Page 29 - AAA Every Day – AAA Hudson Valley – November/December 2022

Venetian Paradise
With the breathtaking Venice vistas, there simply is no better place to laze over plates of Bolognese and prosciutto-wrapped cantaloupe. Dine near the Rialto Bridge to watch gondolas and their striped
for having produced many of the creative minds that defined the Renaissance period. Florence’s Uffizi Gallery displays vast works of art from the 14th through 19th centuries, such as Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus,” da Vinci’s “Adoration of the Magi” and Michelangelo’s “Doni Tondo.”
Florence’s creative arts are not limited to only painting and fashion design. The city’s Piazza del Duomo is a testament to the incomparable architectural legacy
that has grown over hundreds of years. Built over two centuries, this site was designed by master artisans using intricate patterns. Created by Arnolfo di Cambrio, Santa Maria del Fiore measures more than 500 feet long and almost 300 feet wide, with a height of approximately 300 feet, allowing it to claim the title of the world’s third largest church.
South of Florence sits Siena, a province rich in history and, as the region that includes the town of Chianti, winemaking. Siena’s Piazza del Campo is a medieval masterpiece of exquisitely crafted buildings, which boast intricate brick designs and dramatic arches. Within Siena’s hills lies Monteriggioni, a medieval village boasting a lush landscape.
Traveling through the Tuscan city of Lucca, visitors
see Renaissance-era villas, once serving as country residences and holiday homes for nobility. Cloistered villages grace hilltops, as corresponding roads wind lazily up to one side and cypress trees greet visitors, outlining the journey ahead. In the old town, see beyond the 16th- century boundary walls and explore Lucca, which is also the birthplace of Puccini.
When in Tuscany, one must also visit the city of Pisa. This city draws its fame from an imperfect architectural project, the Leaning Tower, but this is just one aspect of Pisa’s historical relevance. Piazza dei Miracoli, the area around the cathedral and the tower, is beautiful, and a visit can easily occupy several hours.
To plan your Italian vacation, contact your
AAA Hudson Valley Travel Agent at 518-426-1000 or booktravel@aaahv.com
Bigstock: Stevanzz
shirt-wearing captains drift along the Grand Canal. Riffs
of operetta and accordion accompany a bottle of Chianti. While a prime tourist attraction today, the Rialto Bridge was a mecca for trade when Venice was a maritime power.
Hop on a vaporetto – Venice’s public ferry – and take
in the world-famous St. Mark’s Square. The square, described by Napolean as the most beautiful dining room in Europe, is bordered by government buildings, the Correr Museum, shops and cafes with spacious seating areas. Sit and admire its architecture and beauty – the row of arches surrounding the square, the gold filigree of St. Mark’s Basilica – or listen to the bell tower as it signals the passing of another hour. In the evening, orchestras play for the attention of the patrons and passersby.
Italians have a saying: dolce vita. The literal translation is sweet life, and that is what they offer. The manifestation of dolce vita varies from city to coast to island, but the message is the same: Life here is meant to be enjoyed.
Tuscany: Renaissance Splendor
Traversing Tuscany’s unique landscape invites comparisons to romantic stories of falling in love with this rich, flavorful region and engaging in a love affair with life’s simplest, yet most fulfilling pleasures.
Comprising mountainside villages, dreamlike countryside and the Italian Riviera coastline, Tuscany affords something for everyone. Of the world’s more than 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Tuscany boasts seven of the 50 located in Italy.
Home to artistic savants, such as Michelangelo and modern designers Gucci and Ferragamo, Florence is known
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
I 29
Fotolia: Sergii Figurnyi Istock: Beatrice Preve