- Palazzo Bucelli
A fish biting a pegasussnake? - 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. - 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! - Palazzo Cervini
- Lago Trasimeno
View towards Lago Trasimeno with a smaller lake in front, possibly Lago di Montepulciano. - Some tall buildings
These are some tall buildings! - Italian charm
This is a charming and inviting entrance. - Fortezza Medicea park
A giant (coffee?) cup in a park. - Palazzo Comunale
Built in 1440 by Michelozzo, inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. - 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
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. - Palazzo Comunale
And the higher you go, the smaller they become. - Cathedral Saint Mary Of The Assumption
View of the cathedral. - San Biagio
But the view is fantastic! This is San Biagio, built in 1518-1540 by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. - 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. - Palazzo Comunale
I had to agree to so many terms and conditions before I was allowed to climb ;-) - Pozzo dei Grifi e dei Leoni
Two griffons and two lions holding the Medici coat of arms. - Chiesa di Santa Lucia
The church was built in 1653 by Flaminio del Turco, already in baroque style. - Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
Just a quick stroll through the city. Starting with Santa Maria Novella, built in 1276-1420. - Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
One of the many sails on the facade, which was added to the church in 1456–1470. - Giovanni delle Bande Nere
Giovanni delle Bande Nere (1498–1526) was the father of Cosimo I de Medici. The statue is by Baccio Bandinelli (1560). - Basilica di San Lorenzo
Here used to be a super-old church (from 393), then another 11th century romanesque one, and in 1470 this one was completed. - :-)
Two doggos watching the Florence Cathedral. - Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
The cathedral was built between 1296 and 1436, but the facade was added 1887. I feel like I have been lied to. - Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
- Giotto's Campanile
Giotto stared building this tower in 1334. He combined white marble from Carrara, green marble from Prato, and red marble from Siena. The tower was completed in 1359. - Giotto's Campanile
Daedalus by Andrea Pisano. Here I can actually understand why the marble is called 'green'. - DSC 9615
- Fountain of Neptune
Designed by Baccio Bandinelli and created by Bartolomeo Ammannati between 1560 and 1574. - Palazzo Vecchio
A lion in the Palazzo Vecchio. No, this time we didn't enter it, just walked around the palace a bit. - Palazzo Vecchio
Officially, such decorations are called grotesque. - Palazzo Vecchio
Grotesque or not, I like them a lot. - David, of course
A copy of Michelangelo's David. The original (1504) was moved to Galleria dell'Accademia in 1873. - Hercules and Cacus
Hercules and Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli (1525-1534). - Medusa
Medusa's head from the statue Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini (1545-1554) located in the Loggia dei Lanzi. - Rape/kidnapping of the Sabine Women
English wikipedia: Rape, also known as kidnapping. Slovenian wikipedia: Kidnapping, also known as rape. Oh well. By Giambologna (1583). - Ponte Vecchio
THE brige across Arno. Built/destroyed several times. This one is from 1345 and still holds. Butchers used to have their shops here, but were replaced with goldsmiths because of the smell. - Arno
- Very colourful Florence
Across the river Arno. - Detail
Street lamps in Florence have very interesting bases ;-) Oh, and they are of course three-legged. - Porta San Niccolò
Stone gate in fortification walls from 1324. The walls are gone now, but the entrance tower remains. - Footpath towards Piazzale Michelangelo
A wonderful pathway up the Piazzale Michelangelo. - View from Piazzale Michelangelo
- View from Piazzale Michelangelo
- View from Piazzale Michelangelo
- Footpath towards Piazzale Michelangelo
This is one way of repairing collapsing stairs :-) - Palazzo Vecchio
This court is full of Austrian towns, painted in 1565 by Giorgio Vasari for the wedding celebration of Francesco I de' Medici to Archduchess Johanna of Austria. This is obviously Vienna, with Stephansdom. - Palazzo Vecchio
