Extraordinary basilica with the 6th century Byzantine Mosaic work. Vibrant colored mosaic tiles…read morethat has stood the test of time. The basilica is a protected site (UNESCO World Heritage status). Beautiful. One must buy a multiple site ticket at the ticket office close to the basilica in order to view inside. A must see and an easy day trip from Bologna in Emilia Romagna.

Ravenna is famous for the mosaics in the various churches in town. You can purchase a pass that…read moreallows you to visit a few places. We visited the Galla Placidia, San Vitale, Baptistero Neoniano, and Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. The mosaics are stunning! One of my favorites was the Baptistery with its round dome and 12 apostles with the baptism of Christ in the middle. The gold and blue colors of the tiles are striking. (first photo) Another favorite is the Sant'Apollinare Nuovo with its wood ceiling and arched columns. (second photo)

Very cool church. There are so many cool churches throughout the country it gets to be…read moreoverwhelming. This one s a little creepy with the relics inside.

The building itself isn't so big compared to others but the courtyard around it is hugeeee! There…read moreare many souvenir vendors by it. People sit by the stairs in front of the entrance to relax. There seems to be a police or government building on the right side and a small downhill slope that leads into the narrow streets of Siena in the left side.

Situated in Piazza Maggiore the imposing front face of the basilica stands out immediately, its…read morehalf-brick, half-finished white and red marble lower half stark in contrast. The finished face of the cathedral is sparsely adorned compared to similar church buildings of the same period. Inside the soaring cream-colored vaulted ceilings also contrast with the terra-cotta column and archway edges, another reflection of the white and red colors of the city. The main apse ceiling appears modest and undecorated, though a few of the smaller chapel ceilings exemplify the colorful murals that may have been intended for the total ceiling once finished. Interestingly enough when looking up some history this basilica was meant to serve as a more of a civil center rather than purely religious building. Entry is free (donations suggested) and no advance reservation is needed. When I came by on a Tuesday afternoon in April the church was finishing up a service, all the while allowing passersby to enter and visit, of course asking to maintain a respectful silence. Parishioners lit candles and prayed in front of the local patron saint as well as at individual chapels. Intriguing to get a glimpse into how different cultures interact in places of worship.

The Italian Gothic basilica is dedicated to Saint Petronius, who was the bishop of Bologna in the…read more5th century. A life size statue of him is in the basilica. It was built in 1390 and its main facade is still unfinished. The building was transferred from the city to the diocese in 1929 and was consecrated in 1954. 28,000 people can fit inside, it is enormous. The altar contains a 15th-century wooden crucifix. At the back, a fresco of the Madonna and cartoons. The ornate ciborium of the main altar was built in 1547. The 15th century wooden choir was completed by Agostino de 'Marchi. The vaulting and decoration of the central nave is by Girolamo Rainaldi, who completed it in 1646. The nave contains twenty-two side chapels each more ornate than the next. In 2002 five Al Quads terrorists were arrested, they were planning to blow up the basilica. They were angry a fresco depicts Mohammed in hell being devoured by demons.

The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore. Also known as Florence Duomo, is the defining landmark of…read moreFlorence and one of the most impressive cathedrals in the world. Dominating the city skyline, it is instantly recognizable for Brunelleschi's magnificent dome, a masterpiece of Renaissance engineering and artistic vision. The exterior is eyecatching , with its intricate façade of white, green, and pink marble that feels both elegant and monumental. Standing in Piazza del Duomo, the scale of the cathedral is awe‑inspiring, especially when viewed alongside Giotto's Bell Tower and the Baptistery. Inside, the cathedral is huge and relatively restrained compared to its ornate exterior. This simplicity emphasizes the immense size of the space. Climbing the dome was a highlight for sure although it nearly took out the hubs. Smile. Folks back in the day must have been tiny because there steps are so small and curvy. When you reach the top, you think you can walk out on the ledge for the spectacular panoramic views. No!!! You have to climb a ladder to get to the perimeter. Similar exhale to that of crossing the finish line at a marathon. The panoramic views are spectacular!

