix it, but I have no skills in bicycle repairing...

In the morning, Adriano (my host from Warmshowers) helped me by taking my bike on a car to a bicycle mechanic in a nearby town. The shop was full of people, people are friendly, understand how to deal with bikes clearly better than me (I felt like a complete idiot for all the technical issues in these 2 days).

Me and bicyclerepairman).

The wheel was fixed. But the "Eight" on my wheel is not just so formed - on the double rim it rarely happens. The front wheel hub, a tricky piece with a dynamo machine inside, loosened up and would generally be good to replace. Tightened it up, they say - all they could do, they doesn't have the spare parts.. And also, the bottom bracket was broken. I left Uzhgorod - it was still approx. Somewhere along the way, it died. Changed it now. Another cable was changed. And in general, they say, it would be nice to change the whole transmission, but it is not cheap ... Well, I'll do it after returning back home.

Me and Adriano.

The bike when I bought it was second-hand, well, I had driven +8,000 km. Nothing ever eternal of such pieces :). For all, details and work, italian bike mechanics charged me 40 euros. Not so bad.

After that I went to Venice again.

Well, in clear weather it was much more pleasant than it was yesterday. Again left my bike on the parking near Piazzale Roma. I walked and walked in this majestic city until the evening...

I returned back when it was getting dark. Adriano and his son went to the mountains, they left the key.

Those guys charge rich tourists 80 euro for the tour...

Some time ago cruise ship broke the pier in Venice. It gave the start for an anti-touristic campain)

This selfie looks postmodern - soviet symbol on red-and-black (used by ukrainian nationalists). Well, its the painting of soviet socialist realism master Gely Korzhev on Venetian biennale - entrance is free.

The only thing you can get in Venice for free - drinking water.

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THE BRENNERPASS ROUTE TO ITALY

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 18:17:00 -0500

We left Austria for a trip through the Alps. Its about 400 kilometers to the destination we are going in Italy. Driving on Saturday is never a great option, but we had no choice we had to meet our appointment. So we left after breakfast and made us ready for a 4 hour drive. Little that we know that also the Belgian people and the Germans had a summer holiday starting today. So what should have been 4 hours was 7,5 hours!! But with great scenery and a few stops due to traffic a nessecity with kids and toilets. And no I did not do #toiletthursday stops for blogs it was for the kids I promise!

Source: google maps where I drew the road trip me made

We took the route along the Brennerpass. The mountain pass autostrada that is famous for travelling from Austria to Italy. Its 1375 meter high and eventhough you feel your ears its not that bad. We chose this route because we didn’t want to do the tunnel. The tunnel we normally take is along the Gotthardpass in Switserland. Than you enter Italy through the other side. Via Milan instead of Verona like we entered lake Garda now. The sights at the lake are all gorgeous and we recommend all that travel here to do a trip by car around the lake and see all the great places it has to offer and the friendliest people.

The sights and the nature are just gorgeous

The traffic as I sad was very bad. We prepared ourselves and had a good breakfast and brought some water, biscuits and candy for the trip. We needed it because the road was one long traffic jam. Again we could have known. But never stress you are with your loved ones and as long as the kids can pee once in a while ( read 3 times ) you have nothing to worry about and you will like me be grateful that you can travel and be visiting family and lovedones.

In Italy the Brenner passage is called passo del Brennero

What I learned at the stop we made is that in the European Union there is a bill pending that maybe makes it possible to travel through this part of the alps by train. I remember when I was young there was a car train and that took you to switserland, I have to look up it that is still an option.

After the brenner passage we came to the border of Italy. Finally hahahah! There you have toll roads. Roads where you pay a few euros to pass and because that is always a thing of time aswell when there is holiday traffic we came prepared. We purchased a device in the Netherlands that had to be placed behind on the front window and besides the rear mirror, to not have to pay cash at the toll roads. That was great because we didnt have to go inline and that made us drive through in just minutes instead of half an hour minimum.

Than we saw the lake, lovely lake Garda

Lake Garda coming from the riva del Garda sideall information about this route and the brenner can be found https://nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brennerpas / photo is mine taken from my backseat during the drive

We are here now and will stay for a while enjoying family and friends, the sun, wine and great food. Reminiscing about a great drive here with green pastures while we all got to relax.

