St. Peter’s Basilica
All the superlatives still don’t quite do justice to the vastness and grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica. The most important, and arguably most magnificent church in Catholic Christendom took 120 …
Raphael’s Rooms in the Vatican Museums
In 1508 Pope Julius II summoned to Rome a prodigious, but untested young artist from the town of Urbino to fresco the inside of what was intended to be his …
Michelangelo’s David in the Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence
If you only see one statue on your trip to Italy, Michelangelo’s David is the one to see. Hailed as an instant classic from the day it was unveiled in …
The Bridge of Sighs in Venice
The Bridge of Sighs is a very pleasant solution to a very grim problem. In 1600 Venice’s prisons for common criminals were being moved from the ground floor of the …
The Roman Pantheon
The Roman Pantheon is, without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest surviving structure from the ancient Roman Empire. And not only does it survive, it radiates a vision and …
The Trevi Fountain in Rome
The story of the Trevi Fountain, one of Rome’s most famous fountains, starts with a young girl. According to legend, the source of Acqua Vergina aqueduct, which feeds the Trevi, …
The Colosseum, an iconic symbol of Rome
There is no more enduring symbol of Rome than the Flavian Amphitheater, aka the Roman Colosseum. It was built by the Flavian Dynasty – Emperors Vespasian, Titus, and Domition – …
The Florence Cathedral: What to see, tips for visiting and more
The Florence Cathedral has been called “both the birthplace and proving ground of the Renaissance”. A building that combines extreme scientific innovation with sublime religious art could not help but …
What to see along the Grand Canal, Venice
In a city built on the sea, the most important street isn’t a street at all, it’s a Canal. The Grand Canal in Venice is the city’s main artery, a …
The Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums
Among the most famous rooms in the world, the Sistine Chapel stands alone. Neither one of the largest nor grandest properties in the Vatican, its fame is mostly based on …