Then we decided to look for the graves of some famous people buried in San Michele cemetery… San Michele cemetery - Orthodox part entrance, Venice, Italy In the Orthodox part we easily found the grave of Sergei Diaghilev - the founder of the Ballets Russes, San Michele cemetery - Orthodox part - Sergei Diaghilev grave, Venice, Italy and a few steps away two graves put side by side, one of Igor Stravinsky, the other of Vera Stravinsky.

San Michele cemetery - decorated tomb, Venice, Italy From the courtyard you can move on in many different directions. We chose the nearest gate and there we saw a small, contemporary part of the cemetery with ordinary graves - nothing really special. We have read somewhere that San Michele is supposed to be the resting place for the Venetians only for 10 years. After that time the ashes are moved to some other cemeteries.

What you have to be prepared for, when going to Venice, Italy, is that the very building you have craved to see for such a long time, might be currently undergoing renovation. What it means may be really painful. It may simply mean you won’t see the building of your dreams at all as it will be totally covered either with scaffolding… … or with a large piece of canvas.

Talking about renovation… Palazzo Ducale (The Doge's Palace) - scaffolding, Venice, Italy Take Saint Mark’s Square. You go there certain you will fully encompass the beauty of the Piazza this time. Pavement around Campanile renovated, Venice, Italy Nothing further from the truth! One-fourth of the pavement is being changed and the view that used to be so marvellous is now completely spoiled by some hideous fence they put to preserve the site.

Unless somebody really knows it is there, he most certainly won’t find it. Scala del Bovolo - top, Venice, ItalyScala del Bovolo - top, Venice, Italy Hidden in a labyrinth of narrow streets, suddenly changing their direction, this Renaissance jewel is truly worth seeing. Narrow street near Scala del Bovolo, Venice, Italy You can find it a short walk from Campo Manin, just follow the arrows.

I think most people know that Castel Gandolfo is the summer home of the Pope. I think many have been received in the special audiences. But how many people realize what lies outside the residence itself? How many had enough time to explore the surroundings of the famous place? We were lucky indeed as we did have quite a lot of time to do it. What struck us was that once you passed the Pope’s palace you were almost immediately thrust onto an amazing view.

When we visited Burano for the first time, we were truly taken by the colourful surroundings, as if straight from a fairy tale. Colourful buildings in Burano, Venice, Italy We took hundreds of photos and bought some postcards as well. Later at home I noticed a very interesting house in one of the postcards. It captured our attention because it was completely different from the rest of the colourful houses in Burano.

When in Florence, everybody goes to see the famous Ponte Vecchio (the Old Bridge) on the River Arno, but not everyone knows about a statue of a wild boar, tenderly called Il Porcellino, which means “piggy”. The statue is in fact a small fountain and is situated quite close to the bridge, in Mercato Nuovo (the Straw Market). As far as I know, it is a copy of a copy - Pietro Tacca made one in the 17th century, basing it on some Greek statue.

The Umberto I Gallery was constructed in the 19th century. You can find it in Naples, Italy and I must say it impressed us very much. It is a strange feeling to find yourself in a street and inside a building, and both of these in the same time. All this is due to the glass and steel dome that joins the passages between buildings. The floor is made of marble.

When we came to Capri, we were offered a special ride in a boat around Capri (the so-called giro isola). It was very exciting, as the views that passed by with the light speed were breathtaking, and because the roar of the motor made you almost deaf;-) I remember some of the views, some strangely cut rocks, some grand houses on the cliffs, a lighthouse and the such, Capri - lighthouse but most of all I cherish one moment of the trip.

Graffiti, which seems to be typical of our times, can be found even in ancient cities, like Pompeii. Here are three great (and sweet, I think) examples of graffiti, probably made by Pompeian children (otherwise it must have been a very unskilled so-called artist;-) The first, I believe, was supposed to represent a boat of some sort. Graffiti in Pompeii, boat The next one shows a fearsome (and quite fearless I’m sure) gladiator.

One day we decided to experience the green side of Venice. We learnt that there are two quite big parks in Venice - Parco delle Rimembranze and Giardini Pubblici. While walking along the latter one we encountered a strange sight. A long, vertical structure in a shape of a boat was rising before our eyes right, as it seemed, from the water of the lagoon. What on earth was it?

