Aug 2007

I feel it is like a magic. Stay in the island surrounded by water and sea with exotic views, buildings, churches, tower. Very beautiful. The city of venezia is quite far especially if you start from western part of Italy, such as Torino. It took around 6 hours by regional train but can be shorter if you use inter-city train or high speed train, such as alta velocita. But it is worthed to come here.

Arrieved at san lucia station, you will be directly served a water panoramic view. To go around, you can use boat, gondola, or just walking. Oke, do like this, first use the boat to go to the piazza di san marco which is the center of the city. The prize boat is 6 euro for one time trip. It will be more expensive for one day ticket. Don't be surprize with the crowded of the piazza san marco. You will see a lot of people with pigeons everywhere. In this square, there is the catedral of venezia which you can go inside for free. The catedral is really nice, the sytle is quite different from others among italian churches. But for sure, the queing is very long, be patien for that. The square is quite big, surround with old black building and cafes. Don't ask the price of the food or drink, it will be quite expensive^^. Near the squire, behind the church, there is a place to jail people who did some criminals. They place if near the square in order to make easier if those people should be killed in the squre. The building and the square is connected by a small bridge to give a chance to see the view of venezia for the last time.

Don't forget to try the gondola. If you think that is too expensive to rent a gondola for your self, you can try gondola just for moving peole from one island to another which is only 2.5 euro (if i am not wrong). That is just across a river and used by venezian people for transportation.
Some places are also nice, such as ponte di vecchio which sell original-venezian ascessoris. Near there, there is a traditional marker that you can buy presents with cheaper price. Oke, having a cup of cappucino is recommended to feel and breath the weather of venezia. 3 euro is expensive but acceptable for that..

Those three names are not enough to mention the beauty of this city. It is not surprising that this city becomes one of UNESCO heritage and has its own name as the Athens of Middle age. Many famous and well-kown people came from this city and probably spent their life here, such as: Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the genius Galileo Galilei. For the last person, the city made a special museum of his inventions which mostly made from wood. There are many beautiful and magnificent buidings located in this city. The main is the Duono (catedral) di Firenze. Very big until you can get all of the parts of the church in your one sheet photo paper.

I am prety sure that, if you are able to visit this city, one day is not enough. There are many places that you have to visit devided into three major parts: center of the town, river side, and hill side. In the center, there will be full of churches with big dome and one tall tower (as the charcteristic of chuches in Firenze), big old gate in piazza della Repubblica, and the Goverment building. Those can be reached easily as the places are close each other. In the river site, you will find one famous place: ponte di vecchio(vecchio bridge) that sell expensive jewelry and gold.

The city of Florence or citta' di Firenze, can be reached from Pisa only 1.5 hours by regional train. So, enjoy the viola of Florence ..

City of Pisa is located in the Tuscany region where famous of having many UNESCO heritage places. One of them is absolutly the leaning tower of Pisa. The city is actually not so big, it is a small city surround by stone wall. There is Anno river, crossing in the middle of the city. Instead of the duomo square where the tower is there, there are many churches and old builing spread inside the city.

The city of Pisa is close to Firenze, another famous tourism city in Italy. It is only 1.5 hours by regular train. As it is very near, I spend the day in these two cities. You can 'surf' the city in very quick time, can be less than 3 hours with one hour rest in the duomo square. When you arrive at the city station, Pisa centrale station, you can see a guide line how to have a quick of visiting all historical places inside the city. There are two ways, as the first also the main is heading directly to the Duomo square. From the station to the Duomo square, you will pass many churches and piazza that you can probably stop for a while to take some picture. The second route is to have a look other areas where also many ancient builiding are there, such as citadella, churches, piazza. The map is not free of charge here, you have to pay around 1 euro.

During night time, don't forget to have a look at piazza Garibaldi. Usually, there are some street music performance there. As many people concentrated to the Duomo square, you will find many silent parts in the city and having a rest for a while, enjoy the silent of Pisa and probably with an ice cream as you companion ..

.. people said that this is one of the most famous tower in the world. Located in the city of Pisa, around 6 hour by regular train from Torino city. Pisa is actually a small city, bordered by ancient wall. It is very beautiful city with a river crossing the center of the city. The tower itself is located in the 'back' part, so, when you use train, you need to walk around 10 minutes, crossing the river and go to the 'Piazza dei mirracolli'. As this city is small, not many people there but during the vacation, it will be full of tourists.

In the complex of the tower, there are four mains buiding. The first is the tower, second is duomo or the church, third is baptisary, and the last cementary. These buildings are very beautiful with art-style ornament. Unfortunately, to enter those all building, you need to buy the ticket which is not free. It said that the tower is under repairement until 2009 but still people can enter and go up till the top of the tower. THe area is open 24 hours, as last time when I came here, I spent my time at night, to sit in front of the duomo. I though it will be silent and less people, but, it was wrong. Many people still there and at night, it will be very romantic especially for couple. ^^

As usual, if you come here, don't forget to me a 'pose'. Do it as you wish ..

When you go outsite from Torino following the street direct to Milan, you will pass the city of Chivasso. There are many hilly sites in the left side or right side of the street which connects Torino and Chivasso. The name is also funny, from Torino, it will be started with via Torino and after passing the Gassino Torino, the street name changes into strada chivasso. In a certain point, it changes again into via Torino then changes again into via chivasso. Anyway, we will not discuss about the changing name of this street.

On Thursday August 2, 2007, I visited a place on the hill of San Rafaelle. From that place, you can see Torino city from far away. As the place is located in hilly area, the paronama view is really beautiful especially in the morning. You can just enjoy, have a sit with a cup of coffee and look at the valey and far Torino city. I ma not sure about the bus that able to reach this place from Torino. But to reach the top of the mountain, I am prety sure, you have to bring your car or by walking is also oke.