- Oldtimers
There must have been some sort of an old-timer meeting. - Tuscan countryside
View from the fortress. The other side. - View from Pienza
- Pienza
- Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
San Regolo by Domenico di Niccolo "Dei Cori" (1435). - Flower, flower on the wall
Looking up is sometimes worth it. - Lago Trasimeno
View towards Lago Trasimeno with a smaller lake in front, possibly Lago di Montepulciano. - Italian charm
This is a charming and inviting entrance. - Fortezza Medicea park
A giant (coffee?) cup in a park. - San Biagio
But the view is fantastic! This is San Biagio, built in 1518-1540 by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder. - Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
One of the many sails on the facade, which was added to the church in 1456–1470. - 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
- Footpath towards Piazzale Michelangelo
A wonderful pathway up the Piazzale Michelangelo. - View from Monte Arco (276 m)
View towards Porto Azzurro. - Monte Capanne
Early morning start towards Monte Capanne. The bird-cages did not run yet. - Chiessi
- Portoferraio and Castello del Volterraio
Hike up the Cima del Monte (515 m). A wonderful path with views of Portoferraio and Castello del Volterraio. - Caparica beach
Fishing boats on the Caparica beach. Still a very active fishing port. - Miradouro de Santa Luzia
An angry fish at the Miradouro de Santa Luzia - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
A wonderful setting for a wonderful dinner. - Óbidos
13th century castle, and one can walk on the walls. - 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). - Cloister of Silence
This cloister was built under King Dinis I (1261-1325). The Manueline top floor is from early 16th century. - Cloister of Silence
- Claustro Real
- Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory
What a magnificent cathedral! - Praia da Gigi
- Hotel garden
- Cloister
What a lovely cloister this is. - Monserrate
Triton fountain in the park of Monserrate. - Monserrate park
I think this is some kind of cycad, but I really can't figure out which one. - Monserrate park
Again, no idea what this is. Some sort of blossoming succulent. - African lily
Our hotel garden in the early morning mist. - The unfinished initiation well
- An unnamed lake
The lake in front of the Gruta do Labirinto. - Quinta da Rigaleira
Carvalho Monteiro bought the place in 1892 and built this with the Italian architect Luigi Manini. The construction began in 1904 and was completed by 1910. - Pena park
We decided to take a walk through the Pena gardens (and not visit the palace this time). - Cruz Alta - High Cross
The High Cross is located at the highest point, at 528 m. The first cross was placed here around 1522 by João III. - View of Sintra
View from the castle towards the town. And you can see the fog over the sea :-) - Hotel garden
Another misty morning in Sintra. In the middle of the summer. So refreshing. - Convento dos Capuchos
It's so humid even in the middle of the summer, no wonder everything is so lush green! - Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of mainland Europe. - Cabo da Roca
The lighthouse began operating in 1772. - Carpobrotus edulis
The whole Cabo is covered with carpobrotus. This one is yellow. - Lisbon Campo Grande
Campo Grande and Entrecampos in Lisbon. View from the hotel. - Valgadena
On the road towards Levico Terme, just for a short break at the end of the holidays. - Lago di Levico
The calm lake after the storm. - Lago di Levico
- Lago di Levico
Lago di Levico was awarded Bandiera Blue for excellent water quality. - Lago di Levico
The lake is 2840 m long, 950 m wide and 38 m deep. - Lago di Levico
There is a wonderful walking path around the lake. - Lago di Levico
Ideal for swimming and paddling. - Lago di Levico
View from the other side of the lake, towards Levico Terme. - Levico Terme
How to make a boring fence interesting. - Levico Terme
A lovely tiny garden in Levico Terme. - Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore
- Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore
Founded in 1276, built and re-built several times. This building is from 1876. - View from strada del Menador
View towards Lago di Caldonazzo (left) and Lago di Levico (right). - House of Blackheads and Christmas tree
This wonderful building was bombed in WWII, completely demolished seven years later and rebuilt in 1999. - Christmas tree
Wonderful Christmas tree in the Town Hall square. - The Christmas market
The Christmas spirit at the Christmas market in the Dome Square. Even the recycling bins are in festive mood :-) - A closed bar
A closed bar, opposite the Powder Tower. - Île Sainte-Marguerite
View of the Sainte Marguerite island. And the beautiful sea in between. - A wild orchid
My favourite plant identification app PlantNet says this is Long-leaved Helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia). - Des oeufs de bouc
One of the windows/openings of the cave. - Heaven.
- Daisies
- Carpobrotus
- Kažun
Typical Istrian dry stone huts. - Kažun
Typical dry stone huts in Istria, these are close to Vodnjan. - Church of St. Fosca
Originally from the 7th century, expanded in the 12th and 17th. Famous for its 12th century frescoes, but unfortunately closed when we were there. - Church of St. Fosca
The church is also a pilgrimage site. - Church of St. Michael (Sv. Mihovil)
The "new" church was built from the remains of the old one. - Church of St. Michael (Sv. Mihovil)
More remains from the old church reused in the new one. - Church of St. Michael (Sv. Mihovil)
This "new" church of St. Michael close to Peroj was built in 1456. - Church of St. Michael (Sv. Mihovil)
The remains of the old church from the 5th and 6th century. - Poppies!
- Golden cape (Zlatni rt) in Rovinj
- Still life
Let's just say: you had to be there to understand ;-) - Alhambra palace
View of Alhambra from Mirador de San Nicolás. At sunset, as it should be. - Carmen de los Martires Gardens
Entrance to the Gardens of Carmen de los Martires. Fuente de la Ninfa de la Gruta. - Ferdinand VI
The inscription on the statue ends with "Rex Cat". While I'm sure this doesn't mean "King Cat", it surely looks like it :-) - Fuente de la ola
What a lovely wave fountain. - Strawberry Tree
A lovely garden very close to Alhambra. And free. And almost empty. - Carmen de los Mártires
No true palace without a couple of peacocks. - Mexuar
Tiles on the wall of the Mexuar Council Hall, which served as the entrance to the Nasrid palace. Plus Ultra was the motto of king Charles V. - Zellij in Mexuar
This style of mosaic tilework is called zellij. Charles V was not only King of Spain, but also Holy Roman Emperor, Archduke of Austria, and Lord of the Netherlands. Maybe I missed some titles. Anyway, the double-headed eagle represents the Holy Roman Empire. - Mosaic in Nasrid palace
- More mosaic
Mosaic in Comares Palace, part of the Nasrid Palaces. Begun by Isma'il in the early 13th century and modified by Yusuf I and Muhammad V. - Court of the Myrtles
Court of the Myrtles with the Comares Tower in the background. The name of the Court comes from the myrtle hedges. Built in the 14th century. - Zellij in Alhambra
More wonderful zellij pattern in the palace. - Patio de Lindaraja
16th century Renaissance-style addition. Originally an open garden, but closed when new buildings were added. - View from Alhambra
Wonderful view towards Albaicin and Sacromonte. - Church of Santa María de la Alhambra
The only way to take pictures without the crowds it so hide them behind the bushes :-) - Window shopping in Granada