Here’s a brief Photoblog on how is spent my visit to the Vatican. As advised, I joined a 3 hour small group tour to the Vatican Museum and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The tour ended inside St. Peter’s Basilica, and I was able to stay inside the church for the 5 PM mass.
A scene when the pope speaks to the people on a Sunday afternoon. The window at the top floor with a red fabric is where the Pope Stands
The Vatican Facade is undoubtedly the grandest Church I’ve seen in Europe
The Vatican Guards in full outfitMoments after the massNo Photoshop has been done with this shot. The ray of light shown is real, bringing an ethereal feel as it enters the dome openings.
The sunlight shines on a statue of St. Peter
The Basilica Dome
The winding stairway to reach the high point of the Basilica Dome. 7 Euros to enter this secluded area
The stone statues of saints as seen from the dome. These statues are around 8 to 10 feet tall
View of the Vatican as from the Basilica Dome
Ancient World Map Tapestry, as part of the Vatican’s Treasure collection
Intricate vaulted ceiling details inside the Vatican
Tapestry Art Piece
Marble sculpture inside the Vatican Museum
A Sphynx from Egypt, carved from solid granite block
Centuries-old water fountains are found everywhere inside the Vatican that are safe for drinking. With our Tour Guide from Maximus Inc.At the Vatican Museum lobby with my group, waiting for our queue to start. Outside the lobby were people in line under the heat of the sun, waiting for their turn to get in. Sobrang hassle if you buy tickets on your own.
Avoiding the long lines, I opt to book my ticket to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel via Maximus Tours online for 45 Euro. They were the cheapest I’ve found online with good reviews. a 25 Euro is required for DP (with proper documentations sent to your email) and the remaining 20 Euro was personally paid to the tour group head positioned just outside the Museum entrance before the start of tour.
Indeed the queue to enter the museum was overwhelming the time I got there, which was a Friday afternoon, around 1pm. As such, It was an advantage that I joined a group to enter. The Ticket to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel alone may only cost you 20 Euro; But still, joining a group tour is a better choice, as the tour guide has lots of fun trivia and intrigues to share, apart from the church’s history down the line. The Tour ends inside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Entering St. Peter’s Basilica is free, because it is a functioning church for the Catholic believers.
Rome was the last of the 6 stops I’ve visited in Italy. I spent 2 nights there, on a relaxed schedule. Again, I never really wanted to take a shot at everything mentioned on google. What I only had in mind was to see the Vatican, hear the Papal speech, see the Colosseum, the Pantheon, people watch and have good Pizza. For this post, I am featuring the one day DIY walking tour I did around the city centre.
Rome has an efficient Metro Train but the best way still is to experience the city centre on foot. It was also a plus that I stayed along Via Cavour near the Roma Termini (Main Railway) as the Colosseum is considerably walkable by 20 minutes from there. From the Colosseum, other architectural spots are not too far, that a day of walking around would be enough to cover Roma city centre. Aside from that, walking is free =)
Anyways here is how I spent a day of leisurely walk with stops for pizza and some Italian sweets =)
A partial aerial view of RomeA shot taken along Cavour Street where I stayed.
Fun Fact: Modern Rome has 280 fountains and more than 900 churches (aroundrometours.com). At every street end, you will most likely find a church. Here is one I took, giving a peek of Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, just two blocks away from were I stayed. This church was also the landmark for me to find my Hotel.
The Colosseum. As expected, the ticket line to get in was already long even that early. Still, getting inside the this declared “Wonders of the World” is worth the effort. As recommended by some blogs, I bought my entrance ticket at Forum Romanum entrance with lesser people in line. Packaged entrances to the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hills are at 12 Euros, valid for 2 days.
My first sight of the Colosseum at around 7:30 AM.
The Colosseum as long been recognised the symbol of Roman empire. This architectural landmark, back in its glorious days, used to be covered with white marble claddings, and embellished with marble sculptures. Upon the fall of paganism and the conversion of Rome to Christianity, the Colosseum has lost its significance. It was said that all of its valuables have been stripped off, and then used to beautify the Vatican Palace.
