Italy, the country shaped like a boot, whose area includes the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, is located in the Mediterranean Sea. Famous for its rich culture, visitors enjoy Italy for its blending of the past and present. Today, Italy has a population of nearly 60 million people and is noted for its rich cuisine, fabulous art collections, timeless architecture, rolling countrysides and beautiful scenery.
After leaving Nice, France, I headed off to Florence in the Tuscany region of Italy. For $11 a night, I got a room in the Pensione Grazia e Giselda, which was right next to the train station. My first stop was the Duomo for a quick look around while my room was being prepared. After settling in, I was off to see the Statue of David at the Accademia. After running into some fellow Penn Staters there, we were all off to see the city. Florence is a beautiful place, and there is so much to see and do that it's hard to take it all in in a couple of days, but I gave it a shot. The Uffizi Gallery was at the top of my list, climbing the steps to the top of the Duomo was a must, and the Medici Chapels were a stop on my itinerary too. On my limited schedule, I still managed to see a lot.
In Rome, I found a room three blocks from the Termini train station in the Hotel Corallo at Via Palestro, 44, but the next day I moved down the street to the Pensione Katty at Via Palestro, 35 because it was cheaper. Now that was a lively place! The lady who ran the place spoke next to no English, and I don't speak any Italian, plus she had two Siamese cats running around the place. Still, the kindly owner, bargain-basement prices, and quirky decor of the large, spare rooms earn the Katty a place amid Rome's budget bests. I spent three days in the Eternal City, seeing as much as I could from the Colosseum to Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel to tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain. The Sistine Chapel was undergoing restoration at that time, so only about half of the ceiling could be seen; it was beautiful nonetheless. The Vatican Museum is definitely worth a visit, and St. Peter's Basilica is simply awe-inspiring. Visiting the Colosseum was an awesome experience. I can remember thinking, though, how sad it was that the traffic and pollution were destroying it. The exterior has since been cleaned and pictures I've seen recently look much better. Also, I remember there being a ton of cats running around inside the Colosseum! They were everywhere, all strays I guess, though they were so used to people and the handouts they got that you could easily pet them.
When I got to Venice, the tourist office found me a room not far from the train station at the Albergo Adua on the Lista de Spagna, Cannaregio, 233A. Albergo Adua was definitely a good deal with clean decent-sized rooms. After settling in, I took the vaporetto (waterbus) down the Grand Canal to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. Venice, quite simply, is a beautiful city. It is one of the few places in the world to which the word 'unique' can truly be applied: a city in the middle of the sea. The canals are no anachronism. They are the veins through which the city's lifeblood flows; every service, from the dustmen to the fire brigade, must use a boat. More than 100 islands make up this remarkable floating city that boasts the most extraordinary collection of architectural styles in Europe. Twentieth-century buildings are a rarity. Centuries of outstanding architecture, from the thirteenth to the nineteenth, are preserved in (sometimes slightly peeling) grandeur. In Venice proper (including Cannaregio), you can escape the tyranny of the car: there are none (no scooters or bicycles, either). It was really strange to be in a big city with not a single car in sight. I visited the Basilica di San Marco, the main cathedral in Venice, and I realized that every area inside had mosaic paintings on walls, ceilings, and floors. There wasn't anyplace not covered with some artwork!! I also went up the Belltower in Piazza San Marco where I was awarded with a bird's eye view of Venice...FANTASTIC!!! My only regret is that I did not take a gondola ride while I was in Venice; being a student on a very limited budget, I simply couldn't afford the luxury at that time.
All said and done, I had a great week in Italy. The food there was wonderful; I think I ate my way through the country! The people were always very friendly, talkative, and helpful. The history that surrounds you everywhere you go is simply amazing. There is so much to see and do that you can't begin to take it all in. My best advice? Do your homework before you go and have a plan of what you want to see and do and where you want to go. If your time will be limited, it certainly helps you to avoid wasting it. I would love to return to Italy again someday to see more, and I certainly recommend it to anyone who has never been there. Beautiful architecture, ancient history, great food, and wonderful people...how could you go wrong?
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