Travelsmartplanet

Inside Venice’s Saint Mark’s Basilica or more properly, the Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark. It’s free to go through to see the great example of Italo-Byzantine architecture and the ceiling mosaics, decorations, and intricate geometric marble patterns. Get here early as there is usually a big lineup but it moves quickly. No backpacks allowed, but there’s a free checking service around the corner and down an alley (just ask!).

Tags: architecture, backpack, Basilica, cathedral, ceiling, CostSaver, decoration, Europe, geometric, Italo-Byzantine, Italy, landmark, lineup, marble, mosaic, Patriarchal, pattern, Saint Mark, Saint Mark's Basilica, sights, sightseeing, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, Venice

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The Doge’s Palace, Palazzo Ducale, was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Venetian Republic. The Venetian Gothic construction started around 1340 and was modified many times over the centuries due to fires and governmental needs.

Tags: architecture, art, authority, century, city, construction, CostSaver, Doge of Venice, Doge's Palace, Europe, exhibit, fire, former, Gothic, government, History, Italy, landmark, modified, Museum, palace, Palazzo, Palazzo Ducale, Republic, residence, sights, sightseeing, supreme, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, Venetian, Venetian Republic, Venice

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In Venice, the Ponte dei Sospiri or the Bridge of Sighs is an arched limestone bridge that connects the Doge’s Palace to the Prigioni Nuove, or the New Prisons. It got its name from the sighs of the prisoners walking across it.

Tags: arched, bridge, Bridge of Sighs, city, city tour, city view, connect, connection, CostSaver, Doge's Palace, Europe, Italy, landmark, limestone, New Prisons, palace, ponte, Ponte dei Sospiri, Prigioni Nuove, prison, prisoner, sigh, sights, sightseeing, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, Venice

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The Goldenes Dachl or Golden Roof (built around 1500) is a landmark and famous symbol in Old Town (Altstadt) Innsbruck, Austria. The edifice was built for Emperor Maximilian I to mark his wedding to Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan.  It served as a royal box where the Emperor and his imperial entourage could sit and enjoy festivals, tournaments, and other events that took place in the square below. Since he did not wish to alienate the allies gained by his first marriage, to Maria of Burgundy, he had an image painted of himself on the balcony between the two women.The roof was decorated with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles.

Tags: allies, Altstadt, balcony, Bianca Maria Sforza, box, built, burgundy, city, copper, CostSaver, decorated, edifice, Emperor, Emperor Maximilian I, entourage, Europe, event, famous, festival, fire, gilded, golden, Golden Roof, Goldenes Dachl, image, imperial, landmark, Maria of Burgundy, marl, marriage, Milan, Old Town, our, painted, roof, royal, sights, sightseeing, symbol, tile, tourist, tournament, town, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, wedding, women

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Liechtenstein house or staircase?

Tags: CostSaver, Europe, heaven, homes, house, landscape, Lichtenstein, Liechtenstein, mountain side, picturesque, scenery, sights, sightseeing, staircase, stairway, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, Vaduz

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Sometimes you just have to stop and look and think. This is on the Kapellbrücke, Chapel Bridge walk in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Tags: bridge, chapel, Chapel Bridge, city, city view, Contemplate, CostSaver, Europe, footbridge, Kapellbrücke, landmark, Lucerne, luzern, relax, riverside, scenery, sights, sightseeing, Suisse, Swiss, Switzerland, take it in, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, view, walk

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Different architectural styles line the riverside walk in Lucerne.

Tags: architecture, bidge, city, CostSaver, crossover, Europe, footbridge, landmark, Lucerne, luzern, picturesque, promenade, riverside, scenery, sights, sightseeing, stroll, style, Suisse, Swiss, Switzerland, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, tunnel, view, walk, Waterfront

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Finding castles in the air are lovely surprises as you look at views in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Tags: Air, castle, castle on the hill, CostSaver, Europe, look up, Lucerne, luzern, mountain view, sights, sightseeing, surprise, Swiss, Switzerland, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, view

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This ornate 18th-century church was built over a 12th-century predecessor.

Tags: 12th century, 18th-century, built, century, chapel, church, CostSaver, Europe, gilded, gold, Lucerne, luzern, ornate, Peterskapelle, predecessor, sights, sightseeing, St. Peter's Chapel, St.Peterskapelle, Swiss, Switzerland, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger

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The riverside promenade on the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne has pretty views. You can see St.Peterskapelle (St. Peter’s Chapel) in the background.

Tags: bridge, chapel, Chapel Bridge, city, CostSaver, Europe, landscape, Lucerne, luzern, promenade, riverside, scenery, sights, sightseeing, St. Peter's Chapel, St.Peterskapelle, Swiss, Switzerland, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, view, water