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Italy
Amalfi  Amalfi Cathedral  The Amalfi Cathedral dates back to the 9th century and displays examples of Arab-Norman, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles. It is famous for containing the relics of St Andrew, which were brought to the cathedral in 1206 and are now held in the cathedral’s crypt. READ MORE Civitavecchia  Church of the Holy Japanese Martyrs  The Church of the Holy Japanese Martyrs in Civitavecchia was built in 1860s to commemorate the 26 Japanese Christians who were executed on February 5, 1597, in Nagasaki, Japan. Destroyed during the bombing of Civitavecchia on August 30, 1943, the church was rebuilt in Baroque architectural style and was inaugurated on October 4, 1950. Its interior contains some beautiful modern paintings and fittings. READ MOREChurch of the Virgin of Graces (Church of the Star)  Located in the oldest square in Civitavecchia, the Church of the Virgin of Graces, also known as the Church of the Star, is one of the oldest churches in Civitavecchia dating back to the 13th century. It contains the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Graces, which is deeply revered by the local community and is a significant feature of the church's annual procession held every September 8th. READ MOREFort Michelangelo
 Fort Michelangelo was built in the 16th century on the ground plan of a Roman building to defend the port of Civitavecchia from the constant incursions from pirates. Within one of its towers is a small chapel dedicated to Santa Fermina, Patron Saint of the Sailors and Civitavecchia. The chapel is located where the saint is said to have found shelter inside a cave and where she stayed for two years. The fortress today is located between the city area and water front and is the Headquarters of the Port Authorities. READ MOREThe Duomo  The Santa Maria del Fiore, in Florence better known simply as the “Duomo”, which means Cathedral. Although renowned for being one of the lasting symbols of the Italian Renaissance (1400 - 1600), the Duomo actually started out as Gothic structure. Florence was the centre of the Renaissance (Rebirth) and led the way in Renaissance architecture until 1490 when it became a Republic and the city fell upon hard times. READ MORE.JPG?876) Situated approximately 800 meters from the Duomo, the Basilica di Santa Croce or the Basilica of the Holy Cross dates back to the 15th century when it was constructed on marshland outside of the city walls of Florence. Although the original structure dates from 1212 when St. Francis of Assisi visited Florence. READ MOREPitti Palace  The Pitti Palace is named after Luca Pitti who started to construct it in 1457, although he never completed it as he ran out of money. It was acquired by the Medici Family in 1550 and it was they who developed and enlarged it, enabling it to become the building we see today. In 1833 it became a museum that houses many beautiful works of art in its splendid and opulent rooms. READ MOREHerculaneum Archaeological Site 
During the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD which covered Pompeii with several metres of ash, the seaside town of Herculaneum was also destroyed, but by the Pyroclastic surge, a mixture of lava, mud, ash and hot gases, (with temperatures of 500oC) which swept down on it at 100 mph. The first surge instantly caused the death of a number of people who sought shelter in the boat houses at the seashore. The high temperature caused their bones and teeth to fracture and skulls to explode. READ MORE
La Spezia
Cathedral of Christ the King  The Cathedral of Christ the King, La Spezia is a modern distinctive looking circular building constructed predominantly of concrete. Concentrated in 1975 the concept of the design was a move away from the traditional Roman and Greek church design in that it would be circular in shape. The roof is supported by twelve columns signifying the twelve Apostles. In the centre of the roof is a large cupola with a diameter of 50 metres. READ MORECastle of San Giorgio  The Castle of San Giorgio, La Spezia dates back to the 13th century providing great views over the city. It also houses an Archaeological Museum containing artefacts relating to La Spezia dating from the Neolithic age, with an extensive display of Roman artefacts. READ MORE Church of Santa Maria  The Church of Santa Maria, La Spezia has existed on its current site in some form dating back to a least the 14th century. Having been rebuilt a number of times, significant repairs were carried out after it was severally damaged in World War II. Having served as a cathedral from 1929 until the construction of the new La Spezia cathedral in the 1975 the church contains a number of works of art. READ MORE Livorno Cathedral 
