Andrew's Italy Vacation 12/20/99-1/9/00

12/31 ROME Day 1

8:30am arrive in Rome at Fiumicino airport 9:07am express train to Roma Termini-costs 16 Lira (about $9)

Upon arriving at Roma Termini I was able to use my handy Rome street map to locate my hotel Eco Sviglia hotel at 12 Via Gaeta. Since it was New Years Eve this was the best hotel I could get at an affordable rate of about $120 for the night. The first goal was to locate several important Jubilee churches/basilicas, the first one, not far from the train station was Santa Maria Maggiore (The Basilica of St. Mary Major)


Upon entering it was like walking into a museum with wonderful paintings, mosaics and beautiful chapels that have been preserved.

The next stop was a bit of a walk until arriving at San Giovanni in Laterano (The Basilica of St. John Lateran)

San Giovanni is in fact still is the cathedral of Rome, and still considered the 'the mother and head of all churches of the city and the world'. Inside it consists of a two-storied portico surmounted by an attic with 16 colossal statues of Christ with Apostles and saints. Beneath the portico, the bronze central doors were taken from the Curia (Senate) in the Roman Forum. Like several other churches in Rome there is a special door, only to be used every 25 years - in the so called Holy Year. Over 330 feet long with two aisles on either side of the nave. In the altar are the remains of the table, that Peter and the first popes used as an altar.
Right outside was Scala Santa (The Holy Steps) It is a small church, which actually is part of San Giovanni, but lies on the other side of the street. There are 5 stairs leading to the church room. The one in the middle is called 'The holy steps' - Scala Santa. 28 of the steps has been imported from the palace of Pontius Pilatus in Jerusalem. They are made of marble, but now covered by wood. If the legend is correct Jesus has walked these steps to and from his conviction. Entering the steps you join a group of people climbing these steps on their knees and praying. It was a very moving experience. On top of the stairs is the Pope's private chappel since 1278.

Walked back towards the Roma Termini train station and got a weekly Metro pass good for all trains and buses in Rome and took the train to the Barberini station where it was a short walk to Fontana Di Trevi (Trevi Fountain).


At Trevi Fountain the god Neptune rides his winged chariot through gushing waters from the Acqua Vergine aqueduct. Visitors still honor the ancient tradition of throwing a coin in this fountain before leaving Rome - assuring their return.

Next onto the 3rd major Jubilee Basilica. Had to take the Metro to get to San Paolo (The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls)
The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, is the largest Church in Rome after St. Peter's.
Back on the Metro to the city center and had a quick bite of pizza for dinner. NYC pizza is still the best

Now nighttime the streets along via Del Corso were getting crowded and each bus or train headed in the direction of the Vatican was packed with people and there was no way to board, so cancelled plans to spend midnight atthe Vatican and instead watched the fireworks from the hotel room and New Years festivities from around the world on TV. Rome was prepared to handle about 300,000 tourists and instead was inundated with 1 million tourists for New Years Eve

1/1 Rome- Day 2
Had a nice breakfast spread consisting of cereal, croissants, cheese, salami, juice, coffee and then checked out and into my next hotel- Hotel Igea- again near the train station this one was approximately $89 per night. Next onto the Metro and to the Coliseum. After getting off the train stop you can't miss the sight of the Coliseum. The New Years Day Rome marathon was taking place that day, so it was a bit of a walk to go all the way around to get to the other side, but along the way, got to see many of the ancient Roman ruins sites.
Rome Marathon Finish Line

Roman Ruins

Andrew at the Coliseum

The Coliseum up close

Next back on the Metro to the station called Il Spagna (The Spanish Steps)

Back on the Metro to see the Vatican and St Peters Piazza.
Spaghetti alla borghese and wine for dinner at a place called Roma Romae
Sunday 1/2 Assisi Day 3
9:12am train to Assisi
A short bus ride from the station to the hills of Assisi where the Church of St. Francis is located. It had suffered some damage from an earthquake a few years back and is still being reconstructed.
Basilica of San Francesco (Saint Francis)

Andrew atop the hill among the small streets of Assisi

In 1224, St. Francis went up onto a mountain and began a 40-day fast. During that time he is said to have had a miraculous vision and received the marks of the nails and spear exactly as they appeared on the body of Jesus during his crucifixion.
Train back to Rome and dinner at Hard Rock Cafe

