Ted
I am giving your bias opinion as I have not been to the Northern Europe
but only the southern part. Also I recommend for 2-3 week trip stay in
Italy and try to see everything that is possible.
I am planning for strictly a photo vacation. If it's not worth taking
pictures, I'm not stopping by
Wrong attitude! Case in point in Florence you cannot photography
Michelangelo's David. But it is worth see with your own eyes and see
what "real" masterpiece of sculpture is all about. Or how about the
Sistine Chapel in Rome, you cannot photography that too. So you are
not going to visit it? I think you are shooting yourself in the foot with
an opinion like that. And that gun is a shotgun with both barrels.
Here goes my opinions
Milan - Nice place, one day to see the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
and Leonardo's Last Supper. You have to make resvation in advance to
see the Last supper, so make them before you leave on vacation If you
are looking to relax go to Lake Como and hour by train from Milan. Relax
in a very colorful area of Italy. Plenty of places to photograph.
Rome - You could spend three weeks in Rome. There is so much
to see and do.
1 - The fountains in Rome, Pizza Navona, Pizza Della Rotonda, Piazza della
Repubblica and Trevi Fountain. All the fountains are works of art. I wish I
included the fountain in front of the Spanish Step but I think the main
attraction is to be there.
2 - The Vatican Museum - Go there early and hour before it open, there
will already be a line. Also you have to check you bags in, so except to
carry your camera, some lens and extra memory in your hands. They do
not permit flash to be used in the museum. If you are going to take my
advice and see the Sistine Chapel, that should be the first thing you
should see. It is hard walking through the museums and not stopping
to see the things found there. But see the ceiling and then spend time
at your own pace seeing the rest of the museum and photographing it.
That way you are not inline with the tour groups that are "all" there
to see the Sistine Chapel.
3 - St Peter Church. Again you have to check in your bags, but you can
use flash inside the church. Also make sure to go to the top St Peter's
bell tower for the best views of Rome.
4 - The Coliseum - Get there before it opens and you will be able to take
photos without tourist in them. Within 1/2 hour all the tour groups will
show up and mob the place. The only photos you will get is of tourist
or people holding umbrellas straight up. Best place for photographs is on
the second landing, there is a balcony.
5 - The Capitonline Museum: Palazzo dei Conservatori at Piazza del
Campidoglio - Fantastic museum to photograph. Again you have to check
you bags in, I do not recall is flash can be used. 1/2 day visit it is worth
while. Also you can get to excellent photos of the Coliseum and forum
from there.
Bill
------On to Part Two -----
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“What actually happens in the real world is what photographers needs to know.”
Michael Reichmann – Luminous Landscape
