From Rome to Paris - A Spring in 2012

[rbjhan]

Day 10

Took an early bus to Piazzale Roma, then switched to a vaporetto heading straight to San Marco.

 

[rbjhan]

Campanile di San Marco
OMG there's a lift! You probably figure it out already, I love climbing up to see cities from above. However after Rome/Florence/Siena I was more than ready for something a bit easier

And the view!!!

 

[rbjhan]

Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs)


Squid ink pasta, how could I miss it in Venice?

 

[rbjhan]

After lunch went to Burano to the colourful houses.

 

[rbjhan]

Slowly making my way back to Mestre...

Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, from Ponte dell'Accademia

 

[rbjhan]

Venice is an incredibly photogenic city, especially on a good day like I had here.
However the over tourism is a problem. I was there in May 2012 and it was already very crowded. Back then there were no "tourist go home" banners but I can see where it's coming from....

I probably will not return anytime soon, at least I have these great pictures.

 

[OZDUCK]

Venice is an incredibly photogenic city, especially on a good day like I had here.
However the over tourism is a problem. I was there in May 2012 and it was already very crowded. Back then there were no "tourist go home" banners but I can see where it's coming from....

I probably will not return anytime soon, at least I have these great pictures.

It was certainly even less crowded in 1976. The only trouble was that I was too young and stupid to really take it all in.

 

[VPS]

I was in Venice in Christmas 2016 and it was still very busy but not so stupid crowding. I enjoyed it a lot more and although I love it probably won't go back. The previous visit was in June 1982 so a long time between visits.

 

[rbjhan]

It was certainly even less crowded in 1976. The only trouble was that I was too young and stupid to really take it all in.

First time I went to Venice was 1999, certainly a bit too young

 

[rbjhan]

Day 11

My oh my did the weather turn or what.....the day before it was sunny and warm, and day 11 was rainy, windy and freezing cold!
I had on a warm hoodie and a Gore-Tex jacket - that's all I got for colder days, reluctantly left the hotel room...

Took another vaporreto, this time went straight to San Giorgio Maggiore.
The church on this island, also has a belltower you can climb, equipped with lift!
And when I got to the top, no one was around....the strong wind and rain, hmmm, I lasted about 10 mins

Great view of San Marco though.


Fondazione Giorgio Cini




That is the Belmond Hotel Cipriani I think....

 

[rbjhan]

The Church itself was quite grand




One of the crowns in its collection.

 

[rbjhan]

The weather was really not great, so I slowly made my way back...


Passing through a church, or ten.


Back to Mestre and onwards to Milan.

 

[rbjhan]

Amazingly I had found one picture of the hotel in Milan


Yep that's IBIS Milano Centro, reasonably close to the main station, and inexpensive.
Went to a restaurant nearby for dinner.
I honestly can't remember what this was


End of Day 11.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Amazingly I had found one picture of the hotel in Milan


Yep that's IBIS Milano Centro, reasonably close to the main station, and inexpensive.
Went to a restaurant nearby for dinner.
I honestly can't remember what this was
View attachment 216145

End of Day 11.

looks like costolette di miele with lemon.

Yum.

 

[rbjhan]

Day 12

During the trip planning stage, one of the major difficulties I had, was to book a ticket to see Cenacolo Vinciano (The Last Supper). Since February that year I had been going to the official website on a daily basis, it's SOLD OUT everytime - only planned 2 days in Milan. I had almost given up on this thing altogether, but finally saw availability mid April, phew!

Santa Maria delle Grazie


Arrived a bit early, spent some time in the church. Very quiet inside, most people were just waiting outside.


The painting is located at the refectory of the convent


This was the ticket. Even more difficult to get than the Alhambra!


As you can see, there's a time slot allocated. One group of 25 was let in every 15 mins, and it was strickly enforced.

First there's room to get everyone dehumidified, then another 2 sets of automatic doors, all efforts to limit the damage of dust and particles - the painting was in a poor state of conservation...

All that effort, worth it? I'd say yes. It was quite a surreal feeling when actually facing this painting...but probably won't do it again.

 

[rbjhan]

Duomo

I was in some deep church fatigue at that point...
This is a very impressive building but somehow just didn't do it for me

 

[rbjhan]

But, still climb to the top! (there's a lift)










View is nowhere as good as the climbs I did before, sigh.

 

[rbjhan]

Rest of the afternoon was some shopping time


Vaguely remember I did a guided tour of Teatro alla Scala as well, but couldn't find any pictures...I'm guessing photos were not allowed? Sadly the two nights I was in Milan there were no performance

 

[TheRealTMA]

Vaguely remember I did a guided tour of Teatro alla Scala as well, but couldn't find any pictures...I'm guessing photos were not allowed? Sadly the two nights I was in Milan there were no performance

No, photos are allowed. Have another look.

I think I took 30+ or so inside.

There’s also a great hotel (or two) in the Galleria - Milan Galleria VIK

https://www.galleriavikmilano.com/

 

[rbjhan]

No, photos are allowed. Have another look.

I think I took 30+ or so inside.

There’s also a great hotel (or two) in the Galleria - Milan Galleria VIK

https://www.galleriavikmilano.com/

Things change. Unless you went in May 2012?....
My photos were all numbered by the camera, nothing is missing. I'm quite certain the day I went photos were not allowed.