As I said, this was an exciting day — at least for the other three.
On our way to Maranello, Italy (home of the Ferrari factory), we drove by a Calatrava designed train station and bridge.
The others began the day test driving a Ferrari 488 spider convertible, each for ten minutes with a “co-pilot” assisting them. THEY LOVED IT!!!
Next we visited the Ferrari Museum a short walk away, some still supercharged with adrenaline. Lots more cars and information about Ferrari — great!
The Ferrari cafe had a great lunch. And it was quick and easy, so we stopped into it before proceeding to the Galleria nazionale di Parma. First stop was in the Library.
Next we went into the Farnese Theatre.
And into the art gallery area…..
Leonardo
Tintoretto
And back to the hotel for me. The rest ventured onward.
John, Susan and Jeff went to a rural salumeria (a facility where various cuts of meat from pigs are cut and cured) and containing a Michelin-starred restaurant. Following a tour of the facility and living quarters we had a tasting of cured ham and salami with wine on the patio of the restaurant.
Meanwhile, I sat in the room and worked on pictures and this blog. Then we went to the neighborhood restaurant for yet some more pasta. This part of Italy is known for its food!
Next morning we slept in and were ready to take off at 10:00 a.m. — a nice late start for a change! We went back to Parma to see its spectacular cathedral. So beautiful!!!
And the Baptistry into which we did not go. There is a legend that if you enter the Baptistry before graduating from the University, you will not graduate. Our driver, Paolo, told us that his sister never entered it while in school đŸ™‚
The next stop was the Palace Te in the town of Mantua (also known as Mantova). It was the palace of the Gonzaga family and it is yet another quite beautiful building. Each room around the perimeter of the main structure was decorated by a different artist during the period 1527 to 1532-one more spectacular than the next.
And the most spectacular room — every inch covered in murals, The Kingdom of the Giants.
Back in the car we drove to Al Re del Tortellino, The King of Tortellini. It was all excellent. Paolo knew the restaurant from his sister’s husband. Many consider it the best tortellini in all of Italy. We certainly thought so-lovely place, great service and food in a charming small village outside Mantova.
And off to another small and beautiful little town, Borghetto, for some world-class gelato.
And then off to the Venice Marriott Courtyard adjacent to the Venice Marco Polo Airport for a short night followed by an early short shuttle before our early flight home via London Heathrow.
An exciting last 3 days following our seven day cruise to four of the six former countries comprising Yugoslavia since 1991-Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia.
Thanks all,
Beth
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