Italy, individual travel, 2005.

2005-07-28 記
Topic: イタリア


From Narita to Rome.

Air France to Rome. The flight is via Paris.


Air France to Rome. The flight is via Paris.

Air France to Rome. The flight is via Paris.

Air France to Rome. The flight is via Paris.

Air France to Rome. The flight is via Paris.


Air France to Rome. The flight is via Paris.


Rome, the Trevi Fountain, and the Vittoriano.

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Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Grottoes, Castel Sant'Angelo, Piazza Navona and the Teatro Marcello, the Doge's Palace Museum, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Colosseum.

To St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

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St. Peter's Basilica dome, observation deck, papal mass, Borghese Gallery, Pantheon, "Roman Holiday" Trevi Fountain.

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica.

This morning, I was able to wake up early.

I prepared myself, and at the station, I ate a cafe latte and a croissant at a cafe similar to the one I went to the other day.

And then, I headed towards the Vatican Museums.

It seems that the atmosphere is different from the other day, and it is very quiet.


The road is clear, and there is absolutely no congestion like yesterday.

- - - 。 

Looking at the sign, it seems like it is a holiday. (Forced smile)

Today is Sunday, and it seems that it is only open on the last Sunday of the month, but today is not the last Sunday. Well, I will go towards St. Peter's Basilica instead.

Walking on an empty road, looking at the Lompra, I'm thinking about what to do today.

First, I decided to go to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, which I hadn't seen before.

It opens at 8 o'clock, so it seems like it will open in about 5 to 10 minutes.

After waiting a little while, and in a situation where there was no congestion, I headed towards the dome.

Go to the dome.

Exit the large spiral staircase, go up to the ceiling, and move towards the dome-shaped building.

Continue climbing the spiral staircase for a while.


Just looking at things like walls doesn't get boring.

And then, we arrived at Michelangelo's dome.

Below, you can see the floor of the cathedral.

The numerous paintings on the wall.

Various paintings.


When you look at Dome up close, you can feel a different atmosphere compared to oil paintings.

The walls of the corridor also have similar frescoes, and they create a different atmosphere depending on whether you view them up close or from a distance.

Michelangelo's dome.

St. Peter's Basilica observation deck.

And then, we continue to go up to the observation deck, taking a small spiral staircase.

The scenery seen from the spiral staircase.

There was a view overlooking the city of Rome.

This was something I thought was worth coming for.

The wind is also cool.

Below, you can see St. Peter's Square.


I stayed here for a while, relaxing and letting the wind blow on me.

And, after a while, gradually, more and more people started to come.

I gazed at the city, and when my body felt satisfied, I left that place.

I am going down a very small spiral staircase.


Go to the rooftop and look at the small dome in the distance.

Dome.

There is a dome.

Stone figures facing St. Peter's Square.

Descend the spiral staircase, and eventually return to the path you came from. 

It was all downhill, and then we were able to enter the interior of St. Peter's Basilica.

Papal Mass at St. Peter's Basilica.

I see. It seems like this was connected to something... As I am thinking that, I feel like there are many people nearby.

I am now looking at the ceiling painting from the floor.

Nevertheless, it is a very lavishly made thing.

I thought, "What is this crowd about..." but it seems that the Pope is holding a mass.


People are gathering around it.

I, too, was watching that scene for a long time.



Christianity, and the Pope, have sometimes been a source of conflict, but seeing this, one can understand that the underlying principle is a desire for people to live peacefully.

In a solemn and peaceful atmosphere, a mass is being held.

Because it was the first time I had participated in a Christian mass, I watched for a while.

And eventually, the people around began to shake hands with each other.

I see. I think it's good to consider such event-related aspects. I didn't expect there to be such things, so I missed the opportunity to shake hands with the people around me, and I regret that a little.

And then, a line formed, and they started handing out something like cookies.

The priest held something in front of his forehead and recited a prayer, then passed it to the people. The people then ate it. I watched, thinking, "I see."

And eventually, the mass ended, and the Pope walked up to the front.

At that time, if one were a devout person, an event occurred that could be considered a "miracle" or "the power of the Pope." When passing by, the camera shutter was pressed, but it did not release until the subject had passed.

Perhaps, for someone who is deeply religious, this might have been an event that they would have thought, "The Pope didn't want to appear in the photo," or "It's the Pope's power," or "God did it so that no one would do anything rude."

But, if we think about it calmly, it seems that the camera's autofocus could not properly adjust to the Pope, who was moving while crossing.

My camera has two operating modes: one where the shutter won't fire if the focus is not correct, and another where it will fire even if the focus is not correct. I usually use the former. Even with that, I suspect that was the reason, but at that moment, I felt a little bit awestruck and thought, "Is the Pope really that amazing?"

