Italy Travel Photography, Free ePostcards, and Picture Guide | Europe

Email This Page | Feedback | Update Log | Copyright | Site Map

Cambodia China Denmark England France Hong Kong Iceland Ireland Italy Japan Macau Peru Philippines Singapore Sweden Switzerland Thailand USA: Central New York USA: West Virginia
Vatican City Vietnam

		Venice: Truly one of the world's most magical cities, Venice is everything you've heard and so much more. The city, actually an island off the northeastern coast of Italy, is unique in that there are no motorized vehicles anywhere on the island. If you don't mind getting lost this is the perfect city to wander around.
		Winged Lions: Oddly enough, the traditional symbol of Venice is a winged lion. This lion was originally the symbol for St. Mark and was later used by the famous Medici family to show Venice's power and prestige. The lions have an aura that surrounds them and adds to Venice's mystique.
		Piazza San Marco: Famously known as "the finest drawing room in Europe," St. Mark's Square is easily one of the most spectacular public spaces in the world. This grand square is surrounded by impressive 16th century architecture and is a perfect place for stroll any time of the day.
		Pigeons!: (Left) A tourist favorite, the legendary pigeons of St. Mark's Square are even more impressive (and ubiquitous) in person. Pigeon feed sellers can be found throughout the square, and once the food is opened, well, the picture says it all... Doge's Palace: (Right) The detail found in the facade of the Doge's palace hints at the splendors found inside.
		Bridge of Sighs: (Left) Legend has it that this beautiful bridge was named for the sound criminals would make as they passed through the bridge on their way to prison. Odd Characters: (Right) You never know what you'll find while wandering the back alleys of Venice. Keep your camera ready...
		Canal Grande: The Grand Canal is Venice's Main Street and is the lifeline of the city. I came across this scene while hopelessly trying to find a bridge across the Grand Canal. Once again, it pays to wander off the beaten tourist path as you end up finding hidden treasures such as this.
		Gondolas: Having lost its mercantile significance ages ago, Venice now relies predominantly on tourism to help keep this aging beauty afloat. The gondolas that can be found around the city are almost exclusively for tourists (much like horse carts in New York's Central Park), yet without them the city wouldn't be the same.
		Ponte di Rialto: The most famous bridge in Venice and a true architectural wonder, the Rialto Bridge (1591) for centuries was the only way to cross the Grand Canal by foot. The district surrounding the bridge is quite popular and with an eclectic mix of tourists and locals it is a good place for "people watching."
		Grand Canal: (Left) A journey down the Grand Canal is like stepping back to the 16th century, as there are few reminders of the hustle and bustle of modern life. Accademia Bridge: (Right) The most modern (1933) of the three bridges that cross the Grand Canal, the Accademia Bridge is a beautiful wooden which blends perfectly in this historic city.
		Venice Parking Lot: When in Venice be sure to wander through the residential section where you will not see another tourist for hours and will come across interesting scenes that help you fully understand the city as a whole. This marina can be found behind the football stadium on the edge of the island.
		Crumbling Buildings: (Left) If you wander off the tourist track (which is very easy to do in this maze-like city), you will quickly come across buildings in serious need of repair. The city is fighting a losing battle with the Adriatic Sea which I can only hope the residents will continue to fight. Fruit Market: (Right) The Italian love for good food is evident in the immaculate fruit markets.
		Grand Canal: I can't say enough about how impressed and awestruck I was with Venice. The city is truly one of the world's great places and is a "must see" for anyone who considers themselves a true citizen of the world. I have a feeling I will come back here sooner, rather than later.
		La Cattedrale DI Firenze: (Left) The Florence Cathedral (in particular its gigantic duomo) dominates Florence and is one of the world's great Renaissance structures. Street Scene: (Right) With its winding streets and small alleys, Florence is best explored using small autos, mopeds, or ideally, by foot.
		Ponte Vecchio: I was immediately enchanted with the Ponte Vecchio, Florence's 14th century bridge which is complete with small shops and restaurants. A bridge has spanned the Arno since Roman times and since the 15th century the shops have been occupied by goldsmiths and silversmiths.