Built between 1594 and 1606, Livorno Cathedral was destroyed by Allied bombs in 1943. Following the war, it was rebuilt along its original lines, although with additions of the facade and transepts and was reconsecrated in 1952. It is most famous for the painting entitled 'Christ Crowned with Thorns' painted by Fra Angelico circa 1420. READ MORE Church of St Catherine  Located in the centre of Livorno is the church of Saint Catherine, also known as the Domenicani after the Domenican friars who commissioned it. Work began in 1720 but progress was slow and interrupted. Designed by the Italian architect and engineer, Giovanni del Fantasia (1670-1743) in the Baroque style and modelled after the Pantheon of Rome, he never finished it, having abandoned the work for another contract and a new design was commissioned in 1729. READ MORELucca Cathedral of St Martino  Saint Martino Roman Catholic Cathedral, Lucca dates back in its present form to the 11th century. Located in the centre of the old city it contains a number of works of art by famous Renaissance artists and also the Holy Face of Lucca, a wooden crucifix and image of Christ, dating from 782. READ MOREChurch of Saint Michele in Foro  Dating back to 795 the Roman Catholic Church of Saint Michele in Foro, Lucca is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Its architecture is in the Romanesque style with four tiers of blind arches and the interior consists of arcade supporting Corinthian columns. It contains works of art and a bell tower dating back to the 12-14th century. READ MORE
Church of Saint Paolino  The Church of St Paolino is the only fully Renaissance church in the city of Lucca. Constructed between 1515 and 1536 it contains its original furniture, paintings and sculptures and a richly frescoed interior. READ MORE Naples Castle (Castel Nuovo)  Castel Nuovo, or New Castle is located in the port area of Naples and is better known locally as Maschio Angioino (Angevin stronghold). Built between 1279 and 1282 by Charles I (1227-1285) of Anjou as a royal residence to replace the old castle.
Prior to Charles accession to the throne in 1266 the capital of the Kingdom of Naples was in Palermo, although Naples had a royal residence at the Castle Capuano this was replaced by Charles with the Castle Nuovo. READ MORE
Church of Gesu Nuovo
 Originally built as a palace in 1470 for Roberto Sanseverino, Prince of Salerno, the Church of Gesù Nuovo is situated just outside of the historic centre of Naples. Following its confiscation from the Sanseverino family in the 1580’s the building was acquired by the Jesuits to convert into a church and given the name of the Church of Gesù Nuovo, which in Italian means New Jesus. READ MORE
Church of Santa Chiara  Built between 1310 and 1328 the Santa Chiara is a religious complex that includes the Church of Santa Chiara; a monastery which is a community of the Grey Friars; and a convent of the Poor Clares; tombs and an archaeological museum. It also contains a belfry that stands within the grounds at the northeast corner. The complex is surrounded by a citadel-like wall separating it from the outside world. READ MORE
.JPG?620) The archaeological site of Ostia is located 15 miles (25 km) southwest of Rome, close to the town of Ostia at the mouth of the River Tiber on Italy’s west coast. It was, in Roman times, the seaport of ancient Rome and a major commercial centre and the first colony founded by ancient Rome. READ MORE
The Leaning Tower
San Gimignano The Basilica of the Assumption of Mary - The Duomo
 The Basilica of the Assumption of Mary, The Duomo in San Gimignano dates back to the 12th century and is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany. Developed over the years its interior walls are entirely decorated with frescoes dating back to the 14th century. READ MORE
Church of San Francesco 
Originating on the site of a 7th-century monastery, the Church of San Francesco was founded in the 8th century by Sant’Antonino, the patron saint of Sorrento. The church was enlarged in the 14th century by the Franciscan friars who dedicated it to their founder, Saint Francis of Assisi. The church contains cloisters, which are considered to be one of Sorrento’s finest historic attractions. READ MORE Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
 The current church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was constructed in 1572 on the site of the martyrdom of a number of people in Roman times. In the 18th – century it underwent a complete restoration giving it its Baroque style. READ MORE Tarquinia Palace & Museum
 Built between 1436 and 1439 on the orders of cardinal Giovanni Vitelleschi of Corneto , (Corneto being the name of Tarquinia during the Middle Ages) during the pontification of Pope Eugenius IV. READ MORE Etruscan Necropolises
 The Etruscan necropolis of Monterozzi in Tarquinia contains a number of tombs dug into the rock, these are accessed by stairways or inclined corridors leading from the surface and consist of one or two rooms for burial, many of which contain a double-sloping ceiling. Originally, the Etruscans cremated their dead and placed the ashes mainly in biconical or less frequently in hut-shaped urns and then placed in well-like tombs. READ MORE
Saint Mark's Basilica
 Located at the eastern side of the Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) the Basilica was originally the chapel of the Doge and is connected to the Doge’s palace. It became the city’s cathedral in 1807 when it became the seat of the Patriarch of Venice.
