Italy: Venice and its lagoons (November 13, 2011)

Who in his right mind would not want to visit Venice? The City of Canals has always been on my mind, especially when I listen to the music of Vivaldi. The former capital of the Venetian Republic, Venezia is actually built on 117 small islands connected to each other by hundreds of bridges.

Landmarks include the Piazza San Marco with St. Mark's Basilica and Campanile, the Doge's Palace, and the Grand Canal and Rialto Bridge among many others. Too bad we weren't able to try out the gondola ride since it comes out quite pricey if there are just a few of you sharing the cost. But we did hop on one of their vaporetto (water buses) to see the architecture along the Grand Canal. Photos of Venice, Italy are in the Ivan About Town Facebook page.

San Marino: Centro storico di San Marino e Monte Titano (November 13, 2011)

Since we were driving, passing by San Marino on the way to Venice was very convenient. The Repubblica di San Marino is the oldest surviving sovereign state and constitutional republic in the world. The landlocked country is the fifth smallest and is surrounded by Italy.

The Centro storico di San Marino e Monte Titano or the San Marino Historic Centre and Mount Titano is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among the major landmarks of San Marino are the Palazzo Pubblico, the Basilica di San Marino and the Torri di San Marino. Check out the San Marino album in the Ivan About Town Facebook page.

Italy: Exploring Rome and the Vatican City (November 12, 2011)

Rome is steeped in history. It no doubt deserves the title Eternal City. In fact, you will see layers of history as you walk its streets and visit the various sites and landmarks which make Rome what it is. We visited the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain as well as the Vatican City, among other attractions that make Italy's capital city a must-visit when in Europe. Here are photos of Rome, Itay and Vatican City in the Ivan About Town Facebook page.