Grand Canal

Locally called the Canalazzo, the Grand Canal is the largest canal in the city of Venice and forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. The Grand Canal snakes across the city in a large S shape from Saint Mark Basin at one end to a lagoon close to the Santa Lucia railway station at the other end. There are over 170 buildings on the Grand Canal including restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues. Prior to the 19th century, there was just one bridge that crossed the Grand Canal. The best way to see the Venetian-Gothic buildings along the canal is to travel by the vaporetto, the Italian word for waterbus. Visitors can also take a romantic gondola ride along the Grand Canal. Aside from sightseeing, visitors can also shop and eat along the canal. There are over 170 buildings on the Grand Canal including restaurants, hotels and entertainment venues.

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Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) is the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican City. It still serves as the venue at which the election of each new pope is performed. The Sistine Chapel is perhaps better known around the globe for its awe-inspiring artistic decoration. Michelangelo’s Genesis (Creation), commissioned by Pope Julius II and painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, attracts droves of visitors each year. As does the Giudizio Universale (Last Judgement), also painted by Michelangelo. Although most people are familiar with both of these works and have seen the images in print or online, the magnificence of seeing the work of Michelangelo in person has been described by Johann Wolfgang Goethe, who said, “Without having seen the Sistine Chapel, one can form no appreciable idea of what one man is capable of achieving.”

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Roman Colosseum

Rome’s greatest gladiator arena has history of unimaginable violence. It was completed in AD 80 after eight years of construction and used to stage spectacular gladiator games in front of cheering crowds. The games would last 100 days in some cases and involve the slaughter of up to 10,000 animals. The wooden floor was covered in sand to help sop up the blood. Two thousand years later, it’s Italy’s top tourist attraction, bringing in up to five million visitors a year. The Colosseum has a 50,000-person capacity and although it wasn’t the biggest of the arenas, it was certainly the most feared. The Colosseum was abandoned in the 6th century, after the empire fell, and was damaged by several earthquakes before later being used as a quarry for travertine and marble for Italian buildings. Parts of the Colosseum are open to the public by guided tour only and require advanced booking.

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St. Mark’s Basilica

The most famous of the city’s churches and one of the best known examples of the Italo-Byzantine architecture, the Basilica of Saint Mark lies at the eastern end the Piazza San Marco, adjacent and connected to the Doge’s Palace. The basic shape of the church has a mixture of Italian and Byzantine features. In the first half of the 13th century, it had additional construction to the exterior to blend in with the Gothic architecture of the redesigned Doge’s Palace. It is officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Marco. Originally, it was the chapel of the Doge and has only been the city’s cathedral since 1807. The construction of Saint Mark’s Basilica is opulent with gold ground mosaics and statues—a symbol of Venetian wealth and power. In the 11th century, the building was given the nickname, Church of Gold. As with most churches in Italy, you must be dressed appropriately to be allowed in. This mean not shorts, skirts or bare shoulders. Filming and photography is also not allowed at the Basilica of Saint Mark.

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Duomo of Florence

If you’ve seen a postcard of Florence, chances are, you’ve seen the Duomo. The Duomo of Florence is a cathedral built in the heart of Florence. The cathedral is one of Italy’s largest churches and, until development of new structural materials in the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed. Officially named, Santa Maria del Fiore, this is the main church of Florence, Italy. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white and has an elaborate 19th-century Gothic revival façade. Inside, the Duomo features breathtaking artwork including the frescos decorating the ceiling depicting heaven and hell. Once you reach the top of the Duomo, small windows reveal breathtaking panoramic views of the city. Entrance to the cathedral is free. Due to popularity, expect a long line of tourists waiting to get in.

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