The train to Venice left at 06.22 – we caught the train with minutes to spare. Our first and only near miss!
As we left Vienna and headed further south the scenery became more familiar; pretty little chalets…
As we left Vienna and headed further south the scenery became more familiar; pretty little chalets…
… all “picture postcard”.
One of the amazing bridges through the Alps.
We arrive in Venice! Keith’s first visit to this amazing city…
The Grand Canal.
The Grand Canal.
Gondolas and speed boats waiting for trade…
Strolling through Venice on our way to our hotel.
Off the beaten track – a relatively quiet street!
A typical back street…
A succession of gondolas taking in the quieter canals.
One of the hotel tenders dropping off guests causes a traffic jam of gondolas!
St Mark’s Campanile in the Piazza San Marco…
… with the Basilica San Marco in the background.
Piazza San Marco – one of the most beautiful squares in the world.
View from the vaporetto (water bus). Formerly the Doge’s residence and the seat of Venetian government, the Palace is the very symbol of Venice and a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
Approaching one of the stops on Vaporetto Number 7…
Back on the Grand Canal.
Palazzo Salviati.
The Rialto Bridge – one of only 3 bridges across the Grand Canal.
A typical view of Venice.
A $50 sundowner in St Mark’s Square added to the experience!
From Venice we took a train to Verona: Castel Vecchio Bridge – a fortified bridge over the River Adige, Verona.
The Basilica of Saint Anastasia is definitely the most important gothic style religious monument in Verona.
The 15th century portal has two doors, and is enclosed into a Gothic structure (1330) with arches supported by ornamental columns in red, black and white marble.
A pretty lane.
The entrance to the Old Town, Verona.
Piazza dei Signori is the civic and political heart of Verona, with the statue of Dante in the middle of square.
Juliet’s balcony
The Ponte Pietra completed in 100BC. Four arches of the bridge were blown up by retreating German troops in World War II, but rebuilt in 1957 with original materials.
Castel San Pietro on Saint Peter’s Hill – Colle San Pietro.
The Duomo (Cathedral) of Verona.
Palazzo della Ragione is a majestic building located between the charming Piazza delle Erbe and Piazza dei Signori, and has always been the pulsing heart of the city.
It is enriched further by the staircase Scala della Ragione, a late Gothic gem, built in pink Veronese marble.
Entrance to the Main Square.
Torre del Gardello tower at the Piazza delle Erbe in Verona.
The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra, built in the first century. It is still in use today…
…and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there.
The Arena is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind.
With its gigantic dimensions of 140 metres in length and 110 metres in width…
… it dominates the Piazza Brà from the north.
Lake Garda as the train from Verona heads to Milan.
The Milan Duomo dominates the city. It is the third largest in the world.
The height of the nave is about 45 metres, the highest Gothic vaults of a complete church.
The cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete.
Altar dedicated to San Giovanni Buono who was a bishop in Milan during the 7th Century.
The beautiful, colorful stained-glass windows reflect an ethereal light on the floor of the church.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is the world’s oldest active shopping mall and a major landmark of Milan…
Housed within a four-story double arcade in the center of town, the Galleria is named after Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of the Kingdom of Italy.
The structure consists of two glass-vaulted arcades intersecting in an octagon covering the street connecting Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Scala.
La Scala, Milan is, for most opera lovers, the world’s most revered and important opera house. The theatre opened in 1778.
La Bohème was playing – we enquired about tickets and discovered it was opening night – and the only tickets available were €450 each!
A landmark triumphal arch called Arco della Pace (“Arch of Peace”) dates back to the 19th century, although its origins can be traced back to a gate of the Roman walls of Milan.
Castle Sforza in Milan. It was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, on the remnants of a 14th-century fortification.
In 1452 he hired sculptor and architect Filarete to design and decorate the central tower, which is still known as Torre del Filarete.
Throughout its history, the castle was destroyed and built up again modified.
Throughout its history, the castle was destroyed and built up again modified.
This marble sculpture, by artist Maurizio Cattelan, on display in front of the Milan Stock Exchange provoked controversy…
The ornate baroque church of Sant’Alessandro in Zebedia.
The Church of San Maurizio was built in 1503 as an annexe to the oldest Benedictine convent of Milan, the “Monastero Maggiore” the walls are decorated with paintings of XV century…
… inside there is nave but there are no aisles…
…the Organ, made in 1554 by Giacomo Antegnati still works and it is used during seasonal organ concerts.
We were excited to discover an exhibition of the works of Da Vinci.
… with full-size models…
… with full-size models…
… with full-size models…
… with full-size models, including this Time Machine – a perpetual motion device…
… and a reproduction of Da Vinci’s Last Supper – the original is in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
We stop for refreshments after all that sight-seeing!
