4/28/04
In preparation for the volleyball team's tour of Europe in May, take a look at their destinations and what the team will be up to while they travel and train for the 2004 season.
Itinerary | Rome slideshow | Florence slideshow | Innsbruck slideshow | Munich slideshow
ROME
A Little History
Sometimes referred to as the “Eternal City,” Rome is home to some of the most famous landmarks and scenery in the world including the Colosseum, the Palatine Hills and the Trevi Fountain. Rome is sprawled out among seven hills and is equally intriguing for its ancient and modern wonders.
When in Rome…
One can explore the most popular attractions including the Trevi Fountain; the Pantheon; the Spanish Steps; the Palatine Hill; Trajan’s Markets; and of course, the Colosseum. Rome also offers some of the world’s finest museums including The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel; the Galleria Borghese; and more modern works at the Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna.
Originally known as the Flavian amphitheater, the Colosseum was later named Colosseo by Romans who identified it with the site of Colossus of Nero (a 115-foot-tall gilded bronze statue of the emperor disguised as the sun god). The Colosseum was considered a remarkable feat of engineering and was built to hold more than 50,000 spectators for gory entertainment such as combats between gladiators and wild beasts in the days of ancient Rome.
The Trevi Fountain, or the Fontana di Trevi, was completed in 1762 by Nicola Salvi and was the site of Anita Ekberg’s famous dip in the 1960 film, La Dolce Vita. It is estimated the fountain receives up to EUR 120,000 a year from coins tossed in by tourists who wish to ensure their return to Rome. The story behind the fountain is pictured in the relief to the right of the figure of Oceanus.
How to Make Your Way Around…
Visitors are recommended to walk around the city as much as possible, but if pressed for time, take the metro, the bus or hop in a taxi.
Currency Issues
The currency used throughout Italy is the Euro.
What to Pack…
Temperatures are often most pleasant in May and June but can sometimes climb to over 85F.
Where to Eat…
Agata e Romeo – Run by the husband-and-wife team of Agata Parisella and Romeo Caraccio, this top restaurant Italian food with a twist including crepes with chestnut flour, breaded lamb chops and ewe’s-milk ricotta. Desserts and wine are scrumptious as well.
Da Franco ar Vicoletto – Located in the student-filled San Lorenzo district, this seafood restaurant is affordable, delicious and best visited in groups – the more the merrier.
Events
In late June, the city of Rome hosts the Pesaro Film Fest, also known as the International Exhibition of New Cinema, exhibiting the works of new directors. On June 29, St. Peter and Paul Day take place and solemn masses are held at St. Peter’s Basilica and elsewhere.
VENICE
A Little History
Equally romantic, mysterious and beautiful, the city of Venice, Italy offers a particularly authentic Italian experience to foreign visitors. Tradition has it that Venice was founded in 421 AD on April 25, coincidentally St. Mark’s Day, who is the patron saint of Venice. In fact, historians say other countries so respected Venice’s beauty that it was never bombed during World War II.
When in Venice…
Where do you even begin? The Campanile, the Gallerie dell’Accademia, the Basilica di San Marco and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection are all highly frequented locations, or if history is high on your set of interests, the Jewish Ghetto.
The Campanile is Venice’s famous brick bell tower. The Campanile had stood strong for 1,000 years before collapsing practically without warning. It has now been restored to 325 feet (plus the angel) and oversees the Lido, the lagoon and the mainland as far as the beautiful Alps.
Inaugurated in 1094 as the resting place of St. Mark the Evangelist, the Basilica di San Marco is a rich fusion of Byzantine and Romanesque styles. It is most famous for its 43,055 square feet of stunning mosaics and its five plump domes.
How to Make Your Way Around…
Your choices in Venice are to walk or to employ one of the many water transportation systems. The vaporetti are the water buses which give you a great sense of how the city functions but are also more costly than you may expect. The traghetto is the cousin of the gondola and crosses the Grand Canal when there is no bridge nearby. Gondolas are perhaps the most romantic and expensive way of transportation.
Currency Issues
The currency used throughout Italy is the Euro.
What to Pack…
Pack clothes that will let you breathe because the water that keeps Venice beautiful also keeps it incredibly humid (90% humidity). The hottest months are July and August but expect May and June to be plenty warm as well.
Where to Eat…
Ae Oche – Not a significantly Venetian spot but the food is excellent and inexpensive enough to condone that small factor. With 79 pizza combinations including some traditional favorites (pizza margherita), 16 salads and shelves of imported stouts to choose from, American visitors will find Ae Oche to be a nice, quick rest-stop between sights.
Cipriani – Though more on the expensive side, Cipriani comes highly recommended for its ambience, service and view. The wine list is superb and the cuisine is world-class and distinctively Venetian. Try the decadent tiramisu served in a bitter-chocolate shell topped by a gondola.
