Views from Palazzo Ducale Venezia

Bocca di Leone

Bocca di Leone (Lion's mouth) is a 'complaint box', embedded in the wall of Doge's palace in Venice. The citizens of Venice had the possibility to submit written complaints in secret. In cases that the security of the Republic was endangered, the complaints were forwarded for further investigation to the State Inquisitors or the much dreaded Council of Ten. There were many 'complaint boxes' in the city of Venice, especially around the Doge's Palace. Nowadays, the only two boxes can be seen in Doge's Palace (the one pictured below) and the church Santa Maria della Visitazione.

Bocca di Leone in Doge's Palace in Venice. The inscription reads: "Secret denunciations against anyone who will conceal favors and services or will collude to hide the true revenue from them."

Murano, Venezia

The clock tower in the center of Murano, Venezia.

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco, Venezia /  St Mark's Square, Venice

View of the Piazzetta with the two granite columns carrying the symbols of the patron saints of Venice - the Lion of Venice (symbol of Saint Mark) and Saint Theodore (the patron of the city before St Mark).

Isola San Michele Venezia

Isola San Michele - Venice's island of the dead.

L'isola di San Michele - Isola dei Morti di Venezia. Il cimitero sull'isola di San Michele visto da Murano.

The cemetery on the isle of San Michele seen from Murano.

Murano Glass

Murano, Italy: the art of Venetian glassmaking.

If you are staying in Venice for a couple of days, make sure to visit the small island of Murano. Murano lies in the Venetian lagoon, about 1.5 km (or 0.9 miles) north of Venice. The island is extremely easy to reach from Venice by vaporetto, Italian for waterbus.

In the late 13th century, the Venetian Republic moved glassmaking to the island of Murano in order to prevent fires and the destruction of buildings (mostly wooden at the time) in the city of Venice. Murano quickly gained its reputation as a center of glassmaking. To the present day, Murano is associated with Venetian glass and tourists can visit a demonstration in one of Murano's glassfactories.

Murano, Venezia 2014.

Murano, Venezia: Palazzo Da Mula

Palazzo Da Mula a Murano, Venezia.

The buildings in Murano may be not as grand as the palaces of Venice and yet they are extremely beautiful. Palazzo da Mula is definitely one of the most charming buildings on the island of Murano. I think the building currently houses various exhibitions.

View of Murano's Grand Canal with Palazzo da Mula (on the right). Murano, Venice, Italy.

Murano, Venice: a Splash of Colors

The Venetian island of Murano is a real splash of colors in summertime.

L'isola di Murano a Venezia è un vero e proprio tocco di colore in estate.

Colorful houses along the canal in Murano, Italy.

Murano, Venice

The main canal on the island of Murano in Venice, Italy.

Il canale principale sull'isola di Murano a Venezia.

Murano, Venice, Italy. 2014.

Platz am Ritterbrunnen Braunschweig

View of Platz am Ritterbrunnen (Knight Fountain Square) in the center of Braunschweig, Germany. This square is located just in front of the big shopping center Schloss Arkaden.

Platz am Ritterbrunnen Braunschweig.

Blending with the Crowd

Art figures blending with the crowd in the center of Braunschweig.

Lineup Braunschweig

Lineup of life size figures in the square in front of Schloss Arkaden in Braunschweig.

Schloss Arkaden, Braunschweig Germany.

Art in the Streets of Braunschweig

Art in the streets of Brunswick (Braunschweig, Germany): life size figures taking a shower in the Altstadtmarkt (Old City Market).

Swimmers showering in the Altstadtmarkt in Brunswick (Braunschweig), Germany.

Braunschweiger Löwe or Brunswick Lion

The Brunswick Lion (in German: Braunschweiger Löwe) is the best-known landmark and symbol of the city of Brunswick (Braunschweig). A copy of the Brunswick Lion stands in Burgplatz square and the original is kept in Burg Dankwarderode (Dankwarderode Castle). The giant lion figure (it weighs almost 900 kg) was cast during the reign of Henry the Lion, Duke of Bavaria and Saxony. The Brunswick Lion is the oldest large sculpture from the Middle Ages, found north of the Alps. It is also the earliest example of hollow casting of a large figure since antiquity.

The Brunswick Lion (Braunschweiger Löwe) in the Burgplatz square. Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany.

Kohlmarkt Braunschweig

A busy day in the Kohlmarkt of Braunschweig. The Kohlmarkt is a popular square in the inner city of Braunschweig. By the way, the name Kohlmarkt refers to coal and not cabbage as coal used to be stored and traded in the market. Braunschweig also gets translated to Brunswick in English.

The Kohlmarkt in the center of Braunschweig (Lower Saxony, Germany).

Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück

Gymnasium Carolinum Osnabrück is located in the center of the city, right next to the cathedral. It is one of the oldest, still functioning schools in Germany. Gymnasium Carolinum was founded in 804 as a cathedral school.

Saturday market and Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück.

Bridge and Houses in Osnabrück

A bridge over the Hase and some houses in the old town (alte stad) of Osnabrück, Germany.

One of the bridges leading to the old town (alte stad) of Osnabrück.

Osnabrück, Germany

View from the shpping streets of Osnabrück: the Saturn store (Kamp 50) and a giant Easter bunny on the rooftop of a cafe... still painting eggs a week after Easter :-)

Kamp is one of the major shopping streets in the center of Osnabrück.

 

Casino Esplanade Hamburg

Street view: two shots of Casino Esplanade in downtown Hamburg, Germany.

The facade of Casino Esplanade in Hamburg, Germany.

Remembering the Beatles

The Beatles spent almost two years in Hamburg in the early days of their career. They were performing in various bars and clubs in Hamburg's notorious St. Pauli neighborhood.

Nowadays, a small square in St Pauli bears the name of the Beatles. Beatles-Platz also features a small memorial in the form of four silhouettes.

Beatles Platz in St Pauli, Hamburg.

Hamburg Alte Oberpostdirektion

The former main post office (German: Alte Oberpostdirektion) in Stephansplatz, Hamburg. The building was designed by Julius Carl Raschdorff and constructed in the period 1883-1887. The facade is decorated with sculpture groups which represent the benefits of post, telegraphy and telephony. The central tower is topped by a statue of a flying Mercury, the Greek messenger of the Gods speeding through the skies.

Stephansplatz Hamburg - the former main post office building.

Lake Alster in Hamburg

Modern sculpture on the shores of the Alster in Hamburg. I really have no idea what it is supposed to mean.

The Atlantic Kempinski Hotel

Grand Hotel Atlantic Kempinski is a first-class, 5-star hotel in Hamburg. It is very centrally located, close to the central train station and Hamburg's city center.

The Atlantic Kempinski Grand Hotel in Hamburg sits on the shores of lake Alster.

Hamburg Hbf

Views of Hamburg Hbf (the central railway station in Hamburg).

The central train station in Hamburg, seen from the Southern side.

Hamburg TV Tower

The Hamburg TV tower is the tallest structure in the city. The tower is 279,2 meters (916 ft) high and it is named after the Hamburg-born German physicist Heinrich Hertz.

The Heinrich Hertz TV tower in Hamburg, seen from the botanic gardens.

St Georgs Kirchhof in Hamburg

View of St Georgs Kirchhof, located not far from the central railway station in Hamburg.

The St Georgs church in Hamburg.

Hamburg Hauptbahnhof

Inside the enormous hall of Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (the central railway station in Hamburg).

Hamburg Hbf

Jet d'eau Hamburg

The water fountain in the Binnenalster (Inner Alster) of Hamburg is a smalle version of the Jet d'eau in Geneva. In Hamburg, the water is jetted to an altitude of 60 meters, as apposed to 140 meters in Geneva. This has to do with the windy weather in Hamburg. Nevertheless, the view is simply astonishing.

View of the Binnenalster and Hamburg's version of Jet d'eau. Hamburg Germany 2014.

Europa Passage in Hamburg

Inside the Europa Passage. Hamburg Germany, 2014.

Inside the Europa Passage in Hamburg, Germany. The Europa Passage is a mega shopping mall, located in the center of Hamburg.

Easter in Hamburg

Easter in Hamburg: a tree decorated with Easter eggs and the Hamburg harbor in the background.

Easter eggs.

The Sexiest McDonald's in the World

McDonald's in the Reeperbahn. Hamburg,Germany.

This must be the world's sexiest McDonald's. It can be spotted in the Reeperbahn, Hamburg's nightlife center and red-light district.

Colorful Bratislava

Colorful Bratislava: Kapucinska Street and view of the Bratislava Castle (Bratislavský hrad) on the top of the hill.

Kapucinska, Bratislava.

