- The Four Tetrachrs
The Four Tetrachrs are the four rulers that simultaneously governed the Roman Empire. The statue is from the 4th century, made in Porphyry and was originally in Constantinople. - Basilica di San Marco
Another detail from the Basilica's facade. - Detail on Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale: a detail on one of the columns (the same column as the Judgment of Solomon). - Palazzo Ducale
Unfortunately, the palace was closed. Not enough tourists? - Narthex of the Basilica
Arch of Paradise above the entrance to the Basilica. - Piazzetta di San Marco
- Basilica di San Marco
A detail on the southern facade of the Basilica - Porta della Carta
Built in 1438–43, probably by Giovanni and Bartolomeo Bon. Doge Francisco Foscari is kneeling before the Lion. - 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". - Narthex of the Basilica
Mosaic in the narthex, depicting Death of Noah, the Tower of Babel (1200s) and the Story of Abraham (1230). - Palazzo Ducale
- Ponte dei Sospiri
Prisoners were taken through this bridge to the prison. - 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. - Basilica di San Marco
The roof of the Basilica with Saint Mark, his winged lion and the protecting angels. - St. Alipius Gate
West facade of the Basilica with the symbols of the four evangelists. - West Facade of the Basilica
Depiction of the procession bringing St. Mark's relics to the Basilica, above St. Alipius Gate, probably from the 13th century. - Libreria Acqua Alta
Well, some people call treating the books like this charming. I don't. - Scuola Grande di San Marco
A trompe-l'oeil archway detail on the facade. - Scuola Grande di San Marco
More great optical illusions on the facade. - Santa Maria dei Miracoli
This marble church was built between 1481 and 1489, designed by Pietro Lombardo. - Ponte dei Sospiri
The view from this bridge was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. Even the window bars are made of stone. - Ponte dei Sospiri
The Bridge of Sighs connects the Doge's Palace with the New Prison. - 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. - Basilica di San Marco
Basilica at night. - Ponte di Rialto
The oldest of the main four bridges in Venice. Finished in 1591. - Santa Maria Formosa
Built in 1492. - Santi Giovanni e Paolo
The interior of one of the largest churches in Venice, completed in 1430s. 25 doges are buried in this church. - Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Tomb of Jacopo e Lorenzo Tiepolo, two doges, who dies in 1249 and 1275, respectively. - A mascaron
Santa Maria Formosa. A mascaron above the main door to the campanile. - Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Snail's staircase. Another hidden gem. - Campanile di Santo Stefano
Well, that is a very tilted bell tower. - 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. - Volta pinta
The artist was inspired by Nero's Domus Aurea in Rome. - Volta pinta
This loggia in Piazza del Comune was painted in 1556, probably by Raffaello Coda da Rimini. - Chiesa di Sant'Andrea
Frescoes on one of the columns. - San Salvatore
OK, now, this may be my favourite church in Spoleto. Built in the 4th and 5th century, and renovated by the Lombards in the 8th century. - Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia
The two panels indicating the contrast between posthumous fates of a righteous man (above) and of a sinner (below). - Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia
The story about the lion and the woodcutter. - Chiesa di San Pietro Extra Moenia
The reliefs depicting Christ washing Peter's feet (top) and the calling of Peter and Andrew on the Sea of Galilee (bottom) - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Frescoes (1477) - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Coronation of the Virgin, Filippo Lippi (1467-69). - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
Transition of the Virgin, Filippo Lippi (1467-69). - Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta
The mosaic portraying Christ giving a Benediction, signed by Solsternus (1207). Let that sink in. 1207. - Piazza Pianciani
- Convent of San Domenico
Some old 14th and 15th century frescoes in the side chapels. - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The Dome dates from the 12th century. Its 14th century interior is simply divine. - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
Old Testament by Bartolo di Fredi (~1360). - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The ceiling was painted with lapis lazuli. - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
New Testament by Barna da Siena and/or Lippo Memmi (~1345). - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
- Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The last judgement by Taddeo di Bartolo (1393). The lower part is Saint Sebastian by Benozzo Gozzoli (1465). - Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta
The last judgement by Taddeo di Bartolo (1393). The hellish part. - Siena Cathedral
View of the Cathedral from Via Bruno Bonci. - Siena Cathedral
- Piazza Salimbeni
The statue of Sallustio Bandini (1677-1760) by Tito Sarrocchi (1880). Bandini was an archdeacon, economist, and politician. - Loggia della mercanzia
Frescoes by Pastorino dei Pastorini (1549-1552). - Palazzo Pubblico
A statue in the courtyard of Palazzo Publico. - Siena Cathedral
She-wolf of Siena, surrounded with emblems of confederate cities, dating from 1373. - Siena Cathedral
Detail of Pinturicchio's Mount of Wisdom (1505): Fortuna, holding a horn of plenty and a wind-swollen sail. She, standing on a sphere and a boat with a broken mast, brought the wise men to the island. - Siena Cathedral
The dome is topped with Bernini's gilded lantern. - Siena Cathedral
- Siena Cathedral
Pulpit by Nicola Pisano (1268). The panels narrate the Life of Christ and the central column shows Seven Liberal Arts: Grammar, Dialectica, Rhetoric, Philosophy, Arithmetic, Music, and Astronomy. - Siena Cathedral
Detail of Liberation of Bethulia, made in 1473 possibly by Urbano da Cortona. This is the story about Judith and Holofernes. - Siena Cathedral
One of the scenes on pulpit: Massacre of the Innocents - Siena Cathedral
A wonderful ceiling, but these heads are a bit creepy. - Siena Cathedral
The Hellespontine Sibyl (detail) by Neroccio di Bartolomeo. She was known for her prediction of Crucifixion. The wolf and the lion represent Siena and Florence. - Siena Cathedral
A detail of something. I cannot possibly remember where I took this picture. - Siena Cathedral
Detail of Pinturicchio's Mount of Wisdom (1505): Crates of Thebes who is throwing jewels into the sea. - Siena Cathedral
The divine interior of the Cathedral. - Siena Cathedral
The frescoes tell the story of cardinal Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pope Pius II). These two are: Pius II canonizes Saint Catherine of Siena in 1461 and Pius II arrives in Ancona to launch the crusade. - Siena Cathedral
Floors in the Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
More interesting details on the ceiling of the Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
Piccolomini coat of arms: a blue cross with five crescent. - Siena Cathedral
Ceiling of the Piccolomini Library, painted by Pinturicchio (1503). - Siena Cathedral
Some details on the ceiling of Piccolomini Library. - Siena Cathedral
A lion on the exterior of the cathedral. I am a bit intrigued by his eyes... - Loggia della mercanzia
Frescoes by Lorenzo Rustici (1553-1563). - Loggia della mercanzia
- Fonte Gaia
The first fountain was built in 1342, this one was made in 1419 by Jacopo della Quercia. - Fonte Gaia
The original statues are kept in a museum, these are some (old) copies. - 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). - Santa Maria Assunta
- Palazzo Comunale
The entrance to the Palazzo Comunale. - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Un giovane Bacco by Antonio Amorosi (figure) and Giovanni Paolo Spadino (grapes). Around 1725. - 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
Madonna col Bambino tra i Santi Biagio, Giovanni Battista, Nicola e Floriano by Lorenzo di Pietro - Vecchietta (1465). - 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). - 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.