1. Rome, Naples & Florence

We've been in Italy since mid-May, having started with a few days in Rome and then spending 6 days in & around Naples, before diverting to Florence for a couple of days to meet up with our longtime friends Toni & Dave. Both Toni W & Toni M are celebrating turning 60 with an overseas trip ! 

We then went back through Naples to visit Sorrento, the Isle of Capri & the Amalfi Coast. We travelled to Taormina in Sicily yesterday (3 June).  We will spend 2 weeks in Sicily followed by 2 weeks in Sardinia. 

We don't have bikes with us on this trip - we're travelling by train & bus. We were last in Italy in 2006 when we did a 6-week cycling tour in the northern regions. 

Below is a sample of the sights we've seen so far.

ROME

At the Spanish Steps:

View across rooftops from the top of the Spanish Steps:

The Trevi Fountain:

Contributing some coins:

The Pantheon - from the outside and inside:

Piazza Navona:

San Angelo Castle:

River Tiber: 

Fountains in the Tivoli Gardens, on the outskirts of Rome:

Roman ruins at Hadrians Villa, near Tivoli:

NAPLES

View of Naples from a headland west of the city:

Castle Dell 'Ovo:

Isle of Capri in the distance, from Naples:

Inside the Cathedral:

Castle Nuovo:

Fruit & vegetable shop in the historical centre:

Inside the National Archeoligical Museum:

Fresco from Pompeii, National Archeological Museum;

Statue of Hercules, National Archeological Museum:

San Elmo Castle:

View of Naples from San Elmo Castle:

View of Mt Vesuvius in the afternoon sun, from San Elmo Castle:

View along Via Scura, a narrow street which divides the medieval centre of Naples:

Church bell tower:

POMPEII ROMAN RUINS:

Forum:

Theatre:

Pompeii street, with Mt Vesuvius in the background:

HERCULANEUM ROMAN RUINS:

Floor mosaic:

Excavation site viewed against the modern town, with Mt Vesuvius in the background:

MT VESUVIUS CRATER

View of the crater:

  

View over first section of the walking track to the crater:

ISLANDS OF PROCIDA & ISCHIA

Procida township, at the port (from the ferry):

Looking towards Posillipo headland (west of Naples), with Mt Vesuvius in the background:

View leaving Procida, with the tip of the island, Posillipo headland and Mt Vesuvius in view:

Ischia township, at the port:

Castle Aragonese at Ischia (it's connected to the island by a short bridge):

Enjoying a beer after a pizza lunch at Ischia port:

View of Ischia port from our lunch table:

Beach at Ischia:

On the beach:

FLORENCE:

Ponte Vecchio:

Imitation of the Statue of David, in the piazza near the Ufizzi Galery:

Views from Piazza Michelangiolo:

Arches above a walkway next to the River Arno:

In the Boboli Gardens, showing the back of the Pitti Palace:

Outside the ceramics museum, Boboli Gardens:

Ponte Vecchio in the evening light:

Our friends Toni & Dave:

Cycling adornment outside a restaurant: