Palazzo Ducale or the Doge's Palace was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Venice. Ducale or…read moreDoge means Duke. The Duke was the highest governing position in Venice, and this is once where they lived. While strolling St. Mark's Square I already admired the beauty of the building. The building has gothic architecture with influences from the Byzantine times, Islamic and European Medieval styles. My camera does not do its' beauty justice. The tickets to Doge's Palace are time entry tickets, but they didn't seem to be too strict compared to other museums. Tickets are 37€/person. There is a baggage check in area for large items like a backpack, at no cost. It's nice because my boyfriend and I left our stuff there, even things that weren't required to be checked so we walked around more lightly. I only kept my phone for photos. One of the first things I remember seeing is the snitch mailbox. In the olden days the citizens were encouraged to rat on one another and they can leave anonymous tips for the government here. Unfortunately as a result many were wrongfully imprisoned... and there is a full on prison in the later ends of the tour. It was really scary to walk through. On a more positive note, there had the most stunning golden staircase and one of the most incredible largest paintings in the world, the Il Parasido by Jacopo Tintoretto. A must visit when visiting Venice!

Situated between the Basilica di San Marco and the Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront, the Palazzo…read moreDucale, or Doge's (Duke's) Palace, is arguably the jewel in the crown. It was the seat of the government of Venice for centuries and hosted various government institutions, including the Great Council and the Council of Ten, which controlled the affairs of the republic. Its façade featured intricate marble reliefs, elegant arches, and decorative elements that showcased the beauty of the place where my partner, our friend, family members, and I had gotten self-guided tickets without a reservation last Saturday and moved quickly. One entered the palazzo through a door next to the Lagoon into an enormous courtyard and the Arco Foscari. Here we saw the mix of styles that made up the palace, as successive doges tried to make the palace ever more magnificent. Inside, one can explore a series of opulent rooms, grand halls, and ornate chambers adorned with exquisite artworks, stunning frescoes, and elaborate ceilings. Notable rooms include the Doge's apartments, the Hall of the Great Council, and the Chamber of the Council of Ten. Plan a minimum of two hours to get a good bit of history, which is a living echo of a world that helped shape Europe. We can recommend.

The history in Verona is incredible. This castle and its grounds are well worth the journey. I did…read morenot notice this specifically highlighted in travel books but I am glad we walked from our hotel to check it out. Everything in Verona seems so close and easily accessible to each other!

We did not have time to tour the museum portion of the Castelvecchio but we did have the…read moreopportunity to walk the exterior and admire this amazing structure. The museum displays a collection of sculpture, statues, paintings, ancient weapons, ceramics, goldworks, miniatures and some old bells. "Castelvecchio" translates to "Old Castle" and it is indeed quite old. It is built on the location of the Roman fortress, built between 1354 and 1376 and includes a bridge across the Adige River. The castle was damaged by French troops during the Napoleonic Wars and once captured, Napoleon stayed here on his trips to Verona. The exterior moat is currently dry but was once filled by water fed by the river. The castle is not massive compared to others but does have seven towers and four buildings inside. The bridge was destroyed by the retreating German army in 1945 and rebuilt in 1949. [Review 16970 overall - 175 in Italy - 486 of 2022.]

This was literally one of the most spectacular sights I have seen in all my European adventures. It…read morerival the great works like the Ghent Alterpiece and St Peter's. It's a small chapel with a luminous fresco cycle painted by Giotto in the 14th century.. The main panels feature the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary typical of religious art of the period. These are accompanied by smaller panels depicting the 12 vices and virtues. These panels are unique in their examination of good and evil and the means to achieve salvation through earthly deeds. Tickets MUST be purchased in advance and specify date and time. I advise arriving at least one half hour in advance to find parking (not convenient or easy) and making you way to the chapel. There is also a fascinating museum filled with centuries of art and treasures attached to the chapel. Allow at least 3 hours. If you are anywhere near Padua, this is an experience not to be missed!

This is definitely a highlight in Padova. My friend purchased tickets online and we came a little…read moreearlier than our scheduled entry time. We wandered around the courtyard of the museum until it was time to go in. We waited outside for our group's turn and entered the screening room. The chairs were spaced out. The film provided a good introduction to what we were about to see and the history of the chapel. The subtitles were in English. Once inside, we had just about the right amount of time to look at the walls in detail. I took photos with both my phone and camera, without flash. I think it is very cool that the first kiss in art history is in this chapel. I recommend a visit to see this historical work if you are in Padova.

Just a delightful day & experience. We stayed right nearby, which was a treat in itself, but loved…read moreseeing the entire collection & home. I do think 7 dollars pp for the headset is asking a bit too much following a fairly generous admission fee. If you purchase tickets for after something like 3:30 pm, you can enter at any time after that until last entry, so that was nice. Free small lockers for your jackets. They will not allow or hold luggage, I mention this because we wanted to visit before our Airbnb was ready, but unfortunately did not see that nearby there were luggage storage places. We could have used our wasted waiting time better. While I am not a huge fan of modern art, it was so nice to see the inside & terrace/dock of the estate and learn about her dear daughter, Pegeen, who passed away prematurely. I loved the little story about the statue with the detachable phallus that inevitably needed to be soldered on after being stolen many times. A stunning & tranquil corner of Venice.

