Assisi, Italy

The home of St. Francis, Assisi was a medieval city-state that is very well preserved and is now home to a large basilica. We stayed in a hotel within the city along the narrow street from the basilica.

No pictures were allowed within the basilica because the walls and ceiling are covered in frescoes. The original frescoes are being restored after damage from an earthquake.

Entering the city still requires passing through the original medieval gate.

There was a panoramic view of the valley below to enjoy as we walked to the bus outside of there city walls. 

Orvieto, Italy

We left Rome and traveled through Umbria on our way to Orvieto.

The Umbria region is known for their crops of grapes, olives, and sunflowers and the production of oils and wines. 

Orvieto was a Roman city and a medieval city state on top of a hill with a road so narrow and steep that they offer free trolley rides from the bottom of the hill to the top. I was grateful for that on this warm day!

At the top of the hill, we found the Orvieto Cathedral.

Orvieto Cathedral was constructed beginning in 1290 AD on top of an ancient Estruscan temple.

The facade was begun in 1310 AD and the tallest spire was raised in 1503 AD, but was struck by lightening in 1795 AD and rebuilt.

The interior of the cathedral was covered in original frescoes, stained glass, and the striped marble design continued. 

Clock tower Tower of Maurizio has a 14th century bronze automaton who strikes at the top of each hour.

Torre del Moro named for the nearby mulberry trees. The birds were dancing around the tower all morning.

Trevi Fountain, Rome

Trevi Fountain, located where three streets meet in Rome, looks peaceful and people are encouraged to throw coins in the fountain to ensure their return to Rome or for love. 

As you can see, it is very crowded! So much so, that more than one million euros are collected from the fountain each year. 

My guide assured me that the coins are collected each Monday and a different charity is selected each week to receive the collections. He said that hospitals and children's charities are most often awarded the collection.

I suppose that makes the crowds worth it!

Arch Constantine and the Colliseum

Approaching the Colliseum and the Arch of Constantine.

As with many of the ancient Roman structures, pieces of the Arch were removed for use in Christian structures shortly after it became the official religion of the empire. However, the remander if it was saved because of Constantine's conversion to Christianity.

While waiting in line to enter the Colliseum, I got a great close up look at the arches that support the structure.

They are currently renovating and excavating the tunnels where animals and gladiators were located beneath the fighting.

Vatican City

We started our morning in Vatican City. Surrounded by the city of Rome, Vatican City is an independent state and has been surrounded by walls after one too many sacks on the city of Roman.

Above each entrance, the coat of arms of the pope of the time of the construction. The coat of arms for every pope has a crown at the top as well as a symbol for a saint. This particular coat of arms contains a symbol for St. Peter.

The dome of St. Peters Basilica

On our way to see the Sistine Chapel (no pictures allowed in there, but I bought some postcards with clear images!), we walked through the very long hallway filled with frescoes from floor to ceiling. The sides are covered with maps of different regions throughout Italy that were painted long before satellites and Google Earth and are impressively accurate in the mountain ranges and waterways. Above each map, there is a Christian story depicted from that region.

The final map was of the entire Italian peninsula

Inside St. Peters Basilica, there were several chapels and a large bronze canopy over the alter. The bronze was taken from the Pantheon and melted to make the canopy.

St. Peters Square is used by the pope to hold mass on major religious holidays.

Interiors of Churches, Cathedrals, and Palaces, St. Petersburg, Russia

Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral where the tsars of Russia were buried.

The Church of the Savior of the Spilt Blood where Tsar Alexander II was mortally wounded.  The interior is mostly covered with mosaics.

St. Issac's Cathedral

The Winter Palace - The Hermitage - The Jordan Staircase

This staircase was the original entrance for the ruler's formal areas for balls and receptions.  It was named for the Orthodox ritual of the Blessing of the Waters at Epiphany held on January 6th each year by cutting a hole in the ice of the river.

The Winter Palace - The Hermitage - Throne Room of Peter the Great

Baltic Song and Dance Festival, Riga, Latvia

The Song and Dance Festival is hosted in Riga every five years and attracts singers and dancers from around the world from Baltic cultures.  They were in the parks, the streets, and sidewalks - all across the street from my hotel and free to the public.  Everyone was friendly and having a great time which made the city fell very welcoming.