Page 14 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italy

12  INTRODUCING IT AL Y

2 days in Florence

Florence is the ultimate city
for art lovers, with a wealth
of breathtaking museums
and galleries.
• Arriving Florence is served
by two airports – Amerigo
Vespucci airport, 4 km
(2 miles) from the centre,
and Pisa airport. From
Amerigo Vespucci, buses
Beautiful spiral staircase leading down from the Vatican Museums, Rome run to Florence’s Santa Maria
Novella train station; from
evening among the exuberant Pisa, catch a direct train to
2 days in Rome Baroque fountains and cafés Santa Maria Novella.
of Piazza Navona (pp402–3). • Moving on The journey
The nation’s capital has from Florence to Venice is
an overwhelming array Day 2 just 2 hours by fast train.
of memorable sights, Morning Wander through the
including the wonderful
Vatican Museums and evocative ruins of the Roman
the Colosseum. Forum (pp394–6), and on to
the monumental Colosseum
• Arriving Fiumicino (p397). Nearby, the church of
(Leonardo da Vinci) is Rome’s San Clemente (p439) reveals
main airport, located about its layers of history from pagan
30 km (18 miles) southwest temple to 15th-century church.
of the city. The “Leonardo Afternoon For great city views,
Express” train runs nonstop
to Termini station, the city’s head up to the Capitoline
main railway station. Museums (pp390–91).
The Palazzo Nuovo has a fine
• Moving on The journey
from Rome to Florence takes selection of Greek and Roman
1 hour and 37 minutes statues. For some respite, visit
by Eurostar. the pretty 17th-century pleasure The dome of Florence’s Duomo, designed
gardens of Villa Borghese by Brunelleschi and completed in 1436
(pp442–3). Visit Piazza di Spagna
Day 1 and the Spanish Steps (p413) Day 1
Morning A couple of days in and cast a coin in the Baroque Morning Much more compact
Rome (pp380–463) will only Trevi Fountain (pp414–15). than Rome, Florence (pp274–
scrape its surface, but do 317) is the embodiment of
devote one day to the Vatican To extend your trip… the Renaissance. Feel the pull
and St Peter’s. The fast route Take a day trip to the lovely of Brunelleschi´s immense
through the Vatican Museums hill-town of Tivoli and visit orange-tiled dome, which
(pp424–31) takes in the Sistine Hadrian’s Villa (p472), about crowns the Duomo (pp284–6).
Chapel (pp428–30). Don’t miss 5 km (3 miles) west of Tivoli. Climb the dome for stunning
Michelangelo’s Creation of views, then admire Ghiberti’s
Adam on the ceiling and his
dynamic fresco The Last
Judgment. The four Raphael
Rooms (p431) show another
Renaissance master at the
peak of his artistic powers.
Afternoon Inside the awe-
inspiring St Peter’s (pp422–3),
be sure to see Michelangelo’s
moving Pietà. Climb the dome
for views, then descend to the
grottoes for the papal tombs.
Afterwards, cross the Tiber to
the centro storico. Look in at
the Pantheon (p408), the only
ancient Roman temple to
survive intact, then spend the The Vatican, with St Peter’s Basilica and Sant’Angelo bridge, Rome
For practical information on travelling around Italy, see pp628–35

012-017_EW_Italy.indd 12 4/4/17 5:31 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Great days out/City itinerary template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.1)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm