Quintessentially Umbria

This is an old one I just pulled out of the bowels of my computer, as I'm looking back through all the thousands of photos I took in Europe two and a half years ago. This particular image is from Orvieto--the most beautiful, unique, and charming little village in Italy.

Picture Perfect

This always makes me think of a postcard, or one of those cutesie little posters people put up. I found this beautiful little alley off a street in Orvieto, Italy, and just had to take a picture. Seeing these type of decorated entrance-ways wasn't unusual, but this was by far the prettiest and most plant-filled I'd seen.

Italy's hidden gem

This is the Cathedral in Orvieto, Italy. Orvieto was my favorite destination in Italy, because it's just a small town in Umbria that has a little tourism due to its unusual location and history, but not a lot. I only saw one American family there, the other few tourists were European. Orvieto has the sights and the history and the art but none of the hype. It was the most legitimately Italian. The big cities that are tourist meccas are all tourist traps, basically. It's nearly impossible to see the real Italy there, while that's exactly what Orvieto is.

Il Canal Grande

The Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal, Venice.

Ubiquitous

Here is the ever-present Bridge of Sighs. If anything is the universal image of Venice, it is the Bridge of Sighs. Riding in a gondola underneath it is considered the ultimate romantic moment. However, in what I find a highly ironic twist, most people don't know the history of the bridge and the origin of its name, which is about the fastest mood killer I can think of. The bridge links the prison and the court, both part of the Doge's palace. The bridge was so named because after being convicted and sentenced to death in the courtroom, the prisoners would sigh as they crossed the bridge toward the prison and their waiting execution. And yes, I did tour the Doge's palace and walk through the Bridge of Sighs.

Veni, Vidi, Vici

On to Italy! This one was (clearly) taken in Venice from a vaporetto. I was only in Venice for about 26 hours, which was long enough to see all the main attractions but not enough to really get a feel for the soul of the city, which I do regret. I'd like to go back someday and stay long enough to really walk the streets (such as there are) and just wander. That's the best way to explore a city. Some of my best memories are from places we stumbled upon while lost.