Acqua di Fiuggi has always been my preferred bottled water, ever since I first spotted it in a grocery store in New York City.  I always try to have a few bottles on hand at home.  So, you can only imagine my delight when I realized that the actual town of Fiuggi was relatively close…

The Green Palace Center is Gallarate’s Convention Center.  I decided to fill my afternoon with a leisurely walk, up to the village of Crenna, to see what I could of its castle, which, unfortunately, is now closed to the public.  Crenna is a tiny hamlet, located just outside of Gallarate.  It is a fairly easy…

My first stop, on my third day in Gallarate, was going to be the Museo Archeologico Storico Artistico della Società Gallaratese per gli Studi Patri, or more simply, the local archeological museum.  The museum is housed in a lovely building, on a small side street, so it is easy to overlook it, or to walk…

Leaving the Cimitero Monumentale by a back exit, I ended up facing both, the Museo Maga and the Piazza Mercato, which, luckily for me, was full of stalls selling all kinds of things — from clothing, to fruits and vegetables.  I picked up some lunch from one of the vendors, and strolled through the marketplace…

For a small city, Gallarate has more than its share of art that is worth taking the time to see.  My afternoon destination was, in fact, the city’s art museum, Museo Maga.  But, more on that later.  Using a map that I was given at the B&B, I slowly made my way towards the museum. …

I didn’t waste much time, once that I woke up, on my second day in Gallarate.  I had a quick breakfast, and then began to explore, wanting to discover more of what this city had to offer!  The Chiesa di San Francesco is one of the newer churches in the area, dating back only to 1906.The…

I didn’t know much about the city of Gallarate when I chose it as the last city on my fall trip.  I did know that it had a couple of museums, a few parks, and a nice selection of restaurants to dine in.  And it was close to Malpensa Airport ( approximately 15 minutes by…

Rome is a city full of treasures!  People from all over the world flock here to see the art and architecture that only this city contains.  One of those treasures, not often found on the list of “must see” attractions of the usual tourist, is Villa Farnesina.  Located on the Lungotevere, next to John Cabot…

The Chiesa di Santi Claudio e Andrea dei Borgognoni dates from 1728.  It is dedicated to the two saints, Claudius of Besancon and Andrew.  The exterior of the church is decorated with statues of the two saints.  Facing the church, the statue of Saint Andrew, by Luc Breton, is on the left, while the statue…

No matter how many times I visit the city of Rome, or Roma, as it is called by the Italians, as soon as my feet hit the soil, I fall instantly in love with both, the place and the people that live there!  It is a beautiful city!  Like any large urban center, Roma has…

The Chiesa di Sant’Erasmo, or the Church of Saint Erasmus, as we see it today, dates back to the 1500’s.  Saint Erasmus, also known as Saint Elmo, was a Christian martyr who died in 303.  He was the acting bishop of Formia.  When the prosecution of Christians began, he fled to Mount Libanus, but returned…

Founded by the Laconi in ancient times, the Romans gave the city the name of Formiae.  It became a popular tourist destination, luring both those in political power, as well as those in the arts, to its coastline, as well as to the Historical Center, which at the time, had an arena, theater, and everything…