My Visit to Italy 1962/63

 

Sometime around 1962/1963, my family relocated to Cairo, Egypt and on our way there we took a cruise ship from New York to the Italian port of Genoa.

From Genoa we traveled to Pisa, Livorno, Florence, Rome, and Naples before visiting other countries in Europe.

I was 15/16 years old and while I was old enough to understand the importance of where I was, I was not old enough to appreciate the significance of what I saw...  which looking back, is a damn shame.

Rome was probably the most exciting city that we visited with all its ancient structures... but what stuck in my mind more than anything else was the Pieta sculpture by Michelangelo in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy.

The guide told us that the dress of Mary had been cut so thin that light would shine through it from behind if a light source was put there.  The artistic skill to be able to do that was incredible and I doubt has ever been duplicated by another sculpture.

But more impressive than that was the fact that in 1962/63, visitors could walk up to the Pieta and get close to the sculpture that if you wanted to you could reach out and touch it.

However, asshole vandals ruined that and when I returned to St. Peter's Basilica in 2012 with my wife, we could only stand at the end of a hallway, behind bullet proof glass if we wanted to look at the Pieta.

Italy is a place that I would never get tired of visiting.

Italy: The Holy See

Vatican City, in full State of the Vatican City, Italian Stato della Città del Vaticano, ecclesiastical state, seat of the Roman Catholic Church, and an enclave in Rome, situated on the west bank of the Tiber River. Vatican City is the world’s smallest fully independent nation-state. Its medieval and Renaissance walls form its boundaries except on the southeast at St. Peter’s Square (Piazza San Pietro). 

Of the six entrances, only three—the piazza, the Arco delle Campane (Arch of the Bells) in the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica, and the entrance to the Vatican Museums and Galleries in the north wall—are open to the public. The most imposing building is St. Peter’s Basilica, built during the 4th century and rebuilt during the 16th century. Erected over the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle, it is the second largest religious building (after Yamoussoukro Basilica) in Christendom.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Basilica

The Vatican palace is the residence of the pope within the city walls. The Holy See is the name given to the government of the Roman Catholic Church, which is led by the pope as the bishop of Rome. As such, the Holy See’s authority extends over Catholics throughout the world. Since 1929 it has resided in Vatican City, which was established as an independent state to enable the pope to exercise his universal authority.

Vatican City has its own telephone system, post office, gardens, astronomical observatory, radio station, banking system, and pharmacy, as well as a contingent of Swiss Guards responsible for the personal safety of the pope since 1506. Almost all supplies—including food, water, electricity, and gas—must be imported. 

There is no income tax and no restriction on the import or export of funds. As the Holy See, it derives its income from the voluntary contributions of more than one billion Roman Catholics worldwide, as well as interest on investments and the sale of stamps, coins, and publications. Banking operations and expenditures have been reported publicly since the early 1980s.  READ MORE...

Italy: What to See

The Colosseum, in Rome

The 20 Best Things to Do in Italy

You’re planning to visit Italy for your next trip and you’re looking for the best places to visit?

Great choice, there are many beautiful things to see in the country, you will love it!

With many beautiful cities, a rich history, stunning landscapes, some of the most beautiful Mediterranean islands and of course delicious food, I can say without a doubt that Italy is one of my favourite destination in Europe.

In order to help you plan your stay, I have prepared this list of the 20 best things to do in Italy, with all the highlights and must-see attractions. It will for sure give you an idea of your next travel destination.

So, what are the best points of interest in Italy? 

Discover Rome, 

the Amalfi Coast, 

Capri,

Sicily 

and much more now!

Summary

The 20 Best Things to Do in Italy (Bucket List)Visit Italy: The 20 Best Places to Visit and Must-See Attractions

1. Rome : the capital
2. Florence: the art city
3. Pisa
4. Venice: the romantic city
5. The Cinque Terre
6. Lecce: the baroque city
7. Verona: the Shakespearean city
8. Genoa: port city
9. Naples : historic city
10. Capri: magnificent island
11. Turin: the city of cinematography and chocolate
12. Milan: the capital of fashion
13. Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands
14. Lake Como
15. Garda lake
16. The Dolomites
17. The Amalfi Coast
18. Gargano National Park
19. Sicily
20. Sardinia
Flight prices to Italy
You’re traveling in Italy? These articles will help you!

Italian Flight Attendants

Italian flight attendants stripped down to their underwear to protest job losses and pay cuts.

Around 50 former female Alitalia flight attendants stripped down to their underwear at the Campidoglio in Rome, CNN reported.

The flight attendants decided to remove their clothing after showing up in their Alitalia uniforms, chanting "We are Alitalia” while undressing.

The news comes after Alitalia ceased its operations, and ITA Airways took its place as the national carrier in Italy. However, not everyone from Alitalia was able get a job with the new airline.

Only 2,600 of the 10,500 Alitalia employees have received a job from ITA Airways.

One new ITA Airways attendant told CNN that those who did get a job with the new airline have seen their seniority drop, received a pay cut and are not told far enough in advance when they will work.

ITA President Alfredo Altavilla said all the employees agreed on the terms of their contracts and the threats of a strike are "a thing of national shame."

ITA Airways will retain half of Alitalia’s planes but will also add new airbuses to the national carrier, according to Reuters.

It will still be a few months until ITA Airways is fully phased in while Alitalia ends its operations. Passengers have not been affected by the change in airlines.  

All About Italy