Ruins Roman Forum and the Palatine Hills which is just beside the Colosseum
From the Forum Romanum, I did a leisurely walk to Via Novembre IV, and straight to Fontana de Trevi. This took me around 40 minutes as I did some eating along the way. There are cheap souvenirs and shirt shops along the way. I bought my ref magnets here for 1 Euro. Pizza is also cheap in this area.
This is the best pizza I had in Rome, from an old style cafe on my way to Fontana de Trevi. Bawas na tong nasa picture. haha. This cost me 3.5 Euro.
From Fontana de Trevi, the Pantheon is a mere 20 minutes walk. Getting inside the Pantheon is free, as it is a functioning Catholic church. The tomb of Renaissance artist Rafael stands inside the Pantheon.
Fun Fact: Concrete was a Roman invention used on many structures such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, which are still standing today thanks to the development of Roman cement and concrete. The Romans first began building with concrete over 2,100 years ago and used it throughout the Mediterranean basin in everything from aqueducts and buildings to bridges and monuments (aroundrometours.com)
Another 15 minutes walk from the Pantheon is Piazza Navona, known as the artist’s district of Rome. It is ideal to visit the Piazza in the late afternoon. This was my last stop for the day, where I stayed until 7 pm, and just people watch. =)
Accommodation: Stayed at Sandy Hotel(Sandy Place) along Via Cavour (Cavour Street) for around 30 Euro (P1500) per night + 2 Euro (P100) city stay tax per night. Its the cheapest dorm type I found through Hostelworld.com with a very good location and the staffs are nice and very helpful. Other hostels are too far from the city centre.
To get there from Central Train Station (Roma Termini), get the exit 22 and walk down Via Cavour for 7 blocks. The hostel is on the left side (Find Building #136, Sandy Hotel is on the 5th floor). This will take around 7 to 10 minutes walk.
Food and water: 20 Euro budget per day would be enough for meals and water. Meals are cheap in Rome as compared to other Italian cities I’ve visited, specifically the restaurants and pizza places around Roma Termini. A decent meal of 1/2 Chicken and 2 sides costs 5-6 Euros. A Big slice of Pizza or Calzone at 2-3 Euros. Water is also cheap as there are a lot of mini groceries on every streets. In addition, Rome has drinking fountains on most corners and even inside the Colosseum. The whole 3 days I was in Rome, I only bought mineral water twice. I just kept refilling and I was fine.
Transportation : Metro Trains are at around 1.5 to 2 Euro per way. Buses at 3 Euro ( Ideal for going straight to Vatican from Metro Termini)
Staying in Rome, I’d say 70-80 Euros per day would suffice.
Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is the cradle to Renaissance art and architecture. Although this capital is much known for being the gateway to a rather more iconic Italian city of Pisa (which is 45 minutes away by train), Florence is also a charming destination on its own. A day of walking around Florence is still worth experiencing, for its iconic churches, as well as seeing the Original Statue of David by artist Michaelangelo.
Florence, as the capital of the Tuscan region, is easily accessible by train from all other key cities of Italy. Upon reaching Florence, touring around on your own is easy, as the city is relatively small, and all the iconic spots are within city centre. In case of limited time, I would recommend seeing Florence in the morning, and Pisa in the afternoon. A half day in Pisa is good enough.
First glance of the Warm Tuscan Sun, from the window of where I was staying.
I am a self confessed lazy traveler and I really don’t push myself to see everything on google. Usually, I only pick a few landmarks to visit, mostly the architecturally recognised, and find a comfortable corner there and just people watch. haha. Anyways, here was how I spent a half day walking around Florence.
Visiting the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Cathedral) which is among the recognised examples of Renaissance Architecture in Italy. Renaissance facade tends to be more artistic and expressive, and embellished with classical styles, as opposed to the preceding dark Gothic period. Florence Cathedral is by far the most beautiful church facade I’ve seen in Europe. The picture didn’t do any justice.
