Hoi An, a charming ancient town of Vietnam

The map below shows the location of Hoi An Town in Vietnam

Thank you for your interest in writer’s trip in Hoi An Town on 29 Oct 2022.

Golden Bridge of Vietnam

Golden Bridge is the latest tourists’ attraction in Vietnam since 2018.

The bridge is held up by two hands of a “giant”.

The map below shows the location of Golden Bridge on Bana Hills that is 24 km west of Danang in Vietnam.

Writer and wife at the main cable-car station, Hoi An Station, at the foot of Bana Hills, Vietnam, on 30 Oct 2022.

They boarded this cable-car to ascend to 1414m above sea-level to visit the famous bridge, Golden Bridge, on Bana Hills.

While ascending Bana Hills for 20 mins, they had breathtaking views of forests and sea in the distance.

Soon they reached the next cable-car station, Marseille Station, where they alighted and and walked to Golden Bridge.

They saw many tourists on the bridge enjoying the spectacular sights of Bana Hills. The bridge is known as Golden Bridge as its railings are golden in colour.

Tourists came in droves to see the unique Golden Bridge and enjoyed the breathtaking views of Bana Hills in Vietnam.

Golden Bridge is supported by two hands of a “giant”. This photo below shows the right hand of the “giant” holding up the bridge.

This photo below shows the left hand of the same “giant” holding up the bridge.

Tourists on Golden Bridge will enjoy the spectacular view of Bana Hills and beyond.

Another spectacular view of Bana Hills and beyond as seen from Golden Bridge.

The weather in Bana Hills is unpredictable. One moment the place is bright, another moment it is misty and visibility is very poor.

Photo below shows very poor visibility when Golden Bridge is shrouded in thick mist.

The spot with Golden Bridge in the background is tourists’ favourite place for taking photos for remembrance.

Writer and wife visited the famous bridge, Golden Bridge, on Bana Hills in Vietnam on 30 Oct 2022. It is a memorable visit to them.

Hue Imperial City, Vietnam

Nguyen Dynasty was the last Vietnamese dynasty. Its emperors ruled Vietnam for 143 years from 1802 until 1945.

Gia Long was the first emperor of Nguyen Dynasty. He ruled Vietnam from 1802 until 1820. The last emperor was Bao Dai who ruled the country from 1926 until 1945.

The dynasty made Hue in Central Vietnam its capital where the Hue Imperial City was established for emperors to rule and live.

A map below shows the location of Hue in Vietnam.

13 Vietnamese Emperors ruled Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 until 1945.

The photo below shows the hierarchy of emperors of the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.

The emperors lived in Hue Imperial City. The photo below shows the layout of the Emperors’ domain.

The Imperial City was protected by a large fortress which was surrounded by a moat.

Gates were built to enter the fortress.

The fortress had some bastions for defensive fires in several directions.

The main entrance to the Imperial City is an impressive gate and is a popular spot where tourists will take a photo for remembrance.

The Imperial City is inside the fortress where the ex-emperors’ office and residence were in a special area known as the Purple Forbidden City.

Unfortunately, some buildings were destroyed in Vietnam War(1955-1975).

Ten emperors of Nguyen Dynasty were honoured in a large temple, The To Temple, in the Imperial City.

The following photos show the altars of the first four emperors in the temple.

A place outside that temple is reserved for visitors to worship the ex-Nguyen emperors.

A 3-storey pavilion, Hien Lan, was built facing The To Temple. It had nine large bronze urns to honour nine ex-Nguyen emperors.

Many ornate gates were built in Hue Imperial City. Some are shown in the photos below.

There are two temples near Hien Nhon Gate. One which is known as Trieu Mieu Temple was built to dedicate to the Lord Nguyen Hoang’s parents whereas the other one, Thai Mieu Temple, was built to honour the cults of nine ex-Nguyen emperors.

A shed outside Hue Imperial City and in the fortress compound houses four large bronze cannons left behind by Tay Son Dynasty(1778-1802).

Each cannon is 5.1m long and weighs more than 10 tons.

The writer, Choo Chaw, visited the Hue Imperial City of the Nguyen Dynasty(1802-1945) on 28 Oct 2022 and hope you have learned about the Nguyen Imperial City in Hue, Vietnam.

Writer’s List of Visited Countries

Writer’s List of Visited Countries:

(Click on the name of a country or city below and read about the writer’s tour in the country or city.)

Australia Travel:

Part I: Melbourne/Mornington Peninsula/Phillip Island),

Part II: Sydney

China Travel:

i. Beijing, Tianjin, Chengde Travel:

Part I: Beijing, Badaling

Part II: Beijing, Tianjin, Chengde

ii. China Relatives & Ancestral Places(Fujian Province)

Part I: Parents’ China Relatives

Part II: Hanjiang, Meizhou Island

Part III: Putian

 iii. Hong Kong Travel

Part I:  Hong Kong City Tour

Part II:  Hong Kong City Tour

 iv. Macau Travel

Macau City Tour

 v. Shanghai Travel

Part I:  Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing

Part II: Nanjing Bridge, Shanghai City, Shanghai Expo, Hangzhou

  vi.  Shenzhou, Hezhou, Quilin, Zhaoqing Travel

Part I: Shenzhen, Hezhou

Part II: Quilin, Yangshuo, Zhaoqing, Shenzhen

  vii. Taiwan Travel

Part I: Taipei

Part II:  Checheng, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Sanyi, Yehliu, Jioufen

  viii.  Yunnan Travel

Part I: Kunming, Jiu Xiang, Shilin, Dali

Part II: Dali, Lijiang

  ix. Zhangjiajie Travel:

Part I: Tianmen, Zhangjia jie, Wulingyuan, Tianzi, Yuangjiajie

Part II: Dragon King Cave, Shaoshan, Changsha, Macau

  x.  China Expedition 2013:

