ITALY

Location - Western Europe; Capital - Rome; Population - 60 million; Currency - Euro MORE ITALY

After Monaco it was on to Genoa in north-west Italy, with a change of trains in Ventimiglia, in April 2010. Also scroll to the middle for photos of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Italy is part of the Euro zone

Ventimiglia's old town lies across the river

The Piazza de Ferrari is Genoa's central square

The Carlo Felice Theatre lies in the background at the Piazza de Ferrari, Genoa

Also surrounding the Piazza de Ferrari is the Palazzo della Borsa, the former stock exchange - Genoa

The Piazza de Ferrari lies at the heart of Genoa

Connecting Piazza de Ferrari to the port is Via San Lorenzo - Genoa

Along Via San Lorenzo is the 12th century San Lorenzo Cathedral - Genoa

I liked the deserted sidestreets sprawling through Genoa's old town, punctuated by the odd bar and restaurant

Via XX Settembre is one of the main shopping streets in Genoa

Genoa is the birthplace of 15th century explorer Christopher Columbus and this building, at Piazza Dante, was one of his childhood homes - Genoa

There's lots of bars and restaurants in the old town at Piazza delle Erbe - Genoa

The streets of the centro storico (old town) - Genoa

Genoa's old port, Porto Antico.
You can see the Bigo panoramic lift rising.

The Porto Antico, Genoa

Porto Antico's website

Also in the Porto Antico is the Biosphere - Genoa

The Biosphere houses a rainforest ecosystem - Genoa

Looking down on the Porto Antico from inside the Bigo panoramic lift - Genoa

The Porto Antico was designed by architect Renzo Piano - Genoa

The Porto Antico, plus window reflection - Genoa

Genoa's waterfront and hills behind, from the panoramic lift

Close to the Porto Antico is this replica ship - Genoa

I think the (docked) ship was available for hire for functions - Genoa

The river Arno flows through the city of Pisa

The most famous sight in Pisa is the Torre Pendente, or Leaning Tower of Pisa

Construction of the Tower began in 1173 - Pisa

Even just looking at the bottom of the Tower, the lean is pretty obvious - Pisa

The top of the Leaning Tower is about 4 metres off perpendicular - Pisa

The Leaning Tower, from the steps of the cathedral - Pisa

The cathedral forms the centre of the Campo dei Miracoli (aka Piazza del Duomo) - Pisa

Souvenir stalls line the edge of the Campo dei Miracoli - Pisa

Wikipedia entry, with links to the Tower, cathedral and cemetery

Pisa's website

At the edge of the Campo dei Miracoli is the Camposanto cemetery - Pisa

Climb the Leaning Tower's steps for sweeping views of Pisa. In the foreground is the cathedral, leading to the Battistero (Baptistery) - Pisa

Looking down from the Leaning Tower - Pisa

The Spanish Steps are always busy with tourists - Rome

The café area of the Castel Sant'Angelo, built by Hadrian (the castle, not the cafe) - Rome

Birthday boy in the Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome

Looking out over Rome from the Castel Sant'Angelo.
Il Vittoriano is in the top left.

St Peter's Basilica through a café window in Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome

The atmospheric Trastevere quarter of Rome, loaded with bars, restaurants and cobbled streets

SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is classed as a sovereign entity, and issues stamps, passports and currency. It also has permanent observer status at the United Nations, though it does not possess any territory (presumably its offices in Rome do not constitute such).

The Palazzo Malta is a building belonging to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta - Via dei Condotti, Rome

The Order's website

The flag of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
It was founded in Jerusalem around 1048 and became a society of knights who defended the Catholic faith. It then moved to Rhodes before arriving in Malta - Rome

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta is a sovereign subject of international law. The Order has its own government, an independent magistracy, diplomatic relations with over 100 countries and has Permanent Observer status at the United Nations - Rome

The Order also has its own constitution, passports, stamps and mints its own coins known as the Scudo (1 Scudo = 0.24 Euro) - Rome

Three Scudi and Two Tari dated 1968, Sovereign Military Order of Malta

I went in search of the Order's other building in Rome, on Aventine Hill, Rome. This isn't it.

The presence of the Italian army indicated I was close. The soldier is standing outside the church found opposite the Villa Malta - Rome

The Villa Malta hosts the embassy of the Order to the Holy See and also to Italy. I was wondering why so many people were fascinated with the keyhole - Rome

And this is why. Well almost.. - Rome

Through the keyhole of the Villa Malta. St Peter's Basilica through an arch of cypress trees - Rome

The Sovereign Military Order of Malta - Rome

Among other cities, the Order has an office in Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia

End of Sovereign Military Order of Malta - back to Rome..

Il Vittoriano is a colossal marble monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, the first king of a unifed Italy - Rome

The Colosseum looks fantastic at night - Rome

Piazza Navona is a very grand square that contains three famous fountains - Rome

Christina being serenaded by a saxophonist - Rome

This guy was really good - Rome

The courtyard of the 15th century palazzo that hosts the National Roman Museum - Rome

Piazza Campo de'Fiori is another busy square in central Rome

Out of the train station (pictured) and on to a coach to San Marino - Rimini

Website and content Copyright © 2008-2019 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.

LINKS

www.enit.it

www.ferroviedellostato.it - Tren Italia's website; buy train tickets online

www.italia.it - Italian tourist board

www.italiandualcitizenship.net/all-about-italy-for-kids - Italy for kids

www.rome.info - Rome website

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.