This Post is about another visit to Italy (3-12 August 2007), where we visited Obereggen, Firenze, Pisa and Siena. This holiday took place between Friday 3rd August and Sunday 12th August 2007.
We departed to Milan Malpensa with KM 628 at 09.25 hours and arrived at 11.25 hours. We had the usual bus transfer to Milano Stazione Centrale and train to Bolzano. Further details on how to reach Bolzano are found in the Post regarding the visit to Corvara in Alta Badia.
We arrived at Bolzano at 16.29 hours from where we had a 20 minutes taxi drive to Obereggen (€50).
Obereggen
Obereggen lies in the Ega valley which is made up of four villages, Nova Ponente (1350m), Ega (1100m), Obereggen (1550m) and Monte San Pietro (1380m). For more information visit www.obereggen.com/?lang=EN
We were accommodated at the GOOD LIFE HOTEL ZIRM, I-39050 Obereggen, 1550m (Tel: +39 0471 615755 Fax 615688). This is a 3 star hotel (see http://www.zirm.it/).
Our lodging at the Hotel Zirm was on half-board basis. The food was good and the room was spacious and comfortable. Cleanliness was exceptional. The hotel has a wellness centre with sauna, gym, swimming pool and whirpool that are open up to 22.00 hours. There is also a bus stop about 200m down the road from the hotel.
To move around in the area it is useful to buy a “mobil card” (2007 Price was €8 Adults - €4 Children 6-16) which can also be obtained from the hotel. With the “mobil card” you can have unlimited travel for an entire week on the various bus lines to visit the most beautiful areas in the Rosengarten-Latemar region, including Bolzano and surroundings.
Most hotels also give free of charge the so called BONUS CARD which entitles user to join free guided walks and various discounts in the area.
Excursion to Pietralba (Weissenstein)
The first day of our stay in Obereggen we visited the Santuario della Madonna di Pietralba. We took Bus no 181 at 09.19 hours and arrived at Piertralba at 09.58 hours. The service is not very regular. For further information on bus transport visit http://www.sad.it/index.php?page=fahrplanauskunft/auskunftliste.The Sanctuary of the Madonna di Pietralba, which is built at a height of 1520m originated in 1553 when
it is said that the Vergin Mary appeared to Leonardo Weißensteiner to heal him from his illness. She asked him to build a chapel where believers could go to pray and to adore Her. This chapel immediately became a popular place for pilgrimages, so much so that it was necessary to build a bigger and proper church.The present Basilica of Pietralba, was built in baroc style in 1654.
If one had to walk to the east through a path in the forest for about 20 minutes, one can reach the place where the Virgin Mary appeared to Leonardo and
from where one can enjoy the panorama of some of the dolomite peaks: the Catenaccio, the Marmolada and the Latemar.On our way back to Obereggen we stopped for a few hours at Nova Ponente (picture).
La Festa delle Malghe
The following day was a Sunday and we attended the Festa delle Malghe. We walked from the hotel to the Oberholz chairlift station http://www.obereggen.com/estate/impianti.php?lang=EN. The short chairlift trip to Obereggen took us to a height of 2080m.
From there we walked on the mountain through the vast green area where lots of local people were celebrating the festa delle malghe, enjoying traditional music played by small bands and eating local traditional food and sweets. We sat down in one of the prepared zones and had l
unch there. Malghe are wooden huts on the mountains from where food is served. There are also huts called Baite which provide also night accommodation. Rifugi also provide accommodation and usually provide restaurant services.
Excursion to the Rifugio Torre di Pisa
The longest walk we ever had in all our mountain adventures to date was that of Monday 6th August 2007. We again took the chairlift to Oberholz (2080m) at around 10.00 hours from where we proceeded through path no 18 up to the Latemar Massiv and to Forcella dei Camosci (2636m) and continued through path no 516 up to the Rifugio Torre di Pisa (2671m).
