Program 727: Enjoying Venice; History of Rome in 12 Buildings; Michelangelo's Rome

Find out how the grandest cities of Italy are like living, "open-air museums" on the next Travel with Rick Steves.

Rick chats with author Phillip Barlag about how to see Rome's history at a dozen of its historic buildings and plazas.

Angela Nickerson reminds us what Rome was like during the Renaissance, as the setting for many of Michelangelo's masterpieces.

And local guides recommend their favorite ways to find the serenity of Venice, despite its often overwhelming crowds of tourists.

• Tour guide Elena Zampiron, based in Venice
• Tour guide Lisa Anderson, based in Northern Italy 
• Phillip Barlag, author of "The History of Rome in 12 Buildings" (New Page Books)
• Angela Nickerson, author of "Michelangelo's Rome" (Roaring Forties Press)

• The Rick Steves online guide to Venice.
• Row Venice offers private rowing lessons in the canals of Venice.
• Phillip Barlag is the author of "The History of Rome in 12 Buildings."
• He's also written "Evil Roman Emperors" and "The Leadership Genius of Julius Caesar."
• Angela Nickerson is the author of  “A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome.” She also posts advice about travel in Italy on the PiningForRome.com website.
• Angela writes about gardening, outside and in, at her MidModernMama website.

• "Why did Michelangelo move from Firenze to Roma?  How old was he, and was he working on the Medicis' tombs when the call from the Pope came for him to do the Sistine Chapel?"  (Jan in Mountain House, California)
• "What are your favorites of Michelangelo's lesser known works?"  (Shanda in Sacramento, California)

• Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra, "Concerto for Two Mandolins: Andante Molto (Vivaldi)," Relax with the Classics vol. 1-Largo (collection) / LIND Institute
• Budapest Strings, James Balint, Imre Kovaks, "Il Carnevale di Venezia, op. 78 (Giulio Briccaldi)," Carnevale di Venezia / Capriccio
• Rondo Veneziano, "La Serenissima (original LP version)," La Serenissima / Baby Records
• Bobby Durham, Massimo Farao, Lorenzo Conte, "Summer Time in Venice," Piano Trio vol. 7 / Chacra Music
• Allessandro Pitoni, "Colpo di Coda," Italia (collection) / Putumayo
• * Rondo Veneziano, "La Serenissima (Versione Estesa)," (digital download)
• I Giullari di Piazza, "Canto di Iside," Earth Sun & Moon / Lyrichord
• BRU_BR_0404~2_01301_First_Civilisations_Festival_II_APM
• SON_SCDV_0980_01901_Colosseum_C_APM
• Thomas Otten, "Qualitate Umane," Close to Silence / Virgin (France)
• Paul Speer, "Portofino," Oculus / Rainstorm Records (paulspeer.com)
• Lusanne Chamber Orchestra, Jesús López-Cobos, cond., "'Italiana' from 'Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3' (Respighi)," Bella Tuscany (collection) / Telarc
• SON_SCDV_0523_06501_Roman_s_Lullaby_APM
• Naoko Yoshino, "Sonata No. 2 in E-flat-allegro assai (Rosetti)," The Healing Harp / Philips
• * Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood, conductor, "Cello Concerto in D Minor (Vivaldi)," Editions de L'Oiseau-Lyre: The Original Sound (collection) / L'Ouiseau-Lyre 
• Andrew Manze, "La Sonata del Diavolo in G major - Allegro (Tartini)," The Devil's Sonata and Other Works / Harmonia Mundi
• Angels of Venice, "Si Je Perdais Mon Ami," The Renaissance Album (collection) / Windham Hill
• CEZ_CEO_2069_00101_Les_Cercles_du_Pouvoir_APM
• I Musici, "Violin Concerto in G Minor, RV 319 - andante molto (Vivaldi)," Vivaldi for Valentines (collection) / Philips
• I Solisti Veneti, "'Largo' from 'Violin Concerto in D, op. 11, no. 1' (Vivaldi)," Relax with the Classics vol. 2: Adagio (collection) / LIND Institute  
• T. S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," (written in 1917), The World's Greatest Poetry, vol. 2 / Saland Publishing
• TCS_TCS_0021_00701_Saltarello_APM
• Lusanne Chamber Orchestra, Jesús López-Cobos, cond., "'Italiana' from 'Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3' (Respighi)," Bella Tuscany (collection) / Telarc
   

* Indicates filler music used during breaks

• This week's billboard, and segment A topic, contains references to tourist crowding in Venice.
• At 14:29, Lisa says that the Doge's Palace stays open until 11pm in the summertime (last entrance at 10pm). Rick refers to Venice being uncrowded before 9am and after 6pm.
• Lisa adds that there is a daily (except Sunday) market at Campo Santa Margarita in Venice, near the University.

Program 727 Rome Haiku awards

A Vespa zooms down
a narrow cobblestone street
We speak in echoes

Bathed in candlelight
he lifts a glass of red wine
A smile — "here's to us"

To escape the crowds
we duck around a corner
He steals a kiss
— Mary Spadoni, Astoria, New York

temporary home
little flat in Monti, Rome
casa, ti amo
— Jeff in Denver

Afternoon sun streams
On Fountain of Four Rivers
Bravo, Bernini!
— Bruce Huang, Rockville, Maryland

Rubbed St. Peter's toe.
Climbed stairs to St. Peter's crown
I earned gelato.
— Jim Cotey, Murfreesboro, Tennessee