- Villa Romana delle Grotte, Portoferraio
This was the upper pool of the villa. Not bad. Not bad at all. - Villa Romana delle Grotte, Portoferraio
A huuuge villa with an even larger garden. - Palace of Holyroodhouse
The official Scottish residence of British monarchs since the 16th century, including Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI and I. - Teviot Row House
- McEwan Hall
McEwan Hall, the graduation hall of the University of Edinburgh. Named after the brewer and politician William McEwan. - Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh castle, as seen from the top of the National Gallery. - Public wash-house
Lavatoio pubblico - public wash-house in Rio nell'Elba. In 1873 the population of Rio increased significantly, and they rebuilt the old wash-house. - Church of the Holy Souls
Most of the scenery is dating from way after Jesus was born. - Capoliveri
Via Circonvallazione. I don't know what this building was, but it looks old. - Fort du Mont Alban
Built around 1560s. - La Rue Obscure in Villefranche
La Rue Obscure, the completely covered street dates from 1260s! - La citadelle Saint-Elme in Villefranche
La citadelle Saint-Elme is from the 16th century. - La citadelle Saint-Elme in Villefranche
Roof of the remparts at the citadel. - Beach in Cannes
The main beach in Cannes was closed for renovation. - Église Notre-Dame-d'Espérance
The church of Our Lady of Hope in Cannes dates from the 16th century. - Valbonne
La mairie, the town hall in Valbonne. - Old houses in Valbonne
Through the whole old town of Valbonne, portraits of previous inhabitants are displayed. A wonderful idea as these houses surely have a lot to tell. - Place Garibaldi in Nice
- Place de l'Église in Biot
- Église Sainte-Marie-Madeleine in Biot
A very interesting church as you have to walk down to enter it. But there is a limited amount of asymmetry I can handle - and a main entrance that is off is just too off for me :-) - A gargoyle?
I actually don't know what or who his is, but he surely looks scared. Or scary. - La Légende des siècles
I wonder what is behind these doors... Maybe just a huge Hugo fan? Place des Arcades in Biot. - Local art in Antibes
Some tiles on an old building in Antibes. Rue du Haut Castelet. - Rooftop terrace
A lovely place to chill :-) - Splednid hotel
The hotel had a private gondola landing stage. If you're in Venice, do it with style. - Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale, built in 1340 (and extended later). - Palazzo Ducale
Unfortunately, the palace was closed. Not enough tourists? - Basilica di San Marco
A detail on the southern facade of the Basilica - Piazzetta di San Marco
The Piazzetta between the Doge's Palace and Jacopo Sansovino's Biblioteca with the two columns with Saint Theodore and the winged lion. - Campanile
Built in the 10th-16th century, and rebuilt in 1902 after the original one collapsed. Originally a watchtower and a "lighthouse". - Palazzo Ducale
- San Giorgio Maggiore
The church was designed by Andrea Palladio, built between 1566 and 1610. - Piazza San Marco
Piazza in the times of Covid, wonderfully empty. - Basilica di San Marco
From the 11th century, inspired by Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. - Scuola Grande di San Marco
Originally one of the Scuole Grandi of Venice, now the city's hospital. Finished around 1500 by Pietro Lombardo. - Scuola Grande di San Marco
More great optical illusions on the facade. - Procuratie Vecchie
Procurator of Saint Mark was the second most prestigious title (after the Doge). This was their office. - Procuratie Vecchie
The facade is made of Istrian limestone. - Procuratie Vecchie
Built in the beginning of the 16th century. - Campo Manin
And another lovely building... - Campanile di Santo Stefano
Well, that is a very tilted bell tower. - Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti
Another wonderful palace - one of the many. - Canal Grande
As seen from the Ponte dell'Accademia. - Piazza San Marco
- Ca d'oro
Ca d'oro or the Golden house. One of the best examples of Venetian Gothic architecture. It used to be gilded, therefore its name. - La Tête Carrée