Another one of the many Austrian towns: Graz. - Fountain of Neptune
Designed by Baccio Bandinelli and created by Bartolomeo Ammannati between 1560 and 1574. - Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore
Last view of the duomo ... until next time ;-) - Sunset
A wonderful sunset on the way back home. - View from Monte Arco (276 m)
View towards Porto Azzurro. - Laghetto di Terranera
An artificial lake about 20m from the sea. It used to be a mine, hematite, magnesite and pyrite. The lake, however, is too sulphurous to swim. - Black sand
This is the blackest beach I've seen. And I've seen quite a few, which claim to be black... Not to mention that compass does not work on this beach. I mean... it works ... but the direction it points to is very locally determined. - Chiessi
Chiessi, of course. My favourite spot on the whole island. - Isola di Pianosa
We call it the 'pancake' island. You can guess why. - Sunset
And the northern tip of Corsica. - Another sunset
Another lovely sunset. Taken from Capo di Stella, the sun sets behind Monte Fonza and Monte Tambone. - Monte Capanne
Early morning start towards Monte Capanne. The bird-cages did not run yet. - Hermitage of San Cerbone
Saint Cerbone moved here in the 6th century, this church is from the 15th century. There is a lovely pique-nique area behind the church. - Marciana
- Monte Capanne
The rocky path up Monte Capanne. - Chiessi
- Monte Renoso
Wonderful view of the mountains of Corsica. I think this is Monre Renoso (2352 m). - Portoferraio and Castello del Volterraio
Hike up the Cima del Monte (515 m). A wonderful path with views of Portoferraio and Castello del Volterraio. - Wild boar family!
In broad daylight. Mum with a bunch of squeakers. - Wild boar family!
There is seven of them! Plus the mum, of course. - Volterraio
Castello di Volteferraio and Moby ferry in the background. I feel we know all the ferries by now. - Towards Cima del Monte
The path (the wild boar family now gone) towards Cima del Monte (515 m). - Cima del Monte
View from the top towards Porto Azzurro and Capoliveri. And Montecristo in the back. - Cima del Monte
View towards Lacona - Cima del Monte
Portoferraio, as seen from Cima del Monte. Capo Bianco can also be seen behind Forte Falcone. - Rio nell'Elba
Public wash house in Rio. And a secret tip: behind the building is probably the best water spring on the whole island. - Rio nell'Elba
Almost perfect reflections in the wash house. - Chiessi
Do we always sit on the same rock? - Corsica
Monte Cinto (2706 m) and Monte Padro (2390 m) on Corsica. - Corsica
Monte d'Oro (2389 m) and Monte Rotondo in clouds (2622 m). - Night in Caparica
View from our hotel room. - Caparica beach
Fishing boats on the Caparica beach. Still a very active fishing port. - Life is good in Lisbon
View from Miradouro de Santa Catarina - Miradouro de Santa Luzia
An angry fish at the Miradouro de Santa Luzia - History of Lisbon
A complete Lisbon history in one passage. Mural by Nuno Saraiva. Every city should have a mural like this one. - Tiles in Alfama
Finding little treasures while getting lost in Alfama. - Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Statue built in 1940/1960 to mark the 500-year anniversary of Henry the Navigator's death. - Padrão dos Descobrimentos
View from the top of the monument. Ponte 25 de Abril, which is 2277 m long, was built in 1966. - Rosa dos Ventos
View from the Monument of the Discoveries. A wind rose and a world map. - Caparica sunset
Another sunset in Caparica. But the Sintra hills are already cloudy. - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
A wonderful setting for a wonderful dinner. - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
Fado singers at the dinner - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
- Óbidos
13th century castle, and one can walk on the walls. - Óbidos
View of the town from the castle walls. - Óbidos
Calcada da Misericordia - Ilha do Baleal
There are some oddly specific signs in Baleal... - Peniche from Baleal
Sunset in Baleal. What a wonderful place. And yes, I saw some dolphins there as well. - R. do Pôr do Sol
The street name says it all: sunset street. - Ilha do Baleal
Northern tip of Ilha do Baleal and Ilha de Fora. - Hotel garden
Wonderful tiny garden of our hotel (Silver coast). - Fountain Hall
Gothic fountain hall in the cloister.