A trip to Gubbio (Umbria, Italia)

We left the car in "piazza dei 40 martiri", where there are also some nice shady gardens for those who want to sit and stay cool (especially in summer). The church of San Francesco was closed, so we "jumped" the visit. After a stop at the bar on the "portico delle Logge dei Tiratori"(arcade of the Lodges of shooters), built in 1603, we began to delve into the streets of the country and we made a stop at the Church of St. John (XIII century). So we took the elevator and got up on the Piazza Grande, where the "palazzo dei Consoli" is, (It is now a museum. The price of the standard ticket is of 5 euro and the discounted is € 2.5) and, right there in front, there is the Praetorian Palace. This square is very particular: it is squared and has a very nice overlooking on the Umbrian hills. We take the elevator for the second time and we come to the gardens of the cathedral and then to the Cathedral ("Cathedral of Saints Marian and James"). We look in the Civic Museum just for a moment (5€ for the standard ticket and € 2.5 for the discounted one), but we avoid the visit So we arrived to the city walls and the port of St. Ubaldo. At this point there is a choice you have to made: get to the Basilica of St. Ubaldo embarking on a path that would take you half an hour away (at least, unless you're more than trained) or go back and take the cable car (ticket: 5 € ). We are back to take it (the journey will take you about 10 minutes away). Once you reach the top you will find two bars / pizzerias. So we get to the Basilica of St. Ubaldo, a beautiful basilica, a must - visit. Near the altar there are the remains of the saint and in one of the side aisle there are the candles of the famous race of the candles. You can get here by car, follow the signs. Leaving the basilica we can not avoid stopping to admire the view, and especially the one of Gubbio: the city has a completely different charm. There are also many other things to see, many small churches to visit and glimpses which draw our attention. Unfortunately, we did not have more time and we came away: but surely, sooner or later, we'll be back to visit all that we have not seen. I leave you, as usual, a few photos. (Here is the link to the set on flickr with all the photos)

Rome seen from its highest points

Even when you look at it from its highest points (maybe I should say "especially"), Rome is truly fascinating. It becomes even more charming than usual. I began to look for various high points of the city after that, on facebook, I asked if anyone had ideas, suggestions and "desires" on what to see on my blog and youtube channel, and the answer that one friend gave to me was just "the highest points of Rome". Then, from (approximately) mid-April, I started my "pilgrimage" in the various terraces of the eternal city taking pictures and shooting short videos for the final one. I went to Castel Sant'Angelo, to the Janiculum Hill ("Gianicolo"), the Orange Garden, the stairway of Trinita dei Monti and the "Pincio" (in Villa Borghese), the Victorian (where I didn't go to the top of the building) to complete all enjoying the view from the "terrazza dello zodiaco" (terrace of the Zodiac), which is located in the nature reserve of Monte Mario. No, the picture is "always the same": of course, the buildings are always the same, but each of these terraces is located in different and every building, so you can see it from a different point of view and next things first, perhaps, were hidden. Change rooftop terrace and see the others as are nestled in the landscape of this city. In short, Rome is a city that never tires (and maybe I'm slightly biased) is seen "from below" that come from and the best way to express the concept is to make you see the photos and video. If you want to see all of them, you can find the complete set on flickr.