What is your most beautiful vantage point (or photo op) in all of Italy?
 

Please describe the most beautiful scene you have ever experienced in Italy? Be as specific as you can and include time of year and time of day if those things had a bearing on the beauty of the moment. I am particularly interested (personally) in the areas of Tuscany, Umbria, and cities of Florence, Siena, Lucca, Orvieto, Spello, Assisi, Verona, and Venice--at least for my upcoming trip. But please feel free to mention ANY sites in Italy.<BR><BR>I know, there is nothing like coming upon a drop-dead site when you least expect it (well...in Italy, you come to expect it!)--but I would love to capture some of your splendor-shock moments while I'm there.<BR><BR>Dog_Mother

Not great with names and such but last June in Venice I took a picture of the major bridge a single gondola was passing underneath, on the bridge was a huge banner for an exhibit with an elephant on it and a lone couple huddled together on the bridge. Great shot. Blew it up poster size, along with others for my son's dorm room.

It's difficult to pick just one. Some here is mulitple response (in no particular order):<BR>1. Emerging from the stazzione in Venice and experiencing that first view of the Grand Canal in all its glory.<BR>2. Standing on the Rialto Bridge in Venice and watching the sun go down over the Grand Canal.<BR>3. Going to the window of our Tuscany villa on the first morning and viewing sn incredible sunrise of pink and blue.<BR>4. Climbing to the top of the Duomo in Florence and seeing the city spread out before us.<BR>5. Emerging from a cab onto Piazza Maggiore and viewing the exciting pulse of Bologna.<BR>6. Approaching Varenna in a ferry on Lake Como.

While in Assisi, stand at the front porch of the Hotel Windor Savoia, you will have the Umbrian countryside as the backdrop of the St. Francis Basilica in full view in front of you. Wait for a sunny day, or early misty morning for added &quot;special effects&quot;. Have a wonderful time in Italy!!

Sharon,<BR>We were in Venice last June, too--so I just pulled up all my pictures to see if I had a picture of that elephant poster--and I DO!!!<BR><BR>Is your photo in digital form? If so, would you mind sharing it with me? I would dearly love to see it.<BR><BR>Howard, I absolutely, viscerally know what you are describing re: emerging from the train station in Venice. Both my husband and I just melted emotionally with the splendor of that unexpected site. Wish I had taken a picture of it--but I was so absorbed in the beauty, I forgot all about my camera.<BR><BR>Also, Howard, this will be our third time in Florence--and I keep saying I WILL climb to the top of the Duomo. Your posting has convinced me to do it THIS TIME. ;0) Knowing, however, that it is unlikely that I will go to the top of both the Duomo and the campanile, which one do you think would make the best photo op? Obviously, from the campanile, I can get a great shot of the dome.<BR><BR>Maira, I will definitely go to the Hotel Windor Savoia and capture that view. <BR><BR>Thanks to all. I hope others will keep this thread going for awhile.<BR>

DogMother, we've only climbed to the top of the Duomo, so I can't offer a comparison. But, I will add that climbing the 463 steps (yes, 463!) does have another advantage: About halfway up you have the opportunity to view the magnificent mural that adorns the dome interior. (By the way, the area resting spots along the way, so that you can stop and not impede the healthier climbers!)<BR>PS: I must confess that we, too, were dazzled by the first view of the Grand Canal and I never took a photo there. (However, I more than made up for that omission, photowise, during our stay.)

Howard,<BR>Good point!!! I had read about that view across the dome. I wondered about impeding others' progress when I become winded. Thanks so much for the tip about rest stops. <BR><BR>Another reason I really want to climb the dome--I want to see the architectural/structural design between the walls of the dome. Have you read the book, &quot;Brunelleschi's Dome&quot;? You must read it, especially since you know exactly what he is describing.<BR><BR>I better start working out on the stairstepper machine!<BR><BR>DM