The first St Mark’s building was constructed in 828-832 to house the relics of Saint Mark obtained by Venetian merchants from Alexandria in 828. READ MORE The Campanile or Bell Tower of St Marks  The Campanile or Bell Tower of St Marks is located in St Mark’s Square in front of St Mark’s Basilica and is the tallest building in Venice standing at 99 metres high. The Tower dates back to the 9th century when it was a watch tower and a lighthouse, although it has had its present form since 1514. The present tower is a replica and dates back to the beginning of the 20th century following it being rebuilt after the collapse of the previous one in 1902. READ MOREChurch of the Holy Souls in Purgatory
.JPG?97) The Church of the Holy Souls in Purgatory is located in Trapani close to the sea front in the old part of the city. Dating back to 1688 the façade was constructed between 1712 and 1714 of limestone and consists of two orders adorned with statues of the twelve Apostles by the sculptor Alberto Orlando. The dome is made of local tuff stone, a light, porous rock covered with green majolica tiles. READ MORE
Cathedral of San Lorenzo  Dating back to the 5th century the Cathedral of San Lorenzo (St. Lawrence the Martyr) is the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Trapani and is known simply as Trapani Cathedral. It developed from a church first built on the site in 1421 on the orders of Alfonso the Magnanimous, who was to become King of Naples and Sicily (1442 – 1458). READ MORECathedral of Messina 
Dating from the 12th century, the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Messina is dedicated to St. Mary of the Assumption. During its existence, it has been destroyed several times by fire and earthquake and was subsequently rebuilt. The last time it was rebuild was following its destruction in World War II. The rebuild incorporated the reconstruction of many of the its original features with regard to its design and artwork. READ MORE
Su Nuraxi Fortress .JPG?256) Dating from the Bronze Age (1500 BC - 1200 BC) the ruins of Su Nuraxi developed over the subsequent centuries up to 600 BC when the site was destroyed and abandoned. It was subsequently restored by Carthage during its occupation of Sardinia and then occupied by the Romans before being completely abandoned. READ MOREAlghero Saint Francis Church  Dating from the 14th century, the current church in the heart of Alghero’s old quarter was built on the site of a former church by Franciscan friars on the instructions of Pope John XXII. In response to a Papal bull issued in 1324 which instructed that two converts were to be established in Sardinia. READ MORE |
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Located on a peninsular near Cagliari, the capital of the island of Sardinia, Nora was established, according to legend, by the mythological hero Norax the son of Hermes the messenger of the gods. It is believed to be the first town founded in Sardinia when it was settled by the ancient Sherden, a sea people who habited the Mediterranean region in the second millennium BC and the Nuraghic people. Later it was colonization by the Phoenicians and then dominated by Carthage (Punic times) until it came under Roman control: In 238 BC it was chosen as the capital of the Roman province of Sardinia. 
All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
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