After the mass, I walked around inside St. Peter's Basilica and then went outside.

Then, there was an enormous crowd of people there.


A long, long line has formed at the entrance of the dome that I just came from. I'm glad I came first thing in the morning.

And then, I thought, "Well, what should I do?" and decided to go to the Borghese Gallery via Piazza del Popolo.

Borghese Gallery.

Since I have some time, I thought I would leisurely walk around, and also take a walk in the Borghese Gardens, which are located around the Borghese Gallery.

It is a slightly far distance, but I will take a walk around the city.

Leaving Vatican City and entering the city center, you could hardly see any tourists.

"Is this Rome?" I walked through a quiet residential area (?).

What a luxurious time. If I were to take the subway, I could get there quickly, but instead, I am taking this leisurely time to walk.

Similar to bicycles, I believe that the true essence of travel lies in taking the time to experience things, even if it seems like a waste of time.

And eventually, we approached the Borghese Gardens.

Before that, there was a pizza shop, so I bought two pizzas and ate them.

This is also a good feeling.

And then, into the park.

The park is a little wide, but I strolled around slowly.

There were several water fountains, so I continued on, moistening my throat while walking under the hot sunlight.

Around here, there are many people riding rental bicycles (some of them are electric-assist models!).


Not only were there tandem bicycles ridden side by side, but there were also people riding tandem bicycles one behind the other!


And, a long, long, small electric bus (with no doors, and with simple chairs like umbrellas) was repeatedly coming and going. Also, regular buses with engines passed by several times.

This time, I didn't use any buses at all, but if I gain a better understanding of the area, I think using buses might be a good option.

A magnificent statue that was located inside the park.

And then, to the Borghese Gallery.

Now, let's go inside... I thought, but it seems that you need to purchase a reserved ticket with a specific time slot. It is now 11:30, and the next entry time is 1:00.

Hmm. Since there's nothing I can do about it, I will buy it.

And then, I thought about taking a walk around, but then I saw a bench with just the right amount of shade behind the Borghese Gallery, so I decided to take a short nap there.

Indeed, this is a luxurious time.

Behind the Borghese Gallery, in this wide park, I am spending this time leisurely, taking a nap.

I fell asleep peacefully and rested my body.

And then, some time passed, and eventually, it became a little past 1 o'clock.

The body still felt like it wanted to sleep, but at that moment, the sunlight started to shine on the body, and it felt like it was saying, "Wake up."

My body started to get exposed to sunlight, and my skin started to feel warm, so I thought, "It's probably about time," and decided to go to the Borghese Gallery.

The Borghese Gallery, as expected, was not crowded because it requires reservations.

It's easy to watch comfortably. Before entering, I thought it might be a little expensive, considering the price was almost 8 euros. However, after entering, I completely stopped thinking that.



Beautiful ceiling paintings. And, numerous paintings.

What was particularly impressive was the numerous sculptures.

I was particularly impressed by the statue of a goddess lying down, and the statue of a male god and a goddess touching each other.

The statue of the goddess, with its dignified presence and the gaze that offered a glimpse of a woman's refined beauty.

And, in the statue depicting a male god and a female goddess touching each other, one could glimpse the way a woman should interact with a man, and the way a man should interact with a woman while maintaining her dignity.

Both are depicted with human-like expressions and appearances, and they are not necessarily fictional characters, nor are they necessarily real people. This evokes a deep feeling.

Besides what I felt, this building is not simply a place where artworks are displayed. The walls, the ceiling, the pillars, and even the passageways, everything is a work of art.

Ceiling painting.

It is not just a picture.


The edges and everything else are all works of art.

Ceiling painting.

This place, where the entire building is a work of art, makes me think that the entrance fee isn't high. It was a place where I felt that it was worth visiting.

Pantheon.

And then, I left the Borghese Gallery and went back into the city center.

Following the road, I passed by Piazza Bargellini and headed towards Piazza Navona. The other day, I saw a sign near Piazza Navona that said there would be a classical concert at night, so I wanted to go look for tickets.

But, since I wasn't particularly in a hurry, I decided not to use the subway and to walk there.

Near the Bargellini Square, there were many restaurants with a good atmosphere.

And I came near the place where the classical concert was held, but unlike the other day, they weren't selling tickets. I wondered if they weren't having it today, but I went to a nearby pizza place and ate pizza, and since I still had time before night, I continued walking.

And then, suddenly, I noticed something that looked like a church in front of me, so I casually went inside.

This is also... another huge church.

Just looking at the church, you can feel a sense of history.


I feel that spending time quietly in a church, not just sightseeing, is also a luxurious experience.

Like the Vatican, coming to Rome has significantly changed my impression of churches. Even for me, who rarely goes to church, my favorability towards them has increased considerably.

