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

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

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!

Renewal of Vows Day in Montepulciano, Tuscany

The tiny chapel on the grounds of

Villa Cicolina

Sealed with a kiss at the end of the brief ceremony

with an English-speaking local priest

The gorgeous gardens of Villa Cicolina

Manager Sayed prepares a snack

with Prosecco afterwards

Taking a ride in a 1972 Beetle

Roaming around the Tuscan countryside

Lunch stop at Montecchiello

Borrowing a cigar from Doctor Brettoni, the owner

of Villa Cicolina and our driver for the day

A walk around medieval hilltop Pienza

On the Via dell Amore

Time for Uno Espresso

Off we go through the gorgeous green of Tuscany

Walking along the Via Dell Amore, Pienza