Varenna, Italy

Varenna, Italy is located on the east shore of Lake Como in the Italian Alps.

Doting Lake Como's shoreline are villas. While many aristocrats sold their 

villas when expenses exceeded income, others have retained them

and charge the public to tour the lavish interiors 

and amble through the botanical gardens.

Castle Vezio overlooks Varenna. It pre-dates the 13th century and before that

was a military fortress whose tower was a "sighting tower".  Somehow -- and

please don't ask me how or when -- a Queen Teodolinda figures into the history

of the fortress. 

This is a view of Varenna from the castle. Both of the gray roofs are

 church buildings with the smaller, oblong one being a

church dating back to the 9th century AD. 

Walking Tour of Zurich

Zurich was founded by the Romans in 58 B.C. This is the Lindenhof, once a Roman fort and now the people's square. 

Legends of the city's founding date back to the martyrdom of two saints (a third was added to the story centuries later). The martyred trio are said to have been beheaded at one site, carried their heads to another, and were buried at a third. Statues and paintings throughout Zurich feature this legend.

The architect of this ornate building became so disgruntled with the criticism received by those who thought the design too elaborate for Zurich that he sculpted the faces of his critics over the windows. 

And here we have a "monument" to punitive sentences awarded to recalcitrant Zurich youth: they were stripped, caged, and visible for all passersby to see.

On the day of this tour, much of downtown Zurich was closed to automobiles. Foot traffic, bicycles, and mass transit were the means of getting around. And here, with the old Fraumunster church in the background, is a fleet of Twikes, 2-person vehicles whose occupants can choose to pedal or rely upon the electric battery.