In 1568 Catherine de' Medici, the Italian born French Queen, built gardens here at her summer home in Loire Valley.

This is Italy...Northern Alps.
The Dolomites were once part of Austria, so the locals speak German.

It is always crowded at the most popular square in Venice.

The round building is a Pigeon Tower at a private Loire Valley chateau. In the 1700's it was a status symbol to own pigeons. The number of birds allowed was determined by how many acres owned.

Colorful Italian fishing village near the Bay of Poets on the west coast.

Not far from Monet's gardens, Seine is the background.