While our bikes are resting: a short car tour south of Venice

 



Since picking up our car on Tuesday, we've had a few very interesting days. We headed south, with only a few vague ideas of places we might visit, otherwise just following our noses. This morning we're back up close to the Venice area again (blue dot on map below) near Padua, getting ready for our journey home on Monday.

The approximate route of our travels over the last five days.

I'll mention the highlights:

The city of Ravenna was hugely impresive. We spent Tuesday night there and roamed around the historical centre the next morning. We were blown away by one particular church - the Basilica di San Vitale, a byzantine church with the most amazing interior of marble, mosaic floors and mosaic art. Just incredible. Dates from about 550 AD.

The Basilica di San Vitale, maybe not so impressive from the outide

One of the many mosaics inside adorning the walls. The crowned lady depicted here was Theodora, Empress of the Eastern Roman Empire, and wife of Justinian I, ruler of Byzantium 


The ceiling are all mosaics. The patterned and sculpted marble pillars were really beautiful.

There were many ornate sarcophagi

Another highlight was visiting the tiny Republic of San Marino.  This independent country is surrounded by Italy and its main town sits on top of a cliff,  looking really spectacular from a distance. We spent the night in a little hotel up there in the clouds.

Not the best shot, but off in the distance you can see the cliffs upon which sits the city of San Marino, capital of the independent republic of the same name


SM has three separate towers, part of the city's ancient defensive system, all perched high on Mt Titano.


We had some rainy weather in San Merino,
a perfect time to visit The Museum of Torture.
A fine collection of all kinds of torture devices used in Europe, 
Quite shocking some of it



Next highlight was the city of Assisi, which also sits on top of a hill, and is famous for being the birthplace of Saint Francis. There were coach-loads of tourists here already at 9.30am, attesting to the popularity of the place. It's an incredible place with numerous examples of fine architecture, with history going back before the Romans.

Assisi seen on the approach. The imposing building on the left is the Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi, the main attraction

The Basilica di San Fransesco up close 



The town has many souvenir shops selling religious items related to St Francis and also Saint Clara

Basilica di Santa Clara, where this lady saint is buried

A market in full swing on Saturday morning in Assisi, in the midst of all the sacred sites

 
Sculpture detail outside one of the Churches

In between our wanderings into old towns, we did spend a few hours on Thursday packaging up our bikes. And we also managed to get a couple of cardboard boxes in which to pack the rest of our stuff. So that's all done now.

Both bikes are all wrapped up now

Tomorrow we fly back home via Toronto from Marco Polo Airport, Venice. It's been a wonderful trip, but we're ready to wrap it up. We've reached saturation point now with historic towns, Renaissance art, Roman roads. Can't believe I'm saying this, but we're also done for now with pasta, pizza, salami and cheeses! Bring on something different please!

Frank said this was the best spaghetti he ever had.. simple ingredients - red onion and bacon, and fresh, hand-made pasta




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