- Lago di Levico
View from the other side of the lake, towards Levico Terme. - Turkey tail fungus
I think these are turkey tail fungi. I may be wrong though. - Lago di Levico
Ideal for swimming and paddling. - Lago di Levico
There is a wonderful walking path around the lake. - Lago di Levico
The lake is 2840 m long, 950 m wide and 38 m deep. - Lago di Levico
Lago di Levico was awarded Bandiera Blue for excellent water quality. - Sign in an underpass
Hmmm... - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
- Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
Fado singers at the dinner - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
A wonderful setting for a wonderful dinner. - Chiesa di Santa Lucia
The church was built in 1653 by Flaminio del Turco, already in baroque style. - Pozzo dei Grifi e dei Leoni
Two griffons and two lions holding the Medici coat of arms. - Palazzo Comunale
I had to agree to so many terms and conditions before I was allowed to climb ;-) - Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi
Piazza Grande in rain. And Palazzo Nobili-Tarugi (left) built in the 16th century by either Antonio da Sangallo the Elder or possibly by Jacopo Barozzi from Vignola. - San Biagio
But the view is fantastic! This is San Biagio, built in 1518-1540 by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. - Cathedral Saint Mary Of The Assumption
View of the cathedral. - Palazzo Comunale
And the higher you go, the smaller they become. - Palazzo Comunale
Now this was the highlight of my trip: climbing possibly the tiniest stairs I've ever seen. And I have climbed some dodgy towers in my life. - Cathedral Saint Mary Of The Assumption
The cathedral was 'finished' in 1680. Although it was never actually finished. I would assume that in 1680 they just gave up and proclaimed it finished. - Palazzo Comunale
Built in 1440 by Michelozzo, inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. - Fortezza Medicea park
A giant (coffee?) cup in a park. - Italian charm
This is a charming and inviting entrance. - Some tall buildings
These are some tall buildings! - Lago Trasimeno
View towards Lago Trasimeno with a smaller lake in front, possibly Lago di Montepulciano. - Palazzo Cervini
- Torre di Pulcinella
This 17th century Pulcinella from Naples strikes the time. The funny thing is that no-one knows how and when it got here ;-) - Torre di Pulcinella
Look at the top! - St. Agostino Church
Founded in 1285 but completely renovated in the 15th century by Michelozzo di Bartolomeo. The upper facade was changed in the 18th century. - Palazzo Bucelli
A fish biting a pegasussnake? - Palazzo Bucelli
The bottom part of this palace is decorated with plenty of Etruscan and Roman remains. Some are quite interesting. - Palazzo Bucelli
I wonder what's the story behind these donkey's ears... Disclaimer: they of course may not be donkey's ears at all. - Palazzo Avignonesi
Built between 1542 and 1572 by Jacopo Barozzi, known as the Vignola. Now a hotel. - Porta al Prato
The medieval entrance to the old town. - Flower, flower on the wall
Looking up is sometimes worth it. - Santa Maria Assunta
The cathedral was built in 1462. It is located in Piazza Pio II, but since there was not enough room, they built some additional support for the church. A mistake, as it turned out. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Madonna col Bambino tra i Santi Biagio, Giovanni Battista, Nicola e Floriano by Lorenzo di Pietro - Vecchietta (1465). - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Crucifix from the end of the 12th century. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
San Regolo by Domenico di Niccolo "Dei Cori" (1435). - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Un giovane Bacco by Antonio Amorosi (figure) and Giovanni Paolo Spadino (grapes). Around 1725. - Palazzo Comunale
The entrance to the Palazzo Comunale. - Model of Pienza
- Santa Maria Assunta
A wonderful maze! - Santa Maria Assunta
These stairs go very deep. - Santa Maria Assunta
When repairing the support for the collapsing church, they built a whole maze underneath it. A highlight to visit! - Santa Maria Assunta
Yes, unfortunately there are massive cracks. - Pienza
- View from Pienza
- Santa Maria Assunta
- Santa Maria Assunta
- Santa Maria Assunta
The church was built on artificial support, but the support was not solid enough. There are massive cracks in the building. - Santa Maria Assunta
A wonderful ceiling! - Santa Maria Assunta
Madonna con Bambino e i Santi Agostino, Girolamo, Martino e Nicola by Matteo di Giovanni (1463). - Palazzo Comunale
In 1405 Pope Pius II renamed his home town Corsignano to Pienza and rebuilt it in 1459 as an ideal Renaissance town. Once a town, it needed a town hall. - Santa Maria Assunta
The entrance to the church Santa Maria Assunta. - Eroica bike race
Even the town decorations were dedicated to the bicycle race. - Montalcino
I don't quite know what to think of this one... - Local graffiti
Mona Lisa... the Montalcino way. - Eroica bike race
There were bikes everywhere. - Church of Sant'Antonio Abate
The church was mentioned already in 1448, but the facade is from the 18th century. - Eroica bike race
Plenty of retro knitted jerseys. - Eroica bike race
They were selling old bikes. And retro jerseys. - Eroica bike race
We stumbled upon the Eroica Montalcino bicycle race. - Eroica bike race
It kind of looked ... familiar ;-) - Fortress
- Fortress
The inner courtyard of the fortress - Tuscan countryside
View from the fortress. The other side. - Montalcino
View from the fortress - Oldtimers
There must have been some sort of an old-timer meeting. - Fortress
The 14th century fortress was expanded under the Medicis. - Fortress
The Montalcino fortress was built in 1361. - Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The church with the visible apse of the original Carolingian Chapel on the left. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
I did say a lot of strange creatures, right? - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
- Ospitalità
- Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
Another lovely creature on the church. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
Capital with Daniel and the Lions by Master von Cabestany (12th century). - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The exterior is full of funny creatures. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
The monastery was founded by Charlemagne in 781, but I think this church was built between 1118 and 1260. - Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Tuscan countryside
- Basilica of Sant'Eufemia
Spoleto is full of super-old churches. This one is from sometime between 8th and 10th century. - Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi
View from Rocca Maggiore - Umbria
Hills above Assisi. I could understand why someone would talk to the Nature here. - Rocca Maggiore
Built in 1316. - Basilica di Santa Chiara
View from Rocca Maggiore - Rocca Minore
- Spring in Assisi
- San Rufino Cathedral
Spider-dog! On the Assisi Cathedral! I wonder what the official explanation is. - San Rufino Cathedral
Two hungry lions at the entrance. - San Rufino Cathedral
The duomo was built in 1029-1253. - Piazza San Rufino
- Volta pinta
This loggia in Piazza del Comune was painted in 1556, probably by Raffaello Coda da Rimini. - Volta pinta
The artist was inspired by Nero's Domus Aurea in Rome. - Assisi town
- Assisi town
Stepping away from the main street really pays off in Assisi. So many beautiful hidden gems. - Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi
The basilica was begun in 1228 and completed in 1367. - Basilica di Santa Chiara
The basilica is from 1257. Made of white and red rock from Monte Subasio.