BK Olson, Travel Blogger

Category: Mediterranean Cruise

  • Naples, Italy

    Naples, Italy

    As our Mediterranean Cruise continues in Naples, we did a walk-about before our excursion later in the day. We explored a New Castle, a fabulous Galleria, and had pizza and a beer at a street-side cafe.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Mediterranean Cruise.

    Early Riser

    Once again, Jim was up bright and early to make sure the pilot boat and the mooring guys did everything just right. Coming into a new port was something he really enjoyed about our cruise. I, on the other hand, enjoyed sleeping in a bit, but took pictures like crazy on our way out of port.

    As you’ll see from our many pictures, Naples is another beautiful city with a lovely harbor – full of colorful and very old buildings. Greeting us way too early in the morning was Molo de San Vicenzo lighthouse and a statue of San Gennaro. The statue is to the right of the lighthouse in the larger picture.

    Vomero Hill

    The most visible landmarks of the city are perched high on Vomero Hill – Certosa di San Martino and Castel Sant’Elmo that stands beside it (below). The Certosa di San Martino was a monastery complex until the early 19th century, when it was closed and abandoned. A museum has taken its place, which displays many Spanish and Bourbon era artifacts as well as displays of the Nativity scene considered to be among the finest in the world.

    Castel Sant’Elmo is a medieval fortress which dates back to 1275 and presently serves as a museum and exhibition hall. In its day, it served as a military outpost, with a governor who had absolute power over military and civilian matters.

    Castel Nuovo

    Castel Nuovo (New Castle), is a medieval castle and the main landmark of the city since 1279. With its harbor location and immense size, this castle is magnificent. Since we are short on time, we didn’t venture inside, but got some great pictures of its exterior. These pictures are around front of the castle and show the beautiful white marble Triumphal Arch in between the two towers.

    This castle took a beating over the years during the wars and then left in disrepair for a while. In its day, it was the historical center of the city and often had very famous events going on. Pope Celestine V resigned as Pope in the hall of the castle and eleven days later Boniface VIII replaced him.

    A Fabulous Galleria

    I thoroughly enjoyed the Galleria Umberto I, a public shopping area – not so much for the shopping, although plentiful. The interior was absolutely gorgeous!

    Built between 1887–1891, it was the cornerstone in the decades-long rebuilding of Naples — called the risanamento — that lasted until World War I. Designed by Emanuele Rocco, it was named for Umberto I, King of Italy at the time of construction. It was meant to combine businesses, shops, cafes and social life (public space) with private space in the apartments on the third floor. It is a tall and spacious cross-shaped area covered by a glass dome – which is beautiful in and of itself. Of the four glass-vaulted wings, one fronts the downtown thoroughfare and another opens onto the San Carlo Opera House. What a fabulous place!

    Pizza and More!

    Pizza was first created by the baker Raffaele Esposito in Naples. His creation was a hit, and he was called to make a pizza for the visit of King Umberto and Queen Margherita of Italy in 1889. It was the perfect time to take a break and have some pizza and an Italian beer at a streetside cafe. I guess we know what part of that break was important enough for a picture! The pizza was great too!

    The Gesù Nuovo church is the most important church ever built by Jesuits in Naples. It is called “Gesù Nuovo” (New Jesus), because the Jesuits had already built another Jesus Church in 1568, which therefore is now called Old Jesus. This former church now belongs to the Diocese and the building, where the Jesuits used to live, is now seat of the University of Naples. For more history and beautiful pictures of the interior and the organ, CLICK HERE.

    “Just steps from the hectic Piazza del Gesù Nuovo at the start of the famous Spaccanapoli street running straight through the Greco-Roman historic center of Naples, a gated entrance opens onto a view looking straight up to the imposing façade of the church of Santa Chiara. Built in the early 14th century, Santa Chiara is a masterpiece of Provençal-Gothic architecture.” READ MORE.

    And that was just a walk-about BEFORE our excursion to Herculaneum. OMG! I could go on for days at each of these stops, so bear with me!

