Italy

We visited Italy in June 2004. We went to Rome, Florence and Venice stopping at Pisa and Verona.

Our first stop was the Victor Emmanuel Monument (also known as "the wedding cake"). We then walked to the Capitoline Hill. There, you can see the Capitoline Wolf perched on top a pillar and an unobstructed view of the Roman Forum. Coming down, there is a marble staircase leading up to the empty facade of church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli.

We then visited Castel Sant Angelo and walked slowly round the ramp before taking the stairs to the top.

We continued to visit two churches : Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore and Basilica Santa Giovanni Laterano which form part of the Vatican City.

The next morning we went to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

We went to St Peter's Basilica next. The Piazza San Pietro was packed with pilgrims waiting to be blessed by the Pope.

We proceeded to Piazza Novana and took a stroll to the Pantheon. On the way to Trevi Fountain, we we stopped at Sant Ignazio Loyola before continuing to the Spanish Steps. We ended our walk at the Piazza del Popolo.

We visited the Vatican Museum the next day. This is a must see for any visitor to Rome. Here lies the famous Sistine Chapel where popes are elected and the masterpiece of Michelangelo can be seen.

On our last day in Rome coming back from Venice, we decided to visit St Peter's Basilica again. We were glad the piazza was empty this time.