Florence/Pisa, Italy - Day 6 - Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise

On our drive to Florence

We hired a private driver for our day in Italy!  We booked a Florence/Pisa Tour with Paola Migliorni and Guiseppe (www.florencetour.com).  We had read many good things about them.  It would be a full day - 9 hour tour!  We would spend some time driving to Florence, then Pisa before returning to the ship. We had met a family online on our www.cruisecritic.com roll call, and they joined us on the tour.  We got a better rate with more people.  There were 16 of us all together on the tour.  We had two vans/drivers and one guide.  The cost was 82.5 euros per person plus additional money for entrance fees.

Duomo, Florence

The Duomo is the Cathedral of Florence.  It is also call Saint Mary of the Flower for the lily (symbol of Florence).  Work began on the Cathedral in 1294 and was completed in 1436.

Baptistery, Florence - known for it's bronze doors

Church of Santa Croce

The Church of Santa Croce is famous for it's inhabitants!  The remains of Michelangelo and Galileo are entombed here.

Inside the Church of Santa Croce

Galileo (1564-1642)                        Michelangelo (1475-1564)

A copy of the David (Michelangelo) in front of Piazza della Signoria

Part of our tour included entrance to the Accademia (10euros per person).  By booking the tour with our private guide, we were able to avoid the lines and were guaranteed entrance into the museum.  This museum is home to the famous David created by Michelangelo from 1501-1504.  It is 17ft tall and has amazing detail.  You are not allowed to take photos inside, so we had to take a photo of a copy outside of Piazza della Signoria.  The originally was moved from the Piazza in 1873 to protect it, and the copy was created.  

Piazza della Signoria                                       gelato

Ponte Vecchio crosses the Arno River - known for the
shops that align the bridge

If you rub the nose of this,
you will return to Florence some day!

Florence, Italy

Our Group

Santa Maria della Spina, on our way to Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Field of Miracles

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a bell tower.  The tilt began during construction due to an inadequate foundation on soft ground.  It stands just over 183 feet and has 296 stairs.  

Cathedral (Duomo)

Photo of the Day

Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre pendent di Pisa)

Monte Carlo, Monaco - Day 5 - Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise

Monaco lies between the French and Italian Rivieras.  It is the world's most densely populated country at nearly 34,000 residents in only a square mile.  Tourism is Monaco's main source of income and is one of the most expensive places to visit. Real estate in Monaco and Monte Carlo is also some of the most expensive in the world. Monte Carlo is famous for it's hotels, casinos, glamour and celebrity sightings.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Tourist in Monte Carlo

We visited the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium.  The museum has a collection of fish, stuffed and skeleton sea creatures and models of Prince Albert's laboratory ships.  It costs 13 euros.

The views from the terrace of the museum were amazing!

St. Nicholas Cathedral, where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were
married and entombed.

The Grimaldi Family reigns over Monaco.  It all began in 1297.  Prince Rainier III (1923-2005) married American actress Grace Kelly (1929-1982) in 1956 in St. Nicholas Cathedral.  Princess Grace was killed in a tragic accident in 1982.  

The Royal Palace 

The Prince's Royal Palace of Monaco is the actual residence of the Prince and his family.  The current Prince is Prince Albert II.  We toured the Royal Palace and saw many of the artifacts from the reign of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco.  

Changing of the guards at the Royal Palace takes place daily at 11:55am

The World Famous Monte Carlo Casino

We did go inside the casino and walk around.  It's VERY nice and fancy.  To go into the gaming room, men have to wear sports jackets.

We were in Monte Carlo right before the Grand Prix would start!

The views around the city were nice.  You can tell there is a lot of money in Monaco!

There were tons of large yachts!

This particular boat is owned by shipping tycoon Stavros Niarchos' Family.  

Rome - Day 4 - Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise

Francesco

We enjoyed one last breakfast at the Hotel Alimandi!  Francesco took great care of us and made cappuccinos for us every morning!  

The line to the Vatican Museum was VERY long!

We had booked a tour of the Vatican Museum long before we left the states!  It was recommended that we book it through a private company, in order to save time waiting in line.  We would also be able to go into the museum before everyone else!  Here is the link to 'skip the lines' at the Vatican Museum.... http://www.activitaly.it/inglese/itinerari/noflash/cittavaticano.htm    The tour company is called Argiletum Tour Operator.  The tour cost us about $60 US per person.  It's a must-see when visiting Rome!  You visit the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, Raphael's Room, St. Peter's Basilica and Square with a guide who explains everything along the way!  

The grounds inside the Museum doors were very beautiful and well kept

The steps on the right are used by cardinals that enter the
basilica when they gather to elect a new pope!

Inside St. Peter's Basilica - Bernini and the Pieta by Michelangelo

You are not allowed to take ANY photos of the Sistine Chapel, but a friend of
ours managed to get a few shots!

They actually have guards every where in the Sistine Chapel.  If they even here the click or see a camera, they yell!  The painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was done by Michelangelo (1508-1512).  The Last Judgement, as it is called) is said to be his greatest achievement!

Mid-day, we took a small bus to Civitacecchia, the Italian port where we would board the Grand Princess cruise ship, about an hour away!  We booked our transportation (Bonanni Express) through the hotel.  It was very reasonable - 30 euros per couple, and it included a small tip.  

We would spent the next 12 days on the Grand Princess, cruising the Mediterranean!  

Our room on the Grand Princess

Skywalkers Lounge (left/middle), basketball court

Several of the pools and common areas

Rome - Day 3 - Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise

It was another beautiful day!  We lucked out with warm sunshine in Rome, about 80 degrees.  After breakfast, we headed out to sightsee.  

San Pietro in Vincoli
Moses by Michelangelo - Peter in Chains 

After walking in and out of several churches, we toured the Roman Forum.  We paid a little extra and got the audio guide.  As you went from ruin to ruin, you could listen to the guide and learn more about what you were seeing.  There are maps, but they are confusing!  

San Lorenzo in Miranda, Temple of Antonius and Faustina (right)

Roman Forum

Getting around Rome was fairly easy.  You could walk to most places.  Although by the end of the day, you will have covered many miles!  It's recommended that you stop and enjoy Gelato often!

The Spanish Steps - 138 steps

Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and the most famous around the world.  The fountain stands where three roads meet and is an aqueduct that supplied water to ancient Rome.  A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome.  So as the saying goes....when in Rome....yes, we through coins over our shoulder into the fountain!

Trevi Fountain (1732-62, Nicola Salvi)

The Capitoline Wolf is a bronze sculpture of a ‘she-wolf’  suckling twin infants, inspired by the legend of the founding of Rome. According to the legend, the grandfather of the twins (Romulus and Remus), was overthrown by his brother.  He ordered the twins to be cast into the Tiber River. They were rescued by a she-wolf who cared for them until a herdsman found and raised them.

The Mamertine Prison was located near the Roman Forum, at the base of Capitoline Hill.  According to legend, St. Peter and Paul were imprisoned here.  

For our last night in Rome, we wandered around the city and saw many of the same sights at night.  

Rome - Day 2 - Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise

We woke early to get our day started.  Francesco made us cappuccinos, tiramisu and pie for breakfast!  He was the best!

Homemade pies for breakfast was a special treat! 

St. Peter's Basilica

We headed to St. Peter’s Square and took the elevator in the basilica to a certain level of the dome.  From there, we climbed 320 steps up a very narrow stairway that got narrower the closer you got to the top, along with the roof slanting towards you!  It was almost as if it was caving in on you.  At the very top, the views around Vatican City were amazing!

A guard inside Vatican City - St. Peter's Square - The narrow staircase inside the dome

One of my favorite photos...looking down on St. Peter's Square from the top of the basilica

Bernini's Baldachin - inside the basilica - Nuns texting in St. Peter's Square

After spending some time atop the Dome and walking around inside the basilica, we wondered through the square to Castel Sant’Angelo.  The Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as the Castel Sant'Angelo, is a towering cylindrical building. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle, and is now a museum.

Castel Sant'Angelo

From Castel St. Angelo, we walked in and out of many interesting churches.  Also along the way, we entered the Pantheon.  It is one of the best-preserved of all Roman buildings.  Through great bronze doors, you enter into a great circular room. The only natural light enters through an oculus at the center of the dome and through the bronze doors to the portico. As the sun moves, striking patterns of light illuminate the walls and floors. 

Pantheon

Pantheon  - Bernini's Elephant

Victor Emanuel Monument

Another great sight was the Colosseum!  The Colosseum, Coliseum, is a large amphitheater in the city of Rome. The construction of the Colosseum started around 70—72 AD and was finished in 80 AD.  It was used for gladiator contests, and animal hunts, in which animals would hunt and eat prisoners; or gladiators would fight against animals. There were also executions of prisoners, plays, and battle scenes; sometimes it was filled with water to fight sea battles.  In the Middle Ages it was no longer used for performances. It was then used as housing, workshops, a Christian shrine, and as a supply of building stones.  It has been said that about 500,000 people and over a million wild animals died in the Colosseum games.  We happen to be in Rome during Cultural week and almost all the museums and entrance fees were free!

Colosseum

After our long day of exploring the city, we went to dinner at Dino and Tony’s (Via Leone IV 60, Rome, Italy).  It had been highly recommend by several online websites.  They took great care of us, and kept the pasta and wine flowing at our table.  We too would highly recommend them, but call for reservations…. 06 397 33 284.

posing with Dino and Tony

Rome - Day 1 - Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise

On May 10, 2007, we left for the trip of a lifetime…..Mediterranean Greek Isle Cruise with stays in Rome and Venice!  On this 18 adventure, we would visit ports in Italy, France, Greece, and Turkey.  These next many blogs will tell the story!

We left Seattle on May 10, 2007 for Rome, Italy.  We flew KLM through Amsterdam.  It was a long flight but a time to rest!  We arrived in Rome during the afternoon on the 11^th.  We would stay at the Hotel Alimandi (www.alimanditunisi.com). 

Hotel Alimandi with a rooftop terrace for enjoying breakfast or the afternoon sun

It was literally right next to the entrance to the Vatican Museum.  The location was perfect for the 3 days we would stay there.  The total for the 3 nights was about $670usd; pretty good for Rome and the location.  It included the most phenomenal breakfast with homemade pies and cappuccinos!

Panini Trucks had the best sandwich and snack - The view of the Vatican right outside our hotel

Once we arrived in Rome and took the complimentary hotel transportation to the hotel, we checked in and dropped our bags.  We still had plenty of daylight and decided to head to St. Peters Square.

St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square - Enjoying dinner

Castel St. Angelo - Looking back at the Vatican City

We walked around the square and took in the beautiful sights of the city.  Only half of the group was there the first night; the other half would arrive the next day.  Those of us there had a great dinner at an outdoor Italian eatery and ate lasagna and pizza.  We walked to the Piazza Navona and along to the Colosseum.  We realized it was a long walk back to the hotel, so we took the Metro.  It was time for a good night’s sleep!

The Colosseum at night