Part I: Thailand

Part II: Yunnan

Part III: Tibet

Part IV: Qinhai

Part V: Xinjiang

Part VI: Gansu

Part VII: Ningxia

Part VIII: Inner Mongolia

Part IX: Beijing

Egypt Travel

Part I :Salah el Din Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque, Tahrir Square and Egyptian Museum

Part II :Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon

Part III :Hot Air Balloons and Karnak Temple Complex

Part IV :Papyrus Paper-Making, Luxor Temple and Esna Lock

Part V :Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple and Galabia Party

Part VI :Abu Simbel Temples and Nubian Village(Elephantine Island)

Part VII :Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple

Part VIII:Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, Moon Beach(Ras Sudr), and St. Catherine

Part IX :Mount Sinai, Catherine’s Monastery and Sharm el Sheikh

Part X  :Sharm el Sheikh

Part XI :Cairo Food, Saqqara Step Pyramid Complex and Memphis

Part XII :Great Giza Pyramid Complex and Khan el Khalil Bazaar

Europe Travel:

i.  Eastern Europe Travel

Part I: Budapest(Hungary)

Part II:  Bratislava(Slovakia)

Part III: Vienna(Austria)

Part IV: Vienna II(Austria)

Part V: Brno(Czech Republic)

Part VI: Prague(Czech Republic)

ii.  Western Europe Travel

Part I: Germany, Switzerland, France

Part II: France, Belgium, Holland, England

Indonesia Travel:

i.  Bali Travel

ii.  Batam Island Travel

Italy Travel:

Part I: Rome and Vatican City

Part II : Rome(continued)

Part III: Pisa and Florence

Part IV: Venice

Part V(Final): Verona and Milan

Japan Travel:

Part I: Osaka, Kyoto, Hamamatsu

Part II: Owakudani Valley, Mt. Fuji, Tokyo

Myanmar Travel:

Part I: Yangon, Bagan, Mount Popa

Part II: Yangon, Kyauktan

New Zealand Travel:

New Zealand

Portugal Travel:

Porto

Lisbon

Singapore Heritage Trail Discovery:

Part I: Chinatown, Little India

Part II: Malay Heritage, Civic District

11.  South Africa Travel:

Part I: Air Flight from KLIA to Cape Town, Cape Town Shantytowns

Part II: Table Mountain, Malay Quarter, Castle of Good Hope. A & V Waterfront

Part III: Hermanus, Cheetah Outreach, Stellenbosch, Jewel Africa

Part IV: Duiker Island of Seals, Cape Point, Boulders

Part V: Cape Town to Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park(Game Drives)

Part VI: Sun City, Union Buildings, Vootrekker Monument

Part VII: Kruger Museum, Church Square, Melrose Museum, Carnivore Restaurant

Final Part: Gold Reef City: Gold Mine Museum

South Korea Travel:

Part I:  Seoul, Jeju Island

Part II:  Sokcho, Everland, Dongdaemum, DMZ, Seoul

Spain Travel:

Toledo

Madrid

Salamanca

Cordobo 

Granada

Valencia 

Barcelona

Thailand Travel:

i. Bangkok, Ayuthaya Travel:

Part I: Bangkok, Ayuthaya

Part I: Bangkok

ii. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, The Golden Triangle Travel:

Part I: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, The Golden Triangle

Part I: Maesa, Chiang Mai

iii. Phuket Travel:

Phuket 

iv. Part I: Thailand (from China Expedition 2013)

Turkey Travel:

Trojan Horse/Ancient Troy Cities

Asklepion

Ephesus

Hierapolis/Pamukkale Travertine

Sultanhani Caravanserai

Pasabag Valley

Uchisar Valley/Kaymakli Underground City

Gerome Valley/Turkish Night Show

Hot Air Balloon/Lake Golu/Anitkabir

Hagia Sophia/Topkapi Palace/Blue Mosque

Bosphorus Boat Cruise

Spice Bazaar/Grand Bazaar

U.S.A & Canada Travel:

i.   East Coast of U.S.A. & Canada

Part I: Philadeiphia, Washington D.C.

Part II: Niagara Falls, Toronto

Part III: Colborne, 1000 Islands, Ottawa

Part IV: Montreal, Quebec

Part V: Boston

Part VI: New York

Part VII: Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

ii.   West Coast of U.S.A.

Part I: San Francisco

Part II: San Francisco, Monterey Bay, Las Vegas

Part III: Grand Canyon

Part IV: Las Vegas

Part V: Premium Outlets(S. California)

Part VI: Disneyland(Anaheim)

Part VII: Hollywood Walk of Fame(Los Angeles)

Part VIII: Universal Studios Hollywood

Part IX: Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park

15.   Vietnam Travel:

Hanoi:

Part I: Hanoi, Halong Bay

Part II: Hoa Lo, Tam Coc, Hanoi

END

Writer’s List of Foreign Countries Visited

Writer’s list of foreign countries that he has visited

The map below shows the foreign countries I, Choo Chaw(a Malaysian), have visited from 2003 until 2017.

Click on a country below to read about my travel there:

1.  AFRICA

a. Egypt Travel

      Egypt Travel Part I :Salah el Din Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque, Tahrir Square and Egyptian Museum

      Egypt Travel Part II :Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon

     Egypt Travel Part III :Hot Air Balloons and Karnak Temple Complex

     Egypt Travel Part IV :Papyrus Paper-Making, Luxor Temple and Esna Lock

     Egypt Travel Part V :Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple and Galabia Party

     Egypt Travel Part VI :Abu Simbel Temples and Nubian Village(Elephantine Island)

      Egypt Travel Part VII :Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple

      Egypt Travel Part VIII:Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, Moon Beach(Ras Sudr), and St. Catherine

