Here are a few pictures from my vacation in Italy this summer. We spent a week in Treviso, a small city near Venice. They had the best cappuccinos ever! Here is a view along a section of the old city walls.



Below is the Porta San Tomaso, one of the gateways through the walls of Treviso. There’s a funny story about this gate, which was built in the 16th Century. It is named after St. Thomas Becket and should have a statue of him, but the designer’s name was Paolo, so he put a statue of St. Paul on the gate instead!




We also visited the cathedral in Treviso. It was spooky in the crypt! They have a museum with artifacts going back to Roman times. I love old buildings and ancient history, so I was in heaven there.

We took the train into Venice for a day. I wish I had taken better notes, but I think this is on the Grand Canal:




And so is this:


 Here is one of the many bridges over the smaller canals connecting the islands that make up the city:





And this is the Doge’s Palace. I would have liked to visit it, but the lines were way too long! I wonder if a winter visit would mean shorter lines…? (I’m the one in the red shirt with my back to the camera.)

 

 What an amazing place Venice is!! I hope to return some day.



None of this has anything to do with my new novella, A Lady's Lesson in Seduction, but I'm giving away a free download for either Nook or Kindle to someone who comments on this blog.



Once a notorious rake, Camden Folk, Marquis of Warbury, is now consumed by desire for only one woman: beautiful young widow Frances Burdett. And the Yuletide festivities at his country estate present the perfect opportunity for seduction…
 
 After her brief and unsatisfying marriage, Frances Burdett swore never to become tied to another man.  Then a passionate kiss under the mistletoe reawakens longings she thought buried forever. But can she give in to the pleasures of the body with a rogue like Cam—without losing her heart?
 

19 comments

  1. Judith Keim // October 29, 2012 at 10:13 AM  

    Loved seeing the pictures, Barbara!
    As a writer of history novels, you must have loved every minute of it! Thanks for sharing...

  2. Barbara Monajem // October 29, 2012 at 10:28 AM  

    I did love it! I always enjoy visiting old buildings, and both Venice and Treviso had plenty. The one we stayed in was also old, built in the 15th Century.

  3. Anonymous // October 29, 2012 at 11:37 AM  

    Great pictures. I love northern and southern Italy.

  4. Barbara Monajem // October 29, 2012 at 11:47 AM  

    Hi, Ella. So far I've only been to northern Italy, but I hope to see Rome next time...

  5. Pamela Varnado // October 29, 2012 at 1:58 PM  

    Barbara, you went to Italy! I'm so jealous. It's one of the places I've always wanted to visit. Is it as romantic a city as everyone says it is?

  6. Mary Ricksen // October 29, 2012 at 2:44 PM  

    How wonderful! Visiting a place like that is the trip of a lifetime!
    Beautiful!

  7. Barbara Monajem // October 29, 2012 at 3:02 PM  

    Pam, it's a truly fascinating place. It's a maze of alleyways, most of them quite narrow, with shops and houses, some dead-ending into courtyards or canals. Lots of lovely squares and bridges and restaurants... definitely a tourist heaven.

  8. Barbara Monajem // October 29, 2012 at 3:03 PM  

    Hi, Mary R. It is indeed a trip of a lifetime, but I'm greedy and want to go twice. ;)

  9. Maria // October 29, 2012 at 3:05 PM  

    Oh, Italy is absolute magic and has been inspiring writers forever, back to the days of Byron and beyond. Even inspired Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet) and I'm not sure he ever visited the place. I've been there and I couldn't get enough of it and would happily go again if the opportunity arose.

    Your post has made me quite nostalgic. Maybe it's time to start planning a return journey....

  10. Mary Marvella // October 29, 2012 at 3:50 PM  

    Color me green! I would love to go to those places. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos with us!

  11. Beth Trissel // October 29, 2012 at 5:45 PM  

    Wow, oh wow, Barbara. Totally kewl.

  12. Barbara Monajem // October 29, 2012 at 7:04 PM  

    Hi, Maria -- Italy really is an inspiring place, isn't it? Lively, friendly people, great food and shopping, gorgeous buildings...sigh.

  13. Barbara Monajem // October 29, 2012 at 7:06 PM  

    Hi, Mary M. I'm a lousy artist, so I won't paint you anything, LOL. Very dumb joke, I know.

  14. Barbara Monajem // October 29, 2012 at 7:06 PM  

    Hey, Beth -- Glad you enjoyed the pics.

  15. Anonymous // October 29, 2012 at 8:53 PM  

    Barbara, thanks for sharing your lovely pictures. That is the Grand Canal and the shot from the bridge is also, I believe. We visited Venice a few years ago and I fell in love with the place. I would love to visit in the winter, I believe that would be when they have carnival.

    Scarlet

  16. Barbara Monajem // October 29, 2012 at 9:27 PM  

    Hi, Scarlet -- I would like to go back whenever the lines for the Doge's Palace are shortest!!

  17. Mary Marvella // October 30, 2012 at 2:35 AM  

    Barbara, I was thinking magic markers or crayons.

  18. Josie // October 30, 2012 at 8:28 AM  

    Barbara,
    I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Italy several years ago. We visited in February, and it was cold, but the lines were shorter in Venice, and hardly any tourists in Milan.

  19. Barbara Monajem // October 30, 2012 at 11:39 PM  

    LOL, Mary M. -- I might do a little better with magic markers. Not the permanent ones, though. ;)

    Josie -- Maybe we'll try February next time. Or January... I'd rather stand in a line in the cold than the heat.