Boppard and Rhine Valley Cruise (Germany)

Boppard is a quaint little town lying in the Rhine Gorge in Germany. It is a World Heritage Site and a tourism resort. The town is filled with beautiful houses and is no wonder a favoured holiday retreat. The atmosphere is calm and serene.

Boppard has so much to offer to anyone who visits the place. Boppard was one of the most important Roman settlements in the Middle Rhine region and you can see the influence left behind. The most notable being the Roman Fort in the town centre.YOu can also visit the numerous gardens and parks, the museums, the churches and the Electoral castle.

The stretch of Rhine river on which Boppard is located (Rhine Gorge) and the valley is often called as the "Romantic Rhine". This is because the place is so beautiful, it makes you romantic :)

You can also choose from nature walks, cycling, rock climbing, mountain biking, golf or boat trips. We opted for the Rhine Valley Cruise. Because the highlight of visit to Rhine has to be experiencing the Rhine valley from the river.

As you settle down for the cruise you are treated to awesome scenery, numerous castles and wonderful vineyards all along the route. It is an unforgettable experience. The stretch of Romantic Rhine has more than 50 castles and fortresses along its path. Amazing...we had never seen so many castles in a single day within a few hours time.

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A visit to Florence (in Italy)

During our stay in Italy we visted the historic city of Florence. It is the capital of the Tuscany region in Italy and is a World Heritage Site. It is one of the most beautiful cities we have seen, rich with its artistic and architectural heritage. No wonder millions of tourists flock to Florence every year. The city is also an important part of the Italian Fashion industry.

The city is famous for its numerous monuments, historic buildings and churches. It is an imporatant part of the Renaissance. Important monuments to be seen are:

- Santa Maria del Fiore(the domed cathedral in the city also known as the Duomo)

- The Fountain of Neptune(situated on the Piazza della Signoria is the work of Bartolomeo Ammannati. Neptune stands on a high pedestal in the middle of the fountain surrounded by mythical chained figures. The fountain suffered a lot of damage over the years - it was vandalised, parts of it were stolen, was damaged in the 1848 bombardments. Now the security around the fountain is taken seriously and the police ensure that it is not vandalised or damaged)

- The Palazzo Vecchio (which is the town hall of the city. Its a massive fortress-palace and has been used varyingly during its long history.

- The River Arno runs through the old part of Florence and is also a part of its long history.

- The Ponte Vecchio or the Old Bridge (its a Medieval bridge over the river Arno. Shops are built all along the bridge. In older days these were butcher shops but now its has a glittering array of jewellery shops.

- The Ponte Santa Trìnita or the Holy Trinity Bridge was also the work of the Florentine architect Bartolomeo Ammanati. It is the oldest elliptic arch bridge in the world.

- The Basilica di San Lorenzo(it is the largest church in Florence. It is the burial place of the main members of the Medici family.)

- The Loggia dei Lanzi(is just next to the Uffizi Gallery and consists of wide arches that open into the street. It houses a lot of sculptures)

- The Basilica di Santa Croce

- Battistero di San Giovanni (also known as the Baptistry of St. John) is a religious monument in Florence which has the status of a minor basilica. Its octagonal in shape and is one of the oldest buildings in Florence)

- The Uffizi Museum(ranks among the most well known and important art galleries in the world)

- The Vasari Corridor

- Galleria dell' Accademia(which houses a Michelangelo collection, including the David)

- The Pitti Palace - which houses the Palatine Gallery, the royal apartments, the Silver museum, the Costume gallery and the galleries of modern art

There is so much more to see in Florence, its virtuall impossible to include everything in one blogpost. So the remaining information will be covered in the next post.

In the meantime enjoy some more pictures of the lovely city

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