My favorites were:<BR><BR>1) the view from our room at CastelBigozzi looking over the rolling ountryside with sheep dotting pastures, and red poppies scattered around the green, bright blue skies...just as I'd imagined Tuscany might look. (May 2001)<BR><BR>2) views of sunset over the Alto Adige river in Verona, from one of the amazing bridges -- this one the red brick beauty by CastelVecchio<BR><BR>3) views as we drove through the Dolomites -- snowy jagged peaks and deep green valleys <BR><BR>4) (later the same day) Coming down the Grand Canal on Vaporetto #1 at sunset to our hotel near the Rialto stop.<BR>

hmm -looks like all my edits didn't make that last post -- anyway, one of the pictures in Verona I was thinking of was of a bridal party being posed in front of a &quot;window&quot; of that bridge -- I got the photographer arranging the bride and groom so the sunset was visible through the window -- it was really romantic.

In the Cinque Terre, from the hiking trail above Vernazza. The picture of the town jutting out toward the sea never ceases to amaze me. <BR><BR>Taking a picture of Neuschwanstein from the Marienbrucke<BR><BR>The Rue Cler at dawn with the vendors assembling their produce.<BR><BR>The Arno at sunset with the Ponte Vecchio and pink skies as your backdrop. <BR><BR>Well, that's enough for now.

I'd have to say that the most incredible light for photography is in the Tuscan region.<BR><BR>The best times to shoot are after it rains, and of course early in the morning, or late in the afternoon.<BR><BR>If you follow the link below, it takes you to a shot I made in Siena, in September, in the late afternoon, just as a storm had passed.<BR><BR>http://www.jimtardio.com/siena-2001-glows-big.html<BR><BR>My other favorite, again just after a storm, again in September, on the the Amalfi Coast in Positano...here:<BR><BR>http://www.jimtardio.com/positano-big.html

Well, Jim is the expert and I am just a much traveled want-to-be. However, I have taken a few thousand shots in my travels in Italy and the best ones are typically in 5 areas--and always early or late in the day:<BR>The Amalfi coast--the Ligurian coast--the Dolomites--Val d'Orcia[Tuscany]--and Venice. If I had to pick one it was from the hill above Portofino just after a storm had passed. I have it on CD if you want to see it.

By all means post a link to your shot, Bob, or send it along.<BR><BR>I plan to visit Portofino and the Cinque Terre in about 11 months. Any suggestions about hotels, neighboring cities, etc...would be helpful, as well as any itinerary suggestions...but I'll make a separate post for that.

I've also photographed a single gondola on the Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge. I photo I took from the breakfast room of Locanda Sturion is centered on a boat filled with fresh (and very colorful) produce, going down the Grand Canal early on a Saturday morning, headed to &quot;farmers' market&quot; there. My favorite photos of the Roman skyline were taken from the top of Castel Sant'Angelo, as the sun was beginning to set. On this last trip (just returned on Wednesday), I was headed out of the Parco Borghese toward the Spanish Steps, when I realized I was at a terrific vantage point to shoot a photo of the Monument Vittorio Emmanuelle (aka &quot;the wedding cake&quot;). Haven't had the film developed yet, but am hoping it turns out!<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC

Ooops, I forgot mention one of my all-time favorites. While getting lost in the maze of little streets, narrow alleys and small canals in Venice, we came upon the setting of a collection of gondolas that apparently were being stored for the winter. It made for a memorable photo. (To see the picture, go to Sally Fowler's website <BR>http://traveurope.net/fodorite.fodor.htm<BR>Then, click on &quot;Fodorite's pictures on this site,&quot; then &quot;Italy,&quot; then in the &quot;Howard in Italy&quot; section click on &quot;Gondolas stored for the winter.)

I cant access that site Howard

I cant access that site Howard

Jim, I do not know how to post a link, but I will send it to you via email.

Sorry, jamikins, I made a typo. It should be:<BR>http://traveurope.net/fodorite/fodor.htm<BR>That one should work.

B the N,<BR><BR>We all want to see your picture!!<BR><BR>Jim, your pictures are stunning.<BR><BR>Howard, I'm going to see yours now.<BR><BR>DM