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Abroad, Italy, Pisa

The happiness to be an Italian #Pisa

posted by Dario
Jun 13, 2017 1256 0 0
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Table of Contents

  • On the path towards one of the world wonders
  • Campo dei Miracoli
  • Assumption

On the path towards one of the world wonders

Having the opportunity to live in Florence, I could not miss visiting Pisa. A city of world fame, thanks to the landmarks it has. The city itself has an extremely rich history that has gone through all sorts of events. That’s why I want to share with you the story of the town. Pisa emerges as an Etruscan colony, which later became ancient Roman and continued to flourish under Lombard domination in the 8th century. But the true glory of the city came in the 11th century when it became a busy harbor and an important commercial link. This also contributes to its appearance as a city with significant sea power in the Mediterranean region. All this changed after the Battle with Genoa, which defeated Pisa and slowed its development significantly in 1294. In 1406, the control over the city passed into the hands of Florence, which completely transformed the city’s appearance and developed it. It suffered huge defeats during the Second World War, which led to a considerable loss of the cultural heritage of the city.

Interesting facts:
During the Florentine domination over Pisa, the city became an important academic center in Italy. The university of the city was founded in 1343. Among its alumni was the native of this city Pisa – Galileo Galilei;
Galileo himself has made experiments from the tower by proving that bodies of different mass fall at the same speed;
During the Second World War, the city was completely devastated by Nazi and Allied bombings. It is a miracle that the tower and the duomo are not injured;

I went to this adventure with my very close friends who came to Italy to travel together. We took the train from Florence to Pisa, with the one-way ticket costing between 8 and 10 euros and the duration is an hour and a few minutes. As sworn adventurers, we decided we would not use any public transport, and we would be walking all day long. From Pisa Station itself, we began to wander curiously on the streets of the city as our main purpose was the inclined tower.

Campo dei Miracoli

Walking around the city, we began to observe from the distance how modestly and shyly the strange tower was appearing. We finally got to Campo dei Miracoli, which translates as the “Wonder Square“. Here are the most popular attractions – the inclined tower, the cathedral and the baptistery.

The construction of the tower or “torre pendente” started in 1173, continuing almost 200 years and ended with the addition of bells in 1372. Its height is 58 meters and has 297 spiral steps. The construction itself was built with white marble, stone and limestone. The tower is tilted due to the unfavorable and unstable conditions of the soil beneath it. Over the years, many attempts have been made to rescue it from falling as metal levers have been placed in 2001 to be strengthened (for now).

Useful information:
Work time:
December – January: 10:00 – 17:00;
November and February: 09:45 – 17:15;
From 1 March to 23 March: 09:00 – 18:00;
From March 23rd to March 29th: 09:00 – 19:00;
30 March: 8:30 – 20:00;
From April to September: 09:00 – 20:00;
From 17 June to 31 August: 8:30 to 22:00;
October: 09:00 to 19:00;
Tickets for the inclined tower can not be combined with the other buildings;
The price is 18 euros, free of charge for children under 10 years, and children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult;

Assumption

Pisa’s Cathedral (Assumption) is the first building of the Piazza, its construction being a century earlier than the inclined tower in 1064. It is also older than the Duomo of Florence (1296) and Siena (1263). With its impressive number of pillars, columns and color marble, the cathedral becomes an example of other sanctuaries all over Italy. Also, the duo has the form of a Latin cross, which further adds to the uniqueness of this building.

Useful information:
Work time:
December – January: 10:00 – 12: 45/14: 00-17: 00;
November and February: 10:00 – 12: 45/14: 00-17: 00;
March: 09:00 to 19:00;
From April to September: 10:00 to 18:00;
The entrance is free of charge, but you must take a document from the fixed-hours cash desks to visit inside the cathedral;

And here in Pisa the cathedral is no exception, it owns in a separate baptistery building under the name Saint John. It is an architectural blend of Romantic and Gothic style, as can be seen in its exterior. In the lower part there are elements like columns and arches, and upwards the elements sharpen pointing to the sky. There is also a rich variety of beautiful sculptors on the facade, most of which are copies of security considerations (the originals are placed in museums).

