We’ve been away for three weeks - barely here this morning after 24
hours of travel yesterday. We were in northern Italy visiting
Jo-Ann’s relatives, among many other things. Genova, Savona… Great
food, great wine, great scenery, great friends, great family. Trying
to get back into speaking English… My second trip, Jo-Ann’s
third…
There is art everywhere, of course, but I’ll point out some
highlights that we found.
In Milan is the Last Supper, which we wanted to see but couldn’t,
which is a long story. Reserve that 3 months in advance, if you want
to see it.
La Scala is also there, but it was closed when we were there. The
Duomo is (as I recall) the second largest cathedral in Italy (or
Europe?) It’s medieval, very gothic and very dark but boy is it a
sight to see!! Climb on the roof, too… I have to put my foot down
about the cathedral-hopping, BTW. Some people can’t pass by a church
without going inside…
Then we went to Varazze, which is our family - a little resort town
on the Italian Riviera between Savona and Genova. From there we did
many things, but one was a pretty magnificent showing of filagree in
Campo Ligure, which is also the center of Italian filagree. The show
is gone, now, but the local filagree is still there. Ate in a
wonderful agriturismo that night…
Then we took a car trip with two Italian cousins and friends - Pisa,
Florence, San Gimignano, Sienna, San Marino, Assisi, Rimiini… IMO
there is little reason to go to Pisa unless you just want to be
there when the tower falls ; It’s a perfectly fine place. If you go
to Florence (Firenze, actually) and don’t see “David” you’ll regret
it for the rest of your life. San Gimignano is a beautiful little
town with a beautiful cathedral… San Marino is a unique place
for sure… Assisi is pretty much a can’t-miss if you’re in the
neighborhood - tied to Italian and religious history, older than
dirt and beautiful…
What we’ve been doing lately, anyway…