And... I was thinking about heading towards the hotel soon... When suddenly, a Pantheon appeared right in front of me.

Wow, what is this... I thought. But it seems that this is the best-preserved building from the Roman era. It is said to be a building from around the year 120 AD. It is considered to be the finest masterpiece of Roman architecture.

Ancient Rome... The Romans, who built such enormous structures almost 1900 years ago, are incredibly great, beyond my imagination.

The performer who was performing in front of the Pantheon.

The inside of the Pantheon is full of people.

It has a relatively simple structure, but the building is very solid.

The few sculptures that are displayed.

In the distance, an oil painting is visible.

The ceiling is quite simple.

But, it gives a feeling of a very solid structure.

And then, I leave the Pantheon.

However, the Pantheon and the surrounding area are a little old and worn.


It certainly feels like time has passed.

And then, I left the Pantheon.

"Roman Holiday" and the Mouth of Truth.

After seeing the Pantheon, there was another church, so I decided to go inside.

It is also calm and a wonderful church.

It seems that even just visiting the churches in this town gives it value.

And, it was about time for night to come.

On the way home, I suddenly remembered that I hadn't seen the "Mouth of Truth" yet, so I decided to go in that direction.

It was located in the portico of a small, old church, a little ways along the river.

Even so, there is a line. I can see a few Japanese people.

I didn't think it was worth waiting in line, so I decided to just take some pictures and look inside.


It seems that for everyone, the standard course of action is to take a commemorative photo with their mouths open like this.

The Mouth of Truth.

There is a proper sign. (Of course.)


This is a very small church, and when you look inside, there are very few chairs. Furthermore, there is even a shop. And it is currently under renovation. I saw the person working at the shop humming an opera, and I thought that perhaps opera is deeply rooted in this area.

And, I thought about returning via the area around the Paratino hill, and I also stopped by a church along the way.

This place, too, is a place with a good atmosphere.

While resting, I enjoyed the church.
Church ceiling paintings.

And then, I got on the subway and got off at a nearby station.

Checked emails on the internet shop and returned to the hotel.

And, at the hotel front desk, I decided to ask if there were any concerts tonight. Then, it seems that an opera is being held near the Colosseum. It is based on Mozart. The price is 23 euros, which is reasonable.

The front desk staff member called and made a reservation for me. That's wonderful. It's relatively close, so it's possible to walk there.

And then, if we decide to go there.

The opera venue was quite a place with a good atmosphere.

This is the course for this day.


24th - LE NOZZE DI FIGARO by Mozart.
There is something.

The appearance of the venue.

When I looked up, I saw the cross on the church.

This place is not only good in atmosphere, but the conductor is only about 5 meters away.

The distance to the upper stage is only about 10 meters, and if you want to see this in Tokyo, it would likely cost around 15,000 yen.

The performers and the audience were very friendly and relaxed.



There was one Japanese woman among the performers, and I could see that she was in a relationship with one of the other performers. In the Italian atmosphere, both the woman and the man had mature attitudes, but there was a sense of "excitement" in the air. It was a mix of carefree freedom and adult sophistication. I thought, "This is what Italy is like..." However, I couldn't help but notice it, and it bothered me.

And then, the performance began. The sound quality is truly excellent. Unlike the summer music festival I attended recently, there are no speakers, so you can enjoy the live performance as is. I was impressed by the sound quality; it's truly remarkable, considering it's Rome. For this price, this close to the stage, and with this level of sound quality... This is an intimate performance that you absolutely cannot experience in Japan, and yet, the professionalism shines through. While the acoustics of the hall are not ideal for the church performance I attended recently, I'm glad I came to listen to this.

And then, after one song, the opera began. I'm not very familiar with opera, so it seemed like someone was just speaking lines... It was completely impossible to follow the laughter of the people around me. Even so, I was able to enjoy it just by listening to the music.

The story seems to be a romance between a man and a woman. From the gestures, it seems that the man is pursuing the woman, the woman is showing humility, and there are conflicts only between women (a wry smile), and so on.

But... That's too much. I can't do it without knowing the story or the words.

The sound is very good. The quality of the performance is very high, and I am very satisfied listening to it.


But... The first two hours were good, but after that, due to lingering jet lag and other factors, it became quite difficult. I almost dozed off. In the end, it was a 3.5-hour long performance. By the end, it was more difficult to endure the sleepiness than to be satisfied with the performance.

If you stayed until the end of the summer music festival, it was about a 3-hour performance, so I guess this is normal, isn't it?

Regarding jet lag, but even so, for 23 euros and 3.5 hours, and to be able to see it right in front of you, it's such a luxurious thing. In order to enjoy it more thoroughly, I guess I should study Italian (?), or perhaps I should preview the story beforehand.