Saluti da Firenze!…read more Bathed in architectural beauty, artist charm, and centuries of history, my partner, our friends, family members, and I arrived in this Italian city of culture last Monday afternoon. Located in the heart of the stunning Tuscany region, the city is surrounded by natural and manmade beauty at every turn. Home to globally renowned landmarks such as the Florence Cathedral and Michelangelo's David, Florence offers a journey of discovery and enlightenment. Situated at the Piazza del Duomo, which is the busiest square in the city, Florence Cathedral is dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, dominates the skyline, and gives it real character and grace with its famous Brunelleschi's red dome. The construction of the building started at the end of the thirteenth century because the Florentines wanted to excel not only in commercial terms but also in architectural terms. It was not completed until the 15th century and is the fourth largest cathedral in Europe. We visited the area on our 2 days during the day and evening. It is highly recommended to visit the square in the evening, when the day trippers have gone home. Admission to the cathedral was free, and the huge line moved quickly. The marble façade in green, pink, and white was absolutely stunning. The rest of the interior may seem simple at first until one stands beneath the dome and gasps at the masterpiece above. No words can describe its presence and the sheer scale; it's a must-visit!

A beautiful church that one must not miss if one is touring Lucca. Lot of painting from the 1400…read moreand 1500. The interior architecture is heavenly. The cost is $3 for adult with no strict dress code. $0.50 to light an electric candle.

Just coming up to this church is an adventure of itself, whether you have walked all 666 porticos,…read moretook the San Luca Express or drove up. The sweeping views of Bologna and the hills are absolutely stunning and worth whichever way you decided to come up the hill. Then you get here and this gorgeous church is in front of you and you can't help but want to check it out. Outside of the church are places to sit and little gardens to enjoy. Sparrows are constantly flittering about. Once you are inside, you can see how lovely this place was decorated and you can see the relic that they were trying to preserve. Very beautiful, very old and worth the trip for sure.

To preface.... portico (noun): as defined by the Oxford…read moreEnglish Dictionary is "a structure consisting of a roof supported by columns at regular intervals, typically attached as a porch to a building." Bologna is famous for its porticos. They are built attached to the facades of almost every building in the city center and if you were to walk under every single one in totality it would cover 38.5miles (62km). More importantly--the portico walkway leading up to this building and viewpoint meanders along a 2.4 mile (3.8km) path. So basically 2.4 miles of continuous uphill. Which I know now, but not then. Terrific for anyone looking for a workout. Having read this portico was the longest in the world, it somehow escaped me to check its exact length before attempting to walk this on a warm sunny day. (In retrospect they probably don't share the exact number of stairs on their website because it would scare off a number of visitors haha.) Having already walked to the base of the hill from Piazza Maggiore, the trek uphill was...let's say...arduous. It was terrifically maintained, they were even repouring cement and re-laying stairs on sections of the path. The porticos made a big difference in blocking some of the overhead sunlight because surely in the heat I might have melted into a puddle and given up. Ironically not knowing the distance helped --I kept thinking I was almost there and laughed inside at people taking the small trolley uphill at their inability to handle the slope, until I turned a corner and saw for myself about several hundred more stairs. After slight regret set in, I continued on in an effort to finish what I'd begun. (Prior to that part much of the walkway was a sloped pavement instead of stairs, so I guess the joke was on me.) Arriving at the top, the payoff felt a little disappointing considering how long it took to reach. Maybe I would have felt differently if I hadn't walked? A quick stroll on the limited grounds turned up no way to see a panoramic view of the city that wasn't partially blocked. The only unblocked view was via the 360 degree paid experience by going up to the cupola of the church. Unfortunately this closes 15 min prior to 6pm, and 5:45pm was the exact time after I'd just walked around the grounds. I would've willingly paid the €5 or €10 to go upstairs. Ah well, at least I got a good workout. Needless to say I didn't walk back, opting instead for a public bus # 58 that stopped right behind the building and took about 10 minutes to descend the hill. Last but not least.... the church itself was pretty impressive, it seemed quite well maintained and although not the largest of cathedrals still made you feel quite small sitting on a pew looking up at the domed ceilings. There was also a small patch of vegetable garden alongside the building and larger park area expanding south and eastward.