		Ponte Vecchio: The Ponte Vecchio is captivating at night as well. Apparently I was not the only one who was captivated by the bridge's beauty, as it was spared destruction by the retreating Nazis in 1944 who destroyed every other bridge in the city.
		Il Porcellino: Every city has its traditions which cause the visitor to scratch his head in bewilderment and Florence is no different, as it is customary to rub the pig for good luck. Another legend compels the visitor to place a coin in the mouth of the pig and if it falls in the slot below you will return to Florence. It seems as though the only one with any luck is the statue's owner!
		Piazza del Duomo: Even if Pisa didn't have one of the world's most famous engineering blunders, it would still be very popular with visitors due to the stunningly beautiful main square. I happened to visit Pisa on a rainy morning so even though photographs may not be spectacular, my time spent (almost alone) in the town was.
		Pisa Campanile: (Left) The Leaning Tower of Pisa is as beautiful as it is peculiar. It is easy to get a little dizzy during the climb to the top, and with the off-balance stairs you start to feel as though you've had a bit too much of the la dolce vita, if you know what I mean. Leaning Tower of Pisa: (Right) The detail of the stonework of the tower is very impressive.
		Classic Italian Scene: (Left) Outside of the main cities you can still find quaint scenes such as this, where I saw this little Fiat seemingly perfectly placed in front of the neighborhood gelateria. La Dolce Vita: (Right) The outdoor café is the place to be seen in Rome, one of the great cities of the world.
		The Colosseum: I'm sure that I'm not alone in saying that when I first saw the Colosseum my heart skipped a few beats as I was overwhelmed by the history and beauty of this imposing structure. Unfortunately much of the Colosseum was stripped away to build other monuments in the city, but from what remains it still is a sight to be seen.
		Colosseum Interior: Be sure to take the time to fully explore the interior of the Colosseum. The pits below the reconstructed stage were my favorite part of the Colosseum, as I began to daydream about the lion and gladiator fights I heard about in my high school Latin classes.
		Colosseum: (Left) Beautiful, isn't it? National Mourning: (Right) I happened to be in Rome when the bodies of the fallen Italian soldiers were repatriated. There was a national day of mourning for the 19 soldiers, which at the time struck me as odd, considering the US has similar casualties on a weekly basis. I guess that shows how desensitized we've really become.
		Vittorio Emanuele II Monument: Known as "the typewriter" to the locals, this massive monument commemorates the Vittorio Emanuele, the first king to unite Italy. The monument also holds the remains of Italy's unknown soldier and was the focal point for the memorial for the fallen soldiers.
		Old And New: Rome is unique because it is a modern world capital that must coexist with over two thousand years of history. At times the mixture is humorous, but at other times I'm sure it can be maddening. In any event, I like this photograph and think it helps show modern life in this ancient city.
		Foro Romano: The Roman Forum is a well-preserved (given its age!) example of the ancient capital of the Roman empire. I enjoyed 'rome'ing through this old city and was almost more impressed that it was never torn down throughout the ages, especially considering it lies right at the heart of Rome.
		A Picture-Perfect Scene, But... (Left) This grand arch seems to be alone at the entrance to the Roman Forum, but.. ...In Reality: (Right) You can't go anywhere without being overwhelmed with tacky souvenirs!
		Menacing Gladiators: (Left) Outside of the Colosseum actors dressed in Roman costumes posed with tourists, for a price of course. I saw this as an excellent photo opportunity, especially with a long lens so I didn't have to pay the steep "actors fees." Mobile Phone Fun: (Right) I always wondered what gladiators did to pass the time...
		Master Stoneworkers: I always enjoy photographing fountains, and the statues at the Pantheon fountain provided ample opportunities. Looking back at these photos, I see quite a resemblance with the man in the statue with George W. Bush!
		Pantheon at Night: The best-preserved of all Roman ruins, the Pantheon is a very impressive building which has spawned many imitations. The Pantheon was able to survive almost perfectly due to the fact that it was converted into a Roman Catholic church and was saved from the massive "recycling" effort that want on throughout the ages in Rome.

