Europe - A Photographer's Paradise

Venice-Italy Renowned for its Beauty, Architecture, Artwork and Grand Canal

Venice was a major maritime power during the Middle Ages, a cultural center during the Renaissance, and a staging area for the Crusader Knights to free the Holy Land. It was also an important center of commerce which made Venice wealthy. Venice today, the capital of Italy's Veneto region, offers unforgettable experiences via its picturesque waterways. It is located on a group of 118 small islands that are linked by canals and bridges and a breath-taking backdrop of Baroque buildings and famous landmarks which include the Piazza San Marco, Saint Mark's Basilica, St Mark's Campanile (bell tower of St Mark's Basilica), Doge's Palace, Bridge of Sighs and the Gallerie dell'Accademia (museum gallery of pre-19th-century art) are just some of its many attractions. There are no cars or roads. Just canals and boats. You can experience the wonders of this cultural-rich city through the waters of the Grand Canal on a gondola and float through the world-famous Rialto Bridge. Venice and its lagoon were added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987. Colmar-France "Little Venice of Alsace" Historic Old-World Charm Founded in the 9th century, Colmar reflects eight centuries of Germanic and French influence in all its variety and vitality. Colmar, in the Alsace Wine Route of northeastern France, near Germany and Switzerland between the Vosges and the Rhine, Strasbourg and Mulhouse is surrounded by natural forests, lakes and vine-covered foothills of the southern Vosges Mountains and the Upper Rhine Valley. The historic town of Colmar is another one of the beautiful locations in Europe with its historic old town, its famous "Petite Venise" lined with canal-side neighborhoods decked with colorful flowers, cobblestone streets and walkways. You can stroll through half-timbered medieval and early Renaissance buildings which include the Unterlinden Museum with the Isenheim Altarpiece. The 13th-century, Gothic Eglise Saint-Martin church can be found on central Place de la Cath