Head towards the square, Piazza della Rotonda, and you'll see a magnificent structure before you. The Pantheon was a former Roman temple, and now a church in the heart of Rome, Italy.
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The Trevi Fountain or Fontana di Trevi is a fountain in the Trevi district of Rome, Italy. It's really hard to capture the magnitude and details of this piece in pictures. Gian Lorenzo Bernini was supposed to sketch and build the fountain but his sketches did not come to fruition, though some of his ideas served as inspiration for today's piece.
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Lido is an island, a long sandbar in the Venetian Lagoon, accessible by boat. The main street, Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta is a wide street, lined with shops and eateries that leads from the lagoon (and vaporetto bus stop) to the wide open sea.
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Everyone arrives by boat to Burano, a series of four islands in the Venetian Lagoon linked by bridges, and set foot on land. There is a corner cafe with red signs, rich with laughter of I think locals because their Italian sounds spectacular and they are much too comfortable. The open space leads to a decent size canal, lined on both sides with colorful buildings - a mix of shops and residences. This island is known for two things: lace and colorful houses.
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Like the rest of Venice, Murano consists of a series of islands that are linked with bridges. Is there anything better than slowly meandering through the streets on a hot summer day with creamy gelato in hand? Murano is a favorite of mine because it's just a stone's throw from the heart of Venice but the boat ride deters some tourists from coming. Murano remains idyllic and somewhat of a hidden gem.
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Accademia Bridge is one of the four bridges along the Grand Canal. It connects San Marco and Dorsoduro. It's not the prettiest bridge, but it's an important one that brings folks across the Grand Canal. From San Marco, you walk and curve through the streets, following signs that say "Accademia" which is an adventure in itself. The view is magificent and you can peek towards either ends of the Grand Canal.
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An architectural wonder, this white and pink building is almost decadent. The white washed bricks, faded facade, and gothic architectre is still marvelous against blue skies. The Doge's Palace was once the epicenter of Venetian political power. This palace once served as the Doge's residence, who was the highest power in the past Republic of Venice. Today, it serves as a museum and a relic to the past.
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Gondolas are long, flat bottomed boats propelled by a single rower in the back with one oar. For a long time, these boats were the most common mode of transportation in Venice and flooded the city's canals. Today, the boats are primarily used to service tourists at fixed rates. You can't think Venice without thinking about gondolas.
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What can be said about the Grand Canal in words? The colorful buildings and aqua green waters are much better captured in photos. Rich and noble families spent their wealth on decorating the back of their palazzos or palaces. A lot of these touches are maintained to this day, giving you a picturesque view as you cruise down the canal. Docks and piers extend into the canal from some of these palaces. Many palaces today are repurposed as museums, hotels, restaurants, etc. Few still serve as private residences.
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