Alessandro greeted me with a huge smile. ” Hello! Welcome to al Bricco D’Oro.” I laughed and smiled back. “How did you know to speak to me in English? I asked. “From the way you look,” he said. “It is our business to know.” I had arrived in Bologna just a few hours earlier, exhausted … Read more
The porticoes of Bologna, Italy, were built between the 11th and the 20th centuries. Like most Medieval cities, Bologna’s porticoes were built to shelter residents during inclement weather. The arched arcades were attached to the buildings on one side and supported by a row of massive columns on the street side. While porticoes gradually disappeared … Read more
The beautiful skyline of Bologna, Italy, is best viewed from the rooftop terrace of the Basilica di San Petronio. The Basilca is located in Piazza Maggiore, which sits at the heart of the city and is the most popular gathering place for locals and tourists alike. Most visitors tour the inside of the church, as … Read more
“I think I can, I think I can!” The mantra made famous by the children’s book, The Little Engine That Could, ran through my mind as the Bernina Express train climbed toward the Swiss Alps. I had chosen to make this particular journey from Tirano, Italy to Chur, Switzerland, because it is the only train … Read more
Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano in Italian) is the landmark for which the city of Milan, Italy is best known. The enormous Gothic cathedral was built of brick and faced with marble from the Candoglia quarry. Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo ordered construction to begin in 1386, but before long work stalled due to lack of … Read more
