Visiting Munich Germany

Market Munich Germany

We've been to Germany a few times but I haven't posted any photos yet. We do recommend Market Square where we gawped at some tasty treats and enjoyed fish 'n chips with a pint.

The Viktualienmarkt is a popular sight in Munich, Germany. It is located in the center of the city and offers a unique market experience. 

The market is known for its fresh produce, food, beer garden, and souvenirs. You can find a variety of goods such as fruits, vegetables, and excellent food. The market also features statues, fountains, and the Maypole in the middle of the market.

The Maypole.

Munich Square is worth a walkabout. Interesting architecture and places to eat.

Munich’s most famous square is Marienplatz. It has been the city’s main square since 1158 and is home to important buildings like the Old and New Town Halls. The square is surrounded by some of the city’s most emblematic places of interest.

We stopped to watch the Glockenspiel. It's a popular performance, which lasts about 12 minutes. The colourful figures dance and a cuckoo ends the show.

So many places to sip and rest.

  So, there's modern shopping as well.

Some great music when you want to take a break.

Here's what they sound like.

Check out St Peter's in Munich

The music inside the church was amazing. You will also see more of the beautiful church.

St. Peter's Church, also known as Alter Peter, is a Roman Catholic parish church located in the heart of Munich, Bavaria, Germany². It is the oldest recorded parish church in Munich and is considered the originating point for the entire city. The church's 91-meter tower offers a fantastic view of Munich's cityscape and is a popular tourist attraction³. St. Peter's Church is home to several art treasures, including a nearly 300-year-old Baroque high altar with a golden figure of St. Peter. (ChatGPT 19 Sept 2023)

Here's a photo collection telling the story of the WWII bombing and the church.

Google Map showing the short walk from the market to Marienplatz.

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Florence Italy

Ponte Vecchio across the Arno River in Florence Italy / G Sutton 2019

Florence, Italy has been labeled "The Cradle of the Renaissance." Certainly, the old city contains many treasures visible on the streets and in world-class museums.

Our starting point on our last visit was by the statue of the poet Dante Alighieri outside the Basilica of Santa Croce, which is the place where many familiar men are buried-- Rossini, Machiavelli, Galileo and Michelangelo--for example.

There's so much art in the Uffizi Gallery that it is difficult to choose what pictures to share. We were there nearly four hours and that wasn't enough. Suggestion. Do get in line early because it can soon get crowded. If you are pressed for time, skip the slow service museum restaurant, but do walk out on the terrace and enjoy the views.

The seven panel paintings illustrating traditional virtues capture eyes and cameras as you enter the room. Sandro Botticelli painted Fortitude in 1470.

Sleeping Hermaphrodite has his own room. You can't enter the room--were they worried we'd wake him up?

Sleeping Hermaphrodite

Whilst looking at the walls and statues on pedestals, it's hard to remember to look up.

The complexity of some religious art scenes offers an intriguing glimpse into perspectives on familiar stories a few centuries ago (http://janbrueghel.net/object/calvary-florence)

Calvary by Jan Brueghel 1604, Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Outside, in addition to the Piazza di Santa Croce pictured near the top of this post, there are many fountains and squares.

Here's an overview video of Piazza della Repubblica, Florence, Italy.

The statue of David by Michelangelo in the Galleria dell'Accademia is indeed impressive. I didn't take this video, but we did see the statue and other works in the gallery.

Hotels and restaurants in Florence are expensive so we stayed in nearby Montecatini along with many other visitors.

Pizza dinner in Montecatini

Note

I found the locals helpful to point us in the right direction for a landmark such as a plaza.

The Uffizi staff weren't very helpful. Check out their website to see if you qualify for a free admission. Keep asking how to use their fiddly audioguide- make sure it works before leaving the area.


See the other cities we visited in ITALY

Budapest Hungary

We arrived in Budapest, Hungary 21 October 2015. After checking into our hotel for the two night stay, we visited a  restaurant featuring local entertainment.

The next morning was overcast but we enjoyed a walking tour of various landmarks including parliament, Heroes Square, and bridges over the Danube.

For lunch, we stopped in a small restaurant advertising goulash- a classic dish of Hungary.





















Castle Hill is an interesting area to explore.

In the evening we enjoyed a dinner cruise along the Danube.

On the next day, we spent the morning at the Budapest Market where we picked up some unique gifts and had our lunch at one of the many venues.

We were in Budapest on the 23 October, which is the memorial day of the 1956 revolution-- when the Soviet troops left Hungary. And the proclamation of the Third Hungarian Republic in 1989. Their were various activities around Parliament, including displays of historic importance.

























One monument we will never forget is the Shoes on the Danube memorial. This was created by Can Togay with sculptor Gyula Pauer to honour Jews killed by Arrow Cross militia during World War II. It was completed 16 April 2005. The Jews were ordered to remove their shoes and shot by the edge of the Danube so they fell into the river. It is located south of the parliament building. (wikipedia)