    A Great walk-about in Naples

    Next up: Herculaneum

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Sicily, Italy

    Sicily, Italy

    As our Mediterranean Cruise continues, Messina was our next stop. An hour-long bus ride took us to Palazzo Corvaia and the Greek Theatre where the history was incredible and the birds-eye views of the Mediterranean were absolutely stunning.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Mediterranean Cruise.

    Hello Messina!

    The picture above was SO gorgeous, I just had to use it instead of the one I had in mind. Sometimes you just have to go with the professionals – “Taormina-Teatro Greco01″ by Evan Erickson! We arrived in Messina around 7am. My husband, being the early riser in the family, was up to watch the view as we came into port and snapped a few pictures.

    The Madonna of the Letter

    There are so many things I love about writing this blog. Mostly I just love re-living the vacations we take. It’s also nice to have a hard copy of all we saw, to help with my memory of the events down the road. Of course I love to share my pictures and stories with all who will listen and look – but mostly I love to learn more about the places we’ve seen.

    Sometimes there are details that I’ve forgotten completely, or only have a partial memory of, where I need just a little more info to make my story complete. And there are things that I didn’t even realize we saw, but I have a picture to prove it. I see something on the web and it’s an a-ha moment where I say, oh, that’s what that was! The Madonna of the Letter is one of those moments.

    Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. As you enter the port, you are greeted by a statue of the golden Madonna della Lettera (Madonna of the Letter), nearly 20 feet in height with an inscription on the base that translates to “I Bless You and Your City”. Legend has it that this quote ended a letter sent to the people of Messina from the Virgin Mary.

    This was in the year 42 after the Apostle Paul visited Messina in hopes of converting the Sicilians to Christianity. Great numbers were persuaded and The Holy Mother was pleased by their devotion and granted them perpetual protection with the words “Vos et opossum civitatem benedicimus” – now inscribed on the base of the statue. We didn’t get any closer than the photo shows at the left, but what a marvelous story!

    Taormina and Greek Theatre Excursion was Marvelous!

    We decided on the Taormina and Greek Theatre excursion thru Carnival and it definitely didn’t disappoint. An hour-long bus ride took us through Messina, passing by a famous astronomical clock at the Piazzo Duomo, of which I have no pictures, unfortunately. If you’re interested, please look here. That would have been a good place to explore on our own, but we opted for only driving by on our way to Taormina, so it looks like we’ll just have to come back!

    Palazzo Corvaia and the Greek Theatre

    Our walking tour began with our arrival in Taormina near an exhibition center called Palazzo Corvaia, where the Sicilian Parliament of Nobles met In 1410. We walked past lovely flowers and fabulous old architecture. And whenever we could catch a glimpse of the Mediterranean, we gazed in awe.

    And then we were off to the Greek Theatre. Talk about stunning! Check out that first picture again! Built by the Greeks in the 3rd century B.C., it was later restructured by the Romans. Although most of the original seats have been replaced, the theater is still used in the summer months for open-air performances because of its unique acoustics and amazing panoramic views.

    Most of the surrounding structures are in pretty rough shape, but you would be too if you had been around this long! It would be wonderful to see a concert here – another reason to return!

    Not Enough Time

    Then we were left with time (not enough) to explore (and shop) in the quaint little town of Taormina, with its winding streets and tiny passages. We met up with our tour guide at the fountain and headed back to the ship.

    Next up: Naples, Italy

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Our first overnight at sea brings us to Dubrovnik. As we leave the ship, the first thing that stands out are the beautiful red roofs and the wall that encircles most of the old city.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Mediterranean Cruise.

     

    Beautiful Dubrovnik

    You can walk all the way around the city via this complex structure, among the largest and most complete in Europe. Originally built in the 7th century most likely of wooden palisades, many changes and enhancements were made between the 12th and 17th centuries to make it the stone wall it is today. It has helped to protect the freedom and safety of this peaceful and prosperous republic for centuries – even as recently as 1991-1992 during the Yugoslav army siege.

    “The walls run an uninterrupted course of approximately 1,940 metres (6,360 ft) in length, encircling most of the old city, and reach a maximum height of about 25 metres (82 ft).”  – READ MORE.

    Exploring on Our Own with an Audio Tour

    Today we decided to explore on our own, so we rented an audio tour at the gates to the Old City and enjoyed the views, the history and the stopping points along the way. This truly was a wonderful city.