However, I was able to fully enjoy the quality of the performance and the warm atmosphere. For watching something spontaneously, this was more than enough.


And then, in the darkness of night, to the hotel.

While I was walking, a person who looked like either someone returning from manual labor or a vagrant suddenly spoke to me in a loud voice, saying "Ni hao" (I wonder if they thought I was Chinese...). I was momentarily surprised and tried to understand the situation. It was dark, and there was no one else around to ask for help. However, the person didn't seem to be attacking me, so it seemed like they might have just been joking, thinking that I was Chinese. It's probably not necessary to be overly cautious.

Like that, I returned home to the hotel. It was already 0:45.

Tomorrow, I will be moving to Venice. In the morning, I will check out and head to the station.


From Rome to Venice, to Padua.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.


In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.


In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.


In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.

In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.


In the morning, I wake up a little past 6 o'clock, as usual. Of course, since it's equivalent to daytime in Japan, I wake up very well.



Padua, Scrovegni Chapel, San Giorgio Chapel, Sant'Antonio Basilica.

Padua sightseeing.

This morning, I had breakfast here, a little later than usual, around 7:30.

Today, I will rent a bicycle and explore this city.

I didn't have any specific plans, but I was thinking of going to the art museum and two large churches.

I will run through the old city streets and try to familiarize myself with the layout of the city.

I drove a little way out of town, and sometimes I went around and around, but I felt that even that was good because I could feel the atmosphere of the outskirts of town.

At the market.

Even the old passages are still used by people.

Again, to the market.

Around and around.

I didn't buy anything in particular, but I felt the atmosphere of this town's market.

It's not something you can easily buy, unlike in Asian regions.

Saint Cathedral.

The other day, I passed by here, and this place is also known as the Basilica of Sant'Antonio, where the remains of Saint Anthony are kept.


Because this place was close to the lodging, and also because I wanted to get familiar with the area beforehand, I decided not to enter for now and continued walking around.

I continued my walk, sometimes venturing out to the suburbs and occasionally getting a little lost.

Cross the river.

I can see the nun coming out of the church.

I am walking along a road next to the river.


At that time, I remembered the feeling of traveling by bicycle.


Ah, I wonder if it felt like this when traveling by bicycle.

And suddenly, I felt a slight regret for not coming by bicycle. However, it's not enough to cause deep regret, unlike the feeling I had when I traveled through Japan by train in the past. It's just that, this is fine as it is.

Scrovegni Chapel.

Turning around completely, and then, I arrived at the front of the station.

And, because I had been eating only pizza for a long time, there was a McDonald's in front of the station, so I suddenly decided to try it. The other night, I ate a little bit, and as expected, it's something that makes me feel comfortable.

It is often said that globalization is bad, but when you are in a place as far away as this, it is comforting and helpful to be able to eat the same things you eat at home.

Moreover, hamburgers in Tokyo are disgusting, and I feel like I'm going to throw up after eating them, but I can enjoy eating hamburgers here. I thought, "This isn't bad..."

And after calming down, I went out into the city again.

First, enter the church that is a short distance away, and sit down to spend some time there.

In any case, I think that all the churches are magnificent.

The murals are not as impressive as those in Rome, but there are still some excellent murals.


And when the body is satisfied, we begin to start walking again.

Start running again.

From between the trees, a river can be seen.

The old town is winding around and around. It's a town where the layout is difficult to understand. It's hard to figure out your current location. You go around and around, passing the same places on the first and second loops.

And then, I arrived at a different church again, so I went inside.

Eremitani Church.

This place was, I believe, the Eleutherian Church, which was severely damaged during the bombing of World War II. Today, I came out for a bike ride, so I left my phone in the room, and I can only remember based on my memory.

The interior is extremely soot-stained, but even so, it is clear that it is an old mural.
Next to the entrance, there was a description of the damaged mural.

And then, I left the Eleutherian Church and went for another walk.

I am passing through the park.

After going around and around, I realized that the Scrovegni Chapel and the City Museum were located very close to the church I had entered earlier.

City museum entrance.


It seems that the Scrovegni Chapel and the City Museum are generally offered as a set ticket.

Well. I was thinking about going in, but it seems to be 12 euros. That seems a little expensive.

However, there isn't much to see in this city, so I thought I would try this place.

The building of the municipal museum.


Before entering the Scrovegni Chapel, there is a video that you need to watch, and it seems to have a fixed screening time, so I will wait for a while.

I strolled around the arena garden, which is located around the municipal museum.

Relax.

A flyer for the Scrovegni Chapel and the City Museum.

The time arrived, and first, we began with an explanation of the Scrovegni Chapel, followed by a description of the frescoes painted inside the chapel. It seems like this is a story related to a person named Giotto who painted the murals. An explanation was given about how the murals in this church compare to those of Michelangelo and other famous artists.

