The Rialto Bridge's 24-foot arch was designed to allow passage of galleys, and the massive structure was built on some 12,000 wooden pilings that still support the bridge more than 400 years later. The architect, Antonio da Ponte ("Anthony of the Bridge," appropriately enough), competed against such eminent designers as Michelangelo and Palladio for the contract.

This is the Bridge of Sighs. Antonio Contino's bridge over the Rio di Palazzo was erected in the year 1600 to connect the Doge's prisons, or Prigioni, with the inquisitor's rooms in the main palace. The name "Bridge of Sighs" was invented in the 19th Century, when Lord Byron helped to popularize the belief that the bridge's name was inspired by the sighs of condemned prisoners as they were led through it to the executioner. (In reality, the days of inquisitions and summary executions were over by the time the bridge was built, and the cells under the palace roof were occupied mostly by small-time criminals.)

The facade of the library is two-storied, with Corinthian style columns on the ground floor, and behind it, there are three entrances to the building. The one in the middle is higher than the other two. The statues in the niches of the columns today are the copies of the originals, which were taken to Viana on the excavations in 1910. The statues symbolize wisdom (Sophia), knowledge (Episteme), intelligence (Ennoia) and virtue (Arete) of Celsus.

Sirkeci Station has been serving train passengers arriving and departing from Istanbul for over a century. While waiting for their trains to arrive they can indulge their nostalgia for the past in the restaurant here. The famous Orient Express, first arrived in 1895, which in its time carried kings, princes and statesmen to Istanbul, no longer exists. Sirkeci Station's age of splendor has long gone, but elderly people still remember how the earlier generation described it as a fairy tale.

The church of Agios Nikolaos (St. Nikolaus) is one of the churches the most seen of Mykonos island as it is located near the port. It is a very small church with a blue dome.

Chora Mykonos is a typical Cycladic village built amphitheatrically. It has whitewashed cubic houses with wooden coloured doors, windows and balconies, narrow streets forming a labyrinth, beautiful churches, lovely chapels and purple bougainvilleas contrasting with the bright white of the buildings’ walls.

They are primarily concentrated in the neighborhood of Chora (shown here) and some are also located in and around Alevkantra. These innovative wheels were primarily used for crushing agricultural yields. In all there were 16 such windmills in operation.

They are conspicuous by their snow-white color, spherical shape with the customary pointed roof made of the finest variety of wood. In the good old days, they were wind operated as Mykonos is renowned for their gusty wind, which continues to blow even today.

The volcano collapsed higher roof-lines and buried Pompeii under many meters of ash and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1700 years before its accidental rediscovery in 1748. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Pieta, which depicts the Virgin Mary holding the body of her son Jesus Christ after his death, has been created in many different forms by various painters and sculptors. Of all the great paintings and sculptures on the Pieta, however, the one by Michelangelo stands out from all the rest.
Prior to sculpting the Pieta, Michelangelo was relatively unknown to the world as an artist. He was only in his early twenties when he was commissioned in 1498 to do a life-size sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding her son in her arms. It would be the first of four that he would create and the only one he completely finished. It was to be unveiled in St. Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee of 1500.

In less than two years Michelangelo carved from a single slab of marble, one of the most magnificent sculptures ever created. His interpretation of the Pieta was far different than ones previously created by other artists. Michelangelo decided to create a youthful, serene and celestial Virgin Mary instead of a broken hearted and somewhat older woman.

When it was unveiled a proud Michelangelo stood by and watched as people admired the beautiful Pieta. However, what was pride quickly turned into anger as he overheard a group of people attributing the work to other artists of his time. That anger caused Michelangelo to add one last thing to his sculpture. Going down the sash on the Virgin Mary, Michelangelo carved his name. He later regretted that his emotions got the best of him and vowed to never sign another one of his works again.

Artworks in St. Peter's Basilica

The monument is built of pure white marble and features majestic stairways, tall Corinthian columns, fountains, a huge equestrian sculpture of Victor Emmanuel and two statues of goddess Victoria riding on quadrigas. The structure is 135 meters (490 ft) wide and 70 meters (230 ft) high. If the quadrigae and winged victories are included, the height is to 81 meters (265 ft).

The monument holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame, built under the statue of Italy after World War I. The base of the structure also houses the museum of Italian Reunification.

Romans sometimes refer to the structure by a variety of irreverent slang expressions, such as "the wedding cake".