Untill we read again,

fuente

Discover Venice

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:10:00 -0500

Let's discover one of the most fascinating cities in the world. Venice was born as a set of small islands connected by them by hundreds of bridges, this photo was taken from the 'Ponte dell'Accademia' and looks towards Punta della Dogana, the place where goods arriving from all over the world were stored .

In the XVIII century Venice was among the most refined cities in Europe, with a strong influence on the art, architecture and literature of the time. At the height of its power, in the thirteenth century, Venice dominated most of the Adriatic coast, regions such as Dalmatia, Istria, many of the Aegean islands, Crete, Cyprus, Corfu, and was the most important military power and among the main merchant forces in the Middle East. There are countless noteworthy churches that can be found in the lagoon city, both for their architectural qualities and for the artistic treasures contained therein [32]. Among the most important are the octagonal Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, with its imposing dome that stands out from the incile of the Grand Canal and the famous and majestic Basilica of San Marco, the city's cathedral and seat of the Patriarch and the Patriarchate of Venice, located in the square of the same name, next to the Doge's Palace. Among other important religious buildings, we have: the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, the Church of San Francesco della Vigna, the Church of San Zaccaria, the Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, the Church del Redentore, the latter built on the island of Giudecca on a project by Andrea Palladio, and the Basilica of San Pietro di Castello which includes two chapels by Veronese. Apart from schools and institutional buildings such as Palazzo Ducale, almost all the buildings are identified with the name of the family that founded them or that left their mark on them. Among the most famous Palazzo Fortuny, in Gothic style donated to the city of Venice by the widow of the Spanish artist Mariano Fortuny, Palazzo Grassi, by Giorgio Massari, Palazzo Mocenigo with a Renaissance-style facade, Palazzo Grimani [33], owned by the state and seat of the Court of Appeal and Palazzo Loredan in Gothic style. Often two or more families are mentioned in the name such as Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti, or Palazzo Gritti-Badoer, or the branch of the family is specified (eg Palazzo Morosini del Pestrin).

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Which animal species are most threatened with extinction in Italy?

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 6 Sep 2026 11:43:00 -0500

Italy’s most threatened animal species include the Marsican brown bear, European eel, Adriatic sturgeon, and Mediterranean monk seal — all facing critical risk due to habitat loss, pollution, and human activity.

Key Species at Risk in Italy

Here are some of the most endangered animals identified by the IUCN Red List for Italian vertebrates and recent conservation reports:

Species
Status (IUCN)
Habitat
Main Threats

Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus)
Critically Endangered
Central Apennines
Habitat fragmentation, poaching, low population (~50 individuals)

European eel (Anguilla anguilla)
Critically Endangered
Rivers, lakes, Mediterranean
Overfishing, pollution, dams blocking migration

Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii)
Critically Endangered
Po River basin
Overfishing, habitat degradation, water pollution

Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus)
Endangered
Mediterranean coasts
Tourism disturbance, fishing nets, habitat loss

Italian cave salamander (Speleomantes italicus)
Endangered
Apennine caves
Habitat destruction, climate change

Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
Endangered
Mediterranean Sea
Bycatch, pollution, decline in prey fish

Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Near Threatened
Sardinia, Abruzzo
Poisoning, habitat loss

Zelkova sicula (tree, but important)
Critically Endangered
Sicily
Extremely restricted range, climate change

Sources: IUCN Italian Red List, Managaia report on endangered Italian speciesmanagaia.eco, Flora Fauna Fun endangered species list.

Why These Species Are Disappearing

Habitat loss & fragmentation: Urbanization, roads, and agriculture reduce viable living space.
Pollution & climate change: Rivers and seas are heavily impacted by industrial waste and warming waters.
Overexploitation: Fishing and hunting pressure remain high for species like sturgeon and eel.
Small populations: Some species, like the Marsican bear, have dangerously low numbers, making them vulnerable to disease or accidents.

⚠️ Risks & Conservation Challenges

Genetic bottlenecks: Tiny populations risk inbreeding and reduced resilience.
Human conflict: Bears and wolves often clash with farmers, leading to illegal killings.
Tourism pressure: Monk seals and dolphins are disturbed by boats and coastal development.
Weak enforcement: Protective laws exist but are inconsistently applied.

