Category: Italy

Exploring the Historic City Walls of Lucca

7/19/2018

The city walls of Lucca have a wide path enjoyed by residents and tourists for walking, biking, and jogging.

By John Roberts

Lucca is a quaint walled city in the Tuscany region of Italy.

We visited in springtime during our cruise stop on the new Viking Orion cruise ship in Livorno. Being spring, the perfect weather conditions allowed us to enjoy the commune as it should be explored: outside.

Pisa is another popular nearby destination to check out when stopping in port at Livorno, but we've been there and done that. And found it way too busy. It's worth a visit one time, though, to see the famous leaning tower, even if you have to battle hordes of tourists while you are there.

We think Lucca is a much more pleasant option.

Lucca can be reached from port by bus if your cruise ship is offering an excursion or by train if you want to go independently. It takes about 90 minutes to reach Lucca, which is ringed by Renaissance-era stone walls that feature wide ramparts.

The walls are a top attraction. The pristinely preserved fortifications date to the early 16th century and form a neat 4-kilometer ring around Lucca. The city and walls were never forced to withstand an attack and thus remain well preserved. They have been recognized as a city park and gardens for more than two centuries.

A wide walking path stretches over the entire course of the upper wall sections, and this path is used by walkers, runners and cyclists all day long. We were able to get views of rooftops, church steeples and bell towers -- Lucca is known as "The City of 100 Churches" -- and passed under beautiful columns of shade trees that formed tunnels over especially pretty parts of the route.

The walls offer wonderful views over the city of Lucca, which features numerous church towers in the skyline.

Our stroll lasted about 90 minutes, and we watched landscape artists painting the skyline of Lucca, young lovers walking hand in hand and families cheerfully walking and biking in the sunshine.

Biking the city and the walls is a popular activity for visitors, and you can find several places to rent bikes throughout the town. Most are located just off the Piazza Grande (Grand Plaza).

We descended back to the city to aimlessly wander and explore for a while, finding quiet alleyways in residential quarters that lead to more bustling regions filled with restaurants and boutique shops. Lucca is filled with buildings that display Renaissance-era architecture, and top attractions within the historic quarter include the St. Martin Cathedral and the Roman amphitheater.

Ready for a break and some refreshments, Colleen and I spied a pretty little cafe with an open table. We set up under an umbrella and ordered the town's famous snack Buccellato di Lucca (a not-too-sweet cake-like bread pastry filled with raisins) and a couple of cold beers.

Lucca, Italy, main square San Michele church

San Michele Church sits right at the heart of Lucca's historic district.

Alas, just as we were settling in and realizing how relaxing and pleasant it was to just be people watching and savoring our snacks on a gorgeous spring day, it was almost time to get going to return to our ship.

Next time, we'll come for a longer period and make sure to try a run around the walls and a bike ride, too.

Thanks for reading, and always travel happy.
Peace,
JR

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Monograms' Rail Trips in Italy Serve Up Rome, Venice and Florence

1/18/2017

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It would be awesome to visit Florence, Rome and Venice all in one carefully planned journey through Italy.

By John Roberts

Italy is a top (OK, the top!) destination for ancient cities, seaside villages and rolling vineyards. It's home to the Roman Empire and birthplace of the Renaissance. You can stand in the presence of Michelangelo's masterpiece sculpture "David" and Leo da Vinci's "Last Supper." Did you know that Italy has more UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites than any other country?

Yeah, this is a place that deserves plenty of attention. I just learned of a cool way to explore it by rail. I have visited Italy on cruise ships and have thoroughly enjoyed it. But I always left wanting more. A rail journey could be the ideal way to venture more deeply into Italy and its deep well of history.

Tour company Monograms curates travel packages from start to finish and provides local hosts to guide your journeys. Here is what I learned about the company's first-class train travel program in Italy.

Monograms delivers you to cities and villages on first-class, high-speed rail and offers them a welcome in each destination with hand-picked centrally located hotels. It's also the only operator that promises travelers the on-site services of an expert "Local Host" who also arranges sightseeing and more in each destination.

For example, if you want to experience the "Big 3" cities, Monograms offers a 10-day Rome, Florence and Venice trip (prices start at $1,959). You would arrive in Rome, where Monograms provides transfer from the airport to hotel to meet up with a Local Host who offers insights and tips. You can enjoy a half-day included sightseeing excursion that includes Michelangelo's The Last Judgment at Sistine Chapel, VIP entrance to the historic Colosseum, the Roman Forum and St. Peter's Square and Basilica -- all accompanied by unique stories and insight from your guide.

