Author: Kristin
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Coptic Cairo
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Old Cairo is a part of the city that pre-dates the Islamic rule of Cairo. There is evidence of inhabitants as early as the 6thcentury B.C.E. Many ruins of Roman fortifications are found in this part of the city. It is believed that the Holy Family stayed here when they were forced to…
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Giza
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We headed early to Giza to see the Great Pyramid of Cheops; the Second Pyramid of Kephrine, The Queen’s Pyramids “Hnout-Sin”, the third Pyramid of Mekrenas, the Solar Boat Museum, The Great Sphinx, and the Valley Temple—all about 4,500 years old. This morning exceeded my expectations. Having read about this area for…
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Cairo
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We arrived in Cairo after a long flight. Our base was the Nile Fairmont. Our trip included a cruise down the Nile and well as a cruise around Lake Nasser, visits to Giza and Alexandria. The Egyptian Museum of Antiquities On our first full day, we started at the Egyptian…
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Florence
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Today was Firenze—the Cradle of the Renaissance. It lies along the banks of the Arno River which runs through it. Florence was built on the site of an Etruscan settlement which became the Roman colony of Florentia in 59 B.C.E. During the Medici period of the 15th and 16th centuries, it became a symbol of…
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Radda
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After breakfast today, we went back to the Chianti district to the town of Radda. It was probably the smallest village we visited. A walled, Medieval city, it has been inhabited since the 9th century. Radda is the seat of the League of Chianti. It is the only hilltop member of the League. The 15th century Palazzo…
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San Gimignano
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Today we explored the wine country of Chianti. After breakfast, we headed first to San Gimignano, the city with 14 stone towers. The distance was only about 12 miles, but it took about 45 minutes to get there on our bus. Another Tuscan hill town, San Gimignano is known as the “Medieval…
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Cortona
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Cortona is another walled Etruscan town about 60 miles from Colle. It took 2 ½ hours to get there. Cortona is the home of Bramasole of Under the Tuscan Sun. Cortona overlooks Lake Trasimino—the lake of three islands, only one of which is inhabited. This is the fourth largest lake in Italy. It is on…
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Siena
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Unfortunately, it was raining as we took off for the medieval city of Siena, about 15 miles southwest of Colle. Siena is a gothic, brick hill town that has remained remarkably unchanged throughout the centuries. It is divided into 17 districts, each with its own banner, symbol, and colors. These districts were…
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Casole d’Elsa
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Today we explored another town on the Elsa River. Casole lies about 10 miles away from Colle ei Val D’Elsa, but takes about 30 minutes to drive. On our way to Casole, we stopped at Caseificio Nuovo—a family-run cheese factory. We learned that the economy of this area is mainly small…
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Tuscany
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I went with my Mills College Alumni Group to Tuscany for a week. We stayed in Colle di Val D’Elsa, on the map between San Gimignano and Siena, south west of Florence. From there we visited Casole d’Elsa, Siena, San Gimignano, Castellina, Castello di Monsanto, Cortona, Firenze, and Radda in…
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Colle di Val D’Elsa
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Colle di Val D’Elsa, meaning “hill in the Valley of the Elsa River, is about an hour drive from Florence in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is a medieval walled town on top of a hill which has expended into the valley. Colle Alta, the medieval part, is where we stayed.…
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Bolzano
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The city of Bolzano lies in the heart of South Tyrol. It is the capital of South Tyrol, and a crossroads of Italian and Austrian cultures. Bolzano has had some form of human settlement since the prehistoric era and has seen influence from various ruling empires. Due to its location within the alps,…
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The Dolomites
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The Dolomite mountains lie in the eastern section of the northern Italian Alps. The range has several impressive peaks, 18 of which are over 10,000 feet. The highest point is the Marmolada Mountain at 10,964 feet. The range and its characteristic rock take their name from the 18th-century French geologist Dieudonné…
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Verona
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Going to Verona took us along the Adige River. In Verona, we began in the Veronetta—a vibrant district with medieval architecture and the University. We crossed over the Ponte Pietra, or stone bridge, across the Adige River to the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the oldest bridge in Verona,…
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Lake Garda
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Alluring Lake Garda beckoned us next. Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, is about 50 miles from Trento. It is located on the border between three regions: Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino. Lying at an elevation of 213 feet, the lake is 34 long and 2–11 miles wide. It has a shoreline of 77.5 miles and a maximum depth…
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Trentino, South Tyrol, and the Dolomites
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Spring in Northern Itaiy. That seemed like a no-brainer, so we left with my Alumni Group on a trip to Trentino, Italy. It was only for a week, but could have been much longer. Our base town was Trento. Trentino-Alto Adige is Italy’s northernmost region. It consists of two self-governing provinces,…