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In the baroque church of Santa Marta, a copy dated 1708 of the Holy Shroud is preserved (bottom of the photo). The Holy Shroud is certainly one of the most controversial relics, as if it were authentic it would have covered the body of Jesus Christ before being placed in the tomb. Around the world, there are approximately 120 copies of the Holy Shroud, many of which were created in the 1700s. The original is located in Turin.

The "Castelvecchio" (Old-castle) as the building at the entrance to the Venaria Reale is usually called, it constitutes the surviving part of the original access to the palace designed by Amedeo di Castellamonte a starting from 1659.

This winter in Italy has been very stingy with rain and snow, putting many mountain resorts in crisis. Unexpectedly, a very heavy snowfall arrived in mid-March, but too late to save the winter tourist season

One of the many Savoy residences: it is part of what is called the "crown of delights" that is, all the castles and villas inhabited by the Savoy family

The only Venetian house surrounded by water on three sides

Venice contains such a number of artistic masterpieces that seeing them all is practically impossible. Here is an example… The Church of Santa Maria Assunta is less known than others because it is located in the northern part of the city, therefore on the opposite side of San Marco. It contains a work of art not to be missed: the Pulpit. What you see finely draped is not heavy damask fabric, but a single block of two-tone marble. On the white marble base, highly skilled stonemasons created inlays with sublime technique which were then filled with blocks of green marble to form elaborate floral motifs; afterwards, other workers patiently polished the stone for days until the joint lines completely disappeared... The effect is extraordinary. And do you think that entry costs only 1 euro...

This library floods every time the tide in Venice produces high water. You really walk on books...

In the 17th century, ships sailed up the Grand Canal and unloaded goods in the internal courtyard. It has now become an ultra-luxury shopping centre.

The "plague doctor" is a historical mask of the Venice Carnival. It reproduces the dress worn by doctors who went to visit the sick during plagues, to send them to the "lazzaretto" (an isolated place, often on one of the small islands of the Venetian lagoon).

Waiting for Carnival 2024...