After restoring ourselves at the Rifugio, we started our descent towards the other side of the peak, from paths that finally led us once again to the Oberholz Chairlift station where we arrived at 17.00 hours. From there we
returned by chairlift to Obereggen.This excursion is of medium difficulty but very enjoyable.
http://www.enrosadira.it/rifugi/torredipisa.htm
There are further excursions which one would find at http://www.obereggen.com/estate/escursioni.php?lang=IT
Lago di Carezza
Lago di Carezza is directly beneath the Latemar on the other side of Obereggen. The bus journey takes less than an hour but requires a change at the Ponte Nova bus stop. http://www.sad.it/index.php?page=fahrplanauskunft/auskunftlisteAccording to a legend, in the little lake there lived a beautiful nymph who with her melodious voice brightened the wayfarers bound for the Passo Costalunga. One day the wizard of Masarè heard her singing and immediately fell in love with her. He used all his powers and curses to win over her heart but it was all in vain. So he decided to ask the witch Langwerda for some help. She told him to set the most beautiful rainbow ever seen between
the Rosengarten and the Latemar and to go to the nymph disguised as a merchant. So he did. Unluckily he forgot to disguise himself and when the nymph saw him, she faded away into the water forever. The wizard destroyed the rainbow and threw its remains into the water. This is the reason why, nowadays, it is still possible to see the wonderful colours of the rainbow reflected in the waters of the lake.
The waters of the Lake also reflect the peak of the Latemar Massiv. From near the lake one could start a beautiful walk in the Latemar Forest taking path no 9 and the path called “Tembi” no 8 (about 2.5 hours).
The Lago di Carezza can also be reached directly from Obereggen through path no 21 in the forest and then path no 11.
http://www.alto-adige.com/zone/dolomiti/catinaccio/lago-di-carezza.php
That day we returned to Obereggen by the SAD Bus transport. But this time it took us very long as the first bus was delayed and we lost the connecting Bus from Ponte Nova. So we had to wait an extra hour for the following bus to come. This is a great disadvantage when travelling with SAD Trasporti because the times are very infrequent and their drivers are not flexible at all.
The Lago di Carezza can also be reached directly from Obereggen through path no 21 in the forest and then path no 11.
http://www.alto-adige.com/zone/dolomiti/catinaccio/lago-di-carezza.php
That day we returned to Obereggen by the SAD Bus transport. But this time it took us very long as the first bus was delayed and we lost the connecting Bus from Ponte Nova. So we had to wait an extra hour for the following bus to come. This is a great disadvantage when travelling with SAD Trasporti because the times are very infrequent and their drivers are not flexible at all.
Departure from Obereggen
We departed Obereggen to Firenze on the 9th August 2007.
First we boarded bus no 181 at 10.41 hours to Bolzano where we arrived at 11.23 hours. From Bolzano we took the train EC 85 Michelangelo at 13.31 hours directly to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station where we arrived at 17.53 hours. The cost of the train ticket was €27.50.
We departed Obereggen to Firenze on the 9th August 2007.
First we boarded bus no 181 at 10.41 hours to Bolzano where we arrived at 11.23 hours. From Bolzano we took the train EC 85 Michelangelo at 13.31 hours directly to Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station where we arrived at 17.53 hours. The cost of the train ticket was €27.50.
Firenze
Firenze, built on the river Arno, is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, very rich in works of art and history. It houses two world known art museums, the Palazzo Pitti and the Galleria degl’Uffizi, the famous bridge over the Arno called Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful square of Piazza della Signoria with replicas of famous statues amongst them the David of Michelangelo, and the Duomo,
Battistero and the Giotto Campanile. One can also visit beautiful churches such as Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce and also enjoy a beautiful panorama of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo.
This was my sixth visit to Firenze and this time we were accommodated at HOTEL MIA CARA,a 3 star hotel in Via Faenza 90/R, 50123 FIRENZE (Tel: +39 055 216053). www.hotelmiacara.it/en/index.htm
The hotel is situated very close to the train station and close to the centre of the city. There are also good restaurants nearby. The room was a bit old fashioned but air-conditioned. However it leaves much to be desired in the level of cleanliness. Breakfast is poor.
Restaurants in the area:
- Ristorante Pizzeria Lorenzo de Medici, Via del Giglio, 49/51R, Via del Melarancio 10R, 50123 Firenze http://www.lorenzodemedici.eu/ (very recommended)
- Trattoria Nerone, Via Faenza, 95/R- 97/R, 50123 Firenze
- Trattoria Enzo e Piero, Via Faenza 105/R, 50123 Firenze
Pisa and Siena
We spent one of our days on an excursion to Pisa (for my third time) and Siena.
After breakfast, we took an early train from Firenze S. Maria Novella Station to Pisa Centrale, a journey which takes a little over one hour. http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/
When we arrived at Pisa we took the Bus from outside the Train Station to Piazza del Duomo. As we arrived we walked to the Gate which leads you to Piazza Duomo and the scene we had in front of us is one of the most thrilling. Standing in a large green expanse, Piazza del Duomo houses a group of monuments known the world over. These four masterpieces of medieval architecture – the cathedral, the baptistry, the campanile (the 'Leani
ng Tower') and the cemetery – had a great influence on monumental art in Italy from the 11th to the 14th century. In order to get on top of the Leaning Tower it is necessary to go to the Cash window, pay the ticket and be allocated the time for your visit. In our case, waiting time was around 2 hours and we decided to abandon our quest for the top of the tower.
