Rome: a visit to the Protestant Cemetery

Finally, after years that I watched from outside along the way back home from college , I finally visited the Protestant Cemetery in Rome, which is located in the district of Testaccio . It is a small cemetery where were buried non-Catholics people (I'm not sure if it is still possible to be buried there). There are also some famous people: Keats, the English writer, Goethe's son, Gramsci and Miriam Mafai (the first was an Italian politician and journalist, Miriam Mafai was an italian writer). As "entry ticket", who is responsible for the maintenance of the cemetery asks for a donation of 3 € and groups are asked to go to '"information office" before starting the visit to the cemetery. As soon as you enter, you realize that the cemetery is quite small, but to visit it well it takes (at least) an hour. There are several graves which are truly special and deserve to be seen. For example, there is one on which the flowers aren't placed in a vase on the floor or directly on the grave, but they are placed directly in the hands of the statue I was looking for especially one statue: the statue of the “angel of grieft”, which I had seen in a video of TG2 (the news program of the second channel of Italian public television) dedicated to angels of Rome After that I found it, I went to search the graves of famous and important character, as Antonio Gramsci (the italian politician and journalist) and Miriam Mafai and also John Keats (his tomb is located in the old part of the cemetery, which looks more like a park than a cemetery!) There are still many things to say, even if the place is really small. But I prefer to leave a few more photos: This is one of those cases in which the images say more than words!

Travels and good intentions for 2014

I want to dedicate the first post of 2014 to what lies ahead for this new year... I speak in the plural because, by now, we are a bit like a big family and we move forward together: I write about my own experiences and you read (hopefully with pleasure) my stories. The events for this year are really a lot and I'm very happy. As for the destinations in Europe, the ideas are many and those that have taken shape, or are substantially taking it, are three: The first goal in the old continent will be Berlin. I'm going there in March and it's only the first trip of the year to be confirmed: flight and hotel are already booked and I can not wait to leave. For too many years I have said that you want to visit Berlin and, finally, the moment has arrived. Another goal that is getting closer is a journey in Dublin. I do not know the dates yet, but the itinerary is ready and will be the destination of my summer holidays! It is another city that I want to see for a long time, and I decided to go this year, possibly in late June, early July. I will keep you updated and if you have suggestions recommended to me as well! There is also the idea of ​​going to see Prague, braving the cold : the idea is to go in the Czech capital on New Year's Eve 2015 (Yes, I decided long time before... I know it). Maybe I come back to London... (I know not that I love this city , right?) In the middle of these European trips there will be many others trips in Italy: I will spend, at the end of January , two days in Abruzzo. When it gets a bit ' warmer and the days will be longer , I'm going to walk through the "SnowWhite forest" (I find that is in the Tuscia thanks to a National Geographic's article). I have a gift box to use (but I will talk about it further), and probably I'll use it to go somewhere in the region of Marche, a region that I have never visited. There would also be many other places that I would like to see and visit , but I would avoid to make an endless list of places: we are not here to do your shopping list ! I hope I can still give many useful tips for traveling ... What do you say , you will be traveling with me this year?