And then, the video ended, and we went inside the chapel.

It's a slightly imposing mural. I feel a sense of "solemnity." It's like "seriousness" or "earnestness," perhaps it's the nature of the people in this area??? I don't think it's entirely wrong to think so.

The mural appears to be undergoing restoration, but the work is not yet complete, and there are areas that are well-executed and areas that are not.

And then, we left the video and the chapel and went to the municipal museum. First, we were guided to the visual room. There, a video about Giotto, which we had seen earlier, was shown, focusing on his life. In that room, there were also other multimedia terminals.

After that, I went inside the museum.

As expected, since it is a museum in Rome, various artworks are displayed, some of which seem to be related to Egypt or the Silk Road.

All of those are very elaborate.

There were also many paintings. Not only are they large in size, but what I particularly noticed is that there are many paintings with "black backgrounds." Does this reflect the character of this region? Or is it simply a trend that comes and goes? Even if it's just a trend, the character of the region is likely related to it. I wondered about all of this while viewing the artworks, especially the many paintings with dark, heavy backgrounds.

And a little while later, I left the municipal museum and went back into the city center.

San Giorgio Chapel.

Stroll.

It is, after all, a very peaceful town.

After running for a while, I arrived at Piazza Santa Maria del Popolo. This square is said to be a place where people held discussions in ancient Roman times, and it seems to be a square with a long history.

Now, it is a plaza where people enjoy resting, such as taking walks or lying down.

Gororito.

Fountain.

Far away, on the south side of Piazza Santo, you can see the Church of San Giorgio.


I thought about taking a short break, but I still had energy, so I walked through the Santo Square and headed to this large church.

This church is also a very impressive one.

I feel a sense of familiarity with this church.

From the entrance, you naturally proceed inside.

It felt as if, like a distant, distant memory, I had been here before.

Compared to Rome, it is simple, but still a very impressive church.

The pillars are also magnificent.

After spending some time in my seat and dozing off for a while, I suddenly noticed a path leading further back, so I decided to go check it out.

A magnificent mural hanging on the wall was visible from the hallway.

Upon entering, it appeared to be a kind of shrine. There was a tomb of a saint, and people who were guarding it.

Suddenly, a pastor spoke to me. Because I didn't understand the words, I didn't know what he was saying, but I felt a sense of familiarity with this place, so being spoken to by him increased that feeling of familiarity.

Of course, this is the first time I have come here, but I might also have a selfish imagination that there might be some connection.

As if to prove this, after entering here, the feeling of "something moving my body without my own control" that I had before completely disappeared, and I felt like my natural self.

Padua Sant'Orso Basilica.

And then, leaving the church, I headed towards another church near this square, the Sant'Antonio Basilica. This church is dedicated to Saint Anthony, and it seems that in the past, many people flocked here seeking healing from illnesses.

And, although there are very few displayed now, it seems that there used to be many walking sticks and other items belonging to people who had recovered from serious illnesses.

Even so, it is splendid.

This is the largest building in this town.

There are also statues of knights.

However, it also seems that the surroundings are a little desolate.

Around the church.

And then, inside.

There was a room that seemed to be related to Saint Anthony, and there was another room deeper inside the church that could be accessed for a separate fee, but I didn't go there. Instead, I sat in a spacious room and felt at ease.

Hello, this church is dark. That's the only thing that bothers me. The frescoes are faded and blackened, and I wonder what people think of that, but they still come here regularly. It's strange that people come to this church, which is so old and dilapidated inside, despite its beautiful exterior.


And then, suddenly, a priest wearing a black robe and a nun wearing a blue robe appeared, and they started saying something that seemed to be words from the Bible. The people sitting around them were repeating those words in unison.

Suddenly, I thought, "This must be the beginning of the mass." Since it was my first time participating in a mass, I decided to join in, imitating what everyone else was doing.

It was an experience that lasted about an hour. Initially, everyone repeated the words spoken by the sister on the left side of the altar, and then the priest repeated the words in the center.

There are things that resemble songs, and things that resemble passages from the Bible. Because they are not in English, I could not understand them at all. However, there were places where the same words were repeated several times, so I echoed them along with everyone else. And there are frequent gestures. Gestures that draw a cross, and gestures of kneeling.

While thinking about how I would feel by doing that, I decided to participate.

During the event, there were moments where I shook hands with people around me, similar to what happened at the Vatican recently. This was the second time for me, so I shook hands with the people around me. However, I didn't feel anything strange or unusual, just a normal handshake. I wonder if this result was due to the circumstances, or perhaps something else.

