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Rocca Maggiore – A Medieval Fortress Towering Over Assisi

October 5, 2012 by
La Rocca Assisi

Rocca Maggiore, A Medieval Fortress Towering over Assisi, Offers Magnificent Views: Towering over the town of Assisi is the mighty castle of Rocca Maggiore, a medieval fortress that was built almost a thousand years ago for defensive purposes.  To get to the fortress from Assisi town square requires an uphill hike of about 20 minutes and then there are steps to climb up the fortress tower, but once you get up there, the 360° panoramic views of Assisi and the surrounding landscapes make it … [Read more...]

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In Search of George Clooney on a Lake Como Cruise

October 3, 2012 by
Lake Como Boat Trip

A Lake Como Cruise to See the Villas of the Rich and Famous: From Baveno on Lake Maggiore, it was an hour's drive for us to Lake Como (Lago di Como) to enjoy a cruise on the third largest lake in Italy and the deepest glacial lake in Europe. Mention Lake Como and George Clooney immediately springs to mind....for many women at least. Whilst Lake Como has always been the home for the rich and famous, it was only when George Clooney bought his Villa L'Oleandra near the village of Laglio that the … [Read more...]

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Acqua Alta floods Piazza San Marco…but the music plays on

October 1, 2012 by
Venice Acqua Alta

Experiencing Venice During Acqua Alta: As our water taxi navigates the back canals to the Splendid Hotel in San Marco, we notice that the canal water level is almost at street level. Are we about to experience Venice's famous acqua alta (high waters) I wonder, or is the high water level in the process of receding. As our hotel room is not yet ready for occupancy, we stroll to Piazza San Marco to find that walkways (passarelle) have already been erected and the masses that normally fill … [Read more...]

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A Sidetrip to See Frances Mayes’ House Under the Tuscan Sun

September 18, 2012 by
Frances Mayes Under the Tuscan Sun

A Side Trip to See Frances Mayes' House in Cortona: Cortona is a charming Tuscan hill town that was quiet and little known to popular tourism before the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun". This romantic comedy, based on Frances Mayes' memoirs, has brought increased interest by visitors, especially women, keen to see where the recently divorced Frances (Diane Lane) found her villa under the Tuscan sun, began her new life and ultimately found romance. Under the Tuscan Sun Tour Our visit to … [Read more...]

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Perge Was Once a Very Important City in Pamphylia

August 15, 2012 by
Perga colonnaded street

Perge is An Important Ancient Turkey Site: Perge (Perga in Greek) was once a very important city in the region of Pamphylia and the ancient ruins of Perge is located about 18 km east of Antalya near the town of Aksu. Ancient Perga Perge is located near the Kestros River and was originally a port city on a major trade route. Perga was a wealthy Greek city during the Hellenistic period, however, when the whole bay area silted up, that ended Perga's port city status and sea … [Read more...]

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Iznik’s Hagia Sophia – Where the Nicene Creed Was Created

August 10, 2012 by
Hagia Sophia Church - Iznik

Hagia Sophia in Iznik Was the Scene of Two Council of Nicea Meetings: From Bursa, we had an 80 km drive northeast to Iznik or Nicea (Nicaea), as it was known in ancient times. Nicea was once the capital of the Byzantine Empire and there are a number of reminders of its past glory in this town. But our visit today was only to see the Hagia Sophia Church (Aya Sofya) , one of the town's oldest monuments. Hagia Sophia is significant because this was where the Nicene Creed was created. Iznik's … [Read more...]

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Sultanahmet Square – The Historic Heart of Old Istanbul

August 8, 2012 by
Sultanahmet Meydani

Sultanahmet Square is the Old Historic Quarter of Istanbul: The Sultanahmet Square (Sultanahmet Meydani) is the old historic quarter of Istanbul and here you will find some of the most significant historic monuments of Istanbul. The district was named after Sultan Ahmet I, the builder of the Blue Mosque which sits at one end of the leafy square. Facing the Blue Mosque at the opposite end of the square is the magnificent Hagia Sophia. Sultanahmet Square Many of Istanbul's Byzantine and … [Read more...]

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Exploring the Inside of Hagia Sophia

August 5, 2012 by
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya)

Hagia Sophia or Aya Sofya is Istanbul's Legacy of Christian and Muslim Cultures:   Hagia Sophia or Aya Sofya (The Church of the Holy Wisdom), was formerly a Byzantine church which was converted into a mosque when Sultan Mehmed II conquered Istanbul in 1453. When Turkey became a republic in 1934, Hagia Sofia was turned into the Ayasofya Müzesi (Ayasofya Museum), and is one of the top Istanbul attractions. Hagia Sophia Brief History There has been a church on the Hagia Sophia site … [Read more...]

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Movie Line Up at the Venice Film Festival 2012

July 31, 2012 by
Venice Film Festival 2012

The 69th Edition of the Venice Film Festival has announced its 2012 program There are many reasons to visit Venice besides its stunning backdrop of canals, winding alleyways and elaborate Venetian Gothic palaces. One famous and elegant reason is to attend the yearly international Venice Film Festival on the island of Lido, just a few minutes' waterbus ride from historic St Mark's Square. The Lido is lined with palm trees, 11km of beach, cars (unlike its neighboring island), and from August … [Read more...]

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An Evening at the Evranos Restaurant Folklore Show

July 26, 2012 by
Evranos Restaurant, Avanos

A Folklore Show at the Evranos Restaurant in Avanos: The Central Anatolian region is rich in history and culture and within its thirteen provinces is a wealth of cultural beliefs, customs and practices.  During our stay in Avanos, we attended a folklore show at the Evranos Restaurant which gave us a small taste of the Anatolian culture. Evranos Restaurant The Evranos Restaurant is housed in an underground cave and it's folklore show is obviously one of the attractions in the region. To … [Read more...]

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