      Egypt Travel Part IX :Mount Sinai, Catherine’s Monastery and Sharm el Sheikh

     Egypt Travel Part X  :Sharm el Sheikh

     Egypt Travel Part XI :Cairo Food, Saqqara Step Pyramid Complex and Memphis

     Egypt Travel Part XII :Great Giza Pyramid Complex and Khan el Khalil Bazaar

b. South Africa Travel

      South Africa Travel Part I:       Air Flight from KLIA to Cape Town, Cape Town Shantytowns

      South Africa Travel Part II:      Table Mountain, Malay Quarter, Castle of Good Hope. A & V Waterfront

      South Africa Travel Part III:     Hermanus, Cheetah Outreach, Stellenbosch, Jewel Africa

      South Africa Travel Part IV:     Duiker Island of Seals, Cape Point, Boulders

      South Africa Travel Part V:       Cape Town to Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park(Game Drives)

      South Africa Travel Part VI:      Sun City, Union Buildings, Vootrekker Monument

      South Africa Travel Part VII:    Kruger Museum, Church Square, Melrose Museum, Carnivore Restaurant

       South Africa Travel  Final Part:  Gold Reef City: Gold Mine Museum 

2. AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

a.  Australia Travel 

         Part I: Melbourne/Mornington Peninsula/Phillip Island),

         Part II: Sydney 

b.  New Zealand Travel

          New Zealand Travel 

3. ASIA

a.  China Travels

      i. Beijing, Tianjin, Chengde Travel

           Part I: Beijing, Badaling

           Part II: Beijing, Tianjin, Chengde

      ii. China Relatives & Ancestral Places(Fujian Province)

            Part I: Parents’ China Relatives

            Part II: Hanjiang, Meizhou Island

            Part III: Putian

      iii. Hong Kong Travel

             Part I:  Hong Kong City Tour

             Part II:  Hong Kong City Tour

      iv. Macau Travel

             Macau City Tour

       v. Shanghai Travel

            Part I:  Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing

            Part II: Nanjing Bridge, Shanghai City, Shanghai Expo, Hangzhou

      vi.  Shenzhou, Hezhou, Quilin, Zhaoqing Travel

             Part I: Shenzhen, Hezhou

             Part II: Quilin, Yangshuo, Zhaoqing, Shenzhen

      vii. Taiwan Travel

              Part I: Taipei

              Part II:  Checheng, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Sanyi, Yehliu, Jioufen

     viii.  Yunnan Travel

              Part I: Kunming, Jiu Xiang, Shilin, Dali

              Part II: Dali, Lijiang

       ix. Zhangjiajie Travel

              Part I: Tianmen, Zhangjia jie, Wulingyuan, Tianzi, Yuangjiajie

              Part II: Dragon King Cave, Shaoshan, Changsha, Macau

        x.  China Expedition 2013

              Part I: Thailand

              Part II: Yunnan

              Part III: Tibet

              Part IV: Qinhai

              Part V: Xinjiang

              Part VI: Gansu

              Part VII: Ningxia

              Part VIII: Inner Mongolia

              Part IX: Beijing 

b.  Indonesia Travels

           i.  Bali Travel       

           ii.  Batam Island Travel  

c.  Japan Travel 

            Part I: Osaka, Kyoto, Hamamatsu

            Part II: Owakudani Valley, Mt. Fuji, Tokyo

d.  Myanmar Travel

            Part I: Yangon, Bagan, Mount Popa

            Part II: Yangon, Kyauktan 

e.  Singapore Heritage Trails

            Part I: Chinatown, Little India

            Part II: Malay Heritage, Civic District

f.  South Korea Travel

             Part I:  Seoul, Jeju Island

             Part II:  Sokcho, Everland, Dongdaemum, DMZ, Seoul

g.  Thailand Travel: 

       i. Bangkok, Ayuthaya Travel

               Part I: Bangkok, Ayuthaya

               Part II: Bangkok

      ii. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, The Golden Triangle Travel

                Part I: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, The Golden Triangle

                Part II: Maesa, Chiang Mai

      iii. Phuket Travel 

      iv. Part I: Thailand (from China Ezpedition 2013) 

h.   Vietnam

            Hanoi Travel

                   Part I: Hanoi, Halong Bay

                   Part II: Hoa Lo, Tam Coc, Hanoi

4.  Europe:

              a.  Western Europe Travel

                     Part I: Germany, Switzerland, France

                     Part II: France, Belgium, Holland, England

              b.  Eastern Europe Travel

                   Part I: Budapest(Hungary)

                   Part II:  Bratislava(Slovakia)

                   Part III: Vienna(Austria)

                   Part IV: Vienna II(Austria)

                   Part V: Brno(Czech Republic)

                   Part VI: Prague(Czech Republic)

             c. Italy Travel

                  Italy Travel Part I: Rome and Vatican City

                 Italy Travel Part II : Rome(continued)

                 Italy Travel Part III: Pisa and Florence

                 Italy Travel Part IV: Venice

                 Italy Travel Part V(Final): Verona and Milan

d. Spain & Portugal

Spain Travel Part I: Toledo

 Spain Travel Part II: Madrid

Spain Travel Part III: Salamanca

Portugal Travel Part IV: Porto

Portugal Travel Part V: Lisbon

  Spain Travel Part VI: Seville

Spain Travel Part VII: Cordoba

Spain Travel Part VIII: Granada

Spain Travel Part IX: Valencia

Spain Travel Part X(Final): Barcelona

 

5.  U.S.A. & Canada

           a.   East Coast: USA & Canada

                  Part I: Philadeiphia, Washington D.C.