    Time for a Break!

    Once we made our way all around the wall, we took a stroll through the Old City. It was a small town, full of history, old buildings, a fountain and beautiful churches. What a marvelous (and extremely HOT) day. We finished with a light lunch at the square just in time to head back to the ship.

    Another pinchable moment. OMG! We’re in Croatia! If only we could find Dr. Luka Kovač (from E.R.)!!

    Dubrovnik – Red Roofs and Fabulous Views!

    Next stop Sicily, Italy! YIPPEE!

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • Murano & Burano

    Murano & Burano

    On our final day in Venice, we were up against our 2 p.m. departure for Dubrovnik. Murano & Burano are two of many colorful islands in the Venetian lagoon, so of course we wanted to see them. We opted for a Carnival-led ride across the water rather than explore on our own and risk getting left behind. 

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Mediterranean Cruise.

    Murano – Known for its Venetian Glass

    On our final day in Venice there was still much to see. Our excursion left at 8am and would return us safely by 1pm with an hour to spare. It seemed a good way to fit in two more sights, and we were so glad we went! Our first stop was Murano, known for its beautiful Venetian glass.

    Tour of the Glass Factory

    The excursion gave us a wonderful tour of the glass factory, with a demonstration and (of course) were let off in the gift shop. We had an inkling that we may be making a purchase, but since money just doesn’t grow on trees you know, we had to make a very informed decision and take our time. All of the glass was stunning. Some of the glass was unbelievable! Just beautiful and, of course, expensive.

    While others left the shop to explore the island, we kept looking for just that perfect purchase. One that we would cherish for years, but not pay for for years, if you know what I mean. We ended up with a beautiful platter and vase, and got two stemmed bowls with lids for gifts. Fortunately one of the gifts is still with us for a while.

    “Murano’s glassmakers held a monopoly on quality glassmaking for centuries, developing or refining many technologies including crystalline glass, enameled glass (smalto), glass with threads of gold (aventurine), multicoloured glass (millefiori), milk glass (lattimo), and imitation gemstones made of glass. Today, the artisans of Murano are still employing these centuries-old techniques, crafting everything from contemporary art glass and glass jewelry to Murano glass chandeliers and wine stoppers.

    Today, Murano is home to the Museo Vetrario or Glass Museum in the Palazzo Giustinian, which holds displays on the history of glassmaking, as well as glass samples ranging from Egyptian times through the present day.”  – READ MORE

    We had our purchases shipped back to the states and used our spare time wisely to see a little more of Murano before we had to board our boat for Burano.

    Burano – Known for its hand-made Lace

    Burano was a beautiful and colorful little island, known for its lace. We wandered through many shops and I can’t even imagine actually using the beautiful table coverings that were all hand-made lace (especially with the grand kids over for dinner!!). They were VERY expensive, but absolutely gorgeous works of art. There were more reasonably-priced coverings, but they were probably the machine-made ones that just weren’t as beautiful.

    The last photo is of the leaning campanile (bell tower) of the Church of San Martino built in the 16th century, which houses “The Crucifixion” (plate twelve from Stations of the Cross, c. 1748, published 1749) by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. We did not have time to go into the church, but it looks lovely by the pictures on this website.

    What a Peaceful Morning!

    Next up: Dubrovnik, Croatia

    Happy trails,
    Barb

  • St. Mark’s Square

    St. Mark’s Square

    St. Mark’s Square has so much to offer. Its Basilica, Astronomical Clocktower, Bell Tower, Doge’s Palace, and great water views made this a very memorable day.

    Click on the first photo in each group and scroll to see the square photos at full size.
    To start at the beginning of this series, visit Mediterranean Cruise.

    Iconic Views and a Historic Clock

    The first picture was taken from the balcony atop St. Mark’s Basilica and is an iconic photo of Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square) and Venice. The bird’s eye view we got from the top (along with being able to go inside, of course) was well worth the entrance fee to get into the Basilica. We spent an excellent day exploring the Square and were in awe most of the day.