The Colosseum remained in use for nearly 500 years with the last recorded games being held there as late as the 6th century — well after the traditional date of the fall of Rome in 476. As well as the traditional gladiatorial games, many other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building eventually ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such varied purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry and a Christian shrine.

Although it is now in a severely ruined condition due to damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum has long been seen as an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and is one of the finest surviving examples of Roman architecture. It is one of modern Rome's most popular tourist attractions.

Perseus, with a curved sword, a gift of Mercury, wears winged sandals, like Mercury's, and a helmet with wings (resembling Mercury's hat) kills Medusa by cutting off her head. Blood gushes from the severed neck of Medusa, one of the snake-haired Gorgons, who could turn men to stone.

Cellini, a goldsmith, carefully worked this large bronze. Like Michelangelo, who signed the St. Peter's Pietà on a strap across the Madonna's bosom, Cellini signed this bronze work on the strap which crosses Perseus's torso.

Believed to have been first built in Roman times, it was originally made of wood. After being destroyed by a flood in 1333 it was rebuilt in 1345, this time in stone. Most of the design is attributed to Taddeo Gaddi. The bridge consists of three segmental arches, the main arch has a span of 30 meters (98 feet) the two side arches each span 27 meters (88 feet). The rise of the arches is between 3.5 and 4.4 meters (11½ to 14½ feet), and the span-to-rise ratio 5:1.

It has always hosted shops and merchants, which displayed their goods on tables after authorisation of the Bargello (a sort of a lord mayor, a magistrate and a police authority).

During World War II, the Ponte Vecchio was not destroyed by Germans during their retreat of August 4, 1944, unlike all other bridges in Florence. This was allegedly because of an express order by Hitler. Access to Ponte Vecchio was, however, obstructed by the destruction of the buildings at both ends.

A distinctive feature of Florence's skyline is the dome of the cathedral (Duomo), Santa Maria del Fiore. The building was begun by the sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296. Numerous local artists continued to work on it during the following century and a half. The painter Giotto designed its sturdy bell tower (campanile) in 1334. Yet, the massive octagonal cupola (1420-36) that truly dominates both the church and the city was the proud achievement of Filippo Brunelleschi, master architect and sculptor. Opposite the cathedral stands the Baptistery; the building dates from the 11th century but was believed by Florentines to be a surviving Roman monument when they commissioned for it a series of bronze doors with relief sculptures (1330; 1401-52). The third pair of these doors, by Lorenzo Ghiberti, were of such rare beauty that Michelangelo christened them the " Gates of Paradise."

The basilica is notable for its exterior facing of polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white.

On the right side of the vast building remains the ancient cathedral of Major, built in the 12th century on the place of "Diane la Grande's temple". Very big during its construction, because it extended up to the edge of the cliff which dominates the sea, in 1852 its destruction was decided. But under the pressure of public opinion, it was saved from destruction.

This summer, Marseille will be greeting a herd of cows unlike any others. The Cow Parade, tours the world in aid of Charity, and the next event will be hosted in Marseille in aid of sick children for the “Fil d’Arianne” Association.

Cows of all colours and shapes will be transformed, decorated, and exposed from Monday the 11th June, until Thursday the 11th October 2007. The cows will be displayed in the different streets, places, and public gardens of the city of Marseille.

Delays were caused by many factors, including the Spanish Civil War, Gaudi's design flaws (which had to be corrected), his propensity to change plans in midstream, and his death in 1926 (he was killed by a streetcar).

Completion-time estimates vary from "soon" to "never". If you factor in modern engineering technology and the structure's current state (70% complete), I would say 2020. But with this project, any prediction is risky.

The Sacred Family Church will have 12 spires soaring as high as a modern 35-story building, So far 8 have been built. In addition, there will be a central dome and spire rising yet another 15 stories.

Situated on an asymmetrical corner lot, this large apartment building was immediately dubbed "la pedrera," or "the quarry," because of its cliff-like walls. Various theories have been advanced as to the source of Gaudí's inspiration: from ocean waves to a variety of specific mountains, even a mountain crest with clouds. Regardless of the springs of creation, this limestone building seems sculptural, with contrasts between curves, concavities, and voids, with pale stone contrasting with dark iron.

The wrought-iron balconies were the design of Josep Maria Jujol, Gaudí's frequent collaborator. Each is different and was improvised in the forge.