A friend came to Vicenza for Thanksgiving to visit her son, who is an Army doctor there, and me. I asked if we could go to Bolzano to see the Iceman museum. What a wonderful experience! It's one of the most wonderful museum displays ever, and because the signs aren't in English, they provide a free audio guide to English speaking guests. And you do actually see the Iceman. Then you see displays of life as it was lived in the copper age, followed by Bronze Age, then Iron, and very good displays right up to early Christian times.
Bolzano is a strange city, scrunched into the small space allowed by the mountains which loom on every side. The city looks more Austrian than Italian, and many won't speak Italian even if you speak it to them. They understand, but there's a racism involved and they answer in German or English. In spite of that, this museum is worth the trip, IMO.
Winter Venice -- I was lucky enough to find it dry -- is so much more beautiful than Venice of any other season. If you want to see the winter colors of Venezia, go to http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/decobabeone/lst?.dir=/Winter+trip+Italy&.view=t
Those are real colors. I have never before seen Venice under such incredible skies and with such gleaming canals. There were still loads of tourists, but not quite the pressing crowds of warmer times. The shops were full of dazzling gifts, the jewelry along the Piazza San Marco was breathtaking. I shopped in il Papiro, one of my favorite Fiorentino shops. Venezia, of course, has all the pricey designer shops we lack here in C di C. I usually don't like Venice much because of the cold Venetians, but in this colder weather they seemed warmer!

Thanks a lot Judith for sharing your visit with us - I am writing about prehistoric Italy at the moment and am really getting into it!!

I remember Bolzano from the trip we used to do into the Dolomities from Lake Garda - it used to make me laugh to see all the southern Italians selling things in the market and trying to pretend they were German!

The same used to happen in Geneva airport - I became friendly with Italians who worked there but who had refused to speak Italian at first. Racism is a terrible illness.

Judith -- thank you for that report and those wonderful photos! I have a friend who has been in Venice for three days now, and he RAVES about how spectacularly beautiful it is presently. He's been there before, but thinks that for some reason it is more gorgous than ever this week.

Fabulous photos Judith - thanks! We've missed you over the past weeks. Two people from this message board will be in Venice over Christmas - I hope they get this great weather.

Similar in feeling somewhat to the northern area of Italy, is the Ticino - the Italian part of Switzerland. You are still in Switzerland, but people speak Italian and everything is different. It is like these regions are transitioning to the next country. You have Italy, then Italy+Austria, then Austria. Like a pressure chamber allowing you to adjust to the new place.

Wonderful photos Judith! I think that we will probably visit Venice in the winter one day, somehow seems more romantic at that time for some reason??

The Iceman museum sounds interesting, I'll put it on my list of yet another place to visit.

Have a wonderful holiday!

The Venice photos are wonderful - the weather looks so crisp and clear. I love Venice in winter, and hope for some sunny skies while I'm there. I looked at the forecast this morning - I arrive next Thursday, and it's supposed to be cloudy and rainy on Friday. :-( Oh, well - all the more reason to sit in cafes, drink espresso and eat a frittelle (or three)!