For about seven years now, we have been coming to this city almost every summer. At first, I noticed some of the streets being named Saggitario and Aquario, but I quickly brushed it off as Astrology themed and never really looked much beyond it.

A few years ago, we even stayed at a planetarium-themed aparthotel here that had its buildings named after the planets, with the pool design at the bottom inspired by the sun and planets. But again, I thought it was just some fun design for kids and families.

The Unexpected Start of a Stargazing Journey

This year, however, I started noticing some more details.

On my last ride with my bike across the city to the grocery store, a street further away from the beach grabbed my attention: Stella Pollare.

"How peculiar," I thought to myself, "they named a street after the Polar star. These are not astrologers as I originally suspected after all, as those couldn't care less about Polaris."

You see, where I come from (Macedonia) and where I live (Czech Republic), street names were either communist dictators and ideologists (Tito, Lenin, Stalin, Marx, Engels)—fun times lol—or after the year 90, named after people nobody knows or cares about. So, it is not something I ever think or care about in the slightest beyond making sure the name of the street is super correct when ordering Astronomical Equipment.

The kids were hungry, so I was in a bit of a hurry, but with this new discovery, I just couldn't help myself but drive around discovering new streets with very interesting names. On the other hand, the kids have been eating a bit too much during the vacation, so I figured a little bit of dieting wouldn't be a bad thing after all.

The next street I saw, just around the corner, was Orion.

How cool! Then: Stella Sirio, delle Nebulose, delle Comete, Corona del Sud (Southern Crown), del Sole, Egeria (even this object I have never heard about, discovered by an Italian over 170 years ago!), Aurora, delle Vega, Pegaso. The list went on and on, no matter which corner I turned.

The kids! Oh yeah, almost forgot about the kids! So I went to do some grocery shopping, and kept thinking about my new discovery.

Not only is this whole city built around some of the most famous Astronomical objects, but they put in even a few objects that very few people, apart from serious Astronomers, will know about. And I LOVED this focus on detail that seemed like a silent confirmation saying, "Yes, we were serious about Astronomy in this city, this is not just planet & astrology fun at all!"

Riding Through the Orion Piazza

On the way back, I rode right through the Orion piazza.

But then, as I was riding my bike through the curved piazza, I started thinking. It can't be! Wait a second, this curved road I am riding on and the one opposite it, it reminds me of something. I stopped my bike right where I was and opened my map.

And sure enough, it was Orion! Transposed on the piazza design.

WOW. Now this is another level of cool. I have visited this place so many times in the last 7 years and this piazza always felt very strange to me, as the only curved roads in the whole city, which is normally made like rectangular blocks and right-angle streets.

What I also realized, riding through the streets, taking photos of the signs (somebody looking at me must have thought I was lost lol), I found just how much I appreciated this amazing design. Whenever I entered a street, the memories of the object came right through. It was not just, "Oh I heard about Orion," it was more of, "I remember looking at Orion last winter, it was so beautiful."

When I enter the street Dal Leone, I immediately recall my observations of the Leo Triplet. Aurora—I still vividly remember taking a photo of the sunspot a week before witnessing the Aurora in the Czech Republic for the first and possibly last time in my life.

I get goosebumps just writing this. Riding on my bike through those streets, combined with my visual astronomical observations, FELT like riding my bike across the universe. Just so amazing and a highly recommended experience.

Beaches, Binoculars, and Conclusion

Even the beach sectors are named after the Zodiac constellations. So the last few remaining days, I will be literally sunbathing in the Ariete constellation on the beach.

Meanwhile, I didn't really have space in my car to take even my small Mak90, but I did take my SVBONY 8x32 ED binoculars and it has been a nice companion. I took a photo from the beach (30 actually stacked in Siril) before the Moon was up, but due to the strong lights illuminating the whole 5km beach strip, there is a noticeable light cone in the middle.

Yesterday I also took some photos of the almost full Moon over the water and composited the image with a photo I took of the Moon with my 8x32 ED.

If you are ever in the neighborhood, this city—Bibione—is a must-visit for any serious Astronomer.

Highly recommended!