Another church worth visiting is the Basilica of Santa Croce, where the tomb of Michaelangelo stands. Unfortunately, the church was still close when I got there. Churches around Italy usually open at 9 AM.
Walking around Florence downtown,which is fairly clean and polished.
neatly organised garbage collection. I admired this.super cute battery operated vehicleTapa Sandwiches i had along the street. Super Good.
Visit the sculptural displays at Piazza della Signoria is also worth doing. These centuries old sculptures date back the time of the Medici governance, when Florence was at its most glorious renaissance days.
The Mercato (Market) of Florence is also worth visiting. The second floor has a well maintained food court with loads to offer.
How the second floor of the Mercato looks likeReal Italian Truffles !Aperitivos
I stayed in Florence for two nights at Hostel Paola, an affordable dorm type, around 50 meters from the train station. A night costs around 1400 pesos, the usual price of cheap dorms around Europe. The hostel also offers shared tours, at rates lower than what is offered online. The hostel is clean and worthy of a recommendation.
One of the highlights during my visit to Italy was an unplanned day trip to Cinque Terre.
Cinque Terre (the five lands in Italian) is the collective name for the five charming fishing villages seated between the narrow coastal strip and the mountain chains of Western Italy. These five old style villages along the Mediterranean coast are also declared as one of Italy’s Unesco Heritage Sites.
A picturesque view of Maranola, one of the five villages I’ve visited, clearly represents the Cinque Terre coastal settlement feels.
I had a day to spare that time in Florence, so I opted to join a shared tour to see this popular cluster of villages in the Liguria province, which was 2.5 hours away by bus. The shared tour cost me 75 Euros. DIY options to see Cinque Terre have been mentioned by some blogs, but doing so was impossible for me since I had limited time and getting there from Florence was a bit complicated. A bit pricey (actually the priciest ‘one day spend’ I had), but still, spending on such experience was a worthy choice, as the drive from Florence, crossing the Tuscan countryside, and towards the Italian Riviera (coastline) was indeed picturesque in every way.
I booked the shared tour though Hotel Paola, where I stayed in Florence. Tour lasted 7 am to 6 pm.
Here are some of the shots I took around the villages of Cinque Terre =)
Maranola
Manarola is the calmest of the five villages, and is a bit more rustic and less polished than its northern neighbors. This was our first stop for the day trip. If desired, packaged trekking tours often starts here, with Via della Amore (The Lovers Path), which is a very scenic and easy path that leads the next village Riomaggiore.
Tourists can also go swimming here in a little cove on the coast, as shown in the picture.
Cinque Terre is part of the Italian coastal province of Liguria, and Pesto is one of the famous contributions. As such, tourists can find pesto topped on almost all local dishes. This pesto pizza slice was a bomb!
Vernazza
Vernazza is probably the most charming of the Cinque Terre villages, as it’s right on the water and there’s a lovely church tower built in 1318, on a rock right in front of the sea. The ruins of a castle are on one of the hills overlooking Vernazza. This is the village that tends to be most visited by people carrying Rick Steves’ guidebooks.(Lonely Planet.com)
Monterosso
Monterosso is the largest,most modern and resort like of the five, and the most visited, especially by the young crowd. It’s the only village of the cluster with a nice long span of beach.
In the 16th century, Monterosso defended itself from vikings by erecting 13 towers, of which only three remain today.(Lonely Planet.com) One of these remaining buildings, the Aurora Tower, is definitely a must see. The tower offers a great view of the Ligurian Coast and the Mediterranean sea.
There are also quite a few unique churches to explore like the Abbey and Church of San Francesco, which was once transformed into a hospital, and then into a warehouse in the 1800s. But in 1894 it was restored, and now houses important art like The Crucifiction (attributed to the painter Van Dyck). (Lonely Planet.com)
Monterosso is also famous for producing the highest quality Limoncino citrus wine. Local shops are generous to share free tastes of wine, as well as home made pesto.
Riomaggiore
Riomaggiore, slightly different from its neighbours, is relatively large and spreads inland towards higher grounds. Local vineyards, and tomato gardens line up the paths of this village.
