Italy Day 2 - Torino and Milano

Duomo
Originally uploaded by European Dave

Can't believe I did it but I was glad I did.. Woke up early today and after going to Torino Porta Nuova station to reserve my place on the night train from Venice to Vienna for Thursday night - need to reserve those so ya get the better places, i.e. sleepers rather than couchettes or just the odd seat - i walked the whole morning around Turin's beautiful city centre - and it is a sight to behold with its covered pedestrian malls - makes u wonder why cities aren't built like this anymore, esp when u think it would certainly help in the rain - and majestic Baroque palaces and churches.. the weather was dull and cloudy which was probably apt for a visit to the Shroud of Turin at one of the churches - think its called Batista - behind the grand Palazzo Reale..

now i believe the Shroud of Turin is definitely quite real, even if i should sound a bit biased being a Christian but a lot of scientific research appears to have gone into the parchment to show that it was probably the sheet that covered Jesus Christ following his death by crucifixion.. now coz of the age and delicacy of the document, only a copy can be seen in a corner of this to-be-honest-slightly-ugly church.. the real one is in the church but kept in a glass/aluminium box in an altar..

after visiting the marvelous interiors of the Palazzo Reale and having lunch at one of the cafes on Via St Theresa, caught the 2 o'clock Eurostar to Milano Centrale - not the same Eurostar that plies Paris and London Waterloo, but quite comfortable if not as efficient but more on those dastardly Italian trains if time allows me to.. thought the weather in Torino was crap, haha was wrong on that! it was drizzling and raining in a city that is not known for being an example of organization in terms of the way streets and neighbourhoods are laid out - it's an utter mess i reckon, although redeemed by the fact that there are many beautiful buildings amidst all the boutique shops and Barclays banks..

for a first-timer to Milan, the first thing to do when u arrive via train at Centrale is to catch the metro to Duomo station - the metro's a p ugly one i'm afraid, it's like the old Victoria tube line but without the history, btw Barcelona has the best subway system in the world bar Singapore, or the Paris St. Lazare-Gare du Lyon line which is automated.. Duomo station is where Europe's biggest cathedral is as well as the famous Emmanuel Piazza with all its glitzy boutique outlets.. that Piazza also leads u to the famous Theatre Scalla.. and not only is it glamorous and beautiful, it's covered from the rain!

in just under 3 hours, I strolled inside Duomo cathedral pass tight security, walked the Piazza, saw the Theatre (its inside is prob more famous) and then walked to the old castle and the Santa Maria church, where just around the corner, the original copy of the Last Supper is shown.. unlike Mona Lisa or Sunflowers, u actually have to reserve a place to see the Last Supper - can't really understand why but that's the way it is! it was in fact booked out for the next 2 weeks! maybe next time i'll plan to visit the Last Supper! got a bit lost trying to get from Santa Maria to Duomo but finally found Piazza Dante and was on my way home.. and found the time to do some shopping too..

then caught the train home.. alas can ya believe it, the conductor asks a whole coach 9 to spread around the train so that all the other seats are filled.. have to say my experiences with Italian trains haven't been memorable.. the Regionale trains are slow and the Eurostar doesn't get in on time.. the French trains totally waste them..

anyway time up.. Venice tomorrow.. internet is expensive there so u won't hear from me for a while!