And the mass proceeded, and eventually, there was a scene where the priest was distributing round, white food items, just like I saw in the Vatican the other day. I wanted to try it, so I joined the line with the people around me.

When I tried it, it tasted like something that had been made by thinly spreading and drying rice cakes.

I was hungry, so even though it was just a thin piece, it felt like it filled my stomach. I don't know if this food had some kind of power, or if it's simply because I was hungry and the food filled the emptiness. Probably the latter... But I'll think that there might be some power in it, at least for now.

And then the mass was almost over, the music was playing, and everyone started to leave.

I see. I thought, "Is this a mass...?" It was a quiet mass, unlike the one I saw in the Vatican, where everyone seemed excited. It had a serious and somewhat heavy atmosphere. I thought, "Perhaps this is the characteristic of this place..."

Everyone was leaving, and as I started walking with them, I suddenly decided to go to the Museum of Saint Anthony, which is next to the church.


Inside the cathedral, there was a garden like this.

Walk along the path beside the garden, towards the museum.


However, it seems that it closes at 6:00 PM, and I was unable to enter. Unfortunately.

The Saint Cathedral is magnificent, whether viewed from the outside or the inside.

In any case, the "serious and intensive" feeling I experienced in this place was unique.

It felt like I glimpsed the multifaceted nature of Italy, in a way that was different from Rome.

And then, finally, we left the church and headed towards the lodging.

At that time, suddenly, a restaurant appeared in front of me, and I thought, "Well, okay," and went inside.

First, we ordered wine and pasta appetizers. This wine, again, is delicious. Even though it's a wine that costs a few hundred yen per glass, how can it be this delicious! In Japan, Italian wines that cost several thousand yen often have too much acidity or cause nausea, and they are terribly bad. I usually prefer Chilean wines, but the local wine I drank here was so delicious, and I was completely immersed in an indescribable happiness!

While enjoying potato chips as a snack and drinking wine, pasta appetizers are eventually served. These are also delicious. However, the pasta and pizza seem to be about the same as eating them in Tokyo. But, it feels like the seasoning is much more natural than in Tokyo. How should I express this? The dishes are very elegant. Since pasta is considered an appetizer here, I ordered a main dish after eating it. I ordered a dish that looks like meat sauce with few tomatoes on top of ham, as seen in the picture. This comes with bread. It's also delicious... It's too wonderful.

It is such a luxury to eat a meal at a table set up on the side of the road, watching the people passing by.

I drank wine, enjoyed the food, and spent a happy time for a while.


And, thinking that it would be too early to leave there and return to the inn, I decided to go back to the plaza I had passed through earlier.

Here, I lay down on the grass and took a short nap.


Because I had been drinking, I took a very pleasant nap. Is the night in Italy long? Even at 8 o'clock or 9 o'clock, the sky was still bright. In the end, I enjoyed a 2-hour nap until almost 9 o'clock, and my body, which still wanted to sleep, moved me back to the lodging.

After returning to the hotel, I took a shower and relaxed for a while.

Okay. Tomorrow, I plan to move from Padua to Verona, and I would like to attend an opera performance at the ancient theater there. The day after that, I will stay in Venice or a nearby town, and prepare for my return the following day.

(However, the plans were changed suddenly, but I will tell you about that later.)


Venice, Rialto Bridge, Accademia Museum, St. Mark's Square.

To Venice.

This morning, I woke up a little before breakfast time, got ready, and finished breakfast. Again, the cappuccino was delicious. After breakfast, I finished packing my luggage and left the accommodation.

Today, according to the plan until yesterday, I was supposed to go to Verona. But, this morning when I woke up, I felt that it would be better to go to Venice instead.

Take a bus from the nearby bus stop to the train station. Yesterday, the ticket cost 1 euro, but when I bought it from the driver, it cost 1.5 euros. I wondered if it's cheaper to buy the ticket in advance. Eventually, I arrived at the train station.

Well. I thought, "What should I do..." and decided to call a hotel in Venice. First, I tried a youth hostel, but even though there were rooms available, they don't accept reservations by phone. So, I had no choice but to try a different hotel. The next hotel I called, and surprisingly, I was able to book a room for two nights. And the price is 23 euros for a shared room. That's 46 euros for two nights. It's like a completely different story from when I went to Venice before and was agonizing over whether to stay in a room that cost 100 euros per night....

Now that I have resolved my concerns, it's time to go to Venice. Of course, this trip was originally intended for Venice, rather than Italy in general, so I can't stop going to Venice just because I had a slightly unpleasant feeling during my brief stay the other day.

Take a local train (2.5 euros) to Venice.

Now. Arrived in Venice.


Then...

A completely different feeling was welling up inside me than it was recently.

This is such a bright and cheerful place.