Events
Venezia Suona is an annual European music festival that takes place in the streets and squares of the city usually in late June.
INNSBRUCK
A Little History
Innsbruck, Austria is set at the foot of the Alps and has a distinctive Medieval quality.
This 800-year-old town has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and is the capital of the state of Tirol.
When in Innsbruck…
Maximilian I commissioned the Hofburg imperial castle in the 1400s. The Giant’s Hall was designated a marvel of the 18th century as soon as the glorious trompe-l’oeil ceiling was painted in 1775. Look for the portrait of the empress’s daughter, Marie-Antoinette.
Goldenes Dachl is Innsbruck’s signature site. Its golden roof tops the balcony of a late-Gothic mansion that was built in 1420 for Duke Friedrich (famously known as Friedl the Penniless – who allegedly embellished the roof to prove he was not impoverished). The roof is actually made of gilded copper tiles and the balcony later became a “royal box” to watch street performances below.
There are plenty of other remarkable sites to see in Innsbruck including the Ferdinandeum (a museum), the Hofkirche, which is a mausoleum built for Maximilian I, and the Alpenzoo, which yes, is actually a zoo filled with beautiful birds and several endangered species.
How to Make Your Way Around…
Innsbruck is a fairly compact town, making travel by foot your most convenient option and your best way to fully appreciate the small town.
Currency Issues
The currency used throughout Austria is the Euro.
What to Pack…
Innsbruck stays relatively cool (60F-70F) during May but can heat up to 90F in mid-June at times.
Where to Eat…
Ottoburg – This red and white shuttered house was built in 1494 and has recently been restored to its original splendor. A real Altstadt landmark, the restaurant provides great views of the Goldenes Dachl square and provides of course, great food. The duck, chicken and trout are some recommended dishes.
Café Sacher – This popular Austrian torte (Sacher) – a chocolate layer cake – has recently been unavailable outside of Vienna but is now accessible to the masses. The café has scrumptious coffees and desserts but also offers an excellent full menu including prime broiled beef and Viennese fried chicken (Anna Sacher).
Events
The Internationaler Tanzsommer Innsbruck takes place between mid-June and mid-July and bring together some of the world’s most renowned dance companies. The Contemporary American Ballet, Stomp, Momix and the Dance Theatre of Harlem are just a few of the past performers at this festival.
MUNICH
A Little History
Generally renown as the beer-brewing capital of the world, the city of Munich, Germany, offers much more than a variety of beers to feast on. Munich is home to BMWs, Bavarian royalty, an abundance of gourmet restaurants, vigorous music and art scenes and of course, Oktoberfest.
When in Munich…
Exciting sites in Munich include the Theresienwiese (site of the annual Oktoberfest), Residenz, the Deutsches Museum, Alte Pinakothek, Frauenkirche, and the Englischer Garten (the English Garden – beware of nude sunbathers).
Munich’s royal palace is the Residenz. It started as a small castle in the 14th century and developed based on the particular interests and needs of its royal occupants through the years. Inside, you can find a small Renaissance statue of St. George, studded with 2,291 diamonds, 209 pearls, and 406 rubies. You can also see paintings, tapestries, furniture, porcelain, and antique coins.
For Texas-sized liter mugs of golden beer, make a stop at Hofbräuhaus. This famous brewery contains a large hall, a restaurant upstairs, and a brass band that performs on most days.
How to Make Your Way Around…
Munich offers several well-integrated public transportation methods including the U-bahn (subway), the S-bahn (surburban railway), the Strassenbahn (streetcars), and public buses.
Currency Issues
The currency in Munich, Germany is the Euro.
What to Pack…
Munich starts to warm up in May and you can expect a weeklong “heat wave” during May/June. Temperatures could rise above 86F; nothing Texans can’t handle!
Where to Eat…
Augustiner Keller – One of Munich’s oldest breweries, this beer restaurant has a menu that changes daily with Bavarian specialties. For a hearty meal, be sure to order Tellerfleisch (boiled beef with horseradish) which comes out on a large wooden board and Dampfnudeln (yeast dumpling served with custard).
Halali – More on the expensive side, this traditional Munich restaurant serves contemporary regional specialties. Try ordering the succulent venison in juniper-berry sauce and finish the meal with their delicious homemade vanilla ice cream. Be sure to make reservations. Dress is jacket and tie.
Events
From May 12-28, you can catch the Munich Biennale: International Festival for Musical Theatre. This is an annual contemporary music festival with premeires of world-class works by international composers. It is held at the Gasteig and Muffathalle.
Munich’s City Festival, which takes place in mid-June, celebrates the anniversary of the day Munich was founded. It is organized by the Munich Tourist Office and most activities are between Marienplatz and Odeonsplatz.
