I often set off on long walks in Milan. And on every such promenade, I look forward to a short break in a beautiful piazza. From the grand Piazza del Duomo to the pleasant Piazza del Carmine, each square has a story, a vibrance, and a charm of its own. Some are crowded with excited tourists and buzzing with activity, others are quiet and offer a tranquil getaway from the former.
On a cool, grey evening in Pisa, we walked along a pleasant route beginning at the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, past the shopping area along Corso Italia, crossing the calm waters of the River Arno, continuing along Borgo Stretto, briefly halting at Piazza dei Cavalieri, before reaching our destination.
The Piazza dei Miracoli. The Square of Miracles. Also known as the Piazza del Duomo. I was awe-struck by the size and the beauty of the piazza and its monuments, and was reminded of my first glimpse of the Taj Mahal.
The city of “authentic” pizza margherita, Napoli (or Naples), has a remarkable identity of its own. Great food (read PIZZA :)), spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples and the majestic Mount Vesuvius, a beautiful historic center, and the delightful nativity scenes and figurines in a vibrant street made our visit very memorable.
Hunger pangs:
Having heard rave reviews about Neapolitan pizza, we did not think much about lunch and dinner choices – it was vera pizza napoletana all the way, with bufala DOC – and we did not regret it at all :).
During conversations with friends in Italy (over a cup of cappuccino, of course :)), a popular topic of discussion is the charming cities of this country. And one town that many folks have fallen in love with, is Lucca. Reason enough to plan a getaway to the Tuscan town.
In the regional train from Florence to Lucca, we rarely took our eyes off the windows during our journey though the picturesque Tuscan countryside.
Spotting the contradewhile walking in the streets of the historic center of Siena was a fun way to explore the Tuscan city.
But, of course, we had “bigger” sights to discover. And as always, there was something in it for each of us.
“The” Piazza del Campo
The Piazza del Campo was a stone’s throw (ok, maybe just a little bit more) away from our hotel, the B&B Piazza Duomo.
A weekend in the medieval Tuscan city of Siena. A city well-known for the Palio horse race in the Piazza del Campo, brought to the big screen by the Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.
We walked the narrow streets of the well-preserved historic center (another UNESCO World Heritage Site! :)), in search of signs of the 17 contrade (neighborhoods or wards) of Siena that fiercely contest the Palio.
Every contrada has its own symbol and flag, and it was exciting to head out in search of them.
Just outside the Cadorna station in Milan, is a beautiful, unique two-part sculpture – Ago, Filo e Nodo i.e. Needle, Thread and Knot. It was one of the first “attractions” of Milan that I paid a visit to. Little did I know that I would soon pass by it at least a couple of times a week.
The war memorial, the Monumento ai Caduti, also known as Tempio della Vittoria, is situated a short walk away from the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio. This beautiful monument was closed to the public when I visited. I managed to take some pictures from outside.
In memory and honor of the brave souls.
Paris? No! 🙂
The Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace) at Piazza Sempione (Parco Sempione) on a gorgeous spring day in Milan.
Wishing you peace and triumph in your personal goals! 🙂
I’ve always loved walking around a city or town to explore it. Sometimes with a destination in mind, sometimes without. Sometimes in a happy mood, sometimes in a sad one. Sometimes brimming with energy, sometimes a bit tired. Sometimes in sunny weather, sometimes in the rain. Sometimes for an hour, sometimes for hours. And every little journey brings with it a little souvenir – of people, of places, of conversations, of discovery.