Conservation Efforts

Protected areas: National parks (Abruzzo, Gran Paradiso) safeguard habitats.
Reintroduction programs: Vultures and sturgeons are being bred and released.
EU directives: Italy follows Natura 2000 and Habitats Directive for species protection.
Awareness campaigns: NGOs highlight biodiversity loss to push for stronger policies.

Italy’s biodiversity is rich but fragile. Protecting these species means balancing human development with ecological preservation. I

Share My World: Venice, Italy: Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Thu, 3 Sep 2026 13:06:00 -0500

We started the trip in Venice, Italy! See my recent post Share My World: Venice: Part 1 for the day we spent together. This is a special extended post on Piazza San Marco or St. Mark's Square.

Piazza San Marco

When standing in the square you are surrounded on all sides by very distinct and interesting architecture. On the east end is Basilica di San Marco or St. Mark's Basilica, and the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace). To the north and south are the buildings of the Procuratie, the former offices of the Procurators, the chief officals of the Republic 1. In the square is also the Torre dell'Orologio or clock tower and the campanile. All of which you can see in the picture below.

Note: You can click on all photos to see them larger.

Video with my DSLR.

Chillin' in the piazza

Photo credit: @jarvie

Basilica di San Marco or St. Mark's Basilica

In my desire to learn more about the places I was going to visit. I listened to Dan Brown's mystery thriller novel Inferno. It was so fun to see the basilica in person, especially the horses!

The Horses of St. Mark are a set of four bronze horse statues on a balcony above St. Mark’s Basilica. As Langdon notes, the horses were brought to Venice after being pillaged from Constantinople in 1204. However, the originals have been moved for preservation, while the ones described in the book that can be seen in the square are replicas. 2

The decorative collars were added to the horses’ necks in 1204 by the Venetians to conceal where the heads had been severed to facilitated their transportation by ship from Constantinople to Venice. 3

St. Mark's Campanile

The campanile or bell tower is 323 feet (98.6 meters) tall. I has a long and tragic history. 4

The construction was started in 1173
It was severely damaged in 1388
Set on fire and destroyed in 1417
Seriously damaged by fire in 1489
Damaged by an earthquake in 1511
It was damaged in both 1548 and 1556
Lighting damaged it in 1658
A fire from lighting in 1745
Damaged again by lightning in 1761 and 1762
It collapsed in 1902
It was rebuilt in 1912

Another cool fact about the bell tower

Each of the five bells of the campanile had a special purpose. The Renghiera (or the Maleficio) announced executions; the Mezza Terza proclaimed a session of the Senate; the Nona sounded midday; the Trottiera called the members of the Maggior Consiglio to council meetings and the Marangona, the biggest, rang to mark the beginning and ending of working day. They are tuned in the scale of A. 4

Torre dell'Orologio or Clock Tower

In 1493, the Venetian Republic commissioned Giovan Paolo Rainieri the clock The clock was inaugurated on February 1, 1497.
In 1752 Bartolomeo Ferracina started work on replacing the clock, having successfully tendered for the job in public competition.
In 1857 Luigi de Lucia started another restoration, and added a digital display.
In 1996, another restoration was initiated, to be funded by watchmakers Piaget. 5

I especially like the winged lion that you can see on the clock tower and other places around Venice. It is the symbol of St. Mark.

Venice is a great city. I enjoyed spending an afternoon there with my friends wandering around the beautiful and unique city.

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I'm going to Padua to take my niece to an exam

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 15:25:00 -0500

Hi everyone

In today's post I want to tell you a little about what I did yesterday, because I also had the opportunity to visit a beautiful city called Padua and which is practically in the Veneto region, I went by train with my niece whom I accompanied because she had to take an important exam for the university, and she has practically been enrolled at the University of Padua for some years.

I confess that I have been to Padua several times, because A few years ago I practically had a half-girlfriend, with whom I frequented, and therefore every now and then I also like to go back to maybe meet some old friends, certainly the part I like more than Padua is Prato della Valle which you can practically see in the photo and it is where the market practically takes place, in fact while I was waiting for my niece to conclude this exam I took a tour inside this market.

Think of yourself that besides being a city rich in history and culture Padua is famous all over the world for its ancient university which was founded in 1222 and is today one of the most prestigious not only in Italy but also in Europe. that's why in fact my niece who is practically studying medicine chose to come to Padua from Milan to study.

