Ciaotraveler

Venice is one of the busiest cities in Italy along with Rome but its a very do-able day trip. Be sure to go on a weekday in the off season so it's less crowded.  If you arrive by train from Florence (2 hrs.) or Milan (2.5 hours), you'll disembark at the main station.  Then head left directly out of the station to the Grand Cana l.  Here you'll have a choice of vaporettos (water taxi)...depending on what you prefer.  Since this was my third trip to Venice,  I wanted to photograph the hidden treasures but still took the water taxi to the St. Marks Square marina.  Then we walked back through the little streets to the Rialto bridge for lunch and where a water taxi can take you back to the main station.   The green pin is the train station where you catch the vaporetto.  The boat will take you along the canal to the St. Marks stop.  See the red pin below.  The red pin above shows the Rialto Bridge where you can walk back to fr...

Sophia Loren, one of the most beautiful and talented Italian actors, was promised and received the most lavish villa in Rome from her husband, Carlo Ponti.  This sprawling estate may be seen on Daily Mail See  here ... They had more than one home...this one below is in Capri taken when I visited in 2012.  It's located on the opposite side of the island where the Marina Piccola (small marina) is located.  Truly wonderful location for a wonderful star...see my Capri here        

Lugano Switzerland, is a wonderful day trip from Milan.  Lugano sits on a large glacial lake in southern Switzerland.  It takes less than one hour to arrive via the train from Milano Centrale.  Once you exit the train you're nearly in the old section of town.  The Funiculare was being renovated the day we were there, but it's a great way to get down to the old town. We walked and it was a bit steep but fine for the average walker.  The old cathedral is practically the first architecture you'll see as you enter  the old part of Lugano. The main plaza and side streets are full of fine outdoor excellent cafes and shops.  This is a pristine town where the money changes to Francs.  Many of the shops will take Euros.   Walk through the hilly old town towards the lake and follow the pathway along the lake.   This is such a fun walk and easy to do since its one lev...