5 Things that are a must while visiting Italy, Europe!!

Venice !
Near the Vatican !!

Europe is one of the most diverse and magnificent continents in the world. All the countries in Europe are beautiful but so far Italy has been my favorite.   There is a lot to see in Italy .  I had just been to Italy in the year 2019 and It was one of the best trips so far!

Today, I will tell 5 things that are  a must while your visit to ITALY-

  1. Visit the Vatican City – This is for history lovers;  Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. It was founded by  Pope Julius II in 1506. It is surrounded by Rome. It has the Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed “Laocoön and His Sons” as well as Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling.   It became independent in 1929 . It has the world’s most famous paintings and sculptures and its economy is supported by donations and by the sale of souvenirs. It is a must visit in Rome.  The ticket prices vary from 8 to 9 EURO.

 

  1. Gelatos and Pizza’s – My favorite part of Italy was its food. I love continental food and the most famous continental food that are there are Pizza’s and Pasta. Italy is famous for its pizza and almost in every restaurant there is a special menu with a variety of pizza’s.  Over thee the pizzas are differently made ; the dough is much softer and fresh vegetables are used and are served piping hot. Their price is 8 euros which often goes up  depending on the place. However, I would suggest local places more than the restaurants as the taste is much better there and the price is also reasonable.

Italy is also known for it’s  luscious gelatos. You find gelatos almost in every corner of the city. They’re served with chocolate sauce , vanilla cream , strawberry and mint toppings, etc. There price vary’ s from 4-5 euros depending upon the size of the ice cream.

 

 

  1. City Centers of each city- City centers of each city are very beautiful. My favorite one till now was that of Milan, it was magnificent. They’re always filled with crowds, different people doing different things. There are people who do different things there mainly to earn some money like street dancing, singing songs, playing the guitar, etc. They do it very well too !  All the city centers are all very photogenic areas , different types of photos can be clicked , beside the churches , among the pigeons , and there are many such spots. However, photos are forbidden to be clicked inside the church , if you do, they will fine you severely and the laws are implemented very strictly there !  It is also a good spot for shopping. All the things that they sell there are local and are of very good quality and the price there is also reasonable.  So, be sure to shop from here only!

 

  1. Venice – It is a must visit in Italy. According to me it is the most city in Italy. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. It is also known as the  “La Dominante”, “La Serenissima”, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City”, and “City of Canals”.   The main points of interests in Venice are Rialto Bridge , Burano, Doge’s palace , Saint Mark Basilica. It has no roads only canals. It is very amusing to think that people live their everyday lives by the river.  In Venice you will find different varieties of food.  But the most unique thing in Venice is its ‘lagoon aquaculture’, which provides the city with speciality seafood and you can’t find it anywhere else in Italy.  Those who are interested in art , Venice is a must for you then, it contains numerous art galleries and museums where ideas for paintings and drawings can be taken.  Venice again is also a very photogenic area with its winding canals, striking architecture, and beautiful bridges , many beautiful pictures can be clicked.  Local shopping can be done in Venice, but the rates are high. The things that can be brought are Murano Glass, Venetian Masks, Door Knockers, paper products , etc.   Gondola Ride was also one of the most memorable experiences I had in Venice. The gondola gives you a tour of the whole city.  It is a must activity in Venice and the prices are set no variation .

 

  1. Last but not the least visit Siena – It is a city in central Italy’s Tuscany region and is distinguished by its medieval brick buildings. It has the fan-shaped central square, Piazza del Campo,  Palazzo Pubblico, the Gothic town hall, and Torre del Mangia, a slender 14th-century tower with sweeping views from its distinctive white crown.  I developed a special fondness for this place by seeing their marvellous architecture , brick buildings , and art museums.  Other than that, it is famous for its  cuisine, medieval cityscape and the Palio, a horse race held twice a year. We went during the summers and that is why we got to see the unique dance with flags that they perform during the summers in the month of July. Siena is not a very common tourist spot, but it is a must visit for art and architecture lovers !

 

Trip to Shantiniketan

 

Trip to Shantiniketan

First trip alone, all by myself with friends and school teachers. It was my first ever batch trip from school!!  6th of January and 7th of January were the days chosen for the trip. We boarded the bus and
were out of school by 7:00.

While travelling I was gazing out of the window to spot something extraordinary. I could not believe that west Bengal was so beautiful!!

The Beginning:

After an exciting journey of 4hrs, we finally reached our hotel “Camellia”. We stayed in a suite room with 4 people in it.  The name of the room was “Sonartali”.

 

Golden Memories

After lunch we went to the Shantinekatan market which is also referred as the”Haat”. It was in the Sonjhuri Forest. The Sonajhuri Forest is probably the cleanest forest I had ever visited. My early walks were a real success.

Shonajhuri  means “droplets of gold.” In winters, the Sonajhuri trees shed their tiny yellow flowers and the whole forest seems to have a downpour of gold.

In the evening we had to be down by 6 for the Bonfire. We were welcomed by an extraordinary Tribal Dance, by the locals.  After the bonfire we had a DJ who made us dance till our legs ached. After 3
long hours of dancing the delicious food awaited us in the hotel.

..And it Ends

Next morning we were taken to the famous university of Shantinekaten. We literally saw how beautiful the museum was!! The garden was lovely and spacious!

After lunch , It was time to go back to Kolkata. Time really flies !! It just seemed like yesterday, that It was announced we would be going for the trip. We stopped for a few pictures which would make us
remember how exciting this trip was!!!