Exploring the Enchanting Chiesa Santa Maria in Trastevere, Rome Posted on February 26, 2024July 12, 2024 By Travelworldwide There are countless beautiful churches in Rome, but Chiesa Santa Maria is pretty close to my idea of perfection. It’s one of the earliest churches where masses were openly celebrated in the city. A church has stood on this site since 340 AD, although the current building dates back to the 1140s. Located in the main piazza of the old Trastevere quarter, it’s a perfect spot to enjoy an after-dinner gelato in the evening when the piazza buzzes with street entertainers, bars, and restaurants. You enter the church through a cool portico decorated with broken marble plaques from ancient Roman tombs, inscribed in Latin and Greek. (Did you notice the backpacker napping when we were there?) Inside, the church is adorned with stunning mosaics and frescoes, bursting with color. The columns lining the nave were taken from the ancient Roman Baths of Caracalla. To the left of the altar, there’s a 17th-century chapel with exquisite painted frescoes. Look up, and you’ll see the magnificent ceiling. Despite all this grandeur, the church still feels like a neighborhood place of worship. If you have a special prayer request, you can write it on a piece of paper provided and leave it in the arms of St. Anthony, or light a candle in the crimson side chapel. Blog
Blog Journey Through the Alps: From Rifugio Bonatti to Courmayeur Posted on March 24, 2024July 12, 2024 We arrived at Rifugio Bonatti the night before, nearing the end of our 2012 walk on the Tour de Mont Blanc. Situated at over 2000 meters, this refuge felt like a boutique hostel, perched high above the Val Ferret and the village of La Vachey. Despite its remote location with… Read More
Blog Experience the Elegance of Hotel Pullman Paris Montparnasse – A Scenic Parisian Retreat Posted on January 26, 2024July 12, 2024 During our pre-Christmas weekend in Paris, we stayed at the Hotel Pullman Paris Montparnasse. This large, modern hotel is located in the 15th arrondissement on the Rive Gauche. It’s a great spot for both business and sightseeing. The staff were friendly and helpful. We stayed in a Deluxe room on… Read More
Blog PICOSA RANCH – AN OPULENT RETREAT EMBRACING TEXAS HERITAGE Posted on March 6, 2024July 12, 2024 Hunting and history might seem like an odd combination, but they blend seamlessly at Picosa Ranch in Texas. This ranch was once the family home of Governor John Connally, who served as Texas Governor in the 1960s, Secretary of the Navy under President Kennedy, and Secretary of the Treasury under… Read More