Bratislava Main Square

View of the Roland Fountain in Bratislava's Main Square. The two buildings behind the fountain are the Palace of the Hungarian Exchange Bank (on the left) and Palugyay Palace (on the right).

Palace of the Hungarian Exchange Bank (left), Palugyay Palace (right) and the Roland Fountain in the Main Square of Bratislava.

Bratislava Old Town

In the Old Town in Bratislava.

Colorful buildings in the Old Town of Bratislava.

The St. Michael clock tower in the background is one of the tallest structures in the historic center of Bratislava.

Roland Fountain in Bratislava

The Roland Fountain (in Slovak: Rolandova fontána) is the most famous fountain in Bratislava. It is located in the Main Square of the Old Town and is one of the city's landmarks.

The fountain is sometimes referred to as Maximillian fountains because construction was ordered by Maximillian II, the King Of Hungary. The fountain is topped by a statue of Maximillian in full knight armour.

The statue of Maximillian topping the Roland Fountain in the Main Square of Bratislava.

Radisson Blu Carlton Bratislava

View of the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia, and Hviezdoslav Square.

This architecturally beautiful hotel is located in the historic center of Bratislava and is overlooking Hviezdoslav Square.

Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel overlooking Hviezdoslav Square in the center of Bratislava.

Bratislava's Opera House

The Slovak National Theater and Opera House in Bratislava.

Bratislava Old Town

Michalska or St. Michael Street is a busy street in the Old Town of Bratislava.

Michalska St. in the Old Town of Bratislava and view of the St. Michael clock tower.

Michael's Gate in the Center of Bratislava

Michael's Gate (in Slovak: Michalska Brana) forms the eastern entrance to the Old Town of Bratislava. This is the only watchtower which has remained from the city's original fortification. The clock tower was built in the early 14th century and has been rebuilt several times since then.

With a height of more than 50 meters, the tower offers a stunning view of Bratislava. It also houses an exhibition dedicated to arms and the city's fortification.

Michael's Gate in Bratislava.

Beautiful Bratislava

The old town of Bratislava is really beautiful and always busy with tourists. This Main Square with the clock tower is one of Bratislava's major attractions.

The Main Square with the Clock Tower in the center of Bratislava.

Hlavní náměstí in Bratislava

Hlavní náměstíl literally means Main Square. It is located in the Old Town of the Slovak capital Bratislava and is considered the center of the city.

Tourist bus in Hlavni namesti. Bratislava, Slovakia.

Tyre Lebanon

Some houses in the old town of Tyre badly need urgent reconstruction.

In the Christian Quarter of Tyre (Sour) in South Lebanon.

Generali Building Beirut

Generali Building in the center of Beirut, Lebanon.

The historic Generali Building in Beirut's Central Business District has been restored to its full former glory.

The restoration project was executed by Beirut-based 4b Architects.

Beirut Souks

The souks are the ultimate shopping destination in Beirut's Central Business District. The Beirut Souks have been completely rebuilt by Solidaire,  a Lebanese development company. The company was founded by the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri who was assassinated on 14 March 2005.

Entry to the Beirut Souks from Fakhry Bey Street.

Spring

Spring in South Lebanon.

Spring is in the air!

Colorful countryside landscapes from South Lebanon.

Contemporary Architecture in the Beirut Souks

Beirut Souks - the largest shopping complex in Lebanon.

Modern orange sculpture in the Beirut Souks in downtown Beirut.

Jezzine Waterfalls

The highest waterfall in Jezzine.

The town of Jezzine in South Lebanon is known for its natural beauty. There are several waterfalls and the houses are built right on the edge of the cliffs.

The highest waterfall in Jezzine is about 40 meters high.

Traditional Architecture in Jezzine, Lebanon

A traditional house in Jezzine with a billboard of Haddad Cutlery on the rooftop. The Haddad Company is a famous local manufacturer of hand-made cutlery.

Jezzine, Lebanon.

Our Lady of the Waterfall in Jezzine, Lebanon

Our Lady of the Waterfall is a statue of Maria at the entrance of the town of Jezzine in South Lebanon.

The statue of Maria in Jezzine.

Traditional Building in Jezzine Lebanon

Most of the buildings in Jezzine are built of yellow stone in traditional Lebanese style.

The Main Street in Jezzine Lebanon

The main street in the center of Jezzine, Lebanon. Most of the shops, restaurants and cafes can be found here and in the direct vicinity.

In the center of Jezzine, Lebanon.