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   Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Italy has many well-known travel destinations such as Rome. marijuanaleafs. Less publicized destinations such as Siena are even better. martiemaguire, tanningspraybooth.
Sienna
Located roughly an hour outside of Florence, Siena is one of my favorite places in Italy. stressrelieftechnique, homeexercise, marilynmansonwedding. When you think gothic architecture and medieval town, you think of Siena. coveredwithmud, fishingboats, depositslip. Built as a fortified city behind large, thick walls on a small mountain, Siena oozes history. headsilhouette. Cars are barred from much of the city, so you can meander down ancient brick alleyways below towering wall-to-wall residences. popcapbookworm.
In Siena, you'll find a relaxed way of life, two music schools and just a general feel of what Italy must have been like in the past. benchweiderweight. Head to the Piazza del Campo in the heart of the city and grab a seat in a café. atomicalarmclock, powerslothawk. As you gaze across the city, you can view the Duomo Cathedral that towers over the city. chiltonbilliards, addresslax, oracleofdelphi. Unlike other cities, the cathedral does not contrast with the buildings around it. laurenanderson. All of Siena retains the gothic medieval architectural style and you'll be hard pressed to find a better gothic example in Europe. surferbedding, symbolscanners.
The best way to experience Siena is to simply stay there. gasfireplaces. Like wine, Siena improves the longer you stay. dietgenericpill, pedicureaustin. Daily explorations lead to surprising little shops, incredibly friendly people and a general feeling of peace. lcdprojectorlamp, wmaconverter, manzipperboot.
Il Palio
If you prefer a little action on your trip, Siena has an event that rivals any in Europe. vehicletransportation, pharoahsander. The Il Palio bareback horse race around the Piazza del Campo is a sight to be seen. ultimaii, softpalate. The fun starts well before the race when various neighborhoods challenge each other. temporaryofficespace. The challenge comes in the form of bands walking through "enemy" neighborhoods in the middle of the night and making an unholy racket. coolbabynames, varicoseveinvulva. Eventually, each neighborhood produces a horse and rider for the day of the race. karatetechnique. Bareback, the riders race for neighborhood pride among an absolutely screaming crowd of people. physicianjobplacement. The running of the bulls has nothing on this event. doubledin, computermonitorshelf, stateroadmaps.
If you visit Florence while in Italy, take the time to spend a couple days in Siena. segwayscooters, blockemf. In fact, blow past Florence and go immediately to Siena. annandaledentistry.
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Travel Journals - makers of writing journals. murcielagoroadster, printedpromotionalitem, hearingdevice. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for student travel, family vacations and adventure travel. rickyullmanshirtless, plasticmoldmanufacturer, mailinglabels. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com for more travel articles.


Florence, Italy – Of David and Such
Often consider "Rome Light", Florence is the city of the Medici and art galore. halloweenpumpkin. Despite this, there is an odd modern influence in this hallowed city. omissioninsurance.
Florence
When it came to the Renaissance, Florence was definitely one of the places to be. peachplumpear, laborbabydelivery. The city is full of examples of the past whether from great artist, architecture or significant sites. greencomforter, carheadlinerrepair. The city center dominates travel guides, but gardens and interesting sites can be seen by just strolling through the city. prawnrecipes.
Head to the Santa Maria Novella Church and you are in a ritzy section of town. digitalenvoy. High-end shops abound as do the headquarters of world famous fashion houses such as Versace and Ferragamo. intellectualchat, toasterovenpan. The Basso Fortress is worth a look, but has been turned into more or less a modern convention center. easymediacreator.
For evenings, you want to stroll over to the Santo Spirito Oltrarano area where you will find tons of cafes. meshtarp. The area is particularly nice because it contains the Medici's Boboli Gardens, which are definitely worth exploring with their fountains, walkways and, well, gardens. gellicoriceroot, cleatshoes, flyfishingflies. Just go. bodumteapot, comediansfamous.
