Back to Ireland

I'm finally back from my very relaxing holidays!! I've spent about one month travelling across my beloved Italy and visiting some other gorgeous places.
We started with a few days in the stunning Rome, then in Brindisi, Alfredo's home in the south. Brindisi is a very cute and ancient town in the region of Puglia; its natural harbour has a particular shape that reminds the branches of a deer.. really spectacular.

Top: the Colosseum and rooftops in Rome
Bottom: Brindisi, the harbour

Then I've been visiting my family in Bergamo, at the foothills of the Alps, for a couple of weeks - oh, lotsssss of mamma's yummy food! - The upper city is a hilltop medieval town, surrounded by 17th century enormous defensive walls, very charming. It's connected to the lower city by the funicular, which offers a lovely view.

Above: the funicular in Bergamo

We went all together to the coast in the centre of Italy enjoying the sunshine, good books and the sound of the sea. On the way back to Bergamo we stopped in a lovely town, which is actually one of the smallest European microstates, San Marino. It's a country in the Apennine Mountains, completely surrounded by Italy. It has got a very irregular terrain and its highest point, the Monte Titano, is situated at 749 metres above sea level. On its three peaks are located the three towers of San Marino, which are depicted on the national flag. That day I visited also the national torture museum....really scary and disturbing, but a lot interesting from the history point of view.

Top: San Marino, Monte Titano - rooftops

Bottom: the National Ttorture Museum

After that, Alfredo and my dear friends Jesse and Adrien from Cartoon Saloon joined me in Bergamo and from that point, the roadtrip to Ireland started!!!!!!
We had a few stops in some very gorgeous places. First of all, my hometown Turin - I've been missing it soooo much, I just love it. The weather was so pleasantly warm even in the night and we had delicious gelato and soft, really tasty pizza like I haven't eaten in ages. :)

Top: old picture of Turin, Via Pietro Micca

Bottom: a couple of study sketches from different views.

The next day we were relaxing by the quiet Avigliana Lake "Lago Piccolo", on the south side of the Val di Susa, and later in the evening we've been walking to get to the nearby massive Sacra di San Michele, a religious complex founded between 983 and 987 by Benedictine monks, situated on the top of Mount Pirichiano at more than 1000 mt. It's one of the greatest architectonic buildings in Europe among those dating back to the Romanesque period. It's huge and very high, and it's incredible to see how the basement, the staircase and the counterforts are literary blended with the sinuous mountain itself. The view from the top terrace is really jaw-dropping, I've been there a few times in my life and every time it's just an incredible experience.

Top: ducks in the Lago Piccolo, Avigliana
Bottom: Sacra di San Michele

That was the last stop in Italy. After that, la France! Really beautiful landscapes across the Alps. Adrien took us to a very cute village, Perouges, a medieval walled town near Lyon. Very pictoresque houses, small cobblestoned lanes, an old well, a fortress church and stores with stalls and evocative signs. Just lovely!

The only weird note was the 'naked man' under a fig tree at midnight......Eeew! >_<

Top: Perouges and...the fig tree.

That said, it's been a fantastic holiday!