A beautiful island 30 minutes further on from Murano. Picturesque streets and waterways with brightly painted houses.
Burano is the home of the lacemaking which used to be renowned across Europe. Now, a lacemaking museum is all that is left – fashions change.
The island of Murano (20 minutes from Venice by vaporetto no 3) is famous for its glass furnaces. The museum there traces the history of their glass making ending with some beautiful modern pieces.
We stayed four days in Venice visiting museums and galleries and generally soaking up the atmosphere.
Another visit to this fantastic museum/gallery which is a definite must. It’s quite small so very manageable and has a lovely garden with sculptures. It is also right on the Grand Canal.
Palace where the duke (doges) resided. Very palatial.
A lovely campsite near Siena. On a hill the panoramic views over the beautiful Tuscan landscape are stunning. It’s a largish site with many terraces so somewhere for everyone, has lots of trees but best of all has a proper size swimming pool with a cafe/bar and restaurant. There is also an attractive village within walking distance.
Towards the end of July it will start to get very crowded but at the moment it’s perfect. It looks as though there may be some cycle routes and we’re planning to try those in the next couple of days.
We discovered Palazzoni near Orvieto the first time we went camping in Italy in 2000 and have gone back for a further visit whenever we we’ve returned to these parts. They do a delicious golden Orvieto wine and a few years ago started producing a delicious Pinot Grigio. The father of one of the owners is an artist and one whole wall of the office is taken up with a wonderful colourful multi-media picture. Another side of the office is all window overlooking the vineyards and then Orvieto in the distance standing on a volcanic plug. What an amazing environment in which to work.
Back in Italy in the hills in Umbria and it’s a bit of a shock as the evenings are positively cool and I’ve had to wear my fleece!!! This isn’t what we’re used to.
When visiting Pompeii we decided not to stay at the campsite at the entrance (the reviews had put us off) but instead stayed at a campsite in Sorrento called Santa Fortunata. Beautiful views over the bay and the campsite itself was very leafy with terraces. It was good for a few nights. Very easy to get to Pompeii – a bus to Sorrento station and then a train, all for €2.80.
And we had a great spot for our encampment
with Vesuvius in the distance
And Sorrento itself was really beautiful
Cycled to a wonderful beach at Torre Guaceto recommended by Judy Pevan who’d posted photos of it on Facebook the previous week ( so Facebook does have some good uses).
Found some ladies making lace in the winding streets of Locorotondo
Whilst Cisternino was a lovely town with white-washed houses, a market and a great cafe
Alberobello is a truly extraordinary town. it contains large numbers of buildings called Trulli.
I felt as though I was in hobbit-land.