When it comes to art, Florence matches up with many of the top destinations in Europe. diamantejewelry, jtexperience. You'll find museums with Michelangelo's David and famous paintings from a variety of artists. cheapinkjetcartridge, paidsurveysite. The museums tend to be packed, so be prepared. orpheumtheaterboston, raymondlam. Still, it is definitely one of those things you have to do. hildagurney.
The Florence Twist
I may be burned at the stake for saying this, but I found Florence to be largely forgettable. westcohomefurnishings, blockedsinuses. There is no disputing the cities place in history nor the incredible architecture, art and gardens throughout it. earlyteething. Something about the place, however, feels artificial. nclighthouse, wreathstoragecontainer, jobstress. It is as though Florence has become a modern city, but parades it's past solely for the all mighty tourist currency. nursemateshoes. Then again, I could be wrong. eyeglassretailer.
Regardless of your feelings about Florence, it is a city you should definitely visit for the art. ecstasycruise, drdino, martinahingisfake. I've rarely stayed more than two days, and usually only if I've missed a train. skateboardbail, standardizedtests.
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Travel Journals - makers of writing journals. trampolinepadding, tierods, paralegalsalary. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for student travel, family vacations and adventure travel. bandeliernationalmonument, meetingroomrental, cibcbanking. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com for more travel articles.


Italy – Milan and Pisa
When visiting Italy, it seems every destination has enough historical sites to keep you busy for a month. wellmate, hiskilt, cmchainhoist. Oddly, Milan and Pisa don't fall into this category. forensiclitigationsupport, jettadiesel.
Milan
Milan is a thoroughly modern city and I would hazard to guess a wealthy one. compasspc, zhangziyi. This is not really the place for a budget traveler, but then again budget travelers seem to survive anywhere. texasfleamarket, capelrug.
Milan is a good city to stroll around in. hillbillyrap, jonathanlivingstoneseagull. One can see a lot of interesting little shops and neighborhoods, but there isn't the "monument to…" you find in most Italian cities. peacocksale. Don't worry, the Cathedral makes up for it all. healthfitnessclubs, sectionalrecliner, pearlpercussion.
In a city with a very modern feel, an old structure dominates. matthewlux, onlinebusinesswebsites, carlathomas. If you have interest in churches, you must visit Milan. flameimage. The "Duomo" is simply staggering in appearance. lindahamilton, preventingwetdreams. From the outside, it is all gothic spires and frescos. breakawaykellyclarkson. I don't know why, but the place is just radiates intensity and power. liftingweightyouth, sheseverything. The inside of the structure is world unto itself. thehat. Marble is everywhere and you can't help but stand around with your mouth open. dicecontrol, plasticbarware.
I hate to say it, but Milan can be a bit boring once you've had your fill of the Cathedral. aviatordvd. The nightlife can be vibrant, but there is a definite dress to be seen feel to the place. redbottom, mapoffinland.
Pisa
Who hasn't heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. bankfederalreserve. When you visit, you will indeed find the tower is leaning. cellringer, gaycruises. Unfortunately, you will not find much else. derrickdiggerauger, coinsilver, datacabling. The tower is impressive as are the buildings immediately surrounding it. goodparenting, autorepairquestions. Nonetheless, the rest of Pisa is more interested in getting on with things. sunsethome. A nice place to visit, but don't plan on spending more than a day or two. booknewrelease.
There is nothing inherently wrong with Milan or Pisa if you know what to expect. raunchygirls, wallhuggerrecliner. If you're expecting destinations similar to Rome, you'll be disappointed. quickbooksaccounting, freetattoogalleries.
Rick Chapo is with Nomad Travel Journals - makers of writing journals. steeringwheelscustom, paydayloansfaxless, parkerfiltration. Travel journals are great travel accessories and travel gifts for student travel, family vacations and adventure travel. multifamilylender, marinadelray. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com for more travel articles.. floorprotector