Rome - the Eternal City

 The Colloseum is named for a massive statue called the 'Collosus' which used to stand nearby. It was built using spoils from the sack of Jerusalem in AD 70. It was finished by AD 80. 

 Piazza Navona is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in Rome.

 Ruins of Trajans Forum

 Details of the Trevi Fountain

The memorial to Vittorio Emmanuele, the first king of the united Italy

Pompei is always amazing

 The Amphitheater is in near perfect condition having been covered in ash in 79 AD

It could hold up to 20,000 spectactors

 

Chilling reminder of the past. This table is documented

as having belonged to the man who stabbed Julius Caesar.

His name was Casca Longus. 

Advertising for a women's clothing store along the 

main avenue

View over the ruins

 These Roman streets were not made for sandals! Ruts where the carts passed can easily be identified. Stepping stones (background) kept pedestrians out of the muck.

View of the town and Vesuvius in the background

Visiting Venice

 Just off the plane and arriving in Venice in style by private water taxi

An artist waits for business near our hotel

The mansion Ca Rezzonico, which we toured

Tourists happy with their 20 dollar cups of coffee
on the Piazza San Marco. At least they get live music

Gondolas and a view across the lagoon

The little back alley place where we had lunch

Visiting Florence, Birthplace of the Italian Renaissance

A one-eyed artist at work

Lunch appetizer

Why aren't these tourist buying advance passes?

The dome of the Duomo from the

front of the Palazzo Vecchio

City view from the burial place of the author of Pinocchio

Baptisty doors by Ghiberti, 15th century

The Ponte Vecchio

Exploring Orvieto, Umbria

Bruschetta with tomato paste and with liver pate, yum!

We stopped for a delicious lunch at

Trattoria Da Carlo, tucked away in

a quiet square through a stone arch

Trattoria Da Carlo

Carlo's mom taking care of customers

 Picking out ceramics

 View over the countryside below the town's western wall

 One of the pieces of wood art done by a local artist who has also decorated Locanda Rosati

 In the woodworker's alley

 New friends made

Steve checks out apartments!