Our group started our tour early the first morning with a visit to

the famous Catacomb's under Rome.  An interesting place.

This is a typical passage way in the Catacomb's. 

Burial sites are in the carved out sections of the walls.

After the catacombs.  We stopped at a church near the Coliseum to

view Michelangelo's statue of Moses.  A very impressive work of art.

The famous Roman Coliseum.  A truly awesome structure.

Here I am on a sunny morning in February

 visiting the Roman Coliseum.

An inside view.  It is a huge structure.

The Roman Forum, just down the road from the coliseum.

The Arch of Constantine erected in 315 AD.

The St. Angel Castle, also known as Hadrian's tomb.

St. Peter's Square.

A sunny day at St. Peter's Square.

Inside St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Neptune's Fountain in Rome.

The Pantheon built in 27 BC.  It is figuratively the "Temple of the Gods."

The Trevi Fountain built in 19 BC.  I did pitch in a few coins for luck.  Very Impressive. 

We were able to see at night when it was fully illuminated.

The Catholic Cathedral in Ovieta.  A huge structure and very beautiful.

It was a beautiful February morn to tour and see an

impressive structure like this cathedral.

The cathedral was home to this statue of the Pieta. 

It was a masterpiece by Ippolito Scalza.

I am standing in front of Ovieta's St. Patrick's well. 

This town was built high on a bluff.

Beautiful porcelain ware in a shop in Ovieta.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did not take this picture. 

I was in Pisa in the very late afternoon and it was drizzling rain, so no pictures by me. 

The tower was lit by flood lights and was very impressive.

This our tour group in Florence on a cool February morning. 

The group is in front of the Church of Santa Croce.

We have been to see Michelangelo's David and

 visited some churches.  Time for lunch!

While in Florence we toured the museum where Michelangelo's statue of

David was on display along with many other sculptures by Michelangelo. 

This is Neptune in a downtown square in Florence.

A copy of the statue of David in a downtown square.

The famous bridge over the Arno River in Florence. 

This bridge was spared of World War II

bombings by the Germans.

In front of the Coliseum at Verona.

Standing with Juliet.  This statue is in a small courtyard in Verona. 

Romeo was no where to be seen.

The Grand Canal in Venice.

Standing on a bridge over the Grand Canal. 

A side canal in Venice.

A cool February morning in Venice.  There were not many

people riding in the gondolas this morning.

St. Mark's Square in Venice.  This is the site of many

pre-lent spring Carnevale activities.

It was pre-lent Carnevale time and many people dressed for the occasion. 

Lots of people wore masks for the celebration

There were many gondolas on the canals of Venice.

I could not go to Venice without a gondola ride.  It was cold but fun. 

This is a neat city to visit and there is a lot to do. 

Definitely a do not miss spot!

Thus another trip ends.  We returned to Rome for an overnight then flights home. 

February travel to Italy was pleasant but cool at times.