The main and the most obvious goal when going to Assisi is to visit the Basilica of St. Francis. The city, however, has something more to offer than that. Medieval buildings in Assisi, Italy It’s maybe a little difficult to notice when you are in a hurry to the Basilica but try to look sideways as well. Medieval buildings in Assisi, Italy The buildings and views you are passing on your way are simply beautiful.

Take the first step out of the vaporetto and there they are. The colourful fairy-tale houses of Burano. Burano - first sight, Venice, Italy It’s easy to reach the island of Burano by vaporetto. The trip lasts less than an hour (you can stop at Murano to buy some glass jewellery) and the island is quite small so you can visit Murano, Burano and Torcello in one day.

There are places in Venice where entry is forbidden. Forbidden neither by law nor by local customs. Forbidden by laws of physics. no trespasing, Venice, Italy There are no pavements, there is no place to put a foot.

Before I actually saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I had imagined it to be standing all alone. (Never mind the pictures I must have seen before, with all the buildings surrounding. Our memory and imagination are more powerful than the bare facts;-)) When you approach the area with the Tower, you encounter a wall surrounding what is called Piazza dei Miracoli. And it is by no mistake that Piazza dei Miracoli bears this very name.

When preparing for the trip from Venice to Torcello take into account the time needed for the trip itself (about 1 hour from Fondamente Nuove to Torcello, changing the vaporetto on Burano), the opening hours of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta with the bell tower, the Santa Fosca Church and the archaeological museum. A vaporetto gives you an opportunity to reach Torcello while experiencing breathtaking views of the lagoon of Venice and some aspects of the life of the local inhabitants.

Somebody had told us once (or we had read it somewhere) that Venice is nothing more than buildings and water. To see a tree there is something unique. Thus mentally prepared off we went to explore the treeless Venice. I must say that what we saw shocked us. Was that someone completely blind or something? Or maybe all he had achieved in Venice was to visit St. Mark’s Square and go back inland?

Yes, we definitely like travelling. But we definitely like animals too. So it’s inevitable that while travelling we pay attention to (almost) any living forms;-)) What does a dog’s life look like in a city situated on water for example? Not that bad, I must say. The one we saw had its own boat;-) A dog in a boat in Venice, Italy The other one seemed to be the owner of a mask-selling shop.

Venice is different. No doubt about it. There is no other so famous a city constructed on wooden piles, surrounded by water, crossed by many canals and so full of beautiful buildings and charming places. After a while you get used to the thought that Venice is exceptional. By that I definitely don’t mean you get bored with Venice. Far from that! You just simply take for granted that you are supposed to encounter something special every minute of your stay there.

Well, at long last (but not least;-)) here come Venice curiosities part three. Have a look at this fantasic mixture of Italy and China for a start. Ristorante Chinatown in Venice, Italy Once we visited one Korean restaurant in Giudecca to have… Tiramisu. Well, as you can see everything’s possible. Apart from Tiramisu what is the most typical and well-known and loved worldwide speciality of the Italian cuisine?

It’s really amazing to stand on the bridge and be able to admire Santa Maria della Salute on the one side and the Canale Grande on the other at the same time but not in the same light. Here is the Santa Maria della Salute view.

Padua, a very nice, picturesque city, has one special tradition. On the market square, where by the way you can buy a variety of juicy fruit and different vegetables, there is a nice fountain. Padua, Italy - fountain We were told that in the past this very fountain had witnessed one of the most peculiar traditions we have heard of. When a man graduated from a university, his fellow students dipped him in the fountain and they definitely did their best to make him soaked wet.

Even though we had had it guaranteed in the schedule, there was some misunderstanding and it turned out some other people were to go inside the Colosseum instead of us. Impossible! Well, we might have as well bought a postcard if we wanted to see the famous building on the outside only. Rome, Italy - Colosseum - the first sight It was the first sight of the Colosseum.

What struck us while in Pompeii was these huge blocks of stone, put at some distance from one another on the street, joining two opposing pavements. We found out that they had been meant to prevent the Pompeii pedestrians from getting all soaked wet and dirty in what was flowing on the streets. The huge stones were thus a kind of a zebra crossing of our times. Zebra crossing in ancient Pompeii - cart tracks Notice long deep tracks in the street made by carts going by in ancient times.