Cannaregio, Venice's Most Relaxing District
Threading through Venice’s dim alleys and unexpected dead ends requires an act of faith. Even for those who enjoy labyrinths, navigating the city can be demanding….
Castello: Venice's Sestiere of Secrets
For most of its existence, Venice has been synonymous with secrecy, and no district embodies this better than Castello. Mysteries, illusions, and historic trickeries abound…
A Guide to Venetian Gothic Churches and Palazzos
Venetian architecture doesn’t follow the same patterns as anywhere else. Nothing illustrates this better than the city’s most iconic style, which goes by the rather…
Temple of Hercules Victor: The Oldest Building in Rome
The oldest building in Rome doesn’t call much attention to itself. For a culture which showed the world how to build big, it’s rather petite….
The Architecture of Naples' Historic Center
Piazza Dante at dawn: the street sweeper shoots across the square, veering off a wall at the last second, then speeds over to a lamppost,…
Sanfelice’s Rococo Palazzos in Naples’ Rione Sanità
Can any site embody a city, especially one as architecturally rich as Naples? If so, our candidate would be a pair of staircases in the…
History of the Alhambra's Paradisal Gardens and Courtyards
Inspired by paradise itself, Granada’s Alhambra holds the power to transport us from the cares of the outside world. In spite of being photographed thousands…
Moorish Architecture and Views in Granada’s Albaicín District
When asked to picture Granada, most people conjure visions of the Alhambra. But the city’s historic heart has always been the Albaicín (or Albayzín). For…
Visiting Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia Towers
The Sagrada Familia may be Antoni Gaudí’s most famous building, but only a fraction of it was completed during his lifetime. The Nativity facade and…