
100 Days in Europe Days 19-25: Siena to Milan
Day 19
The Duomo of Siena
It was an enlightening experience to visit the interior of Siena’s Cathedral. Colorful mosaic floors, frescoes, stained glass and world-class sculptures abound.
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Day 20
Florence
I’ve been to Florence dozens of times, so sometimes the sights become routine. Today, I followed along with my group as Paola, a local guide, gave us a walking tour on and off the beaten path.
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Day 21
Saying Goodbye
We’ve had a HOHO (hop-on-hop-off) tour in Italy the last few weeks. Eight people hopped off the tour yesterday in Venice and they are definitely missed today in Lake Como. Thanks David, Maureen, Mike, Jill, Shane-Patti Turcotte, Jack and Nancy for trusting Charlotte and me to show you our favorite places in Italy.
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Day 22
Cruising Lake Como, Italy
It was a cold and rainy day but we made the best of it cruising from Bellagio to Lenno on Lake Como. Click the picture below to watch the video.
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Day 23
Villa Balbianello
This beautiful villa is located near Lenno on Lake Como in Italy. It was most recently used as a setting for Star Wars II and 007 Casino Royal. Click the picture below to watch the video.
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Day 24
Teatro Alla Scala
This is probably the most famous opera house in the world. In 1977, on my first trip to Europe, my choir director made us sit through an opera here… and I don’t even remember what it was! I visited the museum here today.
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Day 25
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
This was one of the first indoor shopping malls in Europe. It is four stories of Neo-Classical elegance and was completed in 1877. Today, it houses some very chic shops such as Prada, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Armani and about ten others.
- This huge indoor mall has recently undergone a complete cleaning and it is all bright and shiny. The mall is shaped like a plus sign with massive open archways at all exits. You can see one here at the very end.
- The Aperol Spritz bar.
- Aperol Spritz is a well-known “aperitivo” before dinner drink in Italy. Here, an entire cafe is dedicated to serving this drink.
- I am grinding my heel (three times) on the testicles of this mosaic bull. This local custom is known as the “ritual of the bull.”