A Glance Back

Re-visited Rome and Venice after 17 years.
Though I visited Naples and Amalfi Coast several years ago.
My main purpose this time was Venice Carnival.
Then to visit Vatican City, which I missed to visit 17 years ago due to short pants (I brought only short pants that time since I was backpacking Europe during summer time).
Then also to visit another micro country in Italy, San Marino, conveniently located between Rome and Venice, via the hub city, Rimini, which itself is a tourist city for the Roman ruins, worth a visit.

Venice Carnival, the highlight of my trip this time, was not disappointing.
A lot of events programmed over around one month, I only got the taste of one weekend, 30-31 January 2016, where the main programme was the festival of the 12 Maries, when 12 pretty young girls are paraded.
However, the most interesting part for me was watching the street costumes.
People around the world came with gorgeous costumes and masks, being kindly posed for other visitors to photograph them, some people brought their own photographers.
Venice was cold that time, but hot at the same time, due to the crowds and the enthusiasm of the festival.

San Marino, the unique micro state, famous for its old city capital on top of Mount Titano.
It worth a day trip for the spectacular views from 2 of its 3 towers.

Rome, including the Vatican City, is a museum city.
Everywhere in the city there are masterpieces of the old times.

Below are my best 3 from my trip this time:
1. Watching street costumes at the Carnival of Venice
2. The views from the towers of San Marino
3. Rome walking tour, admiring masterpieces of the old times

Rome: Piazza di Spagna to before Castel S.Angelo

Visited here 17 years ago, so almost forgot what I visited before.
I joined a free tour, after searching at website.
I found 2 companies on the top of Google search:
1. http://www.romefreewalkingtour.com/
2. http://www.newromefreetour.com/
The first one is more free and relax, since people can just join directly in the meeting place in near Spanish step, while the second one, people have to register first online and have to bring the print-out otherwise people have to pay EUR 10 to join.
I joined the first one at 10:00, since it matched my schedule. The 10:00 tour is called Vatican City tour, started from Spanish Step and ended at Vatican City, matched to my schedule since I booked Vatican Museum tour at 14:00. The tour was quite enjoyable and the explanation of the official guide was good. She explained only official guide can do tour in Italy, that's why there is no Sanderman free tour in Italy like in other European cities, since hiring an official guide is too expensive for them.
Like always, joining the tour make me forget easily the places visited. I would remember better if I just go myself looking at the guide book.
So, I only remember the wow spot, i.e. Pantheon. This dome is spectacular.

Piazza di Spagna

Pantheon

Pantheon

Pantheon

Pantheon

Pantheon

Fountain of the Four Rivers at Piazza Navona

Rome: Castel S.Angelo and beyond to Vatican City

Still walking part of the free walking tour.
By crossing the bridge over the Tiber River, we arrived at the Castel S. Angelo.
A beautiful bridge and castle.
From here, there is a straight road to the Vatican City.

Rome by Night

Wandering Rome at night....

Trevi fountain

the Colloseum

Rome: Dining

Had no time to have real dining experience here due to short time visit in Rome.

L'archetto
A small restaurant near Trevia Fountain. Just found it in Google Map, since I was hungry after visiting Trevia Fountain.
The pasta and the pizza are said to be good.
I ordered spaghetti and a house white wine, which was nice and the price is reasonable, spent less than EUR 15, I think.
I couldn't finish the wine, so I asked them to put in an empty bottle to take away.

Pizzaria
A lot of pizzaria around the city.
Many is selling by kilo.
I went to the one near my hostel The Yellow.
I remember paid about EUR 4.

Cafe Moca
This chain cafe is many all over the Rome, including in the airport and Termini station.
Took the breakfast combo for about EUR 4.

The spaghetti at night (forgot the restaurant name)
Not many restaurants open at night after 10pm.
Since I was a bit hungry, I entered this relatively big restaurant in the corner, near Termini Station on the way to Legends Hostel.
Was around 1am.
It cost around EUR 10, I ordered also white wine.
There were groups of Korean and Japanese at other tables.

linguine at L'archetto

breakfast combo at Cafe Moca

Vatican City: St. Peter's Basilica, outside

These are the photos of outside St. Peter's Basilica.

Vatican City: St. Peter's Basilica Interior

Below is the photos of St. Peter's Basilica interior.
Famous for Michelangleo's Pieta and Bernini's baldachin.
Entrance was free, but had to pass security.

Michelangelo's Pieta

Bernini's baldachin