    In 1499 St. Mark’s Clocktower, it’s astronomical clock and the lower buildings on either side were completed like many others in several European cities during that timeframe.

    “It was placed where the clock would be visible from the waters of the lagoon and give notice to everyone of the wealth and glory of Venice. The lower two floors of the tower make a monumental archway into the main street of the city, the Merceria, which linked the political and religious centre (the Piazza) with the commercial and financial centre (the Rialto).”  – READ MORE

    After many renovations, the clock once again displays the original Roman Numerals I thru XXIIII around the outside with gilded stars as beautiful decorations. The signs of the zodiac are in counterclockwise order, so when they rotate clockwise slightly faster than the hour hand, the hour hand passes through each sign in the course of the year. It keeps perfect time and is absolutely beautiful!

    St. Mark’s Basilica

    What can you say about St. Mark’s Basilica, but WOW! Nicknamed “Church of Gold”, this church is just gorgeous! Everything about its marble columns, gold ground mosaics and fabulous interior have screamed wealth and power since the 11th century.

    “When thinking about Saint Mark’s Basilica, the first images that come to the minds of many people are those of the mosaics and their golden backgrounds. More than 8000 square metres of mosaic cover the walls, vaults and cupolas of the Basilica. Essentially Byzantine in its architecture, the Basilica finds in the mosaics its natural integrating element. The mosaic decorations were developed through some 8 centuries of the Basilica’s history.

    They represent stories from the Bible (Old and New Testaments), allegorical figures, events in the lives of Christ, the Virgin Mary, Saint Mark and other saints. The mosaics, with their warm colours, particularly gold, decorate the ample spaces of the Basilica, from 28 metres wide up to 21 metres high. As in Middle-Eastern churches, the interaction of the decoration with a dim, but ever changing light, according to the time of day, creates a range of evocative and intense effects.

    In the Basilica’s mosaics can be found the most significant evidence of Venice’s history, the ambitions, faith, languages and trends characterizing the evolution of its art. From its Greek-Byzantine origins to the local artistic expressions and the skills to represent and interpret other outside influences, up to the modern, quite difficult art of preservation and restoration of these precious and complicated works.”   – READ MORE

    Campanile di San Marco

    The Bell tower of Saint Mark square has been through many changes. Over the years, the tower was damaged many times by lightning and even an earthquake and in July 1902, it collapsed completely. That same evening, the council met and decided to rebuild, this time adding more internal reinforcement to prevent it from happening again. The new tower was inaugurated on April 25, 1912 (St. Mark’s feast day) exactly 1000 years after the building of the original tower was started.

    “Dominating the Piazza with its 98 meters, and itself dominated by its pointed roof, that surmounts a gold angel, this Bell-tower seems the headlight of Venice, because it orders all its buildings. Square as a keep, it is possible to reach its platform by a soft slope which has only one broad step with each angle of the wall.” – READ MORE

    Doge’s Palace

    Doge’s Palace was another wonderful visit in St. Mark’s Square. We took the tour and were able to go inside and see many of the Institutional Chambers like the Council Chamber (pictured below). The self-guided tour took us through the courtyard and the corridor leading over the Bridge of Sighs, built in 1614 to link the Palace to the New Prisons. The bridge’s name comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before their imprisonment.

    “A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the Doge’s Palace is an impressive structure composed of layers of building elements and ornamentation, from its 14th and 15th century original foundations to the significant Renaissance and opulent Mannerist adjunctions. The structure is made up of three large blocks, incorporating previous constructions. The wing towards the St. Mark’s Basin is the oldest, rebuilt from 1340 onwards. The wing towards St. Mark’s Square was built in its present form from 1424 onwards. The canal-side wing, housing the Doge’s apartments and many government offices, dates from the Renaissance and was built between 1483 and 1565.”  – READ MORE

    “The doge was the senior-most elected official of Venice and Genoa; both cities were republics and elected doges.”  – READ MORE

    A Return Trip is Needed

    What a fabulous day, rich in history and beauty. We really could have spent at least two more days in Venice – to see some more sights and museums, enjoy more of the local fare and wine, and maybe take that gondola ride after all.

    Next up: Murano & Burano

    Happy trails,
    Barb