Mega over-crowded! We bought tickets online because it may "sell out". I don't think they would…read moreever sell out-seems packing hundreds of people into very small rooms and hallways was just fine. Large student groups of uninterested kids and bougie aficionados with no self-awareness abound. Not sure if the art or people watching was more insufferable. We spent about 20 min inside before we bailed. Also, 90% of the art looks like what second graders produce and parents would hang on a fridge. Want to see art? Walk thru any of the art galleries with photography and oil paintings for sale-far better plan. Not sure how this gets nearly 5 stars. During the very busy season this place must be even more insane. How about limit the crowds, especially for those with the foresight to pre-purchase tickets to avoid what we experienced.

For locals, €5 gets you a season pass (now until 31 OCT 2014) to enjoy the top of the Basilica…read morePalladiana, including the loggia and the upper terrace. €1 for a one-time visit. The reconstruction of the original site began in 1549 by Andrea Palladio and was completed in 1614. Renovated in 2007, the loggia is a beautiful space to enjoy views of Vicenza through the Palladian windows. The clock tower has been around since at least 1172. On the terrace is a bar where you can enjoy an aperol/campari spritz (€4) or vino while relaxing in the afternoon/evening shade provided by the basilica. I believe there is other light fare as well. An excellent place for photographs and watching piazza activity!

This is by far the best spot to view the beauty of Vicenza. There are two decks to walk around and…read moregorgeous architecture to view from every spot. My husband is now working here and we have two of our four children along for the ride. We decided to purchase a seasonal pass for 5 euro. It's totally worth it. Every time we head down to the centro now we have the option to head up top for a gorgeous view. There's a bar on the roof that serves several different drinks and water naturale or frizzante is available as well. The seating is great. The servers spoke excellent English and we very friendly. Most restaurants here add a service fee into the price if the place is nice. Otherwise you might want to leave a couple euro. Italians don't seem to tip based off the cost of the food. It's more of just a thank you.

500 to 600 year-old works of art including Michelangelo and Bosch. But the highlight is undoubtedly…read morethe vitruvian man by da Vinci. It is worth the price of the entry alone. It sits behind a closed curtain for 20 minutes then they uncover it for another 20 minutes. They say it will be on display for one year. And then it is stored in a dark room where no one can see it for eight years. They do this routine to avoid damaging the sensitive material.

Worth a trip to the Gallerie dell' Accademia when visiting Venezia…read more I recommend lunch or dinner at Al Vechio Maragon (nearby) after the visiting the museum.

3.5 rounded up to 4…read more I booked the early morning factory tour for 9:30 AM. I was the only person on the tour so it was essentially a private tour of the factory, sounds good right? Well no cameras or phones allowed on the tour, but OK. The problem when I went the main factory was closed due to a new production model of Lamborghini being set up so I got to see the SUV factory. It was interesting to see the entire vehicle stations from frame to finish, I think about 20 stations total. All the custom colors, configurations like left or right drive, custom interiors, and wheels/rims. An interesting tour, just would have been better if it was one of the sports model of Lamborghini. On to the museum. The first floor was older more historic models. The second floor was newer models. I had been to the 2 Ferrari museums the day before and liked how they were set up with the model name and info on an easy to read place card. It wasn't until I finished touring the first floor and was about halfway through the send floor that I finally realized that the info on each model was on the stanchions, and not all of them exactly near the car. Not very obvious and the grey lettering on white background doesn't really standout. Overall an interesting museum, especially if you are a car fan. But if you only have time to tour the Lamborghini museum or one of the Ferrari museums I would recommend a Ferrari museum.

After visiting the Modena Italian Luxury car museum, we couldn't leave without stopping here given…read morethey were so close. About a 1/2 hour Taxi ride from Modena. We inquired about the factory tour but unfortunately they were fully booked so advance booking is recommended. About 20 cars in the collection and looks like it rotates. We arrived soon after they opened on a Tuesday (9:30) and not a lot of traffic but started to pick up when we finished around 11:15. Would recommend planning for 1.5 hours. A Simulator is available and the shop, next door, had a good selection of merchandise. I was impressed with the collection and really enjoyed the first floor which showcased the early years. I only remember the Countach and after models. 65 350 GT is the one! Staff was friendly and helpful with our questions. They had lockers for luggage which was perfect. Well worth the detour from Modena!

The architecture is beautiful. We came on a Saturday and there were a lot of groups visiting…read more There was a festival in town too. A lot of teens hang out nearby and it feels fun and lively.