October 2018 found me ready for a mini-European “excursion” to include Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Naples, Amalfi Coast and Capri. This trip also included a day trip to Switzerland, as well as a detour to Tunisia for four days – c’mon, you knew I couldn’t be THIS close to the continent of Africa and not visit).
Day 1:
I arrived in Milan on a Saturday morning and wasted no time getting out and about. For the moment, exploring Milan could wait. I took the train from Milan to the city of Torino (Turin) – about a two hour trip – to visit the Museo Egizio or Egyptian Museum.
With more than 30,000 artifacts, the Museo Egizio has the most extensive collection of ancient Egyptian items outside of Egypt and dates back to 1824. It all started in 1630 when King Carlo Emanuele III purchased the Mensa Isiaca, a Roman reproduction of an Egyptian altar tablet. The Savoy Kings found Egypt fascinating and continued their exploration into Egyptian artifacts by sending envoys to collect more and more pieces for their collection. I have one question that cannot be answered: did they pillage Egyptian towns or did they purchase these items for a fair price? I think we all know the answer to that question.
Milan, a metropolis in Italy’s northern Lombardy region, is a global capital of fashion and design, as well as home to the national stock exchange. With a population of 1.35 million people, it is the second most populous city in Italy – right behind Rome. While I wasn’t very impressed with Milan, I did love the Duomo.
Work for the construction of the famed Milan cathedral began in 1386. The construction site became a lively space for the exchange of the most diverse ideas, experiences and skills from workers coming from all over the continent. Remarkably, the cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete with the final detailing ending in 1965!
Day 2:
I had a day-trip to St. Moritz, Switzerland which did NOT disappoint. Milan was literally only 2.5 hours away from St. Moritz and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. St. Moritz was definitely ALL that and I entirely understand why the rich and famous love it so. Absolutely beautiful with stunning views and so clean it was surreal. The crisp air, the glacial blue-green water, and the pristine streets were all picture perfect. Immaculate! Everywhere we went looked like a postcard or a fairytale book.
Day 3:
Monday I departed Milan via train (a 2.5 hour ride via the high-speed train) headed for the City of Canals. The name Venice is derived from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC. Venice served as a major financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, as well as a staging area for the Crusades. This amazing city where cars are forbidden, consists of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by more than 400 bridges in the shallow Venetian lagoon.
In 2022, approximately 258,685 people called the historical island city of Comune di Venezia or greater Venice home. while more than 2.1 million tourists ticked this city off their bucket lists, The absence of cars and bicycles does not mean the absence of traffic. As you step out of the train station, you are greeted by the equivalent of a four lane highway – all on water. There are taxis, buses, private vessels and law enforcement all on water.
Day 4:
The Grand Canal, water taxis and gondolas were just as all the travel channels had depicted them. The one thing I wasn’t prepared for, though, was how confusing the place can be with no real street signs. Google maps is only of limited use with all the alleyways and dead ends that give Venice its charm. I loved it anyway even though I stayed lost!
Day 5:
Using Venice as a base, I visited the islands of Murano and Burano. Murano is known for its history of glassblowing. Burano is known for the dying art of lacemaking, as well as its rows of Instagram worthy colorful houses. Rumored to have been painted in bright hues to differentiate them from each other during foggy conditions or cases of cognitive impairment due to inebriation, the houses formed the perfect vibrant background for my photos.
Day 6:
All Aboard! Next stop, Florence – the capital city of the Tuscany region and the most populated in that region housing more than 383,000 inhabitants with over 1,520,000 in the metropolitan area. Florence was the center of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era. It is considered by many academics to have been the birthplace of the Renaissance, becoming a major artistic, cultural, commercial, political, economic and financial center. During this time, Florence rose to a position of enormous influence in Italy, Europe, and beyond. Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions and the city still bears witness to this with all the monuments dedicated to them.
After a two hour train ride, I arrived in Florence in the early morning with the entire day ahead of me. After visiting the Uffizi Gallery Museum with its gilded halls of masterpieces, I headed over to The Accademia Gallery Museum with my main purpose being to see Michelangelo’s David sculpture. All I can say is we all know Michelangelo was a genius but you never realize how gifted he really was until you actually see his work up close and personal.
