This structure was commissioned by the order of Santa Maria del Carmelo in the late 1600s. At that time, its 75,000-member brotherhood was the largest in Venice. It was also one of the wealthiest, as evidenced by the extravagant stuccoed ceilings, carved ebony paneling and stunning artwork, including nine immense Tiepolo canvases. Campo dei Carmini, […]
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Basilica di San Marco
Wow. So this is what everyone comes to see. This is the centerpiece of Piazza San Marco and for good reason. From the glittery mosaics adorning the exterior to the marble floors and 11th- to 15th-century mosaic domes with millions of gilt-glass tiles, this is a show-stopper. Construction began in 828 when Venetian merchants smuggled […]
Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute
This beautiful baroque church is Venice’s gift to the Sainted Mary of Health for sparing the city further devastation after a 1630-31 plague wiped out a third of the city’s population in 18 months. Reportedly, over 100,000 pylons were driven into the mud banks that form Venice’s foundation to support the structure’s immense weight. The […]
The Last Supper, Behind the Scenes?
Paolo Veronese’s Feast in the House of Levi was originally called Last Supper until the Catholic Church condemned the artist for featuring drunkards, dwarves, dogs and Reformation-minded Germans among the apostles. Veronese agreed to change the name, but refused to revise the painting. In defiance against Rome, Venice stood by the painter. See this wall-sized […]
Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale, a stunning Gothic building, is situated on the best real estate in Piazza San Marcos. In addition to being lagoon-front, this grand government building is arranged around a colonnaded courtyard. Inside, amidst the gilt and marble are extravagant staircases and official rooms such as the Collegiate Antechamber, Council Room and the Senate Hall. […]
Campanile de San Marco
This 30m tall bell tower is visible from many points in Venice. It was constructed in 888 and, after it collapsed in 1902, was rebuilt exactly as it was. It was used as the city’s main lighthouse. Today, a lift raises visitors to the top for incredible panoramic views.
Torre dell’Orologio, or astrological clock
This Early Renaissance building with a gold-leafed clock was originally a showpiece for Venice. It was placed strategically so as to be visible from the lagoon to announce Venice’s wealth and beauty to visitors. The structure was built in 1496-99. Mauro Codussi designed it and the father-and-son team Gian Paolo and Gian Carlo Ranieri built […]
Basilique Saint-Willibrord
Echternach is dominated by Basilique Saint-Willibrord. Saint Willibrord was a Northumbrian monk who arrived in town in 698 A.D. Immediately after receiving this land from Irmina, daughter of Dagobert II, King of the Franks, he began construction. A Benedictine abbey developed around the basilica and a town around that. If you’re seeking an ancient basilica, […]
Domkirche zu St. Jakob (Cathedral of St. James), Innsbruck, Austria
This 18th century baroque cathedral has name-dropping pedigree, as it was designed by starchitect Johann Jakob Herkommer and Munich’s Asam brothers. The current structure with two bell towers was built between 1717-24 on the site of a prior Gothic church. Look up at the fresco showing the life of Jakob, the holy patron of the […]
Imperial Court, Innsbruck, Austria
Really, Imperial Palace 2.0. In 1460, Archduke Siegmund the Rich constructed a grand Gothic-style palace that was subsequently enlarged to an even grander status by Maximilian I. When Empress Maria Theresa came along, though, all she saw was a tear-down. From 1754-73, the palace was rebuilt in Maria Theresa’s preferred Baroque style to include four […]