Monday 1/3 Rome Day 4
checked out of the Hotel Igea and into the Hotel Giada a few blocks away at $68 per night.
Fountain at Piazza de Republica:

Vatican Museum

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel

Creation of Adam (one of the famous ceiling panels

My sister Pat who joined me on part of the trip in the Gallery of Maps

The Vatican from a distance

Close up of the Window in St Peters where the Pope comes out to address the crowd at mass on Sunday

Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo up close

Tuesday 1/4 Florence Day 5
9:07 train from Rome to Florence arriving at11:15am
Duomo (Cathedral)

A view from atop the Campanile

Academia Museuo and the most famous statue of David

Wednesday 1/5 Rome Day 6
Villa Borghese

walk Via Del Corso from Piazza De Venezia to Piazza De Poppolo did some window shopping
Piazza De Venezia:

Thursday 1/6 Pisa Day 7

Took an early morning 9:04am pendolino high speed train from Rome to Florence arriving at 11:07am where I checked into my Hotel Martelini and then went on a 2:15pm tour to Pisa

Andrew at the leaning Tower of Pisa

Friday 1/7 Venice Day 8
Took an early morning 8:40am train from Florence to Venice arriving at 11:30am

I purchased an all day vaporetto ticket and took the #1 vaporetto to the heart of Venice, Piazza De San Marco. The ride took 45 minutes making several short stops along the S shaped Grand Canal.
Piazza San Marco is a vast open rectangular square with lots of vendors and pigeons. At one end of the square is the Basilica di San Marco and on the other side is the Campanile Brick Tower which for a modest admission fee enables you to take an elevator ride up to the top fo some wonderful views.
Also near the square was the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) whch was a combination White House, Senate, torture chamber and prison all rolled into one. From the east wing is the enclosed Ponte Dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) which arches over a narrow canal to the New Prison. The bridges name comes from the sighs of those being led to execution. As part of the admission fee you are bale to walk through this enclosed bridge to the other side and walk into the various prison rooms.




The Bridge of Sighs

Took the 7:45pm train from Venice back to Florence arriving at 10:57pm

Saturday 1/8 Siena/Florence Day 9
I purchased a roundtrip bus ticket to Siena for $22 Lira (about $12 dollars). I took the 8:10am bus for the one hour 25 minute bus ride to Siena. The S2 bus drove through the Tuscanny valley with the last stop on the bus left me right in front of the church of San Domenico which had several paintings dedicated to St. Catherine and also included on the altar was a glass enclosed case with the preserved head of St. Catherine. The rest of her body is in a tomb in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome

I walked down the narrow streets downhill and followed the directional signs to visit Sienna's Duomo (Cathedral) where inside are magnificent marble floors which took almost 200 years to complete. Next I moved onto Piazza Del Campo and climbed up 512 steps to the top of the Torre di Mangia and was able to take these photos of a view looking down at the Piazza Del Campo and of the San Domenico church in the distance. The bricks of the Campo are patterned in 9 different sections, oe for each of the medieval Government of Nine.

I did some shopping for a Pannini cake, some Siena cookies, Amaretti and chocolates before heading back to the bus stop. I took the S222 bus on the return which passed through Chinati before arriving back in Florence where I did some shopping for a pair of Italin shoes in a place called Lilys of Florence just across the Ponte Vecchio bridge (one of the few places with shoes in American sizes). In the afternoon and visited the Uffizzi Palace which featured the painting of The Birth of Venus

Had a light dinner and got to bed early so I could wake up in time for my early train ride back to Rome.

Sunday 1/9 Florence to Rome to NYC Day 10
6:05am train from Florence to Rome
8:30am arrive in Roma Termini
9:20am train to Fiumicino airport
11:50am Delta flight to NYC (9 1/2 hours)
3:30pm arrive back in NYC
take a shuttle bus to NYC train station
take the A train which terminates at Utica Avenue due to track work
take the shuttle bus to Jay Street-Borough Hall
no F train service so take the A train to West 4th Street
take the downtown D traoin to Grand Street to visit my sisters
take the M14 bus to 14th Street
transfer to M15 bus to 79th Sreet
8:30pm finally arrive back home