                  Part II: Niagara Falls, Toronto

                  Part III: Colborne, 1000 Islands, Ottawa

                  Part IV: Montreal, Quebec

                  Part V: Boston

                  Part VI: New York

                  Part VII: Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

            b.   West Coast: USA

                    Part I: San Francisco

                    Part II: San Francisco, Monterey Bay, Las Vegas

                    Part III: Grand Canyon

                    Part IV: Las Vegas

                    Part V: Premium Outlets(S. California)

                    Part VI: Disneyland(Anaheim)

                    Part VII: Hollywood Walk of Fame(Los Angeles)

                    Part VIII: Universal Studios Hollywood

                    Part IX: Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park

THE END  (Home)

Italy Travel Part I: Rome and Vatican City

Italy Travel Part I: Rome and Vatican City

Italy is a popular tourists’ destination that is rich in history and culture. She has many interesting cities where old, monumental buildings built in Gothic, Classical, Medieval, Baroque and Neoclassical architectural styles still exist.

Italy Tour of 7 Cities

Tour-Group and Tour-Manager

My wife and I joined a group of 20 Malaysians under a Golden Destinations(Malaysia) tour manager, Jenny, and travelled to Italy for a five-day land tour of 7 cities, namely Rome, Vatican City, Pisa, Verona, Florence, Venice and Milan.

Map of Italy showing Cities to be Visited

Writer and Wife

Tour-Manager, Jenny

Day 1  Thursday, 2 November 2017

Air Flight to Italy

On the first day we left KLIA(Malaysia), travelled to Hong Kong and then to Rome in Italy. The air-flight was long taking about 15 hours.

Day 2  Friday, 3 November 2917

Visiting Rome and Vatican City on Day 2

Rome Tour Guide, Christina

When we arrived in Rome, Italy, on the 2nd. day,  a Polish coach-driver, Bart, brought us to some historical places in Rome and later to other cities in northern Italy for a total of 5 days.

Bart, the Coach-Driver

Map of Italy showing the location of Rome and Vatican City

Jenny, our tour-manager, led us to the historical places in Rome and they were as follows:

Monument of Victor Emmanuel II

The first place we visited was one in the centre of Rome City where we saw the massive Monument of Victor Emmanuel II(1820-1878). It was built in honour of Emmanuell II for unifying Italy in 1861 and becoming her first king. It was built by several well-known sculptors in the 1885-1925 period.

Pantheon

Then we walked to Venezia Square where a Roman temple was built in 113-125 A.D periodk. Now it is a Catholic church dedicated to “St. Mary and Martyrs”. The front of the church is supported by 12 Cornithian columns and a rotunda with a dome is behind them.

Tombs of Kings

Tombs of two Italian kings, Victor Emmanuel II(1820-1878) and Umberto I(1844-1900), are displayed in the building. The tomb of Umberto I’s wife, Margerit(1851-1926), is inside, too.

Piazza della Rotunda

Outside Pantheon is a square known as Piazza della Rotunda which has an obelisk and fountain.

Colosseum in Rome

From Pantheon we walked to a historical site where Italy’s iconic Roman amphitheatre was built. Known as Colosseum, it was built in the 72-80 A.D. period by two Roman Emperors, first Vespasian and later, Titus. Built for gladiators’ contests and public spectacles, it could accommodate 65 000 spectators.

Christina, the Colosseum Tour-Guide

At the Colosseum we met our local tour-guide, Christina, who showed us around the amphitheatre.

Fall of the Western Roman Empire

The Colosseum ceased to be used for gladiators’ contests and public spectacles in the early Medieval Period or Middle Ages(5-15th. Century) after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Then it was used for such purposes as a cemetery, workshops and for housing.

Earthquake

In 1349, a strong earthquake damaged the southern part of the Colosseum and it was repaired later.

Colosseum in Ruin

Owing to weathering, erosion and neglect for over a 1000 years, the Colosseum is in ruin, but millions of visitors continue going to Rome to see the legacy of the Roman Empire every year.

Colosseum Decorations Were Stolen

Since the Colosseum was not used after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 4th. Century, marble statues and stucco decorations were all stolen; leaving the amphitheatre bare with ugly holes in the walls.

Colosseum’s Wooden Floor of Arena

The wooden floor of the Arena of the Colosseum soon rotted and was removed, exposing the underground rooms and passageways.

Arch of Constantine

Next to the Colosseum stands a triumphal arch known as Arch of Constantine. It was built in 315 A.D. to commemorate Constantine I(272-337)’s victory in the Battle of Milvian in 312 A.D.

(Arch of Triumph in Paris built in the 1806=1836 period, looks similar to this smaller Roman triumphal arch in Rome. The former was erected in honour of those who fought and died for their country in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.)

Visiting Vatican City

Later, we moved on to the world’s smallest country, Vatican City, that is surrounded by the city of Rome. It has a population of about 840 and a small area of 44 hectares which is equivalent to 82 football fields.

She has the largest Catholic church in the world known as St. Peter’s Basilica that was built in the 1506-1626 period.

The church is dedicated to St. Peter(one of Jesus Christ’s apostles and the first pope) and the burial site of St. Peter. It is a popular place for pilgrimage and liturgical  functions.

Rain and Long Queue

When we arrived at the church, St. Peter ‘s Basilica, it was drizzling and we had to join a long queue to enter the church. According to our tour manager, Jenny, we were lucky that we queued for about an hour before we entered the church. She had to queue for three hours the last time she brought a tour group there!

“Pieta”

When we entered the church, the first thing that caught my eyes on the right was a marble sculpture known as “Pieta”.

“Pieta” is a masterpiece created by a famous Italian sculptor, Michelangelo Buonorroti(1475-1564), from  1498 until 1499. It depicts Virgin Mary holding her dead son, Jesus Christ, on her lap after his crucifixion.

More sculptures, monuments, paintings and statues of previous popes, founders of religious orders, etc. can be seen in the church.

Other Basilicas

On the floor of the nave are markers showing the comparative sizes of other basilicas in other places.

The Holy Door

There is a special door known as “The Holy Door” made of bronze in the northernmost entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. It depicts the life of Jesus Christ.

The door is cemented shut and only opened for Jubilee Years of the church. The Catholics believe that if they go through the door during the Jubilee Years, they may be granted the plenary indulgences.

