| Most viewed - Italy |
75 viewsWell, my day of sighteeing is over, and it looks like his was, too. Could he be hungry and stopping for a panini? Yup.....he did.
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71 viewsItaly
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63 viewsAfter going through almost all of the Basilica, including the tombs underneath, I needed a rest. So I stopped here for a coffee and a cannoli cake. Yum!
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59 viewsThese guys were everywhere, giving the tourists good photo shots from their trip to Rome.
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35 viewsI just love the feel of the European towns.
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35 viewsThis shows what is called the hypogeum, which means underground or the part of the building that was built below ground.
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32 viewsTook the train up to Pisa, Italy.
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32 viewsMade it to the top after climbing 294 very tilted steps!
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30 viewsI've heard about this place all of my life, and here I am. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of Europe's great icons.
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30 viewsA view from the top. Along the red tiled building were tons of souvenir shops with lots of fun stuff to buy.
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30 viewsIt was even creepier going down the steps. You can really notice the lean of the tower.
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30 viewsEven though it seated more than 50,000 and had room for 10,000 to stand, they were still able to leave quickly because there were 80 exits.
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29 viewsCharles Dickens visited the Colosseum. In 1846, after his visit, he wrote the following: "It is the most impressive, the most stately, the most solemn, grand, majestic, mournful sight conceivable. Never in it's bloodiest prime can the sight of the gigantic Colosseum, full and running over with the lustiest life, have moved one heart, as it must move all who look upon it now, a ruin. God be thankful: a ruin!"
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29 viewsWhat an experience! It's certainly one that I will never forget.
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28 viewsThey started building the tower in 1174. The reason it tilts is because the foundation was built on unstable soil.
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28 viewsThis is the view you see from another side of the Tower.
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28 viewsThis is my "I went to the Colosseum" photo.
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28 viewsThis is the central balcony and is called the Loggia of the Blessings, and is used for the announcement for the new Pope.
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28 viewsThis is the interior of St. Peter's Basilica. It has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world, able to hold 60,000 people. It WAS huge, but I was stunned when they told how many people it can seat.
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27 viewsThe Leaning Tower of Pisa is a good example of Romanesque architecture.
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27 viewsThe Colosseum was the largest amphitheater ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of Rome's most visited tourist attractions.
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27 viewsThis is the original facade, which I find unbelievable since construction began around 70-72 A.D. It opened in 80 A.D. Today it remains as standing proof of both the grandeur and the cruelty of the Roman world.
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27 viewsThe next day, as I headed toward St. Peter's Square, I met some kids on a field trip. No matter where you go, kids like the "high five."
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27 viewsThis is the large public square outside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. They call it St. Peter's Square, but it is actually round, with the perimeter marked by two huge colonnades.
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27 viewsThe windows that have the yellow banners over them indicate the Pope's residence.
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26 viewsHere is a piece of trivia for you. In the movie Ocean's 12, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is mentioned in connection with their scheme to tilt a building in order to gain access to it.
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26 viewsThe Colosseum was ruined because of devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers who wanted the stones for building materials.
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26 viewsI took the tour that takes you underneath the Colosseum where you could see many of the tunnels. That's where they kept the slaves and animals used for the gladiatorial games. The arena had a wood floor covered with sand. Not only was the sand there to hide the trapdoors, but also for catching the blood. The slaves and animals were let up through the hidden trap doors under the sand which provided continual surprises for the spectators and the contestants! Whoa.........SURPRISE!
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26 viewsOf course, we had to have a group photo.
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26 viewsThe day I was there they were putting out the chairs for members of the Vatican. The Pope would later come out and address the massive crowd. Believe you me, it really WAS massive.
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26 viewsThese are the apartments for the Pope's staff.
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25 viewsWell.......I ALMOST made it look like I was holding it. :O)
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25 viewsThe Colosseum was capable of seating 50,000 spectators. It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectaculars such as mock sea battles, animal hunts and executions.
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24 viewsThe Leaning Tower is a freestanding bell tower. The tower and the cathedral are in an area called the Piazza dei Miracoli.
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24 viewsAfter leaving Pisa, I took the train down to Rome. This is the first view I saw of the Colosseum.
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23 viewsI thought this was such a beautiful photo of the top of the cathedral.
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17 viewsThese are the Papal Swiss guards. The bodyguards for the Vatican was established in 1506 and are now the only Swiss Guards that still exists.
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