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The Gallery of Fine Arts has some of Venice’s Finest Artistic Treasures: One of Venice’s foremost institutions of art, L’Accademia di Belle Arti di Venezia was founded in 1750 by the Venetian Senate. It contains some of the city’s finest artistic treasures and out of it evolved the gallery established by Napoleon in 1807 during [...]
Teatro La Fenice – Venice’s World Famous Opera House: First constructed in the late 18th century, the Teatro La Fenice (“The Phoenix”) was so named because for the opera company responsible for its construction there was a sense of having “risen from the ashes” . Fire had destroyed the original Venice opera house and legal [...]
Orsanmichele – A Chapel for Florence’s Powerful Craft and Trade Guilds: In its former life, Orsanmichele was a grain market (Loggia de Mercato del Grano) on the main road that linked Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria. Commissioned by the Signoria, the building was converted into a church and used as the chapel for [...]
These Landmark Rome Steps are a Favourite Destination for Many Visitors: Though the name may not be entirely accurate (they were built by the French), the Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Spagna) in Rome deliver true delight to visitors of any nationality. ‘Ah,’ some will say, ‘they are just stairs’. A way to get from the [...]
Michelangelos’ Sistine Chapel Ceiling is a Masterpiece: Though named after Pope Sixtus IV, who commissioned the Chapel’s construction, the Sistine Chapel was given everlasting fame by Pope Julius II. For, in 1508, it was he who commissioned Michelangelo to paint frescoes to cover the 10,000 square foot Sistine Chapel ceiling. But on the way to [...]
Rome’s Foremost Attraction for Pilgrims and Tourists: Formally known by the name Basilica di San Pietro, St. Peter’s Basilica is one of Rome’s foremost tourist attractions. This one site alone has enough to see to occupy an entire day or more. St. Peter’s is among the most well-known and frequently visited buildings inside Vatican City. [...]
St. Mark’s Basilica is an Amazing church with East and West Influences: Venice is an unusual city, a mixture of influences from East and West. Nowhere is the East-West blend of influence more evident than in the Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica), the most famous of the many churches in Venice and probably [...]
A Fun way to experience the Magic of Venice’s Grand Canal: A gondola ride in Venice can be a romantic experience for two. Or, it can be a fun group activity shared by half a dozen people. But on my first gondola ride many many years ago, I actually took the trip on my own. [...]
One of the premier symbols of Venice: Although the office of the Doge of Venice was created in the seventh century, it was not until the 9th century that the first ducal palace was built. This old palace was destroyed by a series of fire. The existing Palazzo Ducale, located at one end of the [...]
Doge’s Palace – Home to the Doge as well as the Infamous Prisons: Since the early days of the Venetian Republic, the Doge’s Palace was the seat of the government, housed the Palace of Justice and was the residence of the Doge. It was also used to house the administrative offices of the government, along [...]
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We're Helen and Tony Page, and we love travelling - lucky as we've been doing it for the last few decades!
Tony has long been a professional photographer and writer, but Helen now writes most of the posts and takes a lot of photos herself!
Travelsignposts is our main travel planning site, but Tony also runs the Travelsignposts Photo and Guerrilla Travel Photography web sites, as well as publishing the Take Better Digital Photos and Guerrilla Travel Photography eBooks.
Read more about Helen and Tony or contact them.
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