Useful information:
Work time:
December – January: 10:00 – 17:00;
November and February: 10:00 to 17:00;
March: 09:00 – 18:00;
From April to September: 08:00 – 20:00;
October: 09:00 to 19:00;
A Baptistery ticket is 5 EUR, and you have the opportunity to combine it with other sights of the city;

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The happiness to be an Italian #Siena

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The happiness to be an Italian #Florence 2

About me

Travel Blogger

Dario Dionisi



If you want to know something more about me – my soul is a traveler, my origin is Italian and my true essence is a faithful friend. I am always open to new ideas and will be very happy if you want to contact me at dario@beyondsofia.com

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Let’s dive in together into the amazing world of Let’s dive in together into the amazing world of Costa Rica! 🇨🇷

To many, Costa Rica’s charm lies in its lush rainforests, unspoiled beaches and abundance of wildlife. With breathtaking landscapes and a myriad of creatures – from toucans to monkeys to jaguars – it’s easy to see why. 

Where else can you hike active volcanoes, zip line through cloud-covered rainforests and surf warm turquoise waters within the span of just a few days? In this compact but diverse tropical paradise, exhilarating outdoor activities are abundant. 

Nature-seekers will roam thick jungles while beachgoers will sprawl across the powdery sands. It’s hard not to admire all the splendors this “Rich Coast” has to offer.

#CostaRica #PuraVida #LatinAmerica
Heading to the next stage of life ~ Since soon I Heading to the next stage of life ~

Since soon I will celebrate my 30th birthday, I’ve been reflecting back to the person I was when I entered my twenties, and while I still feel young at heart, I’ve evolved into a completely different person.

I must confess, I have mixed feelings about turning 30. While I cherish the memories and experiences I have gathered during this time, I have also however, had my share of setbacks. The most important aspect that has inspired me are the experiences that I have gathered during my travels. Meeting new people, understanding their culture and trying new cuisines have changed my perspective towards life in general. While I am still a child somewhere in my heart, turning 30 is a big deal because it is assumed that I am an adult now.

Here are my 30 most precious travel experiences before turning 30:

1. Exploring my home country.
2. Travelling solo.
3. Supporting small local businesses and entrepreneurs.
4. Learning a foreign language.
5. Saving money for traveling.
6. Making friends while traveling.
7. Cooking traditional dishes.
8. Trying traditional food everywhere I go.
9. Overcoming my fear.
10. Trying something new.
11. Travelling with family.
12. Travelling with friends.
13. Travelling for myself and not social media.
14. Going out my comfort zone -  uncomfortable makes life more comfortable.
15. Living in a foreign country.
16. Packing like a pro.
17. Visiting my (some of) dream destinations.
18. Falling in love in a foreign country.
19. Blending in with different cultures.
20. Taking a piece of every place with me.
21. Learning to say no (in different languages).
22. Learning to take decent pictures.
23. Documenting my trips.
24. Valuing experiences.
25. Making memories.
26. Rediscovering my favourite places.
27. Planning elaborate itineraries
28. Keeping it positive and never regretting to have climbed that mountain.
29. Some people around the world are born disadvantaged, not biologically, but socially.
30. Realising that the most incredible thing I can witness happens twice a day, and it’s free.

#life #20 #30
Your positive friendly reminder… Travel is, at Your positive friendly reminder…

Travel is, at its very essence, a tool – nothing more… nothing less. Broken down to its very essence, it becomes an instrument to fulfil our desires, attain new experiences and to discover a difference that is at least a step away from our local surroundings.

One thing that we can often forget is that travel also has the added benefit of helping us build a pretty solid amount of confidence too, something that we all stand to benefit from in the long-term, in our own personal development.

Follow this 5 simple steps and enjoy the best ways to develop your confidence, which can be learned whilst travelling:

✅ Be positive
✅ Embrace strengths
✅ Acknowledge weakness
✅ Listen to your head and heart
✅ Be an assertive traveller

#travelling #positivethoughts #confidence
The Life of a Traveler: What It Is Really Like Ha The Life of a Traveler: What It Is Really Like

Have you ever wondered what it is really like to travel often? Living the life of a traveler is full of paradoxes. Full of strange feelings. Full of grandiosity. Let me tell you what traveling is really like.

