Venezia - Day 1 even more pics

Venezia - Day 1, evening pics

Venezia, Day 2 - Doge's Palace tour

Venezia, Day 2 - Doge's Palace tour 2

Venezia, Day 2 - Doge's Palace tour 3

Venezia, Day 2, St. Mark's Basilica

Wasn't supposed to take pictures here but i couldn't resist a few. Grace suggested I go to the confessional before we leave.
Venezia, Day 2 - Dinner

Just a pic of our view for our over-priced dinner on the canal :).
Final day in Venice

Last day and we enjoyed Murano, Burano and meeting the Barnes' for dinner!
More final day in Venice pics

Went to the Liberia Aqua Alta bookstore...gets high reviews. I heard one woman say it was one of top 10 most interesting bookstores in the world! Maybe if i was looking for an old, Italian book in aMeer informatie
Quick stop in Florence

Duomo was immense! Baptistery was stunning!
We also stopped in to see Michaelangelo's David statue which was stunning!
Climb to the top of the Duomo in Florenc

Kate and Sue led the way while Grace and Paul didn't look down as we climbed.
Biking the Appian Way

Riding along the 1700 year old Appian Way. Peter is said to have met Jesus along this road.
It was nice to ride on this ancient road but I'm glad they improved how they make roads!
Maybe some dayMeer informatie
Trevi fountain

We made a quick stop to see this famous fountain that originally supplied wayer to ancient Rome. It was determined to be "insufficiently dramatic" by Pope Urban VIII and was eventually made into whatMeer informatie
Vatican Museum

We perused this as part of a tour with Walks of Italy. The guide was great but the tour was long and exhausting (maybe because we had to be up at 6AM for it).
The pics are of:
- an early (before theMeer informatie
St. Peter's Basilica

We came here at the end of our Vatican tour. St. Peter's Basilica, sometimes called the "greatest church in Christendom", is believed to be built on the burial place of St. Peter.
This is aMeer informatie
Climb to the top of St. Peter's

- a mosaic that is on the wall of the dome
- some of the 6 foot tall letters that look much smaller from the floor of the church
- a couple of views from the top
- still happy on the way down
- a vieeMeer informatie
Pantheon

The Pantheon has the worlds largest, unreinforced concrete dome - pretty amazing since it was built over 2000 years ago! There was some pretty amazing ingenuity and engineering being done thousands ofMeer informatie
Basilica of St. Mary

We didn't intend to go here but we went inside looking for a bathroom and it was interesting nonetheless. Another immense cathedral that seems, in my humble opinion, th go beyond what's necessary toMeer informatie
Roman forum

Some pics overlooking the forum.
Puppet painter

This was pretty cool - this marionette was painting water colrs!
Random ruins near Jewish Ghetto

Some random pics including a sign identifying deportation of Jews in 1943.
Scala Sancta

This was an interesting stop where we observed many Christian pilgrims ascending these holy stairs on their knees. This picture was taken prior to a large group beginning their ascent who may haveMeer informatie
Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

We stopped here as it was adjacent to Scala Sancta. We didn't realize this was the top Papal Basilica in the world and is the oldest christian church in the west.
I'll let wikipedia explain it: "TheMeer informatie
Basilica of Saint Clement

This was one of my favorite sites! I think it's important to think about how societies have approached and absorbed religion into their culture over time. This church is a physical example of thatMeer informatie
Colosseum

This was another of our favorires! We took a tour that included walking on the floor and going underground to see and hear how events were orchestrated. This was very interesting and enlightening. TheMeer informatie