SIENA, SAN GIMIGNANO AND PISA

Siena, Piazza del Campo - where the famous Palio horserace takes place every year for the last 500 years

Siena's Duomo is one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Italy

A piazza in medievil  San Gimignanano- home of the famous white wine Vernaccia

Vista da San Gimignano

Strada di San Gimignano

Campo dei Miracoli- the Field of Miracles where the Leaning Tower, the Duomo, the Camposanto and the Baptistery are located- is one of the most dramatic and beautiful architectural complexes in Italy

 The lower four levels are leaning to the right -looking closely you can see the upper 3 levels were added on in a more upright position

Laura doing her best to keep the tower from falling

Jacqui steps in to lend a hand

A closer look at the foundation area that is sinking

Steak Tuscan Style is fit for both man and beast

Laura and Jacqui's introduction to Florence near the Ponte Vecchio

ROMA- LA CITTA 'ETERNA

LAURA AND JACQUI AT THE SPANISH STEPS- PIAZZA DE SPAGNA

SWISS GUARDS AT ST PETER'S  BASILICA

LA PIETA - words cannot describe

INSIDE ST PETER'S BASILICA - MARBLE MARBLE AND MORE MARBLE

And his light shined upon them

THE MAIN ALTAR

THE MOLDING IS ALMOST AS HIGH AS LAURA AND JACQUI

THE SQUARE OF ST PETER'S BASILICA

COLOSSEO- legend has it as long as the Colosseum stands, Rome will stand

ALL'INTERNO DEL COLOSSEO

80 AD

ROMAN FORUM - 500 BC TO AD400

PIAZZA NAVONA

THE PANTHEON - REBUILT IN 100AD  BY EMPEROR HADRIAN- 141 FEET HIGH BY 141 FEET WIDE WHICH HAD THE LARGEST DOME EVER DESIGNED UNTIL THE 20TH CENTURY

INSIDE THE PANTHEON

LA LUCE SPLENDENTE

JACQUI SMILING WHILE LAURA IS TAKING PICUTRES

FUORI DEL PANTHEON

FONTANA DI TREVI 

LIFE IS A PIAZZA -  for Italians, la piazza serves as a punto d'incontro- a meeting place - for dinner plans, drinks, people-watching,catching up with friends and, as Romans would say, exchanging due chiacchiere (two words). As dinner approaches at 9, the big question is : Are you "in" or "out"(inside table or outside table). No matter: the people watching is unrivaled anywhere you sit.

CARNEVALE - Latin for "Farewell, Meat !!" Originated in Venice in the year 1162 around Shrove Tuesday

Here are some pictures of a carnival at a seaside resort - Viareggio. There are carnivals all throughout Italy with the most famous being in Venice.

No carnival in Tuscany would be complete without a traditional "Porchetta" panino.

OMG -  cant it be - yes it is - Obama

The word carnival comes from the Latin for "Farewell, meat!". As Lent (which begins on Ash Wednesday) obliged people to fast, during the period up to Ash Wednesday all meat, butter and eggs had to be used up. This religious formality became the excuse for a party that echoed pagan festivities.

The history of the Venice Carnival tradition began after 1162. The Republic defeated Ulrico, Patriarch of Aquileia in that year, and began a tradition of slaughtering a bull and 12 pigs in the Piazza San Marco around Shrove Tuesday to commemorate the victory. This celebration gradually grew and 1268 dates the first document mentioning the use of masks.

MAMBO ITALIANO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzUfmh3G9AE

Copy and paste for this old catchy tune - you will be singing it for days after.

ASSISI - Tranquillo Sereno Silenzioso

The small town of Assisi is one of the Christian worlds most important pilgrimage sites and home of the Basilica di San Franceso (on the left side of town). Like most other towns in the region, Assisi began as an Umbri Settlement in the 7 th century BC and was conquered by the Romans 400 years later. The town was Christianized by St Ruffino in the 3rd century but it is the spirit of St Francis that is felt throughout these narrow medieval streets.

Assisi is pristinely medieval in architecture and appearance. But not even the constant flood of visitors of this town with just 3000 residents can spoil the the beauty of this significant religious center.

The peace and serenity of the town is a welcome respite after the hustle and bustle of some of Italy's major cities.

In the Cathedrale of San Rufino lies the crypt of Saint Ruffino, the bishop who brought Christianity to Assisi and was martyred around 238.

Inside San Ruffino which was the principal church in town until the 12th century - the baptismal front where Saint Francis and Saint Clare (one of the first followers of St Francis) where baptized.

A statue of Saint Francis - a patron saint of Italy.

San Damiano- It was here while praying in the church of Saint Damian that Saint Francis heard the words of God - Restore my house. It later became the first monastery of the Order of Saint Clare

Basilica di Santa Chiara - the lovely wide piazza in front of this church is reason enough to visit. The facade of the church frames the piazza's panoramic view over the Umbrian plains. Saint Clare - one of the earliest followers of St Francis was the founder of order of the Poor Ladies. The church contains Clare's body which you can view.

Finally, Assisi's Basilica Di San Francesco. The basilica is not one church but two. A Romanesque lower church came first. The low ceilings and candlelit interior make an appropriately solemn setting for St Francis tomb. The Gothic upper church was built a half a century later and is strikingly different, with arches and tall stained glass windows.

The walkway up to the basilica.

Santa Maria degli Angeli - inside this church are two important pieces of history.
Standing directly under the basilica's large dome, the Porziuncola ("little portion") is the original stone chapel restored and frequently used by St. Francis. Dating from the 9th century, the long-abandoned chapel was given to Francis by the Benedictines and became the early headquarters of the new Franciscan order, founded here in 1209. So we literally have a small church standing inside the middle of the large church.
The Cappella del Transito is the small room in which St. Francis died on October 3, 1226. It is a simple hut that served as an infirmary for the sick in the community. He asked to be brought here when he felt himself near death.
Later Santa Maria was built over these two places to protect them
If you copy and past this site you will get a look at the Porziuncola.
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/assisi-maria-degli-angeli-photos/slides/IMG_6119p