Here you will find cool bars and pubs sitting on top of the cliff. A beer here would cost you 7 Euro per bottle.
Among the five villages of Cinque Terre, the tour only included four, since we got short of time to see Corniglia.
Getting to Cinque Terre can be quite tough when plotting a day trip on your own by train, as the trains to La Spezia, which is the gateway to Cinque Terre, has limited daily schedule. From La Spezia, another train transfer is required to take you to Maranola, which is another hour and a half away. When planning a DIY trip, I would recommend staying a night or two in any village of Cinque Terre, with train tickets booked ahead of time. If I only had longer time to spare in Italy, I would have had it that way. A Day trip to these charming UNESCO protected villages definitely isn’t enough.
Revisiting is definitely on my thoughts. And perhaps that time, I’ll have along with me someone special, to share a bottle of Limoncino, while waiting for sunset. That would be sweet. =)
Touristy as it is, having an epic-blockbuster shot with the Leaning tower of Pisa is still a ‘must do’ when visiting Italy. Built during the late 12th Century, the tower has become one of the recognisable (if the most recognisable) symbols of Italy today, for its unique, but rather unintentional tilt.
The usual tourist shot. Boring (-___-) ‘ ‘Here’s my Epic Tower shot. Laban ?
Just a short trivia, the tower started to sink (causing the tilt) as early as when the second floor was being constructed, due to unstable soil and bad foundation ( 3 meters lang daw during the ancient times sabi nung presentation dun. imagine?). If based on plans, the completed 8 storey tower is actually curving, so as to compensate the tilt of the lower floors. The tower took around 200 years to complete all in all, including the decades of fall of the Pisan empire when all developments came to a stop. During the 90s, modern day restorations for the foundation have already been secured, so this means the tower will last (hopefully) ’til the next generation of eager tourists and visiting backpackers. =)
For tourists short of time, it is really not super necessary to stay overnight in Pisa. As per my personal itinerary, I stayed at a hostel in Florence (which is the biggest Italian City nearest to Pisa). Florence is only 30-40 minutes by train to Pisa Centrale Station, for only 16 Euro (800 Pesos) round trip, scheduled almost every 30 minutes ’til as late as 10pm. Both Florence and Pisa are part of the province of Tuscany. As such, travelling between these cities pass through scenic farmlands, typical with Italian outskirts you see in movies.
Visiting Pisa was the easiest day trip I had. Upon arriving by train at Pisa Centrale from Florence, there are public buses in front of the station to take you to the leaning tower complex for around 1.2 Euro per way. Otherwise, you can just have a leisurely 30 minute walk. Pisa is just a relatively small city and the complex is around 1.3 Km away.
Entering the tower complex(also known as Piazza dei Miracoli) is free of charge. Going inside the Cathedral is also free of charge, you just have to secure a ticket from the main museum lobby. Climbing the tower however will cost you 15 Euro (750 Pesos) + the long cue. Di na ako umakyat actually. Ok na ako sa ground shots. Museums also have separate tickets.
As per the local staff, the complex usually goes jam packed at 9 am to 3 pm. So for DIY tourists, a late afternoon visit would be Ok, since the are still trains to take you back to Florence until 10pm. Securing RT ticket however is advisable. Given the limited time, I just spent around 2 hours in the complex, did a leisurely walk back to the station, and headed back to Florence around 7 PM.
Assistance desks are always present on all Italian train stations, with an English speaking officer. Heres one at the Pisa CentraleNever forget in Italy ! When buying train tickets at the station, always have it stamped verified before getting in the train. Otherwise, you will be charged 40 Euro for unverified tickets. Tickets purchased online and through agencies however does not require this, but still, case to case din. As such, ask the assistance desk if in doubt.The Train Cabin feelsThe directions to find the bus to the tower complex
Trivia : Italy has an estimated total of 100,000 monuments of all varieties (museums, palaces, buildings, statues, churches, art galleries, villas, fountains, historic houses and archaeological remains) – behindthetower.com
Piazza dei Miracoli Complex. Architectural Style : Romanesque 12th Century The complex Cathedral. Some materials used to beautify this were harvested from ancient pagan temples around Italy and from Greece.The Church interior and its famous gilded ceiling, donated by the wealthy Medici Clan of Tuscany, to the church of Pisa.The ventilation ducts inside the church are sadly disturbing.An interesting statue of Bathing Jesus is inside the CathedralA View of Pisa City.