Change of Guards at St. Peter’s Basilica

Coming out of the church at 5 p.m. I was fortunate to watch the change of the Swiss guards at the entrance adjacent to the church. The ceremony lasted for 5 minutes.

The guards are Swiss citizens. Their duty is to protect the pope and the church. They wear a colourful uniform which has vertical blue, red, orange and yellow stripes.

Victoria Terma Hotel

In the evening we left the church, went for dinner and retired to our rooms at Victoria Terma Hotel that is a few kilometres from Rome City.

Home / Next

Italy Travel Part I: Rome and Vatican City

Italy Travel Part II : Rome(continued)

Italy Travel Part III: Pisa and Florence

Italy Travel Part IV: Venice

Italy Travel Part V(Final): Verona and Milan

Home / Next

Italy Travel Part II: Rome

Italy Travel Part II: Rome(continued) 

Day 3  Saturday, 4 November 2017

Map Showing the Location of Rome

Visiting Rome(continued)

In the morning we left Victoria Terma Hotel and went to visit two more places in Rome City before we left for Pisa and Florence in the north.

Trevi Fountain, Rome

The first iconic landmark we visited in the morning was a well-known Baroque fountain, Trevi Fountain. It was built in the 1752-1762 period by several sculptors with the facade of Poli Palace as its backdrop.

Coins in Fountain-Pool

Visitors believe that if they throw coins into the fountain-pool after making one, two or three wishes their wish or wishes may be granted. Everyday many visitors throw about 30oo euro worth of coins into the water. The money collected is for subsidizing a supermarket for the poor.

Spanish Steps

Having spent a short time at Trevi Fountain, we left and took a long walk to another place of interest known as Spanish Steps.

The Spanish Steps has 135 steps from the Spanish Square below to a Roman Catholic church, Trinita dei Monti, on top of Pincia Hill. The steps were built to link the Bourbon Spanish Embassy below with the church on the hill.

Spanish Square

In the Spanish Square there is a small fountain known as “Fountain of Ugly Boat”.

At about 11 a.m. we were lucky to hear a band on the Spanish Steps playing Italian music.

Trinita dei Monti Church

The Roman Catholic church located on Pincia Hill is known as Trnita dei Monti Church. It was built to replace the old one that was constructed by King Louis XII in 1502 to celebrate his victory in the Battle of Naples. This church was consecrated in 1585.

Roman Obelisk

In front of the church is a Roman obelisk that was moved there in 1789.

Journey to Florence

Soon we left Rome for Florence in the north. On the way we stopped at two places. The first place was a shop, Autogrill Service Area in Val di Chiana, where we stopped to buy Italian food products for our loved ones back home(Malaysia).

Shopping at Autogrill, Val di Chiana

At 3.30 p.m. we arrived at the shop, Autogrill. It was a pleasure to shop at this well-stocked place and the tour members were spoiled for choice. Besides, the shop-assistants were friendly and helpful.

After spending an hour at the shop, we moved on.

Pierotucci Leather Factory

In the evening we arrived at a leather factory known as Pierotucci Leather Factory near Florence City.

Established in 1972, it produces genuine leather bags, jackets and accessories. Besides producing its own designs, it also produces those of others such as Dunhill, Valentino, Bally, Fratelli Rossetti, Cole-Haan and Hugo Boss.

Leather Craftsmen

When we arrived at the factory, we were led into a workshop where expert craftsmen worked. As the workers had left the factory, a lady explained how a craftsman made a handbag. Then we were led to a showroom where many kinds of leather goods were displayed for sale.

“Authentic Florentine Steak”

A few of us bought some items and then left for dinner at a L’ema restaurant nearby to savour the “Authentic Florentine Steak”. Unfortunately, I could not finish the meat as it was too “rubbery”.

Photo Session

At the restaurant I took the opportunity to take photos of the happy tour members and myself for remembrance.

Hotel President, Prato

After the dinner we left and went to stay at a hotel, Hotel President, in Prato that is near Florence. We would be going to Pisa to see Leaning Tower of Pisa the following day.

Previous / Home / Next

Italy Travel Part I: Rome and Vatican City

Italy Travel Part II : Rome(continued)

Italy Travel Part III: Pisa and Florence

Italy Travel Part IV: Venice

Italy Travel Part V(Final): Verona and Milan

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Italy Travel Part III: Pisa and Florence

Italy Travel Part III: Pisa and Florence

Day 4:  Sunday, 5 November 2017

Visiting Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa

Rain in Pisa

In the morning we left our hotel. Hotel President near Florence and went west to Pisa. On arrival at Pisa, we walked in the rain from the coach parking area to Cathedral Square which was a few hundred metres away.

Pickpockets

On the way we came across some foreigners selling umbrellas and ponchos. They forewarned us that there were several pickpockets around, trying to steal tourists’ money. As we were walking to the square, we looked out for one another. Luckily, none of us fell prey to the pickpockets.

Three Monumental Buildings

When we were in the square we saw three prominent monumental buildings, namely Baptistery of St. John, Cathedral of Pisa and a world’s famous leaning tower known as “Leaning Tower of Pisa”.

Baptistery of St. John 

Baptistery of St. John is a Roman Catholic church that was built in Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles in the 1152-1363 period.

Cathedral of Pisa

Cathedral of Pisa is in between Baptistery of St. John and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It was built in Romanesque architectural style from 1063 until 1092 and dedicated to the Assumption of Virgin Mary. Now it is the seat of Archbishop of Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The well-known tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa, which is about 56 metres high was built in Romanesque architectural style. The builders took almost 200 years(1173-1372) to complete the construction. Unfortunately, the tower tilted slowly to as much as 5.5 degrees while they were building it. It was due to weak foundation on one side of the ground.

Tower Tilting 5.5 Degrees

Later, frantic efforts were carried out to make the tower stand upright. But they could only reduce the leaning angle to about 3 degrees as we are seeing it now. I think it is because of its tilting nature that attracts the attention of millions of tourists every year.