The dirtiness of the bay, unlike before, was no longer noticeable. If you think of it as the dirtiness of a river, then it's probably something like that.

By the way, the following explanation exists in the ROMpler documentation, and I think it is a very accurate explanation.

 For centuries, no city has received as much praise from authors and travelers as Venice.
 Venice is no longer the great maritime republic, and the deterioration of buildings within the city is serious, and it is constantly threatened by high tides, but let us put that aside for now. The current Grand Canal is so polluted that even Byron might not want to swim in it. However, the words of Henry James from a century ago still apply today: "The beloved old Venice has lost its color and its appearance has declined, and its former fame and self-respect have disappeared somewhere. However, strangely, its grandeur has not diminished at all." Venice, once called "La Serenissima," the most noble republic, is still a unique place. (Lonely Planet Italy, P426)

Now, first, let's go to the accommodations (Alloggi Calderan and Casa Gerotto) to put our luggage.

It seems like they are operating two different inns, and the displays were slightly different, but I didn't pay much attention to it and entered.

It is a typical inexpensive inn, but the design of the front desk gives a sense of cleanliness. Also, the room I entered later was also sufficiently clean. It is a very good inn.

By the way, on the way to this accommodation, I encountered several Japanese couples, but none of them seemed to be having a good time. They had expressions that seemed to be tired or annoyed. I thought, "Maybe I would have had a similar expression if I had stayed at an accommodation that costs over 15,000 yen per night without Lonely Planet."
Tonight's lodging.

After putting down the luggage, I start a walk.


It is like a labyrinth of alleys. But, the time spent like that, I think it is such a luxurious thing.

Venice is famous for its "masks."

It is being sold in large quantities.

And, go for a walk.

While crossing the flow of the river.

I can see a store.

It's a huge crowd.

In the middle of the market.

To take a walk.

Walking.

Houses lined up.

Water channel.

Further exploration.

In the canal, there are gondolas like this.

Look at the sky.

I am walking in the hallway.

While crossing the waterway.

Clock tower.

A passage and a bridge.

I am walking on a narrow road.

A wide road.

The Rialto Bridge, and a walk.

And then, I suddenly saw the Rialto Bridge across the hallway.

From above the Rialto Bridge.

The water channel extends far away.

Buildings are lined up around the waterway.

Look up at the Rialto Bridge.

From the top of the Rialto Bridge.

On the other side of the Rialto Bridge, there is also a shop where you can have a drink.

From the point just after crossing the Rialto Bridge.


There is still a difference in elevation, so you can see far away.

Further exploration.

Around the waterway.

I am walking down a narrow alley.

There are also many churches.

A narrow passage.

It seems like I've taken a wrong turn.

Back alleys.

Where does it lead to...?

It is steadily progressing.

There are boats that exude a sense of lifestyle.

And then, suddenly, I went out onto the main street, and there was a shop like this.

Go out into the hallway and walk appropriately.


I have plenty of time. I wander aimlessly, without a destination.

Water channel.

A magnificent gondola can be seen.

Again, a hallway that I don't understand.

But, I walk without worrying about it.


What a luxurious time.

A small church.

I continued walking and strolling.

Mask shop.


There are many.

And then, suddenly, I came out to a wide-open space.

Academia Museum.

Suddenly, I noticed that there was a building that looked like a museum in front of me.

 And, in front of that building, there was a person selling concert tickets.

The sign says "opera," but when I asked, they said it is not opera, but a classical concert by Verdi.

 The seat in the front row cost about 30 euros, and the seat in the back row cost about 20 euros, so I chose the seat in the back row.

Well. I am looking forward to it.

And, because I didn't understand what a museum was, I decided to go inside and ask.

Then, this is the Academia Museum. According to Rompra, it is a place that is a must-see even for people who are not interested in art. If that is the case... I decided to go inside.

Then, it turns out that there are audio guides in Japanese, so I decided to try renting one.

And then, I followed the guide and continued on endlessly.

This is also... amazing.

Entering, there was no loss.

It seems like a painting related to the Bible.

A magnificent painting. (It should have been.)


(It is slightly difficult to understand from the photo.)

A painting of Christ.

Paintings related to the Bible.

Portrait.

An extremely large painting.


It looks like a scene from an event taking place at the San Marco Palace and its square.

A magnificent religious painting.


Various religious paintings. Paintings depicting the customs and events of the time, as well as narrative-style continuous paintings, were displayed one after another. Moreover, many of the paintings were quite large, which gave a sense of great scale.

The exhibits were also exceptional.

Finally, it ended with a drawing of the Virgin Mary from her childhood.

And then, I left there and headed towards St. Mark's Square.

Cross the bridge and head to St. Mark's Square.

From the bridge, you can see such a beautiful view.

A wide canal stretches out.


