Italy: Rome, Milan, Florence, Venice

Here is a brief tour of a few Italian cities.

Rome:

A tour of Italy would not be complete without sampling a lot of Italian food, namely pizza, tiramisu, and gelato.

For more cultural matters, here is Trevi Fountain, the most famous fountain in the world, built in the 1760s.

Next up is a visit to the Vatican.  It's technically an independent state, and you aren't allowed to go in anywhere but the designated tourist attractions:

Inside is St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world:

Highly important and famous art:

St. Peter's Baldachin, directly under the Dome to mark the tomb of St. Peter, designed by Bernini:

The tomb:

Look carefully...the entrance to the crypts below where many treasures and Popes are buried:

Back outside, traditional Vatican guards:

Where the Pope conducts mass:

Tour of the Apostolic Palace, with some mutilated genitals to guide you:

Papal apartments.  The Pope lives in style!

Finally, to the Sistine Chapel, most famous for Michelangelo's Last Judgement and Ceiling

Going out:

Next, a trip to the Colosseum and Roman Forum.  Its amazing that a structure made in 70AD still partially survives.

Next we head to the Roman Forum, the heart of government and activity in ancient times.

Many excavated ruins have been filled back in to preserve them.

A view of the modern city:

Still curiously ancient in many ways:

A lurid sunset on the Spanish Steps

Milan
I didn't spend much time here unfortunately, but it's always good to start off with food:

The Milan Cathedral, which seemed to have an obsession of pointing sharp objects into the sky:

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the oldest shopping gallery in the world:

It's pretty cool on the inside.  To bad you don't get to see it.

Florence:

First thing is to see David of course.  It's actually huge:

Wandering the streets:

Florence Cathedral, not as spiked:

Inside:

Famous statues near the Uffizi Gallery, a famous and old art museum:

Original location of David:

Medusa killing:

Neptune:

Arno river:

Ponte Vecchio, a medieval bridge with shops built on top:

Piazzale Michelangelo

Old walls still visible:

Porcellino, a famous boar statue (replica).  Rub the nose for good luck!

More pizza:

Venice:

Last city in the whirlwind of touring:

The public transportation is small ferry shuttles:

Venice, of course, is known for its narrow canals.  Unfortunately of late, it seems to have gotten a bit too touristy and is very crowded:

Narrow alleyways. Don't explore at night!

Canal boats battle for supremacy:

Piazza San Marco, the principal public square of the city:

St. Mark's Basilica:

Doge's Palace, the residence of the leader of Venice:

Too many works of art on the inside to keep track of!

Rialto Bridge, the oldest in Venice:

A view from the bridge on the Grand Canal:

Bridge of Sighs, a bridge between the Doge's Palace and prison.  This would be the last view that the convicted saw of Venice, hence the sighing.

Caffe Florian, the oldest coffee shop in the world! Established 1720.

Italy is a beautiful country.  While it's economy and politics are currently in disarray, it was certainly one of the premier centers of European art and culture for centuries.  If you can, I highly recommended that you visit multiple cities.  Unfortunately, Venice is a bit artificial these days, but centers like Florence and Milan are must-see.