THE MARCHE REGION
A Little History
The Marches, or Le Marche, is located in east central Italy and extends from the eastern slopes of the Apennines to the Adriatic Sea. The capital of the Marche region is Ancona. The Marche Regional government was set up in 1970 to decentralize power from Rome to Italy’s 20 other regions. The Marche is mostly hilly or mountainous except for one coastal strip. The name Marche (boundaries) originated around the 10th century when the fiefs of Ancona, Fermo and Camerino were established at the border of the Holy Roman Empire.
When in Le Marche…
Enjoy the unspoiled countryside in Le Marche, which is dotted with medieval towns and villages that consistently attract Italians and foreigners looking for old houses to renovate. Urbino is the most attractive hill town to visit because of its wonderful Renaissance palaces. Its legacy is a result of the prosperous period in the Middle Ages and the 15th and 16th centuries when Federico da Montefeltro ruled Urbino.
The coasts of Le Marche are significantly more developed and consist of several hotels and beaches close to the industrialized port of Ancona.
How to Make Your Way Around…
A car is key to discovering Le Marche (as long as you do not have to stay around the larger town area), however, there are several other practical options. You can travel by rail (the FS, Italian State Railways), by taxi and or by bus as well.
Currency Issues
The currency used throughout Italy is the Euro.
What to Pack…
Bring a sweatshirt or a raincoat just in case of the occasional rain in late spring; bring light clothing for the month of June.
Where to Eat…
La Moretta – Located in the capital city of Ancona, this mid-priced restaurant provides the option of sitting outside in a delightful square during the summer and offers an excellent range of regional dishes and professional service.
Ristorante Guazza – This low-priced restaurant has a real comfortable feel to it primarily because it speaks volumes for the home-made pastas that are essential for a trip to the Marche region. Located in Cagli, its menu offers snails, hare and scrumptious truffles depending on the season. It is only open for lunch so be sure to get there before close.
Events
Almost every town in the Marche region hosts some kind of wine or food tasting event in the summer months. Here are a few to check out: Pianello (near Cagli) offers Sagra della Lumaca (snails) and Apiro (near Cingoli) offers a taste of Sagra del formaggio pecorino (pecorino cheese)
PESARO
A Little History
Home to low-key people, sandy beaches, affordable hotels and good eats (and not to mention great art), the small town of Pesaro, Italy, often plays host to Brits and Germans as well as many Italians during holiday vacations. Pesaro is full of small craft and design shops and is only a train ride away from exploring the northern Marche region of Italy.
When in Pesaro…
Explore the center of the town, the Piazza del Popolo where cafes line the pavement and both old Fascist and Renaissance influences are visible through the sharp lines of buildings and the Palazzo Ducale.
Giovanni Bellini's Coronation of the Virgin is one of the most significant relics of Renaissance Pesaro and can be admired by the masses at the art gallery of the Museo Civico. Don't forget to take a look at Marco Zoppo's pieta and Madonna and Child enclosed with pine cones, lemons and bilberries. The most noticeable and perhaps striking piece is a ferocious snake-haired Medusa by local artist Ferruccio Mengaroni which stands above the entrance to the Museo. But if art does not hold your interest, there are always the beautiful sandy beaches of Pesaro you can relax on.
How to Make Your Way Around…
The bus and train system are your best bets for getting around Pesaro.
Currency Issues
The currency used throughout Italy is the Euro.
What to Pack…
It might be smart to carry a light jacket with you in Pesaro since coastlines are almost always chilly in the evening.
Where to Eat…
C'era una volta - This pizzeria is closed on Mondays but is good, cheap and incredibly popular. The rustic décor and loud rock music add to the atmosphere, so don't go here if you want a quiet dinner.
The Antica Osteria La Guercia- This fabulous ristorante does pasta and fish particularly well and is also very popular among the locals. It is very reasonably priced and among the recommended dishes are the mal tagliati and the cece e vongole.
May 18, 2004: Depart USA for Rome
May 19, 2004: Arrive Rome, Italy
Training and sight seeing Rome
May 20, 2004: Sight seeing in Rome
May 21, 2004: Depart for Marche Region of Italy
Match #1
May 22, 2004: Sight see in Marche Region
Match #2
May 23, 2004: Day at the Beach in the Marche Region
May 24, 2004: Depart for Pesaro, Italy
Possible match or practice
May 25, 2004: Leave for Venice, Italy
Sight See in Venice
May 26, 2004: Leave for Innsbruck, Austria
Sight See in Innsbruck
May 27, 2004: Sight See in Innsbruck
Match #3
May 28, 2004: Depart for Munich, Germany
Sight See in Munich
May 29, 2004: Sight See in Munich
Match #4
May 30, 2004: Depart Munich for the USA