Then Padua has a great religious importance having been the home of Sant'Antonio one of the saints certainly most revered by the church and famous throughout the world especially in South America, in fact here is the famous Basilica of Sant'Antonio which contains the relics of the Santo and it is certainly one of the main tourist attractions of the city that you absolutely must not miss if you come to Padua.

When my niece finished taking the exam we walked around the streets of Padua, and we had an aperitif at the famous Pedrotti café but in any case there are many museums and places to visit in Padua because it is famous for its great artistic heritage and architectural and is also famous for the botanical gardens which are a Unesco world heritage site. a Padua by night that I had only seen on very few occasions, and I must say that it is a city full of life because there were a lot of people even in the evening.

I hope you enjoyed this post of mine and I hope you also enjoyed the photos I took yesterday, I didn't take many but I hope you enjoyed the few I took, see you soon See you next time

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Magnificient BIKE UNFRIENDLY Venice - day 23 of cycling Ukraine-Portugal

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:04:00 -0500

In the morning I went to Venice! Magnificient Venice, the city I heared a lot information about, but never had been here before. Only 27 km left.

The road passed few villages, towns and industrial suburb Mestre.

The weather had turned bad, but the rain started only when I reached Roman Square (Piazzale Roma). It is a Venice train station, and the last place in this city, accessible by bicycle.

Suprisingly, Venice is bike-unfriendly - cycling is prohibited. Well, it's easy to understand why - there is not enough space even for pedestrians in city center. But there are many water means of transport - vaporetto trams, private boats and gondolas for tourists.

There is bike parking near the train station, not guarded, though with a CCTV camera on the ceiling. Clasped my bike with two ropes and went for a walk.

It started to rain. I was trying to wait, hiding in the arch, until it stops, but then realized its impossible - all day long this shitty weather.

Wearing poncho raincoat, explored a lot of places. Basilika San Marco, of course. The entrance is admission free! (except the second floor). Then I walked to the Naval Academy, after that I got lost in streets and buildings names - so a lot of visual information).

Shitty weather, its raining all day long.

From this moment, no pictures - its impossible to use your phone camera under the rain.

Cycling back to Adriano's house (my Warmshowers host) was slow because of headwind. And my front wheel surprisingly deformated like "8". Need to repair it now (of course, i cannot do it by myself).

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An afternoon stroll in Trieste

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 15:22:00 -0500

`An afternoon stroll in Trieste`

Today has been a day of "improvisation", I had planned to go to Verona but I overslept and when we went to the train station it was too late to do the tour in one day, so we had to improvise and look for another destination.

After looking at several options we chose to go to Trieste, a beautiful city, with great buildings and with a lot of freshness.

I loved the architecture of this place, all the buildings are imposing and in perfect condition. The city is very welcoming and with different attractions.

You can tell that it is a city with history as soon as you walk through its cobblestone streets, and at the same time it has opened up to modernization, it is a mixture of both.

We were in the square "La Piazza dell'Unità" or Piazza dell'Unità d'Italia, surrounded by imposing buildings like the ones you see in the pictures, among which are the Government Palace and the City Hall Palace.

In front of the square is the promenade, a long walkway around the sea, with a harbor in the background with large boats.

The gastronomy is varied and there are cafes for all tastes. I liked to see many stores with more than 60 years old.

As a travel experience I can tell you that we have suffered a little with the language issue, it has not been easy to get people who speak Spanish, even in the hotels. When we got on the bus to the train station we could barely understand that we had to buy the bus ticket through a mobile application.

Everything is very orderly here, the public transportation is impeccable in terms of comfort and punctuality. Very organized.

It's a destination that I would like to repeat to see with more time many other attractions that I could not appreciate because of the time factor.

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Photo Series and Story: Why You Creepin'? - Peoplephotography by worldcapture Week #7

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:03:00 -0500

I wonder where this will take me:

That's generally the first thought I have before heading down some unknown road, alley, street or into a forest with no path (I've done this and I don't recommend it). This time was no different. You want to go to Venice? Great! My suggestion? Just start walking. Seriously, it's like a massive corn maze except there's no corn and no entrance and no exit. So I guess on second thought it's nothing like a corn maze. It's definitely like a maze though! You can walk and walk and walk for hours and sometimes you end up where you started. Sometimes you end up in a neighborhood with a bunch of locals that speak no English. Sometimes you reach a dead end and by dead end I mean a canal with no street access so you're only choice is to dive in or turn around. Since diving in is not an option (it's not legal to swim in the canals) your only other choice is to turn around. Or you can sit there, like I did, for as long as you like.

