Italy, Austria and Germany by Lisa

Milan was the starting point of our two week vacation that encompassed Dachua Germany to visit the World War II concentration camp and Vienna Austria to see the capital in all its glory.
In Milan we found that most people in Italy speak a little English. We had some problems finding our hotel, Best Western City Center, but the people were very friendly. The hotel was in a great location, convenient to shopping and major attractions. It was also one block from a subway station. The staff spoke English and had a city map that came into use. The Piazza del Duomo, with its great cathedral, was our first stop. As elaborate as a wedding cake, the edifice is decorated with 2,245 marble statues and 135 marble spires. The 16th-century stained glass windows illuminate the five great aisles and huge pillars of the church. The refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie has Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper on display.

We traveled to Dachua Germany and had a very moving experience at the concentration camp. The words “Work Brings Freedom” are still above the gate that the prisoners would see as they entered the camp. Two of the original 20 barracks were rebuilt with the wooden beds stacked on top of one another. The one bathroom with 20 toilets and no privacy are there to allow you feel some of their pain. There are signs in 4 languages that explain the camp and daily routines.

As we left Germany we traveled to Link and then on to Vienna via a small road that followed the Danube River. It was a most pleasant drive. We saw the one of the most beautiful Baroque abbeys on the right bank and the the ruined castle where Richard the Loinhearted was imprisoned in 1193. All the chief buildings in Vienna have little shields attached to their facades. Get a booklet from the Tourist Board called “Vienna from A to Z”, that lists all the numbered shields with a history of each building. Be sure while you are there to visit Stephen’s Cathedral, the main landmark in Vienna. Other important sites are the Hofburg, historic central palace of the Austrian Empire, with the imperial apartments of Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elizabeth., and tour of the Treasury and see the Crown Jewels. Be sure to see Schonbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, and stroll the gardens.

We drove on to Mestre Italy which is a small town 20 miles east of Venice. We stayed at the Bologna, located across the street from the train station, because we didn’t want to have to wonder the streets of Venice carrying our luggage. We got a r/t ticket for 5 lira and walked down the station steps right to the Grand Canal. Be sure to get a map of Venice for you will surly need one. A gondola ride to San Marco station will take you on a leisurely two-mile tour of Venice’s main street, the S-shaped Grand Canal. Explore the Piazza San Marco, a regal square with the great Basilica of St. Mark, one of the world’s most magnificent churches. Be sure to take the stairway to the museum in the basilica’s galley, where the stunning originals of four magnificent horses of gilded copper are now installed. These horses once adorned the Hippodrome of Constantinople and in 1207 were placed on the terrace of San Marco, where some copies now stand. Also visit the Palazzo Ducale, the Doges’ Palace, next to the basilica. As you tour the Palace see the “stairway of gold” and then follow the arrows across the Bridge of Sighs, linking the Doges Palace with the Palazzo delle Prigioni. Eat dinner by candlelight at a table sitting next to one of the many canals and listen to the Gondoliers singing as they go by.

Next we toured Florence. In the Galleria Dell’Accademia we turned a corner and there was the most marvelous site, David, Michelangelo’s colossal statue. Also take time to tour the Uffizi Palace which houses an important collection of paintings, the Piazza del Duomo, Giotto’s 14th century Campanile called the most beautiful bell tower in the world,. Best Western Hotel and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, with the East Door, a work that took 27 years to complete in bronze.

We left Florence to travel to Pisa and saw the Piazza del Duomo-the 900 year old cathedral and the Leaning Tower. The tower is still closed to tourists as it was in danger of toppling over. There is construction going on now to save the tower so you must be satisfied to just look at it. We left Pisa and traveled back roads to the medieval city of Volterra. It sits on a hill overlooking magnificent countryside. When you enter the gates of the city the streets are very narrow and winding. Volterra is known for its alabaster and its many shops carry all kinds of items made from it. From Volterra we drove on to Sienna which had the look and spirit of the Middle Ages. We visited the Il Duomo. This sienese cathedral dates from the 12 century. The zebralike interior of black and white strips is stunning. Be sure to see the Donatello work in bronze of John the Baptist. We spent the night in Perusia, another medieval walled city. You must climb steps to enter the city and the view from the overlook on a clear day stretches to Assisi, which was our first stop the next day. In Assisi we toured the Basilica Di San Francesco. This church consists of both an upper church and a lower church. As you tour the lower church you see the entrance to the crypt of St. Frances, which is below this church. It is a very spiritual place.

Our final stop was Rome. We had 3 days to sample the wonders of this city. We started with the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. We walked from the Arch of Titus to the Arch of Septimius Severus. We tossed a coin in the famous Trevi Fountain and climbed the Spanish Steps. We visited the Castel Sant’ Angelo built by Emperor Hadrian in 135 and then the Pantheon, rebuilt by Hadrian as a pagan temple. We visited San Pietro in Vincoli and saw Michelangelo’s famous statue of Moses and the huge white Victor Emmanuel Monument where the unknown soldier is buried. Be sure to see Michelangelo’s stairs that lead you to the Campidoglio, Rome’s city hall and the Capitoline Museums.

On Tuesday, November 7th, we arrived at the Vatican to find areas roped off and guards scanning people before allowing them inside. We walked in the Holy Door and saw Michelangelo’s, Pieta in the first chapel behind bullet proof glass. As we walked on we were directed to the left of the main aisle. There was a hush as the Pope came out. He was on a small rolling stand with handrails and he waved and blessed babies as he proceeded to the Confessional Altar, marking the burial place of St. Peter. This was the highlight of our trip. When the service was complete we walked to the back of the church to view the baldacchino by Bernini, resting over the papal altar and entered the crypt of St. Peter. We later climbed the steps to view Michelangelo’s dome and a breathtaking view of the interior. As we exited the church we strolled around to the entrance to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. The museums are a series of palaces and galleries built over centuries. The treasures here are many, but pale in comparison when you enter the Sistine Chapel. Michaelanglo painted 9 panels on the ceiling taken from Genesis and it took him 4 years to complete. He was in his 60’s when he painted the Last Judgment on the altar wall.

Italy was a wonderful experience for me. I found it to be both educational and inspirational. If you are interested in history and love art, then you will be in heaven.