Choosing this life is more than a temporary escape. It will completely and entirely transform who you are.

So are you prepared for a journey of beauty, adventure and heartbreak? Read the next few rows.

✔️ Traveling is saying yes to life.
✔️ Uncertainty is a traveler’s homeland.
✔️ Traveling is a life of extremes.
✔️ About the unknown driving force.
✔️ Discomfort as a teacher.
✔️ Traveling is falling in love deeply with the world.
✔️ Always a stranger, but at home in the world.
✔️ Experiencing exhilarating freedom.
✔️ Understanding different perspectives.
✔️ In the life of a traveler, nothing lasts.
✔️ Travel teaches you everything.

This is what the life of a traveler is like: Be courageous. Follow the calling of your heart. It will lead you to a million places you would have never expected. And you will grow big. You will grow beautiful. You will grow so full of life it will make your heart burst with happiness. Some of us simply belong to the road.

#lifeofatraveler #travelthoughts #travelinspiration
The magic of Spain 🇪🇸 Double trouble - Dou The magic of Spain 🇪🇸 

Double trouble - Double S

Dive in the magnificent atmosphere of Segovia and Salamanca - two unique, original and beautiful cities 🌆
Photo dump Spain 🇪🇸 ⚔️ Portugal 🇵🇹 Photo dump Spain 🇪🇸 ⚔️ Portugal 🇵🇹 

#Spain #Portugal #adventure
Dear Portugal, I would never have pointed to a ma Dear Portugal,

I would never have pointed to a map and picked you. I wasn’t sure we would even like each other. I came with only a few belongings and even fewer expectations. But I had the desire to get to know you and see if I would stay. And like two people making an acquaintance at a dinner party, we searched for commonalities: exploring, an insatiable appetite for rice and seafood, a bond to the earth and the sea.

At first I fell for the little things. The promise of discovering new things every single day. That dazed feeling after a few glasses of fruity vinho verde. The melancholy while listening to Fado music. The rissois, natas and feijoada, the melt-in-your-mouth queijo fresco, delectable sardinha and unforgettable bacalhau. And surprisingly, even lamprey and percebe.

I loved the quiet irony of your lavish, impressive buildings next to your ancient, dilapidated houses. I even adored your temperamental weather, sunny in the morning and sometimes tempestuous in the afternoon.

And I loved your people. The grandmas dressed in black with their soft faces and culinary secrets. The fishermen with their old fashioned hats. The shopkeepers who actually mean it when they say “obrigada.”

And then I began to love you for your words, and the new feelings they gave name to.  For that elusive feeling of saudade –– untranslatable but described so accurately by the Portuguese writer Manuel de Melo: “a pleasure you suffer, an ailment you enjoy.” Or the chamego — the sense of intimacy, infatuation, and cuddling, all in one word.

Of course, there are things about you that I will probably never understand. You’re an old soul and I’m too juvenile. I’m impulsive whereas you are cautious and pensive. I have this incessant desire to be happy, but you have this habit of enjoying being triste.

But I’ve lived many lives in different parts of the world, I’ve been running around, not caring where I rest my head, not knowing where I’d end up. Perhaps I met you, Portugal, because something inside me had really been crying out for stillness, for a safe haven where I could finally become myself.

#Portugal #loveletter #Lisbon #porto
At the very lowest point on earth lies a natural w At the very lowest point on earth lies a natural wonder replete with a unique ecosystem, breathtaking desert views, and mineral treasures that have been attracting visitors for thousands of years: The Dead Sea. 

Located in the desert between Jordan and Israel, it is also the world’s deepest hypersaline lake. Although the high salinity of the water makes it almost impossible to dive.

#Jordan #sea #lake
Jordan’s Photo Dump 🇯🇴 #Jordan #album #A Jordan’s Photo Dump 🇯🇴 

#Jordan #album #Asia
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