Italy 2010

Andrea, Ed and Beth's trip to Italy. A week in Rome, a week in Sorrento and a week in Tuscany with lots of interesting side trips. One day of rain on the last day, but otherwise beautiful weather. The pictures in this group were taken mostly with Ed's camera (Nikon D200), Andrea's camera (Canon SD1000) and Beth's camera (Canon SD630)

Day 6 - Rome to Sorrento

This day was spent on the bus traveling from Rome to Sorrento, stopping first to see the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls.


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Day 5 - Tour of Ancient Rome Day 5 - Tour of Ancient Rome	Saddled up and ready to go! Saddled up and ready to go!	Piazza Venezia, the center of Rome. Building to the left is Palazzo Bonaparte Piazza Venezia, the center of Rome. Building to the left is Palazzo Bonaparte	Museo del Palazzo Venezia, built 1455-1464 by Pietro Barbo, later Pope Paul II as a papal residence. Mussolini used the palace as his headquarters and addressed the people from the balcony. Museo del Palazzo Venezia, built 1455-1464 by Pietro Barbo, later Pope Paul II as a papal residence. Mussolini used the palace as his headquarters and addressed the people from the balcony.	Day 7 - Walking tour of Sorrento and home hosted lunch Day 7 - Walking tour of Sorrento and home hosted lunch
Church of St. Charles and Trajan's Column, topped with a statue of St Peter. Church of St. Charles and Trajan's Column, topped with a statue of St Peter.	Trajan's Market and forum Trajan's Market and forum	Don't know what the building is, but I liked the sign Don't know what the building is, but I liked the sign	The site of the Circus Maximus The site of the Circus Maximus	Palatine Hill Palatine Hill
		Part of the Roman city wall Part of the Roman city wall	Porta San Paolo, one of the southern gates in the third century Aurelian Walls. Porta San Paolo, one of the southern gates in the third century Aurelian Walls.	Pyramid of Cestius next to Porta San Paolo. Pyramid of Cestius next to Porta San Paolo.
Billboard advertising the Smart Car. With cheaper alternatives available for tiny cars, this car, made by Mercedes Benz, is somewhat of a status symbol in Italy. Billboard advertising the Smart Car. With cheaper alternatives available for tiny cars, this car, made by Mercedes Benz, is somewhat of a status symbol in Italy.	The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, originally founded in 324 by Roman Emperor Constantine I over the burial place of Sait Paul. The Papal Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, originally founded in 324 by Roman Emperor Constantine I over the burial place of Sait Paul.	The church has had a long history and has been destroyed and rebuild multiple times. The current building was opened in 1840 The church has had a long history and has been destroyed and rebuild multiple times. The current building was opened in 1840	Facade mosaics include Christ between Peter and Paul, the mystical Lamb with four rivers representing the four Gospels and 12 lambs representing the Apostles. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel at the window level. Facade mosaics include Christ between Peter and Paul, the mystical Lamb with four rivers representing the four Gospels and 12 lambs representing the Apostles. The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel at the window level.	Statue of St. Paul by Giuseppe Obici. Statue of St. Paul by Giuseppe Obici.
St. Paul Outside the Walls is the second largest Basilica in Rome and is one of four great ancient major basilicas (papal basilicas) of Rome along with St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Peter's St. Paul Outside the Walls is the second largest Basilica in Rome and is one of four great ancient major basilicas (papal basilicas) of Rome along with St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Peter's		Main entrance Main entrance		Main doors made by Antonio Maraini and placed here in 1931 Main doors made by Antonio Maraini and placed here in 1931
			The Holy Door, opened only during the Jubilees. This door, made of golden bronze, was created by Enrico Manfrini and erected for the Jubilee of 2000. The scupture illustrate the theme of the Trinity. The Latin inscription on the bottom wishes "the gift of peace and eternal salvation to be granted to all those visiting Paul’s Holy Temple" The Holy Door, opened only during the Jubilees. This door, made of golden bronze, was created by Enrico Manfrini and erected for the Jubilee of 2000. The scupture illustrate the theme of the Trinity. The Latin inscription on the bottom wishes "the gift of peace and eternal salvation to be granted to all those visiting Paul’s Holy Temple"
	Shot from the back of the church. Shot from the back of the church.		Alabaster window from Egypt Alabaster window from Egypt	The 5th century mosaics of the triumphal arch portray the Apocalypse of John, with Christ in the middle with the 24 doctors of the church on either side, and the flying symbols of the four Evangelists above. Lower left figure is St. Paul, presumably pointing down at his tomb. Lower right is St Peter. The 5th century mosaics of the triumphal arch portray the Apocalypse of John, with Christ in the middle with the 24 doctors of the church on either side, and the flying symbols of the four Evangelists above. Lower left figure is St. Paul, presumably pointing down at his tomb. Lower right is St Peter.
		Marble candelabra created by Pietro Vassalletto in 1170. Considered the most valued artwork in the basilica Marble candelabra created by Pietro Vassalletto in 1170. Considered the most valued artwork in the basilica
		The Apse The Apse
				The church is decorated by mosaic portraits of the popes The church is decorated by mosaic portraits of the popes
Detail of one of the pope mosaics sharpened to show the individual tiles. St. Pontian was Pope from 230 to 235, when he was exiled by Emperor Maximinus to the mines of Sardinia, where he died. Detail of one of the pope mosaics sharpened to show the individual tiles. St. Pontian was Pope from 230 to 235, when he was exiled by Emperor Maximinus to the mines of Sardinia, where he died.			Pieces of older incarnations of the church Pieces of older incarnations of the church
			Modern sculpture seen on the way out of Rome Modern sculpture seen on the way out of Rome
	Another modern Roman sculpture Another modern Roman sculpture		A roadside restaurant on the way to Sorrento A roadside restaurant on the way to Sorrento
Photo stop as we approace the Sorrentine Peninsula Photo stop as we approace the Sorrentine Peninsula	Our first look at lemon mania Our first look at lemon mania		The Sorrentine Peninsula in the distance with the Bay of Naples in the foreground The Sorrentine Peninsula in the distance with the Bay of Naples in the foreground	Sorrento's specialty alcoholic drink is limoncello, made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar Sorrento's specialty alcoholic drink is limoncello, made from lemon rinds, alcohol, water and sugar
			Cliffs along the peninsula on the way to Sorrento Cliffs along the peninsula on the way to Sorrento
		Entering the town of Sorrento, population around 16,000. The oldest ruins here date to 600 BC Entering the town of Sorrento, population around 16,000. The oldest ruins here date to 600 BC	Gorge with a switchback road down to the Sorrento harbor. Shot from the main square, Piazza Tasso, a short walk from our hotel. Gorge with a switchback road down to the Sorrento harbor. Shot from the main square, Piazza Tasso, a short walk from our hotel.
A gorge a couple of hundred feet from our hotel - "the valley of flour mills" A gorge a couple of hundred feet from our hotel - "the valley of flour mills"				Mount Vesuvius across the Bay of Naples from the roof of our hotel Mount Vesuvius across the Bay of Naples from the roof of our hotel
		The hotel pool The hotel pool		Dinner in Sorrento Dinner in Sorrento
		Day 7 - Walking tour of Sorrento and home hosted lunch Day 7 - Walking tour of Sorrento and home hosted lunch