Please visit my Vatican City page for more Italian photographs!

Encarta map of Italy: See an excellent map of Italy.

Italy Travel Information: Lonely Planet Destination Guide: Lonely Planet's guidebooks are second to none. Go here to read their online edition.

BBC Holiday: Venice: Venice is one of the few cities in the world that is so grand it exceeds the enormous amount of publicity it receives.

Ponte DI Rialto: Learn about the Rialto Bridge, one of the most beautiful bridges in the world and for centuries the only bridge over the Grand Canal.

Ciao Italia: Learn how to cook great Italian food from one of America's top Italian chefs, Mary Ann Esposito.

Venice For Visitors: If you need to know an obscure fact about Venice, this is the place to visit.

Galen Frysinger's Italian Photos: See nice photos of Italy from a traveler that puts me to shame!

Dolce Vita.com: See the best in Italian fashion and food at this site named after the classic phrase which says to "live the good life"

Italianmade.com: Visit this impressive site to learn plenty about the many different (and delicious) Italian foods and wines.

Save Venice.org: Sadly, Venice really is crumbling. Learn about the problems facing this great city and what is being done to 'stem the tide.'

BBC Country Profile: Italy: Almost everything you need to know about your favorite shoe-shaped country!

Pizzelle.com: History: An entire site dedicated to the world's best cookie!

History of the Gondola: Now only an expensive tourist trap, the gondola was once the predominant way to travel around Venice.

Slow Travelers: Gelato: Learn about the frozen treat that puts ice cream to shame!

MSNBC: Parking Lot vs. Roman Ruins: Read about Rome's struggles with living amongst some of the world's great ruins.

Great Buildings: Ponte Vecchio: One of the great bridges in the world, the Ponte Vecchio is a sight to be seen.

Uffizi Gallery: The official website for perhaps the most uninteresting museum in the world, unless you like pictures of 'Madonna and child', and in that case you will be in heaven.

CBS: Italy Mourns Dead Soldiers: Learn about the terrorist event that caused an entire country to mourn.

PBS Culture Shock: David: Learn all about the statue that has been getting prudish people up in arms for hundreds of years. (Get a life, people...)

About.com: Italian Cars: Anyone who loves sports cars will tell you that the some of the finest in the world come from Italy.

Italian Food Forever: Visit this site to celebrate the greatest Italian export of them all... food!

About Florence: Plenty of information to help give you a general overview of the city of Florence.

Italylink: Sports: Italians are nuts about their sports. Learn more about them here and be sure to visit the links for the wildly popular football teams.

Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid: Everything you wanted to know about the world's favorite dead language.

Julius Caesar: The Last Dictator: No self-respecting site about Italy could leave off Italy's most famous son, Caesar!

Luciano Pavorotti.com: You can't think of Italy without thinking of Pavorotti, perhaps the 'biggest' star in Italy.

Venice is Drowning: One of the world's great cities, Venice is slowly sinking into the Adriatic. Read about what's happening and what can be done to save it.

Firenze Duomo: Learn about the Florence Cathedral and its immense dome, II Duomo. The interior of the dome is covered with an odd mural that your either love or hate. I vote for 'hate.'

Virtual Tourist: Florence: take a virtual tour of one of the world's great cities.

Mostly Italian Coffee: Surprisingly, after yearning for homemade pasta and lusting after the magnificent pastries, my favorite Italian food was... coffee!

Bug Europe: Bean Scene: A little more information about Italian coffee geared towards the beginner. There's much more than espresso!

Food Network: Tuscany: I didn't really know what the big deal about Tuscan food was until I had a few meals there. Now I know...

Official Leaning Tower of Pisa: You can't visit Italy without climbing the leaning tower. It would be like visiting Venice without riding the... well... never mind

Unofficial Leaning Tower of Pisa: One of the few unofficial sites that does a better job than the real one. You can learn a lot here!

Digital Hit: Roberto Benigni: Read about the world's favorite Italian actor.

Photomann: Italy: Fantastic photographs from another globetrotting photographer.

Palmieri Sauce: Growing up in an Italian household, much importance was placed on the quality of pasta sauce. My grandmother's recipe was always the standard in our house, and we never thought anything could duplicate it until we tasted this sauce. One more thing, my grandmother's maiden name is Palmieri. A conspiracy?... I think so!

Great Buildings: Venice: Thankfully, Venice is seemingly untouched by crummy modern architecture, so the entire city feels like a giant museum.

Flags Of The World: Italy: Information about and history of Italy's flag.

Do you have any questions or comments about this page? Please let me know!

Time Visited: November 2003

Main Cities Visited: Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome

Modes of Transportation: Boat, bus, train, streetcar

How I Ended Up There: I wanted to go somewhere new with a friend and we found a tremendous deal for Italy that we couldn't pass up.

Memorable Foods: Gelato, wine, cannoli, tiramisu, raw meat, cappuccino, macchiato, mortadella, salami, prosciutto

What I Liked: Exploring my roots, sampling coffee, pasta and other ethnic dishes that were better than I could have imagined, and strolling through the quiet streets of Venice.

What I Disliked: I like to think of myself as a rather cultured individual, but I quickly grew tired of the repetitive religious paintings which seemed to constitute 90% of all of the art in Italy. Can't anyone at least paint fruit or flowers to break up the monotony?

Where I Stayed: At nice, modest hotels in Venice, Florence, and Rome

Italy in Five Words: Varied, realistic, historical, emotional, tasty!

My Thoughts: Having had the good fortune to grown up in an Italian-American family and have also traveled extensively around western Europe, I figured I knew pretty much what to expect on my journey to Italy. Of course, once I arrived in Italy I found my preconceptions to be false. Italy is truly a unique and special country. Each region has a distinct flavor that makes a stop in each region feel like a visit to another country. Thankfully the food and great cafes stayed consistently good throughout the country which made it quite easy to experience Italy's famed la dolce vita, the good life.