So I sat down. I had the wide lens on and I wanted to grab that perfect shot of the gondolier rowing by. I think in my head I wanted the entire gondola but I quickly realized that wasn't possible from where I was sitting. Those things are pretty long and the opening I was sitting in was pretty narrow. Still, I wanted something that looked Venetian! I want that iconic Italian man, oar in hand, singing a song and pushing his skinny boat through the canals of Venice as the sun beautifully lays down a golden glow. What a mouthful. So I sat. I sat and I waited patiently.

Here's something I'll let you know about me. I don't care how long it takes me to get the perfect photo, I'll sit there and wait for it. Most of the time it's because I want the people to leave. That might be slightly ironic considering the people photography contest I've entered by making this post but it's the truth. Sometimes it's because I want humans to show up and populate my time-lapse though. For instance, on this same trip, I sat at the bottom of the Spanish Steps in Rome for two or three hours, replacing batteries and memory cards, because I started it too early. One thousand photos of the Spanish Steps is pretty boring when there's no one on them. The point is I don't mind waiting. I actually like it. Taking photos is what I'm there to do so time never enters into the equation.

In this particular case I just sat at the end of the alleyway on the edge of the water. It was a staircase that led to the canal and then dropped off into the blue. The main mode of transportation here is boat so you'll find these spots everywhere. Places you can tie off the gondola to and step onto land. I wasn't looking for this spot, I never am, I just accidentally wandered over to it and decided to stay. I took a few photos of the ristorante awning and the flag waving above it. I poked my head around the edge of the building to see if anyone was coming and boom! There he was.

Alright, as usual I'm going to be radically honest with you. It didn't happen that easy. He wasn't there. Actually when I first looked there probably wasn't anyone there. After waiting a while someone finally did come by and I took my shot. It sucked (or I thought it sucked). Then another dude came by, nothing. The wrong angle, the wrong look, the wrong whatever. So in all reality I sat there and let a couple roll by before I really figured out what I was doing. That's just what photographers do. No one gets the perfect shot the first time. The story just sounds better when I blow it full of hot air and make it sound like I've got some secret skill that no one else can obtain. Garbage. I'm pushing a button on a device that someone else made. I change some numbers on the digital interface, turn a couple dials, aim and point. A few hundred clicks later one of them might turn out looking good. Sorry to burst the pretty bubble. That's just how it works. At least for digital photographers. You old school film guys got me beat.

The first guy floated by and I was too close. The second guy comes into frame and I hadn't learned my lesson. The third one showed up and I was ready to go. I sat up on the top step, framed my shot and started firing. I love this photo (the first one). He's doing his job but he's looking right at me. He's telling these two tourists about something special but has the awareness to notice me right behind him. For me the third time really was the charm and not just for the photo. It took three times for me to realize I'm no different than any tourist there. I just feel like this guy saw me and thought, "Every corner I got a camera in my face."

I hope that's not what he was thinking. I like this picture more than any thing I could have imagined I'd get while I was sitting there (again, the first one). There's a contrast here that I love. On the one hand you have two people sitting in the gondola completely engaged in what he's telling them. I don't think they ever saw me. On the other hand he's looking right at me with a kind of serious undertone making sure I know who's boss. My initial reaction is that he's irritated with me. That's not what I wanted but it may have been the result. I don't know for sure, he turned around right after spotting me and continued rowing his boat.

In reviewing this photo and writing up this article, it definitely allows me the opportunity to think about how I engage with people. In the past I have often stood around with my camera and not said a word. Not always but frequent enough to comment on it. Like in an awkward way where people wonder what you're doing. It's something I'm actively working on improving. I think most people, if you stop to talk to them, wouldn't actually mind you taking their photo. In fact I think a lot of people would feel special or honored that you find them interesting enough to point your camera at them. It's just that first step of actually communicating with them that is the most important and it's one I often skip. I truly believe that communication can solve just about anything including my continuing conflict around taking pictures of strangers. Because if he was in fact thinking what I thought he was thinking, the chance to talk to him could have solved it.

