PART 1- OVERVIEW, ITALY
My wife and I visited this fascinating continent in in 2023. We covered eleven cities in four countries over 36 days* This was made possible by x train trips, x stays in Air BNBs and 20000 steps daily walk along epic avenues, rivers banks, trails, shopping alleys etc. The 2023 visit was actually my fifth , but earlier visits were very short and limited to single places related to my profession.
The vacation this time was primarily for R&R. In the desire to optimize learning of a whirlwind journey, I realized that I had to enrich my “travel in space “(land) with “a travel in time” (i.e., brushing up on European early history)
For indeed, the present Europe is but the product of the evolution of aspirations, discoveries, inventions and belief systems, which started in the olden days. Examples of early thought are those on philosophy, liberty, equality, democracy, humanism, capitalism and socialism, among others. Even as most of these belief systems were achieved though bloodshed, they tend to be mostly taken for granted today.
NAVIGATING THE SPACE
NAVIGATING THE TIME
Navigating the time though the lazy mans “bedside” research (at night) allowed us to also travel vicariously through the ages, see box.
TRAVEL THROUGH SPACE (1O CITIES) AND TIME (SELECTED PERIODS). for validation
1. ROME: REMINSICING THE ROMAN EMPIRE
The various scenes in Rome reminded me of the Roman Empire which has greatly influenced Western civilization, with its language, administrative and legal system among others.
MAP OF ROME
2. The VATICAN: THE GREAT CATHOLIC REACH
https://ph.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=AwrPrsymu09pBAIAHiezRwx.;_ylu=Y29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3BpdnM-?p=THE+CHRUCH+INFLUENCE+MEDIEVAL+TIMES+IN+EUROPE&fr2=piv-web&type=E210PH739G0&fr=mcafee#id=29&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F8257%2F29111417875_723a4deac3_z.jpg&action=click
St. Peters Basilica
3. FLORENCE, PISA AND MILAN: FROM IMPLORING THE DIVINE TO CELEBRATING THE HUMAN
The visit to Florence Pisa and Milan reminded us of the little we know of the renaissance. This was the period that succeeded the medieval age, it was the age of” rebirth “of interest in the classical antiquity of Greece and Rome and what these two places inspired.
An example is the concept of” humanism “and importance of human dignity and secular thinking in contrast to the religion centered thinking of the medieval period. Free thinking flourished which led to important geographic explorations, scientific discoveries and innovations in governing.
Accordingly, the construction of Cathedral in Milan took 600 years and encompassed both the medieval and renaissance period, Art forms from both periods are thus reflected
Thus, cathedral is primarily Gothic (it has 135 spires), but with Renaissance touches that reflect Milan’s evolving artistic and cultural identity at that time.
4. VENICE – FROM MARITIME POWER TO TOURISM KING- NOW UNDER THREAT BY CLIMATE CHANGE
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