Venice, without a doubt, is the most picturesque place I’ve ever been. The romance, the beauty of its unique setting, its architecture, and the old world feel you see it in movies and on TV, makes this city even more interesting. Every corner and turn in this city are layers and layers of beautiful subjects, making Venice a street photographer’s dream surrounding.
My favourite shot of Venice., taken near the Rialto Bridge
Sited on a group of small islands separated by canals and linked by foot bridges, the city in its whole is listed as a World Heritage Site. Before arriving in Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia from Milan, I already prepared myself for a lot of walking, as I’ve read that there are no taxis or public buses on the Islands. Venice does have water buses circulating the islands for convenience, but the maze like street set up of the city is just too interesting not to conquer. Streets of Venice were never planned to be on grid and orderly manner. And true enough the twist and turns of the streets got me lost in finding my hostel, and took more than two hours of my time. Even google map wasn’t able to clearly list every turns of the city. Nonetheless, walking (or more like wandering) in Venice was the best part of my two days stay, as you get to see experience all the randomness and interesting things of this unique city.
An aerial view of Maze like Venice. The street names are only either painted or embossed on the first building of the block, and every block has unlabelled walkways and footbridges, making navigation even more complicated. Complicated, isn’t it?
Anyways here is how I spent my two days in Venice. No itinerary at all. I only had Piazza San Marco in mind and eat good pizza. Still, it was a well spent stop in Italy. My favourite two days, in fact. =)
Since the streets of Venice get complicated, I take the riverside route every time I can. It is easier to navigate from there.
San Marco Square is the city’s main Piazza. St. Mark’s Cathedral at the backgroundThe Piazza Campanile.
Who wouldn’t fall in love with these views? Going up the Campanile for 9 Euro was super worth the money. I recommend really everyone to do this. Skip the peak of Vatican or Milan, reserve your money for this view.
The south view of the PiazzaA view of the port for inter island waterbusesA view of nearby IslandsA view of nearby Islands
“Experiencing Venice as a solo backpacker is best done on foot. Skip the expensive gondola ride, pang mag jowa lang un. Corny pag single at alone.” – Josemanuel . lol
Anyways, more street scenes here … =)
randomly found this quaint bookstore with lots of crazy finds in it.Crazy finds such as this !Inside the bookstore
More street shots here =)
Apron for sale. lolSakit na ulo ni ate. ZzzzzzzCute Doorbell buttonsAlone din si Ate. laban !Walking around Venice will never be boring. The streets are lined with vibrant contrasting layers such as this corner.An interesting shop mannequinA Random street painter, a usual sight in Europe.
Food Trip :
Pizza Slices are super huge at 3 Euro (150 pesos) per slice.Vegetarian pizza with ricotta cheese. 4.5 Euro (225 pesos) per sliceGelatto is a bit expensive. 2 scoops 3 Euro (150 pesos)The slice is actually bigger than my face ! for 3 Euro (150 pesos, sobrang busog na!)Coffee can be a bit pricey anywhere in Italy. These dispensers are good to go in the morning (just 1.5 Euro/ 75 pesos per cup). Reserve your money for better coffee in the afternoon when you can make padisplay sa cafe.Very cute how they keep the cherries coolPasta is expensive in Italy. This cup of pesto pasta is at 7 euro (350 pesos) . I never found any pasta there lower than 5 Euro. kaya madalas ako pa pizza pizza lang. lol
As for my accommodation, I stayed for two nights at Astoria Hostel in Via Faenza (near Piazza San Marco). A bed in a shared room was at 1300 pesos plus 5 Euro city Tax. Its the cheapest I’ve found in Venice that is near a Piazza, making it easier to find. I booked this through Agoda.