Visiting Florence

Michelangelo Square

In the afternoon we left Pisa and travelled east to Florence City. Before we entered the city, we went to Michelangelo Square on a small hill in the south. Standing at the square in the rain, we saw the beautiful city of Florence.

 

Bronze Statue of David

In the square we saw a bronze statue of David which is a replica of Michelangelo’s marble statue of David.

Florence Square

When we entered the city centre, the first place we visited was a square known as Florence Square where we met a local guide, Virginia.

Florence Tour Guide, Virginia

In the square, Virginia brought us round and told us about the monumental buildings. some of which are shown below

Cathedral of St. Mary of the Flower

This huge cathedral with a red dome was built in 1296-1436 in Gothic architectural style. It is the largest one in Florence.

 

Giotto’s Bell Tower

Close to the cathedral and built in Gothic architectural style from 1334 until 1359 is a tall tower, Giotto’s Bell Tower, that is about 85 metres tall. Visitors can climb up 414 steps to the top to see the whole city of Florence.

Baptistery of St. John

Another building near the cathedral is Baptistery of St. John in Romanesque architectural style. It was built in the 1059-1128 period in octagonal shape and has three bronze doors with relief sculptures. One of them was dubbed as “Door of Paradise” by Michelangelo.

Signora Square

Then we walked a short distance to another place known as Signora Square. This square was the political focus of Florence for many years. On one side of the square an equestrian monument of Cosimo I(1519-1574) was erected in 1594.

Cosimo I Monument

Cosimo I was the 2nd. Duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569. The Fountain of Neptune near the monument was under repair.

Palazzo Vecchio

In the square there is a building, Palazzo Vecchio, which houses the town hall and a museum, too. It was built in the 13th. Century to show the importance of Florence and protect the magistrates of the city in times of turbulence.

Statue of David

At the entrance of the building there is a statue of David which is a replica of Michelangelo(1475-1564)’s David statue on one side and statues of Hercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli(1493-1560) on the other side.

Loggia dei Lanzi

Loggia dei Lanzi built in the 15th. Century is an open-air gallery of Renaissance sculptures.

This building at Signora Square displays several beautiful sculptures. The photos below show some of them.

Uffizi Gallery

Uffizi Gallery is behind Loggia dei Lanzi. It is a famous large museum that has 101 rooms displaying artworks, particularly, from the Italian Renaissance period. It attracts many visitors every year. About 2 million people entered the museum in 2016.

Uffizi Gallery has niches in exterior columns that contain statues of important historical figures, such as Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, and Dante to name a few.

Michelangelo Buonarroti(1475-1564)

Michelangelo was born in Florence, He was a sculptor, painter, architect and poet. His famous sculptures include “David” and “Pieta”.

Leonardo da Vinci(1452-1519)

Leonardo was an Italian polymath who had many areas of interest such as sculpture, painting, invention and astronomy. His famous paintings include “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper”.

Galileo Galilei(1564-1642)

Galileo was also an Italian polymath who was interested in astronomy, physics, engineering, natural philosophy and Mathematics.

Dante Alighieri(1265-1321)

Ponte Vecchio(Old Bridge)

Ponte Vecchio is a 30 metre-long stone-bridge that spans River Arno. The first bridge was built in the Roman times. It had been destroyed by flood a few times and then reconstructed.

Shops have been built on the bridge selling jewellery and souvenirs to tourists.

Basilica Santo Croce

In the evening we left the old bridge, Ponte Vecchio, and walked for several minutes to a restaurant for dinner. On the way we came across a white cathedral, Basilica Santa Croce(Basilica of the Holy Cross), that housed the tombs of many influential Italians, including those of Michelangelo and Galileo. So it is also known as the Temple of the Italian Glories.

Built in the 1294-1385 period. it is the main principal Franciscan church and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic church.

Hotel President, Prato, Florence

After dinner we went back to our hotel, Hotel President in Prato, to rest.

The following day, we left Florence for Venice.

Previous / Home / Next

Italy Travel Part I: Rome and Vatican City

Italy Travel Part II : Rome(continued)

Italy Travel Part III: Pisa and Florence

Italy Travel Part IV: Venice

Italy Travel Part V(Final): Florence and Milan

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Italy Travel Part IV: Venice

Italy Travel Part IV: Venice

Day 5:  Monday, 6 November 2017

Journey from Florence to Venice

We left the Florence hotel, Hotel President, in the morning and travelled to Venice in the northeast of Italy.

Map of Italy showing the location of Venice

Venice

Venice is built on more than 100 islands in a lagoon. The islands are separated by canals, straddled by over 400 bridges. A causeway, Bridge of Liberty(Ponte della Liberta), connects the mainland to a small island of Venice.

Causeway

In the afternoon we arrived at the island of Venice after crossing the causeway from the mainland. Then we boarded a boat that took us to another but larger island, San Marco Island(St. Mark Island).

Spectacular Views

While sailing to San Marco Island we saw a few large cruise ships and spectacular views of old medieval buildings, hotels and churches on some islands.

Photographing

While sailing to the island, we took the opportunity to take some photos of ourselves in the boat for remembrance. Below are a few of them.

San Marco Island of Venice

After a 20 minute boat-ride, we sighted San Marco Island with a prominent bell tower known as St. Mark’s Bell Tower. The view was stunning.

Soon we arrived and disembarked at the jetty of San Marco Island.

Waterfront of San Marco Island

The waterfront is wide and about 1 metre above sea-level. Hence, it is prone to flooding whenever the tide is high. But tables kept on the waterfront are ready to be used by visitors if it is flooded.

Tables were used earlier by visitors queuing up to enter St. Mark Cathedral in San Marco Square.

Flood in Venice

A flood occurred in Venice on the following day after our visit.

