Italy - Assisi & Pompeii

This morning we visited Basilica di San Francesco, which contains the relics of St. Francis and frescoes of his life. Later, we also visited the Church of St. Mary of the Angels.









After that, we left Assisi for Pompeii. Pompeii was a city that was destroyed and buried during a volcanic eruption in 79 AD. The excavation site provided an extraordinary insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. We followed the guide around the site, where he pointed out the various remains of buildings, including an amphitheater, communal bath house, forum, shops and houses. There were even plaster casts of the people who failed to escape from the disaster.

















We then proceeded to our hotel in Sorrento, where we would stay for the night. After leaving our luggage at the hotel, we walked to a nearby restaurant for our dinner. We were served appetizers, salad and a whole pizza each. The pizza was so huge that most of us couldn't finish it. After dinner, we strolled back to the hotel and rested for the night.

Italy - Florence & Pisa

This morning we went for a walking tour of Florence. We first made a short stop at Piazzale Michelangelo, which has a panoramic view of Florence as well as copies of some Michelangelo's sculptures.







After meeting our guide, we proceeded to Piazza del Duomo where the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is situated. It was yet another gigantic church and I was unable to capture a full view of it in one shot. We also went into the church for a quick tour.







Beside the cathedral was the Giotto's Bell Tower, while the Baptistery of St. John was across it. It was one of the oldest buildings in the city and the eastern doors were referred to as "Gates of Paradise" by Michelangelo.





We made a brief stop at Mercato Nuovo, where most stalls were selling leather goods and souvenirs. There was also a famous bronze sculpture of a wild boar "Il Porcellino", which visitors would rub its snout for good luck. A few steps away was the Ponte Vecchio, which was the oldest bridge in Florence crossing the Arno River.







Next, we walked through the Uffizi Gallery courtyard, where statues of scientists, artists and statesmen important to Florentine history were built around the walls. We then proceeded to Piazza della Signoria, an "open-air museum" showcasing copies of various masterpieces.










After lunch, we travelled to Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa. At the heart is the Duomo, which is the cathedral. There is also the Baptistry, as well as the famous Leaning Tower. It was amusing to see many people trying to take trick shots of the Leaning Tower. The sky also threatened to rain but luckily it did not.





We then continued to Assisi, where we had our dinner at the hotel before resting for the night.