Italy 2005
Tom and his wife traveled to Italy in July of 2005 for a two week tour with Tauck World Discovery. It was a fantastic tour with a small group of about 30 fun people and a great tour director named Marlice (photo on the right). The trip started out very bad when they arrived in Rome with no luggage. However, they lucked out and the bags showed up the next day, just in time to start the tour. They first traveled south to visit the town of Sorrento and take a drive along the Amalfi coast. They stopped to walk through the ruins of Pompeii before returning to Rome. In Rome, they saw the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Colosseum and the old Roman Forum. They went to the Vatican to see the famous Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica and Square. Leaving Rome, they traveled through Umbria and Tuscany, visiting the towns of Orvieto, Assisi, San Gimignano, and Pisa. They took a train up the coast to visit the fishing villages of Cinque Terre and returned on a scenic boat ride along the coast. The next stop was Florence. Here, they got to see the Duomo and Baptistry, Piazza Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce Church, and "David" at the Accademia Gallery. They also visited the Uffizi Gallery and the Borghese Gallery. From Florence, they took a high-speed train to Venice. Here, they toured St. Mark's Basilica and the Doges' Palace. They rode the boat taxis up and down the Grand Canal. They walked over the Rialto Bridge and visited the Jewish Ghetto. And best of all, they enjoyed a romantic gondola ride through the narrow "streets" of Venice. The Amalfi coast
Stayed at Excelsior Victoria in Sorrento
Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius
The Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica and Square
The Spanish Steps, Rome
Trevi Fountain, Rome
The Pantheon, Rome
The Colosseum, Rome
Arch of Constatine and Colosseum, Rome
Duomo in Orvieto, Umbria
St. Francis Basilica in Assisi
Rolling hills of Tuscany
San Gimignano, Tuscany (town of many medieval towers)
Pisa (It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it!)
View from room in Viareggio
Fishing villages of Cinque Terre
Welcome to Florence
Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), Florence
"Dirty David" (the outside replica)
Santa Croce, a 14th century Franciscan church in Florence
Bronze doors of the Baptistry, Florence
Duomo lit up at night, Florence
Florence sunset
St. Mark's Square and Basilica in Venice
Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute
Romantic gondola ride
Ponte di Rialto (built in 1588)
The Grand Canal
Laundry day
Enjoying a glass of wine before saying good-bye!