Venetian Buildings

On the waterfront there are several rows of old Venetian buildings. Among them are Doge’s Palace(Palazzo Ducale) and a prison separated by a narrow canal.

 

Doges of Venice

Doges of Venice were chief magistrates and leaders with supreme authority of the former Republic of Venice. They were elected for life. Venice was under their rule from 697 until 1797 when France under Napoleon Bonaparte(1769-1821) captured it.

Doge’s Palace(Palazzo Ducale)

Doge’s Palace built in Gothic architectural style and established in 1340 was the residence of the Doge of Venice until 1797 when France took over Venice. Later, the palace was taken over by Austria when Venice was ruled by Austria. In 1866 Venice became part of Italy.

Since 1923 it has become an art museum.

Bridge of Sighs

A bridge was built from Doge’s Palace to the prison next to it in 1614. Known as the Bridge of Sighs, it was built for criminals who were sentenced to jail. They had to walk across the bridge from Doge’s Palace where the court was situated to the prison.

While crossing the bridge, the criminals had a last look outside through the two windows, sighed and entered the prison to serve their sentences.

Over 400 Bridges in Venice

There are over 400 bridges in Venice. Most of them are short, straddling narrow canals and different from each other in design.

San Giorgio Maggiore Church

Standing on the waterfront I looked across a waterway, the Grand Canal, and saw a large church on Dorsoduro Island. It is called San Giorgio Maggiore, a 16 th. Century Benedictine church built in Classical Renaissance architectural style in the 1566-1610 period.

Venetian Ladies

On the waterfront we saw two ladies walking on stilts. They were dressed in traditional Venetian costumes and wearing masks. They were inviting visitors to take photos with them.

Venetian Masks

There were some souvenir stalls on the waterfront. The most common things they were selling were the Venetian masks.

Venetian masks are usually worn during the Carnival of Venice which is an annual festival in Venice. They may wear full-face masks or eye masks to hide their identity and social status.

Black Spaghetti for Lunch

When it was lunchtime, we went to a restaurant, Taverna dei Dogi, in an alley near St. Mark’s Square. We had black spaghetti or squid ink spaghetti, simple salad, fried squid rings and ice-cream for lunch.

Glass-Blowing Demonstration

After lunch, we walked to a glass-shop in Castello District which was nearby. At the shop we watched a glass-blower, Parlo, making a glass-object by traditional method. After the glass-blowing demonstration, we went to the glass showroom where many kinds of glass-objects were for sale, such as chandeliers, drinking glasses, glass figures, etc. But none of us bought any of them as it was troublesome to bring them home, 10 000 km away from Venice.

St. Mark Square(Piazza San Marco)

Later, we went to the most important place in Venice. It is the centre for social, political and religious activities of the city. It is known as St. Mark’s Square(Piazza dei San Marco).

St. Mark’s Bell Tower

In the centre of the square stands a tall tower, St. Mark’s Bell Tower. It is 98.6 metres tall and built in 1912 replacing the old one that collapsed in 1902. The first one was built in the 12th. Century as a watch-tower or lighthouse.

St. Mark’s Cathedral(Basilica dei San Marco)

On its western side is a large church, Basilica dei San Marco(St. Mark Cathedral). It was built in 978-1092 with five domes and five arches in front. It has a mixture of Italian, Byzantine and Gothic architectural styles.

It was built as a private chapel for the Doges until 1807 when the local bishop, Patriarch of Venice, took over in 1807.

The Church houses St. Mark’s Treasure consisting of 293 items in gold, silver, glass and other precious materials from various sources like from Constatinople, Western art, of Islamic origin and others.

Gondola Ride 

Finally, we went to a pond or small lake, Bacino Orseolo, near St. Mark’s Square to ride gondolas.

A gondola is Venetian iconic boat that looks like a canoe. Painted black, it is 11 metres long with comfortable seats and ornately decorated.

 

10 000 Gondolas

About 200 years ago, there were approximately 10 000 gondolas, but now there are about 500 left. Those boats were the chief means of transportation in Venice in the olden days. Today most of them are used for carrying tourists who want to enjoy the ride.

Bacino Orseolo

A tourist gondola can carry 6 persons and is rowed by a gondolier. My wife and I together with 4 members of the Tye family sat in a gondola at Bacino Orseolo, a small lake. Our seating in the gondola was decided by the gondolier as he did not want his boat to be tilted to one side

Slow Gondola Ride

Shortly afterwards, we were moving away from the lake. The boat was moving slowly along narrow canals and part of the large canal known as Grand Canal, passing under low bridges.

Marco, the Gondolier

Our gondolier was Marco. We asked him to sing for us while he was rowing, but there was no response from him. Anyway, we enjoyed the sights and sounds of  Venice as we were moving along the canals and under low bridges. The ride which lasted for about 20 minutes is a memorable one.

Rialto Bridge(Ponte de Rialto)

While riding in a gondola on Grand Canal, we saw an iconic bridge of Venice known as Rialto Bridge. Constructed in 1591, it spans Grand Canal and connects San Marco Island and San Palo Island.

Departure for Venice Mainland

Soon we left Venice’s San Marco Island and returned to the mainland of Venice. Then we headed west to a hotel, Hotel Da Porto, along Viale del Sole to stay overnight before going to Verona and Milan in the north the following day.

