The Milan Cathedral

The Milan Cathedral is one of the world's great buildings.  It offers endless photo opportunities both for its grandeur and its details.  These faces adorned one of the ridges along the roofline.

 The tops of the flying buttresses and the edge of the roof are adorned with an explosion of gothic spires.  The cathedral was built over the course of about 500 years, from 1386 to 1805.

The Milan Duomo is the 5th largest cathedral in the world.  The nave, which is at the far end of this photo down the central aisle, is 45 meters (150 feet) high.  The interior is colorful and more detailed and attractive than the interior of the Duomo in Florence, in my opinion.

 The roof is worth a visit and offers lots of nooks and crannies for lining up photos.

The roof of the Cathedral is reflected in one of its windows.  Milan is overlooked by many tourists who visit Rome, Florence, Venice and other parts of Italy, but Milan has spectacular points of interest.  We spent a week there, and that was not enough.  While the Cathedral and Leonardo's The Last Supper are its best known attractions, the fashion district, Galleria, museums, La Scala Opera House, and churches are certainly deserving of a visit.  And the Italian Lake Country is only an hour away.

The Architecture of Burano, Italy

Burano is an island in the Venetian lagoon. In contrast to the opulence of Venice, Burano was a community where many fishermen lived. Its buildings are much more simple in design, although nevertheless quite charming.
Burano is known for its very colorful houses. One explanation is that the fishermen would paint their houses the same color as their wooden fishing boats. The photos also show that they hang a curtain in the doorway to provide some privacy, but to allow a cooling breeze through the house.
Burano is also known for lace. Apparently the women of the island became quite skillful at lace making while their husbands were out fishing. Lace is still sold today, although the handmade lace is challenged by the competition from imports from the Far East.
We never tire of walking the "streets" of Venice. I have been there 3 times and my husband has visited 5 times. We even took a group of 16 family and friends to Venice on our last trip there.
The architectural details of Burano and charming, even though they are plain in comparison to the ornate characteristics of the palazzos and grand buildings of the main part of Venice.
This shopkeeper's dog has a comfortable place for a nap while waiting for customers to select from among the samples of famous Venetian glass.

The Sights of Venice

This is a classic view of the heart of Venice. The Campanile is on the left, with the Doges Palace on the right. In between the two, the domes of St. Mark's Basilica are visible.
This is the architectural detail under one of the windows of St. Mark's Basilica. The Winged Lion is the symbol of Venice and is included in buildings throughout Venice and the former Venetian empire. The winged lion was the logo of St. Mark the Evangelist. When Venitians took St. Mark's corpse from Alexandria, Egypt in the Ninth Century and presented their looted treasure to the Doge, St. Mark became the patron saint of Venice, a predecessor to St. Mark's Basilica was built, and the winged lion was adopted as the symbol of the city.
Some gondoliers have a moment to chat. It is very competitive to become a gondolier. Only a few people are granted licenses, and there is a rigorous training and approval program.
A gondola navigates one of the countless narrow canals that form Venice's side streets.
This detail of one of the corners of the Doges Palace shows the highly stylized columns, archways, statuary, and the pattern of the Verona marble on the exterior facade.
Several gondoliers pass some time on a small bridge over a canal. Why do you think they are all looking in the same direction? Yes, you are correct. A pretty woman had walked past.
The Grand Canal is lined with large, ornate palazzos. The ambassador of Charles VII of France in 1495 described it as "the most beautiful street in the world" More than 500 years later, many would still agree.

The Colors of Murano, Italy

This classic Venetian window is located on a house on Murano. Like the main part of Venice, Murano is built on a series of islands joined by bridges. It has been the center of glass making since 1291, when the glass furnaces were relocated from the main part of Venice to these islands to reduce the risk of fire in the main part of Venice.
Some fishermen, particularly those on the Venetian island of Burano, like to paint their houses the same color as their boats.
The colors add warmth and cheer to the houses that lack the fine Gothic architectural touches for which Venice is famous.
All produce and other goods must arrive by boat.
This is the central piazza on Murano, where the art of glass making is still a major industry today. In Medieval times, Venice restricted the right of glass blowers and their families to travel so that other nations would not learn the secrets of the master glass blowers. Today, it is possible for tourists to visit glass blowing factories and showrooms, although they can at times be rather touristy.

The Artistic Details of Venice

The Campanile tower is a landmark of Venice. It was rebuilt to look just like the original tower after it collapsed in 1902. The only victim of the collapse was a cat. It is 98.5 m. (323 ft) high, offering a spectacular view of Piazza San Marco and the surrounding area.
The balcony, windows and tiles of the Doges Palace are classic Venetian architecture. The exterior was built in the 14th and 15th Centuries, except the balcony above, which was added in 1536. The Doges Palace was the seat of government when the Venetian Empire was in its glory, based upon its maritime mastery of the Eastern Mediterranean and its trade routes to the East.
This side view of St. Mark's Basilica shows its location next to the corner of the Doges Place, shown on the right. The current basilica was built in the second half of the 12th Century, replacing earlier cathedrals built to hold the body of St. Mark. The tile floors, mosaic ceilings, and treasures inside the cathedral are spectacular. This photo shows part of the Byzantine influence of its architecture, reflecting Venice's orientation towards trade with the East.
The Grand Canal is the main street of Venice, lined with grandiose and ornate palazzos. Gondolas are a classic and romantic activity and, as you can see in this photo, popular.
St. Mark and angels adorn the top of the archway over the portico above the front door of St. Mark's Cathedral. The winged lion is the symbol of Venice, built over the doorway of many buildings throughout the Venetian empire. If the lion is holding a book that is open, the building was constructed during a time of peace. If the book is closed, it was built during war time.
This gondolier has seen the church of Santa Maria della Salute so many times that he does not even bother to take a look at it as he glides past. This baroque masterpiece was built beginning in 1630 to express thanks for the end of the plague that year. It is a magnificent landmark across the entrance to the Grand Canal from St. Mark's Square.
Street signs in Venice are painted on the sides of buildings and compete for attention with many architectural details. This sign points the way to Piazza San Marco. Walking through the narrow streets of Venice is like negotiating a maze.