La Spezia
The Florentine steak is now a fond memory as we headed to La Spezia adjacent to Cinque (cheen-quay) Terra. This area is composed of five hamlets on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. You can hike from one to the other – a more than daunting task – or take the train from one to the next or travel on a boat. Taking the boat was a wise decision for us. We opted to visit two of the five: Riomaggio and Vernazza, tiny towns carved into the cliffs. Quaint and scenic pretty much sums up our visit.
We really enjoyed La Spezia where our airbnb was. It was sort of like ‘European town square meets [new] Pasadena. It was very cool. It was small enough that we able to really get around town by foot – and we did! Now Heathyr will tell you that Italian doors been an obsession of mine ever since I first visited Italy in 2000. Usually wooden, they exude great character. Michael & I came across this grandiose porto in La Spezia – you can get an idea of its size and scale. [below] We also discovered a beautiful park down by the marina. After living so long in drought-stricken Southern California, I am drawn to lush, green, giant trees.
Milan
Ahhh, Milano. Molto bene!
We discovered ”Hidden Treasures of Milan” on a bike tour. This city is truly beautiful. Towering trees, lush and green … and the terrain is flat! Barely an incline. This was greatly appreciated since our bikes had no electric assist. Our tour guide was a young Russian woman who spoke 5 languages and has been living in Milan for 8 years. We keep meeting so many interesting people! Our fellow bikers were mid-thirties Belgian couples. We kept up – no problemo!
We enjoyed the sites and were surprised by a few: the modern sculpture below is ‘squarely positioned’ as a gesture to the city’s financial district.
and Napolean’s Arc – fashioned after his Arc d’Triomphe in Paris. It is said that the Milan Arch of Peace is positioned in a straight line geographically with its Paris sibling. I had no idea how much impact Napolean had in Italy. We have learned that he played an integral part in the history of Rome, Florence, Milan. He was a busy guy.
We further broadened our horizons by taking a city walking tour which included a visit to the magnificent Duomo and a viewing of Leonardo da Vinci’s original Last Supper. What a treat!
Even though it rained steadily, we ignored the weather and enjoyed tour. The Duomo defies description. It’s taken 600 years to build. Its spired exterior design is impressive. However, the size and scope of the interior is staggering. There are 3400 statues alone. Each stained glass window is a work of art. The pillars… like I said, defy description – it just needs to be seen.
Michael and I are big fans of da Vinci. So, visiting The Last Supper was a special event. We could see and feel the emotion that he incorporated in this work! He painted it on the dining room wall at a monastery. [who knew?] Bombing during WW II threatened to destroy it but it was protected by sandbags.
As you are probably aware, Milan is known for fashion and style. And it’s noticeable everywhere. From the cosmopolitan air of the city to the well dressed Milanese. I felt so ’under-dressed’ by comparison. There’s only so much fashion one can pack into a 25” suitcase.
Out in front of the main Metro Milan Station stands this symbol of the city: Needle & thread in 4 colors of the city metro lines.
Ciao for now!