Previous / Home / Next

Italy Travel Part I: Rome and Vatican City

Italy Travel Part II : Rome(continued)

Italy Travel Part III: Pisa and Florence

Italy Travel Part IV: Venice

Italy Travel Part V(Final): Verona and Milan

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Writer’s List of Memorable Travels

Writer’s List of Travels

1.  Africa

South Africa

South Africa Travel Part I:       Air Flight from KLIA to Cape Town, Cape Town Shantytowns

South Africa Travel Part II:      Table Mountain, Malay Quarter, Castle of Good Hope. A & V Waterfront

South Africa Travel Part III:     Hermanus, Cheetah Outreach, Stellenbosch, Jewel Africa

South Africa Travel Part IV:     Duiker Island of Seals, Cape Point, Boulders

South Africa Travel Part V:       Cape Town to Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park(Game Drives)

South Africa Travel Part VI:      Sun City, Union Buildings, Vootrekker Monument

South Africa Travel Part VII:    Kruger Museum, Church Square, Melrose Museum, Carnivore Restaurant

South Africa Travel  Final Part:  Gold Reef City: Gold Mine Museum

2.  Australia: 

Part I: Melbourne/Mornington Peninsula/Phillip Island),

Part II: Sydney

3.  China:

i. Beijing, Tianjin, Chengde Travel:

Part I: Beijing, Badaling

Part II: Beijing, Tianjin, Chengde

ii. China Relatives & Ancestral Places(Fujian Province)

Part I: Parents’ China Relatives

Part II: Hanjiang, Meizhou Island

Part III: Putian

 iii. Hong Kong Travel

Part I:  Hong Kong City Tour

Part II:  Hong Kong City Tour

 iv. Macau Travel

Macau City Tour

 v. Shanghai Travel

Part I:  Hangzhou, Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing

Part II: Nanjing Bridge, Shanghai City, Shanghai Expo, Hangzhou

  vi.  Shenzhou, Hezhou, Quilin, Zhaoqing Travel

Part I: Shenzhen, Hezhou

Part II: Quilin, Yangshuo, Zhaoqing, Shenzhen

  vii. Taiwan Travel

Part I: Taipei

Part II:  Checheng, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Sanyi, Yehliu, Jioufen

  viii.  Yunnan Travel

Part I: Kunming, Jiu Xiang, Shilin, Dali

Part II: Dali, Lijiang

  ix. Zhangjiajie Travel

Part I: Tianmen, Zhangjia jie, Wulingyuan, Tianzi, Yuangjiajie

Part II: Dragon King Cave, Shaoshan, Changsha, Macau

  x.  China Expedition 2013

Part I: Thailand

Part II: Yunnan

Part III: Tibet

Part IV: Qinhai

Part V: Xinjiang

Part VI: Gansu

Part VII: Ningxia

Part VIII: Inner Mongolia

Part IX: Beijing

3. Egypt Travel

Egypt Travel Part I :Salah el Din Citadel, Muhammad Ali Mosque, Tahrir Square and Egyptian Museum

Egypt Travel Part II :Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple and Colossi of Memnon

Egypt Travel Part III :Hot Air Balloons and Karnak Temple Complex

Egypt Travel Part IV :Papyrus Paper-Making, Luxor Temple and Esna Lock

Egypt Travel Part V :Edfu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple and Galabia Party

Egypt Travel Part VI :Abu Simbel Temples and Nubian Village(Elephantine Island)

Egypt Travel Part VII :Unfinished Obelisk, Aswan High Dam and Philae Temple

Egypt Travel Part VIII:Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel, Moon Beach(Ras Sudr), and St. Catherine

Egypt Travel Part IX :Mount Sinai, Catherine’s Monastery and Sharm el Sheikh

Egypt Travel Part X  :Sharm el Sheikh

Egypt Travel Part XI :Cairo Food, Saqqara Step Pyramid Complex and Memphis

Egypt Travel Part XII :Great Giza Pyramid Complex and Khan el Khalil Bazaar

4.  Europe:

i.  Western Europe Travel

Part I: Germany, Switzerland, France

Part II: France, Belgium, Holland, England

ii.  Eastern Europe Travel

Part I: Budapest(Hungary)

Part II:  Bratislava(Slovakia)

Part III: Vienna(Austria)

Part IV: Vienna II(Austria)

Part V: Brno(Czech Republic)

Part VI: Prague(Czech Republic)

5.  Indonesia:

i.  Bali Travel       

ii.  Batam Island Travel

6. Italy:

Italy Travel Part I: Rome and Vatican City

Italy Travel Part II : Rome(continued)

Italy Travel Part III: Pisa and Florence

Italy Travel Part IV: Venice

Italy Travel Part V(Final): Verona and Milan

7.  Japan:

Part I: Osaka, Kyoto, Hamamatsu

Part II: Owakudani Valley, Mt. Fuji, Tokyo

8.  Myanmar:

Part I: Yangon, Bagan, Mount Popa

Part II: Yangon, Kyauktan

9.  New Zealand:

New Zealand Travel

10.  South Korea

Part I:  Seoul, Jeju Island

Part II:  Sokcho, Everland, Dongdaemum, DMZ, Seoul

11.  Singapore:

Singapore Heritage Trail

Part I: Chinatown, Little India

Part II: Malay Heritage, Civic District

12.  Thailand:

i. Bangkok, Ayuthaya Travel

Part I: Bangkok, Ayuthaya

Part I: Bangkok

ii. Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, The Golden Triangle Travel

Part I: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, The Golden Triangle

Part I: Maesa, Chiang Mai

iii.  Phuket Travel 

iv. Part I: Thailand (from China Ezpedition 2013)

13.  U.S.A & Canada

i.   East Coast

Part I: Philadeiphia, Washington D.C.

Part II: Niagara Falls, Toronto

Part III: Colborne, 1000 Islands, Ottawa

Part IV: Montreal, Quebec

Part V: Boston

Part VI: New York

Part VII: Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

ii.   West Coast

Part I: San Francisco

Part II: San Francisco, Monterey Bay, Las Vegas

Part III: Grand Canyon

Part IV: Las Vegas

Part V: Premium Outlets(S. California)

Part VI: Disneyland(Anaheim)

Part VII: Hollywood Walk of Fame(Los Angeles)

Part VIII: Universal Studios Hollywood

Part IX: Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park

14.   Vietnam

Hanoi Travel

Part I: Hanoi, Halong Bay

Part II: Hoa Lo, Tam Coc, Hanoi

END

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