I think him and I both would agree on the fact that his country, his culture and his city are stunningly beautiful. At the end of the day that's all I'm trying to capture. I just want to capture that beauty.

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Exploring Lavender Fields: A Culinary and Natural Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 16 Aug 2026 15:35:00 -0500

Hello to all the visitors of this community!

By the way, I want to take advantage of this opportunity and I'm glad that it has been revived anyway, so we have this space where we can share our experiences but also our travels that we do, and I apologize if I am not very present but I am quite busy with the move, so I really have little time to write.

However, today I managed to carve out some time, also to take a break from the sweltering heat hitting Bologna. I wanted to share with you some photos I took a few evenings ago, where I had a somewhat special experience. It was my first time, but I know it's a fairly widespread trend not only in Italy but around the world, which is to have these culinary experiences in nature, among vineyards or, as in this case, in a lavender field.

It wasn't the first time I visited a lavender field, a trend that has become quite popular in recent years. I love the scent of lavender. In fact, usually my shower gel and body cream have that lavender scent, and I usually buy products that are matched with this fragrance.

However, a friend of mine proposed this experience some time ago, which I honestly considered a bit expensive right away since I paid almost €30 to taste products in a location that is basically a lavender field.

In the end, though, I viewed this experience positively because it's a very romantic thing, especially if you catch a beautiful day and can admire a stunning sunset. Most importantly, I could enjoy quality products and taste excellent wines, so I think the price was fair in the end.

Of course, those who cultivate these lavender fields try to create a bit of a business beyond just producing lavender-scented products. Nevertheless, it's very beautiful because for those who adore lavender like me, it's like being in paradise.

I hope to have another similar experience soon, perhaps in a different natural setting, and I hope you can do it too! Anyway, I hope to share my next post in these communities very soon. Kisses to all!!

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VENICE . All By Myself . Part #3

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:01:00 -0500

Venice. Here I belong. Standing by the canal. Admiring. I am speechless.

Walking over the bridge. I hear the gondola songs.

I marvel at your colorful houses and ancient bricks.

I see your beautiful carnival face. I see the face behind.

You are so much more!

I am at Piazza under the starry night. Moon covered by the darkest clouds.

Cold breeze brushing my face. Love is around and hopes you give.

Romanticizing my own.

I will carry you wherever I go! All the time....

A solo trip to Venice, a city of my dreams on my 30th Birthday - yes I went alone to the most romantic city of the world and yes I enjoyed it as much as anyone else could have. Hopped on from one ferry to another, walked around the city eating pizza, and enjoyed the gondola ride with a glass of rose wine. I did it all! And I fell in love with the place.

Every part of Venice has been explored, described, photographed and painted millions of times, and even though having read and seen in pictures, the experience of being there can never be put in words or photographs.

I got lost on the streets and alleys of Venice don't know how many times, but every time made new discoveries without maps and plans.

“This was Venice, the flattering and suspect beauty – this city, half fairy tale and half tourist trap, in whose insalubrious air the arts once rankly and voluptuously blossomed, where composers have been inspired to lulling tones of somniferous eroticism." - Thomas Mann

I planned a free guided tour of the city with La Bussola Free Tours which is one of the best ways to explore Venice and it's gems by foot. At San Giorgio dei Greci church, I was capturing memories and was in awe of the beauty of the place that I forgot I was with a group and lost time. I was left behind. But nothing could bring me down on that splendid day.

San Giorgio dei Greci church

I walked around on my own for some time watching the cheerful and ecstatic faces of people in love with the city like me and later visited the Fortuny museum and it was one of my best decision.
Once owned by the Pesaro family, this Gothic building in Campo San Beneto, near the church of the same name, was transformed by Mariano Fortuny into his own photography, stage-design, textile-design and painting atelier. Source

Check out my blog on Fortuny Museum

There were so many things to do and I had no time, I wished to visit every island, try every dish (well what was available for vegetarians, or else there is always an option of wine!).

Check out my blog on Venetian Masks - A journey of celebrations

Rest of the day was spent on the streets looking at the handmade carnival masks of all designs you can imagine, unique glassware, fashion stores, pizzerias and wine shops.