A trip in Maremma: Talamone, Orbetello and Capalbio Marina

Today I bring to you in three beautiful places that are located in the Grosseto Maremma: Talamone, Orbetello and "Capalbio Marina". The first stop was Talamone. We arrive at the harbor, where easily found parking (both blue lines, then a fee, both with white stripes and therefore free). After the usual photos to panorama, with the island of Giglio in the background, we arrive at a crossroads: on the one hand, the viewpoint and the other walls with a door to enter the old town: we decide to go to the lookout outside the walls, but found nothing different from other cars when viewed from the harbor. So we are reaching the door, noting that it seems that has been opened very recently. The walls were also being restored and then covered for much of the scaffolding (the bartender for one of several local café told us that the work going on since last summer). Talamone knew that was destroyed during the war and so we knew we would find almost all new homes. So we walked briskly on the door and we got to Piazza Garibaldi Garibaldi: we found them, dare I say "of course", a bust of Garibaldi and a church fenced (another thing being restored). We went running toward the castle, along a staircase very cute, short and to those "made of stones" (pass the word ... let's say that not one of those steps "modern" retains its charm in short). From there we could enjoy a different scenery and enchanting really deserved some pictures. So we left for Orbetello, with the intention of stopping there to eat. Arrived in the long lagoon of Orbetello we parked the car and we sat there with our sandwiches. If you do not want to sit right next to the water there are also several benches (even in sunlight, if you want to add the feed the sun). The place is very quiet and beautiful, there are games for children and a purpose to bring the dogs (just on Saturdays from 06 to 15 the weekly market and therefore can not access them by car. With the car we passed the "front door" in the old country. The center itself is a pedestrian, quind you leave the car out (there are many free and paid parking is: if you arrive during peak hours there's sure to find parking. Inside you will find small but charming streets, shops, cafes with outdoor seating, restaurants and many other things for your enjoyment. If you have kids, you can get them in the cooler hours in the park that exists between the true center and port in the wall: you'll recognize it because it's really big and there are also games for their enjoyment. We headed quickly toward "Capalbio Marina", which is between Capalbio and Ansedonia, in the village of Playa peat. The choice was not random: they went to sea when a child, I spent about a month's holiday in Tuscany. There was wind and we then repaired the dunes: every so often, however, we left the cool fresh breeze as the sun was hot! After a good hour of sun and tranquility, given that we were just across the beach, we returned to the car. We arrived to the Tarot Garden, but given the amount of people outside (a couple of schools quite numerous) we decided, at least this time, skip the tour. We took the wrong road, but we ended up down a small dirt road always immersed in the green (greener than you can imagine). So, back on the Aurelia, we have taken the direction of Rome.

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)

Milan: the museum of science and technology

On 15 and 16 February I was in Milan for the BIT. I admit that Milan is not really one of my favorite Italian cities, but I didn't let down for that. The morning of the 16th, before returning again to the fair, I went to visit the museum of science and technology. The ticket costs 10 euro and the reduced 7. If you want to visit the Toti submarine, guided tours cost 10 euro with the booking and 8 without. Once you have paid the ticket, the tour in the museum begins with the section about medicine, in particular on Carlo Erba. This part is particularly interesting for the fact of being able to see the medicines of the "past", their packaging and some molds for medicines (for example that for suppositories). After I was fascinated by the presentation of some models of the works of Leonardo Da Vinci: that man was simply a genius and way ahead of its time...Then, in that building, there are the sections about radio and television and then there are also some rooms where there are workshops and children can experience the things explained. One of my favorite things about these museums that have this kind of things, are these interactive installations that allow, especially to children, to learn by trying out things. once I have finished visiting the rooms in the main building, I came out of there to enter in the hangar where take place an exhibition of steam locomotives (there are also some electric locomotives): I must admit that this section fascinated me a lot. Let's talk about locomotives of the early twentieth century, until the '30s, that those of my generation have never seen in action. These giants, seen up close, these "beasts" intimidate a bit people who pass nearby. Next to each locomotive, there is a brief description of them that indicates also the years in which every railway engine "worked". I was open-mouthed like a child in a toy store (or candy, depending on your preference). Next to this hangar, there is the Toti submarine, which, as I indicated at the beginning of the post, can be visited by paying the ticket a little bit more. On the wall in front of it you will find photos that tell how it was brought to the museum (it was not an easy task, given its size and also to other factors, such as the difficulty to get him to the curve. At that link you can find some more information about that). Finally, to complete the tour, there's the hangar on ships and aircraft. I must, however, admit that this was a little disappointing: there weren't so many things to see. The museum is finished, so after that i get out of it: but the only way to the exit pass through the Museum Shop. Usually, I spent a little time in these shop: sometimes I founded something very interesting! I leave you with some pictures and I apologize for their quality: I've done them with the phone.