A library (2002). If you design modern architecture, make a statement. Well done. - Schwammerlturm
The town gates as seen from the river side. The river is Mur, by the way. - Schwammerlturm
The tower was originally built in 1268 and rebuilt in 1615. - Hacklhaus
Daytime view of the Hacklhaus. The house was built in the 16th century and decorated in 1680. - Altes Rathaus
The town hall was built in 1485 with the tower added in 1568. They added the coats of arms in 1728. - Montanuniversität Leoben
Well... I don't quite understand what's saying, but the google translate surely is wrong: "every time you surrendered to the six months old muse" :-) - Etrurian Temple of Belvedere
Remains of an old Etrurian Temple. A wonderful windy location at the top of the cliff. - Pozzo di San Patrizio
This well was commissioned in 1527 by Pope Clement VII and designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. - Pozzo di San Patrizio
There are 70 windows in the well. - Pozzo di San Patrizio
The well has is 62 m deep and has double-helical stairs around it. - Palazzo del Popolo
Is this a dog with a helmet? And a cow sitting on top of it? - Piazza del Popolo
Well, now ... There must be another way of renovating windows, right? - 12-sided bell tower
Coat of arms on the 12-sided bell tower, next to Chiesa di Sant'Andrea. - Piazza Pianciani
- Palazzo dei Priori
Palazza dei Priori (1293-1443) - Etruscan Arch
One of the two remaining Etruscan gates: constructed in the 3rd century BC and restored by Augustus in 40. - Etruscan Arch
The loggia was added in the 16th century. - View of Perugia
- Torre del Diavolo
San Gimignano is known for its medieval towers. This one is called Devil's because ... apparently ... the owner got home one day finding the tower taller than it was before. Riiiight. All the balconies and terraces are now missing. - Palazzo Comunale
The palace was built in between 1289 and 1298. The tower (Torre Grossa) from 1300 is the tallest in town (54 m). - Torre Rognosa and Torre Chigi
The tall one (52 m) is Rognosa (1200) and the small one is Chigi (1280). - Piazza del Duomo
Piazza del Duomo with the dome and one of the two twin towers (Torri dei Salvucci). - Palazzo Tolomei
Palazzo was built in 1270-1275. It used to be a bank... and it still is. - Loggia della mercanzia
This loggia for merchants was constructed in 1417-1444. - Loggia della mercanzia
Frescoes by Pastorino dei Pastorini (1549-1552). - Palazzo Pubblico
Palazzo Publico (town hall) in the Piazza del Campo. The palace is from 1297 and the tower (Torre del Mangia) from 1338-1348. - Piazza del Campo
- Torre del Mangia
The tower was built in 1338-1348. Its height is exactly the same ad the height of the cathedral, indicating equal powers of the church and the state. - Siena Cathedral
Piccolomini coat of arms: a blue cross with five crescent. - Loggia della mercanzia
Frescoes by Lorenzo Rustici (1553-1563). - Palazzo Pubblico
- 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. - Palazzo Comunale
The entrance to the Palazzo Comunale. - Palazzo Avignonesi
Built between 1542 and 1572 by Jacopo Barozzi, known as the Vignola. Now a hotel. - 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 Bucelli
A fish biting a pegasussnake? - 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
- Some tall buildings
These are some tall buildings! - Italian charm
This is a charming and inviting entrance. - Palazzo Comunale
Built in 1440 by Michelozzo, inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. - 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. - 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 ;-) - 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. - DSC 9615
- Palazzo Vecchio
Officially, such decorations are called grotesque. - Palazzo Vecchio
Grotesque or not, I like them a lot. - Medusa
Medusa's head from the statue Perseus with the Head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini (1545-1554) located in the Loggia dei Lanzi. - 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. - Porta San Niccolò
Stone gate in fortification walls from 1324. The walls are gone now, but the entrance tower remains. - View from Piazzale Michelangelo