After three days in Rome, it's off to Florence via first-class, high-speed train. There, you head to the Academy of Fine Arts. With VIP access, skip the lines to see Michelangelo's David. Other activities include walking through Cathedral Square, Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce Square.

After riding the train to Venice, you get another Local Host greeting before a glassblowers presentation and VIP sightseeing in St. Mark's Square and Basilica, along with a visit to Doges' Palace and the Bridge of Sighs.

Other popular Monograms Italy rail journeys include:
13-day Sorrento, Rome, Florence and Venice
13-day Rome, Florence, Venice and Lake Maggiore
7-day Rome and Venice
7-day Rome and Florence

"There are good ways to see and experience Italy and ways that are decidedly not so good," said Steve Born, vice president of marketing for the Globus family of brands, which owns Monograms. "With Monograms, the difference is clear from the start because we're behind travelers every step of the way.

"They'll spend every moment exploring and savoring rather than stressing thanks to hand-picked, centrally located accommodations and the on-site services of their Monograms Local Host. In each place, travelers can enjoy as much or as little free time as they'd like. Local Hosts can arrange such excursions as a day in the Chianti countryside; cooking with an Italian chef; an excursion to Pisa and more. Travelers also have the opportunity to enjoy the journey and the scenery of the country between each place in the comfort of first-class train travel that's included in the vacation."

Monograms runs trips all over the world, from safaris in Africa to cruises in the Galapagos.
Check it out. This might be what you want if you like a little pampering and to have all of the planning taken care of for you.

Thanks for reading.
Happy travels!
JR

Find the Perfect Hotel for Your Trip to Italy

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What Can I Do There? A Cruise Stop in Sunny Sorrento, Italy

9/9/2016

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The streets and alleys bustle with activity and colors during summer in Sorrento.

By John Roberts

Anchoring offshore shortly after we arrived to the Bay of Naples, we immediately noticed the shear cliffs upon which the town of Sorrento is perched.

Indeed, to get to the center of the village, we would be faced with a climb. It was short but steep -- up winding roads and stairs carved into the hillside -- and it yielded amazing views.

We had come ashore in Sorrento, tendering from our cruise ship Oceania Riviera -- and with an open schedule and no plans, we began our investigation into what this charming village has to offer. Sorrento sits on the eastern coast of Italy, about where you might imagine a buckle on the boot-shaped peninsula. From Sorrento, tourists can take ferries to Amalfi, Naples, Capri, Positano and other destinations.

The town and region is well known for its production of nuts, wine, olives and citrus fruit, especially lemons. You can't wander more than a few feet in any direction before you notice the bright yellow fruit being sold or depicted in arts and crafts. The most ubiquitous usage is for limoncello, however, a popular digestif created from lemon rinds, alcohol, sugar and water.

Many people who visit by cruise ship take excursions to the Blue Grotto on the island of Capri or long bus rides to see Pompeii or Herculaneum, the ancient archaeological sites that were destroyed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Sorrento harbor and the cruise ship Oceania Riviera

Reaching the top and arriving in the old town area, you can peek back to the marina and blue waters.

Not in the mood for a trip longer than the boat tender ashore, we spent our time exploring the village of Sorrento itself. High up over the bay, you are treated to amazing views. Wandering the streets and alleys, you can find boutiques selling handcrafted goods like soaps or leather sandals and belts. Sorrento is also home to woodworking shops and fine restaurants serving up the famously delicious Sorrento pizzas.

Cheers to beers! A nice way to relax and cool off after exploring Sorrento.

After a bit of shopping and sightseeing, you can find a number of eateries to sit down outside on the plaza or at a restaurant overlooking the water to dive into a big glass of cold Nastro Azzuro beer and a wood-fired pie loaded with Parma ham and prosciutto as well as the tastiest cheeses. Don't forget to grab a gelato cone for a perfect capper to your day trip around Sorrento.

Other top sites and attractions right in Sorrento include:

The historic fishing village of Marina Grande, with its colorful wooden boats. The village is connected to the city center by a curvy stone staircase. This is a delightful place, with waterside eateries and the Church of Sant Anna.

Piazza Tasso is the heart of the town. You enter the open space filled with outdoor cafes as soon as you complete your climb from the cruise port below. The periphery is lined with shops, markets and a large church.

Thanks for reading!
JR

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Exploring the Historic City Walls of Lucca

Monograms' Rail Trips in Italy Serve Up Rome, Venice and Florence

Find the Perfect Hotel for Your Trip to Italy

What Can I Do There? A Cruise Stop in Sunny Sorrento, Italy

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