The Bed. Ok naman cya. A bit expensive for what you get, but Venice na to e, so given na tlgang mahal ung tirahan.
Backpacking Europe 2015 . Destination : Milan, Italy
Arriving at Malpensa-Milan International Airport, buses to the city center conveniently await just outside the arrival area. I took the Terravision Bus for 5 Euro, which shall have its final stop at the Milan Central Train Station. Travel time took around 30 minutes.
I only stayed in Milan for a day; On a Sunday, to be particular. And to my surprise, much of the stores and shops in Milan were closed, it actually felt like the city wasn’t one of Italy’s biggest at all. Anyways, heres a sight of Milan as taken with my Sony Alpha. It was a super sunny day, perfect lang for street photography.
A view of Via Medici (Medici Street) where I stayed. Notice the vandalism on the right building? Sadly, this can be found everywhere in Milan, and all over Italy in fact.A view of Corso Buenos Aires, which is a major artery road in Milan. See how the city can get really sleepy on a Sunday?Loving these cute golden doggie details.Thank god for these drinking fountains all around Italy. Water can be a bit expensive there, as such, refill2x lang tlga ako dun whenever I can. Locals drink from it. Had it for many many days at di naman nasira tiyan ko. Spain, and Czech Republic also has drinking fountains along the street.This picture of a dad with his kids on training bikes, crossing an empty major road, clearly shows how laid back that Sunday the afternoon was. Just lovely.Taken near Lima Metro Station. Super laidback ng City i can lie down in the middle actually.Skater gangs came invading. This was the only time I saw the streets get hyped.O ayan nasa dispenser lang ang condom. Ganun ka accessible.Milan subway Feels. A Trip is 2.25 Euro minimum. Took the train from Lima Station to the Duomo/Milan Cathedral.The Majestic Milan Cathedral. The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the 5th-largest church in the world and the second largest in Italy.Gets more amazing up close.Some weird details of frescos and sculptures on the church facade. Milan Cathedral is probably the most ornamented Building exterior I’ve seen among European churches I’ve visited.I also went inside the Cathedral Museum, for only 2 Euro Entrance fee. Heres a sample of the housed antique sculpture.A View of the Cathedral and some booties around.I wanted to ask where he got his plastic top for my halloween costume. hihiA usual sight in Milan. Model looking people are a basic.
Spending a night in Milan, I stayed at Ostello Bello Hostel, which is located just a block from the Milan Central Train station, connecting tourists to the rest of Italy and nearby countries, such as Switzerland and France. A bed in Ostello Bello costs around 1,900 pesos per night. Though not the cheapest (the most expensive dorm bed I had in Europe, in fact), I still opt to stay there for the location. Most other dorms offered in Agoda are nowhere near the train station. The price though does include continental breakfast. And luckily, the hostel hosted an evening aperitivo. The aperitivo is an italian tradition that opens a meal, and it is similar to an appetizer. The hostel however also served pasta and unlimited fruits which made the meal real heavy enough to be considered dinner. Sulit naman ung bayad. Here is how the hostel looked like.
The Hostel Kitchen with unlimited coffee tea, juices cookies, apple and oranges all day long.Ostello Bello is quite generous for a hostel. Before leaving the hostel for Venice the next day, I even took 3 pcs. apple with me. haha baon lang.The roof deck.My bed is at the lower bunk. under my bed are the drawer type, lockable containers for personal things. Every Bed has a light and a power outlet. Very convenient.Hip dining area of Ostello BelloNever miss a European country without tasting a local beer. Zzzz
My stay in Milan was quite short, and my only priority actually was to see the Cathedral. Milan has a major international airport, as such, it was cheaper to land here than to get a flight directly to Venice. I spend only 1 night in Milan, and hopped on a train to Venice early the next day. Venice was 2 hours away by train, for 19 Euro (950 pesos). Trips run between these cities all day long. Details of that on my next blog =)
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