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Day 6 Vienna - Venice - 10/10
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We slept through the journey from Vienna to Venice after a
'relaxing' evening at the Wine Village.
In the evening we arrived in the romantic city of Venice, Italy. |
Day 7 Venice - 11/10
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| Venice - A romantic and beautiful city that faced with 3 major
issues; float, pigeon and pollution. We arrived early in the morning, all around us are
vivid reminders of Venetian medieval maritime power and wealth. we visited St. Mark's
Basilica and later, glass-blowing factory that make world refined Murano glass. Apart from
shopping, we walked through the Grand Canal with its magnificent and elegant palaces,
witnesses of the past spenders of the 'Serenissima'. |
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| Gondolas |
St Mark Square |
Gondolas |
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| Lunch at Burano |
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A half day off the beaten track! We were taken by private boat
to the nearby islands in the lagoon of Venice, to see the island of Murano and the
Hermitage of San Francesco del Deserto. Lunch is taken at the island of the 'fisherman' -
Burano - a photographer's paradise where all houses are painted with varieties of colors. |
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| Burano Island |
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| In the Evening we cruised back to Venice to enjoy a romantic but
expensive gondola journey along canals full of character and color, while musicians and
singers entertain. It is really an ideal introduction to this unique and magical city. |
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| Evening Gondola ride |
Venice at Sunset |
Grand Canal |
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Day 8 Venice - Rome - 12/10
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| Ancient City |
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Romans live and love life to the fullest - so when in Rome, we
'do as the Romans do' and start the evening with 'passeggiata' (evening stroll) along the
Via Condotti to the world-famous Spanish Steps in Rome's most fashionable shopping area.
The 'Campidoglio', Piazza Venezia and Piazza Navona with its many pavement cafes and
trattorias to admire the 17th century fountains and architecture. |
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| Street artist - Navona |
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Day 9 - Rome - 13/10
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| Morning sightseeing unfolds 2,500 years of history, from the
Forum and Colosseum to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City. Rome wasn't built in a
day. The city is layered with monuments - ancient temples, medieval fortresses, Baroque
confections of marble, and rushing water - crowding next to each other on every interwoven
street. Few meters under our feet exists another city and traces of other settlement even
deeper |
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| Colosseum Gate |
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| Ancient City |
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| The Vatican Museums tour opened my eyes to the world of art,
admired the artistic masterpieces collected and commissioned by the Popes. We saw the
famous Tapestry Gallery and Gallery of Maps then finally wondered at the masterpieces in
the Sistine Chapel. We spent a long time gazing at Michelangelo works which he spent 11
years in the preparation of the vault and altar wall. |
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| Colosseum |
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| Trajan's Column |
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We continue our exploration on Rome's past. Took the old Appian
Way outside the city walls to the chapel where St. Peter asked, 'Domine Quo Vaudis'.
Visited the Catacombs where the early Christians assembled to escape persecution and which
were used as underground cemeteries. |
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| We have another wonderful evening with a typical Italian dinner,
wine, soft drinks and music. Followed by coins toss into the Trevi Fountain. |
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