Our guests the Cain family from Texas relaxing over their breakfast on the terrace of our hotel overlooking Amalfi. Another perfect July morning.
Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome
In 1732, Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to create a large fountain at the Trevi Square. A previous undertaking to build the fountain after a design by Bernini was halted a century earlier after the death of Pope Urban VIII. Salvi based his theatrical masterpiece on this design. Construction of the monumental baroque fountain […]
Roman Forum Gets More Interesting Each Year
The Curia is open now, the first time in many visits to this ancient place that it’s been accessible. This was the meeting place for the Roman Senate. It is now used for exhibitions with a current exhibit on the Emperor Nero. This unpopular emperor who “fiddled while Rome burned” killed himself while being pursued […]
Sightseeing in Rome
Our first day with the Cain family from Texas was one full of adventure and history. After their grueling flight from America on Delta Airlines, which consisted of one broken plane in Atlanta, then finally a 777 was found “in a hanger somewhere” which took more than six hours to be readied for flight, our […]
Auf Wiedersehen from the Rhein and Bacharach
Thank you George and Susan for placing your full faith and trust in European Focus Private Tours to fulfill George’s “Bucket List” of places he wanted to visit in Germany. It was an honor! Here are two new members of the growing European Focus Family high above Bacharach, Rhein Valley, on their final day of […]
What do the locals say about this statue of St. Georg in Nurnberg?
Saint Georg (ca. 275/281 – 23 April 303) was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint Georg is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic (Western and Eastern Rites), Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and […]
Nurnberg’s Little Chapel Windows
When Nurnberg changed from a Catholic city to a Protestant one (a decision made by the ruler in the 1500s) there was a problem. People still wanted to pray at home, even if they were now using a different method than before. So, they asked for permission to build small alcoves onto their houses, projecting […]
Who’s got the oldest bratwurst kitchen in the world? Regensburg of course!
There was a fierce battle in the German courts recently over who would be able to use the title “Oldest Sausage Kitchen in the World.” It was between Nurnberg and Regensburg, which both have long traditions of serving their unique bratwurst to the public. Finally the judge came up with a brilliant solution. Nurnberg’s St. […]