Beautiful Murano Glass products

Strolling down the streets I turned up at the grand Basilica, St Mark's Square, the heart of the city with bright lights, architecture, shops and so much more. I don't remember how much time I just stood in front of the Basilica, maybe 3- 4 hours. I only returned back to my room after midnight, with that one last stop at the ice cream shop - pistachio. LOVE ❤️

St Mark's Square

Venice at night is nothing but straight out of a fairy tale movie, the soft sounds of canals, intoxicating smell of wine, and romance in the air. You can see a few tourists like me walking down the street at midnight, enjoying and soaking everything they could.

For the next day, I took a whole day pass for water taxi 'Vaporetto', starting my ride to Burano, which took around 45 - 50 minutes to reach with beautiful views on the way.

The colorful canals of Burano

The picture illustrates how colorful, beautiful and exciting this place is.

Tre Ponti is the wooden bridge which connects the streets of Burano and is the best place to take photographs.

One can also see ladies sittings outside their homes under the sun creating Burano needle lace which is as pretty as the place itself and quite famous too, or can also check the Burano lace museum where one can find artisans making delicate laces.

I couldn't resist myself from buying few artworks, bought one beautiful mask from here, from a small shop on sale... yayiiee.. check out the signs "Saldi” and one can find pretty Murano glass jewelry and other unique products at a reasonable price compared to the one in the city.

Murano is known for its glass making. One can visit the factory and see the beautiful pieces getting made. It was a perfect day trip.

The quote says a lot about how I feel about the city...

“ If I could live in one city and do every single thing I do there, I would choose Venice. You can't turn your head without seeing something amazing.”― Nile Rodger

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The holidays can finally begin!

noreply@blogger.com (Fausto Baccino) — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 15:33:00 -0500

Hello traveling friends,

In today's post, I want to start telling you about my upcoming vacation that will last several months, and I'm really excited about it. But most importantly, I'll be sharing it with a very important friend of mine, Giulia, whom I've known since childhood. In these months, we plan to travel around Italy without a predetermined destination, simply going wherever we feel like each day.

I think that sometimes, planning a trip well in advance and deciding exactly how you want your vacation to be isn't very enjoyable. It's nice to organize things as we go along. Our first stop will be Sardinia, a place I've been to several times in my life. Even though I've visited many places in Sardinia, there are still enchanting locations on this beautiful island that I haven't seen.

Another aspect of this trip is that we'll be keeping it very low cost. I don't intend to spend a lot of money. Moreover, I believe that the simplest things are always the best, and I don't consider certain travel comforts to be essential.

Our first destination is Castelsardo, a little-known town in the world that is located in the province of Sassari, in the northwestern part of Sardinia. This area is more naturalistic and deserves to be experienced fully.

This place, situated towards the end of the Gulf of Asinara, is included in the list of the most beautiful villages in Italy. I noticed this immediately from the first few hours I spent here. Even though I'm not particularly interested in art and history, I still enjoy living in and appreciating these beautiful places. My friend Giulia will probably appreciate this place more, especially since she is a graduate and very knowledgeable. In fact, it was mostly her who chose this location.

On our first day, we took a little stroll through the city to admire the architecture and the atmosphere in these small villages. It wasn't too demanding, but there were a lot of people around, and even though it's not widely known, we came across many foreign tourists. We didn't climb to the top of the hill that practically overlooks this village to see the Rocca, which is the castle built by the Doria family. I don't know if we'll visit it tomorrow; we haven't planned our day properly yet.

What struck me about Castelsardo were the shops selling Sardinian handicrafts. We found a man who was making a kind of basket, and it was truly a beautiful experience, especially for someone like me who comes from Milan, a big city, and probably isn't accustomed to encountering these small craft shops. I believe that these shops should be preserved over time because they represent a rich heritage of this Sardinian land.

I only took these photos; we'll see if I can take more to share with you here tomorrow. The idea is certainly to move to other regions, perhaps by taking a ferry. We're still evaluating the costs because unfortunately, it's very expensive to travel during peak season. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an adventurous trip that I haven't done in many years, and I've been craving it, especially after the pandemic period.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I hope you liked the first photos, so stay tuned because there's more to come!

Goodbye, everyone.

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