Firenze, built on the river Arno, is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy, very rich in works of art and history. It houses two world known art museums, the Palazzo Pitti and the Galleria degl’Uffizi, the famous bridge over the Arno called Ponte Vecchio, the beautiful square of Piazza della Signoria with replicas of famous statues amongst them the David of Michelangelo, and the Duomo,
Battistero and the Giotto Campanile. One can also visit beautiful churches such as Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce and also enjoy a beautiful panorama of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo.This was my sixth visit to Firenze and this time we were accommodated at HOTEL MIA CARA,a 3 star hotel in Via Faenza 90/R, 50123 FIRENZE (Tel: +39 055 216053). www.hotelmiacara.it/en/index.htm
The hotel is situated very close to the train station and close to the centre of the city. There are also good restaurants nearby. The room was a bit old fashioned but air-conditioned. However it leaves much to be desired in the level of cleanliness. Breakfast is poor.
Restaurants in the area:
- Ristorante Pizzeria Lorenzo de Medici, Via del Giglio, 49/51R, Via del Melarancio 10R, 50123 Firenze http://www.lorenzodemedici.eu/ (very recommended)
- Trattoria Nerone, Via Faenza, 95/R- 97/R, 50123 Firenze
- Trattoria Enzo e Piero, Via Faenza 105/R, 50123 Firenze
Pisa and Siena
We spent one of our days on an excursion to Pisa (for my third time) and Siena.
After breakfast, we took an early train from Firenze S. Maria Novella Station to Pisa Centrale, a journey which takes a little over one hour. http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/
When we arrived at Pisa we took the Bus from outside the Train Station to Piazza del Duomo. As we arrived we walked to the Gate which leads you to Piazza Duomo and the scene we had in front of us is one of the most thrilling. Standing in a large green expanse, Piazza del Duomo houses a group of monuments known the world over. These four masterpieces of medieval architecture – the cathedral, the baptistry, the campanile (the 'Leani
ng Tower') and the cemetery – had a great influence on monumental art in Italy from the 11th to the 14th century. In order to get on top of the Leaning Tower it is necessary to go to the Cash window, pay the ticket and be allocated the time for your visit. In our case, waiting time was around 2 hours and we decided to abandon our quest for the top of the tower.
Instead we returned to the train station by Bus and took a train to Siena. The journey takes approximately 1 hours 45 minutes and one has to change at Empoli.
Siena is another beautiful city in the Toscana Region. This was my first visit to this beautiful city. When we arrived we decided to walk from the train station to the old quarter of the town, the centre of which is the beautiful and famous square, Piazza del Campo. The walk takes about half an hour. There is also a bus service which leaves you at the edge of the old quarter.
"Piazza del Campo" is well known for the
Palio horse race which is very popular in Italy and which takes place twice a year, on July 2 and August 16. The Palio is a connected with the origin of the Contradas of Siena (districts into which the town is divided). The Contradas have their own bureaucratic traditions including their own government, oratory, coat of arms, etc. There are today 17 Contrade but only 10 can take part in the race (seven by right and three drawn by lots). For more information see
Palio horse race which is very popular in Italy and which takes place twice a year, on July 2 and August 16. The Palio is a connected with the origin of the Contradas of Siena (districts into which the town is divided). The Contradas have their own bureaucratic traditions including their own government, oratory, coat of arms, etc. There are today 17 Contrade but only 10 can take part in the race (seven by right and three drawn by lots). For more information see
We returned to Firenze that same day by train, a journey that takes one and a half hours.
Returning to Malta
We left Firenze by train to Milano Stazione Centrale on Sunday 12th August. The journey takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. From Milano Centrale we took the Malpensa Shuttle to the Airport Terminal 1 from where we boarded the Air Malta flight KM627 to Malta.
We left Firenze by train to Milano Stazione Centrale on Sunday 12th August. The journey takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. From Milano Centrale we took the Malpensa Shuttle to the Airport Terminal 1 from where we boarded the Air Malta flight KM627 to Malta.
1 comment:
Well done, J. Those pics got me all nostalgic about Firenze allover again. You really got an eye for photography. Keep up the good work Regards....Charmaine G.
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