Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Italy, 2011
Last summer was the culmination of a long-held desire to visit Europe. While this was by no means a comprehensive trip, it was a great introduction that packed in a lot of sightseeing and history.
Of all the cities, Vienna was my favourite and I could easily live there. It was extremely relaxed, but was a beautiful melange of history and modernism. I also felt very safe in Vienna, and it was so easy to navigate the transportation system - by the end of my second day there I was giving other tourists directions! I could have whiled away days in the magnificent complex of the Hofburg Palace, which has been transformed into museums, or picnicking in the Rathauspark while marvelling at the architecture of the Rathaus. The Donauturm (Danube Tower), while a touch touristy, affords those who venture out there (oddly few people) spectacular views over the Danube, Vienna and UN City.
Rome, as one might expect, was the cultural hub of the trip. The museums at the Vatican have to be seen to be believed - 2 or more hours in there is almost an assault of history and culture. Talk about sensory overload! One particular gem in Rome that didn't seem to be on the radar of most tourists is the Basilica di San Clemente - a beautiful 12th Century church that is built on top of 3 layers of buildings. Excavations that descend through these 3 levels - 18m into the earth - are open to tourists; being able to essentially 'descend' through the history of Rome was mindblowing.
My favourite part of Prague - apart from the stunning stained glass windows of St Vitus' Cathedral - was actually the suburb/castle of Vysehrad. Most tourists stay around the river bend, near the Old Town and New Town. Vysehrad, which is easily reached by a 30 minute walk or 5 minutes on the subway system, provided much needed breathing space and housed some gems, such as the picturesque Church of St Peter and Paul, Anton Dvorak's grave, and scenic views along the Vltava, back towards the hectic centre of the city.
Of all the cities, Vienna was my favourite and I could easily live there. It was extremely relaxed, but was a beautiful melange of history and modernism. I also felt very safe in Vienna, and it was so easy to navigate the transportation system - by the end of my second day there I was giving other tourists directions! I could have whiled away days in the magnificent complex of the Hofburg Palace, which has been transformed into museums, or picnicking in the Rathauspark while marvelling at the architecture of the Rathaus. The Donauturm (Danube Tower), while a touch touristy, affords those who venture out there (oddly few people) spectacular views over the Danube, Vienna and UN City.
Rome, as one might expect, was the cultural hub of the trip. The museums at the Vatican have to be seen to be believed - 2 or more hours in there is almost an assault of history and culture. Talk about sensory overload! One particular gem in Rome that didn't seem to be on the radar of most tourists is the Basilica di San Clemente - a beautiful 12th Century church that is built on top of 3 layers of buildings. Excavations that descend through these 3 levels - 18m into the earth - are open to tourists; being able to essentially 'descend' through the history of Rome was mindblowing.
My favourite part of Prague - apart from the stunning stained glass windows of St Vitus' Cathedral - was actually the suburb/castle of Vysehrad. Most tourists stay around the river bend, near the Old Town and New Town. Vysehrad, which is easily reached by a 30 minute walk or 5 minutes on the subway system, provided much needed breathing space and housed some gems, such as the picturesque Church of St Peter and Paul, Anton Dvorak's grave, and scenic views along the Vltava, back towards the hectic centre of the city.
Themes: Tourism, Rivers, History, Urban
Places: Wachau Valley and Melk, Vienna, Cesky Krumlov, Prague, Vysehrad, Brno, Bratislava, Esztergom, Visegrad, Szentendre, Budapest, Rome, Vatican City, Pompeii.