Day 7:
After traipsing all over Florence the previous day, I took a day trip and visited the 5 villages of Cinque Terre: Corniglia, Riomaggiore, Manorola, Monterosso and Vernazza. Cinque Terre is mentioned in documents dating back to the 11th century with Monterosso and Vernazza being the first settlements.
Day 8:
Next up was a Tuscany in a Day tour – where I visited Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa. Siena was a major banking center until the 13th and 14th centuries and is still home to the oldest bank in the world – the Monte dei Paschi bank, which has been operating continuously since 1472. Siena’s main feature is The Piazza del Campo, the shell-shaped town square which features the Palazzo Pubblico with the Torre del Mangia tower – the stage for the Palio horse race. The Siena Cathedral is another main sight.
Day 9:
After Florence I was headed to the capital city of Italy, Rome. Rome’s history spans a mind blowing 28 centuries. While Roman mythology dates the founding of Rome at around 753 BC, the site has been inhabited for much longer making it one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe. It was first called The Eternal City by the Roman poet Tibullus in the 1st century BC and later called “Caput Mundi” (Capital of the World).
After the fall of the Empire in the west, which marked the beginning of the Middle Ages, Rome slowly fell under the political control of the Papacy, and in the 8th century, it became the capital of the Papal States until 1870. Beginning with the Renaissance, almost all popes since Nicholas V (1447–1455) pursued coherent architectural and urban programs. Each program was aimed at making the city the artistic and cultural center of the world. Rome became the center of activity for famous artists, painters, sculptors and architects and ushered in the Baroque and Neoclassicism styles.
After a short 1.5 hour ride, I was walking the streets of Rome like a pro. One of my favorite things to do in a new city is take the Hop-On, Hop-Off buses, if available. It gives me a great chance to see the entire layout of the city and also get my bearings. I had one of the best meals of my trip at Osteria da Fortunata – their oxtail ragu. Yes, oxtails – the heads of all my Caribbean people are exploding right now – and it was amazing. I also got to watch two older women hand rolling the pasta we were consuming at the restaurant. Very nice experience.
Day 10:
I had a full day of exploring the city, as I went on a “Rome in a Day” tour visiting the Colosseum, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, Palatine Hill, the Pantheon and Piazzo Navona.
Day 11:
I boarded a flight headed for Tunisia. Tunisia, the northernmost African nation, is a mere hour away from Rome and is often overlooked by many intrepid travelers. Over the next four days, I visited amazingly well preserved ruins and sites in Tunis, Sidi Bou Said, Carthage, Kairouan, El Djem, Sbeitla, Dougga and Bulla Regia. Click here to check out my Tunisian adventures.
Days 16 & 17: I flew back to Rome and then took the one-hour train from Rome to Naples. Naples, is the third largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of approximately 909,000. Founded by Greeks in the first millennium BC, Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban areas in the world. Naples’ historic city center is the largest in Europe and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Day 12:
Day trip from Naples to the Amalfi coast where I visited Pompeii and Sorrento. As many of you may already be aware, the city of Pompeii (along with Herculaneum and many villas in the surrounding area), was buried under 13-20 feet (4-6 meters) of volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Largely preserved under the ash, the excavated city offered a unique snapshot of Roman life. Pompeii was a wealthy town, with a population of approximately 11,000. Pompeii is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy, Pompeii receives approximately 2.5 million visitors annually.
Sorrento is a town located on the Sorrentine peninsula overlooking the Bay of Naples in Southern Italy. On a clear day one can easily see Naples, Amalfi Drive, Vesuvius and Pompeii. A word about Amalfi Drive – that is one nerve wracking stretch of road. While the coastal drive offers absolutely stunning views, it is slightly terrifying. Traversing such narrow roads that consist entirely of hairpin turns with very low, if any, guardrails was nerve wracking. It reminded me of the roads in Tortola, Virgin Islands…if you’ve ever been then you know exactly what I mean.
Day 13:
Was a treat as I visited the island of Capri. While there is no such thing as a bad view on Capri, the city of Anacapri and the Blue Grotto were definite highlights for me.
And just like that…my “mini” European holiday was officially over.