It is truly Venice.

A boat traveling on a canal.

And the gondola that is moored.

The hallways are crowded everywhere.


Cross the bridge and walk.

There were also people who were performing a special skill.

I am walking on a narrow road.


And, along the way, it seems there is an American Express office, so I will head there first.

After wandering around for a while, I finally found it, so I went inside and decided to try the cash dispensing service.


I wanted to confirm the fees incurred when using a Saison American Express card to withdraw cash at an American Express office.

Then, at Narita Airport a few days ago, the exchange rate for cash was 141 yen, but here, it was possible to exchange at 142 yen. That's not bad at all. Recently, I tried using the same card to withdraw cash from an ATM at this bank, and I want to compare the results later.

St. Mark's Square.

And then, finally, to Piazza San Marco.


This is the square that spreads out in front of the Basilica of San Marco, named after the Basilica of San Marco (Saint Mark), which houses the remains of Saint Mark, stolen from Alexandria, Egypt.

The cathedral is also very magnificent.

Next to it stands a clock tower, which still rings its bell to mark the time.

Around the plaza, there are cafeterias like this.


In the center of the cafe, the figure of a performer playing light music can be seen.

It is said that Saint Mark was originally told that he would rest eternally in Venice before his death. However, it feels a bit strange to steal his remains and enshrine them as they are.

At that time, every city had a great saint enshrined, and Venice also wanted one. However, I feel that stealing and enshrining a saint is a bit questionable. But, this land of Venice is so wonderful that it makes those subtle feelings disappear.

Crossing the plaza, I moved closer to the sea.

A landscape that suddenly came into view.

Look across the sea.

I am walking along the road by the sea.

Cross the bridge and continue walking.

You can see far away.

Walking through a crowded area.

Furthermore, furthermore.

Go for a walk.

This is another magnificent statue.

There is a person wearing a Venetian mask.


Is it a type of street performance?

Continue the walk.

Gradually, the number of people also decreased.


And then, from this area, I entered a back road and continued my walk.

During the trip, I found some Venetian masks and postcards that looked like good souvenirs, so I bought them. Now, they feel like they're taking up quite a bit of space in my luggage (although they're not that big), so I was thinking of going back to the hotel to put them away... ...and then, I got seriously lost. (Laugh)

Eventually, a boat pier came into view in front of me, but upon checking, it turned out to be in the completely opposite direction from the inn. I wondered what to do... Then, I found out that if I took the boat, I could reach the railway station, so I decided to take it and go there.

Soon, the boat arrived. I immediately boarded and bought a ticket. It cost 3.5 euros one way. It feels expensive, but maybe not... It's a subtle amount. I heard that a one-day pass costs about 10 euros, so maybe this is reasonable.

And then, I enjoyed the view from the boat for a while. I thought we would arrive soon, but about an hour later, we arrived in front of the train station. It seems we circled around the surrounding islands.

Fu. I finally came back.

I checked into the hotel and went to put my luggage in the room.


And then, after taking a shower, I went for another walk. This time, the purpose was to find the concert venue and spend some time nearby.

Enjoying a relaxing time while looking at the view of the canal.

Good scenery.

While asking people for directions, I gradually started to understand my current location. Then, after wandering around in circles, I finally managed to reach the venue. I thought, "I still have an hour, so I should go a little further..." But, to my surprise, I ended up at Piazza San Marco.

Oh dear, I'm in trouble... I thought, but since it's relatively straight from St. Mark's Square, I decided to spend some time here. I looked at the square and sat on the steps on the side, just staring blankly.

It is almost time for the sun to set.

While drinking the 100% orange juice I bought a while ago, I am enjoying a luxurious time.

And then, 30 minutes before the event, I decided to go to the venue. But, once again, I got lost. However, this time, I was lucky and managed to reach the venue without getting too lost. Whew.

And then, I went inside and waited for the concert.

The various costumes displayed at the entrance.

After a while, the concert began.

This is it again... It was a performance that was astonishing. It was a performance that resonated so deeply in the depths of my heart, and I felt that it was unlike any performance I have ever heard since the beginning of time, filling my entire body with joy.

The sound of the violin, and the various elements surrounding it, offered a smooth and profound resonance, to an excessive degree.

It was approximately a 1-hour performance, but I thought this concert was worthwhile. It was a very valuable performance that I was able to listen to even after coming all the way from Italy.

And then, I return to the lodging. Almost all the shops are already closed, so I walk home at night.

While taking a shower at the lodging, I was thinking about the performance I had just seen.

When will I be able to hear such a wonderful performance again? While thinking that, I decided to go to sleep.


St. Mark's Square, Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio), St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

 San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


 San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.


San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.

San Marco Square Bell Tower, Torre dell'Orologio.
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