Italy - Rome and Sicily
This visit to Italy was mostly to Sicily, with a few days spent in Rome on the way there.
Rome
Rome turned out to be a surprise. I have seen quite a few big European cities, and I while I knew that Rome was supposed to be one of the best, I did not expect to be as impressed as I was. In fact, Rome set my new standard for European cities of grandeur and splendor - even London slightly pales in comparison! It's been a long time since a city - not a church, not a castle, not an architectural complex, but a city as a whole - made such an impact. I took few pictures in Rome (and virtually no pictures of the places that are considered to be 'must see'), as pictures do not have any chance of reflecting the true feel of the place. More often than not, Rome is all around you rather than just in front of you - there is no hope of capturing this with a camera.
Sicily
I really enjoyed the time I spent in Sicily. It is scenic, both in terms of its natural setting and architectural richness, yet a lot more easy-going than the north and the centre of Italy. Somewhat surprisingly, its churches and cathedrals rival those in Rome, but here they can be enjoyed without a company of thousands of tourists. Apparently, things change in the middle of June, but I made my exit before the herds had arrived.
Churches, cathedrals, castles, towers, and mansions
I deliberately did not take pictures of churches, especially their interior. As I already said, the pictures do not have a chance of representing the true feel of the places. This is a motley collection of pictures I did take, mostly because I found the places unusual rather than beautiful.
