Archives: 2008 October

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Intro - Trastevere Area is famous for its restaurants, pubs, movie theaters, and nightlife. In the evening, all of the cafes and restaurants tables spill out over to the pavement, especially in the area of Santa Maria Square in Trastevere. The morning here has instead a unique and antique charm mainly due to Trastevere’s narrow cobbled alleyways.

The Area - Trastevere is located on the right bank of the Tiber river. Its name comes from “Trans Tiberem” (across the Tiber) and it was once perceived as a precarious area.

It was said to belong to the Etruscans. Rome conquered it again and gained control and access to the river from both banks. Only one passageway was available through the small “Pons Sublicius” bridge (from Latin: “bridge built on piles”) between Trastevere and the rest of the city (Rome). During the Emperor Augustus Trastevere began to be considered part of the city.

At the time of the ‘Roman Republic’, many sailors and fishermen moved here, and chose Trastevere as their home.

Later, during the wealthy Imperial Age, some luxury villas and gardens were built on the hillside of Trastevere, i.e. Clodia (which was said to be Catullus’ “friend”)lived here, and Julius Caesar as well (his garden villa was called ‘the Horti Caesaris’). Houses of the poor people and small shops settled in the flat land below, some of which are still there today!

Overloaded with chronicle, art and civilization, Florence is a city that’s very hard to do justice to in a single day. A visit to the Uffizi museum only could easily eat a day or two into any itinerary.

If you’re blessed sufficient to travel to Florence for the first time, but unhappy enough to have only a single day to savour the joys of this city, you will need to determine that you have a plan.

The first thing you’ll require before you beginning your go is a map of the city. The centre of Florence is pretty packed, so the greatest way to see it, without missing a thing is by foot. If you don’t have a map or a guide and you’re not the type that loves aimless rolling, make your first stop of the day one of the tourist offices where you can pick up a free map of Florence.

Starting off in the grand Piazza, you’ll easily spot the well-known Duomo, with its magnificent terracotta coloured cupola. If you are there early enough to keep off the crews and feel you can face the 463 steps You are commended starting your tour by climbing up into dome for a splendid view of the city. The Duomo is likely the most typical feature of Florence’s skyline and is the result of years of work sweeping six centuries.

The decision to have a backpacking trip overseas is a big one, and you are in for an amazing adventure. Backpacking in Europe or other abroad lands, with their ancient pasts, often brings surprises and breathtaking experiences. If you are fairly new to travelling overseas then there are some things you should be aware of so you can have a complete trip. The following list outlines some of the best advice for traveling abroad.

Know applicable local and national laws. Get sure you understand the local laws and customs. This is important because the last thing you want is problem. There are places you can and cannot go. If there is any question, check with local bureaus. Many area require a permit.

Have your written document in order. Make sure you have everything you need to travel overseas and get into the destination country. You should check with both states to ensure all of your paperwork is in order. Take Note that Americans need passports for Canada and Mexico visits now.

Make sure your map is up to date. You should check to make sure the map you are taking is up-to-date. You do not want to plan a backpacking trip in an area that has lately been converted from wild to a shopping center.

Keep your family in the loop. Just as you would when backpacking at home, you need to fill up in your family on all your plans. This is even more important when traveling. You never know what can happen and nobody there is going to get you may be in problem.