"I" is for Inferno

I’m a big fan of Dan Brown’s books. His suspenseful novels delve into history and art, taking readers to some of Europe’s greatest cities. His latest bestseller Inferno takes place in the Italian cities of Florence and Venice. I’ve been to both before but after reading Inferno there were more locations in the story that I wanted to see for myself.

Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

Ponte Vecchio, the ‘Old Bridge’ of Florence

Think of Florence, Italy and you probably picture the iconic image of the Ponte Vecchio as well. This bridge is the oldest of six in Florence and one of only four in the world lined with shops. It’s believed a bridge has spanned this section of the Arno River since Roman times and the current structure was built in 1345.  The Ponte Vecchio survived the destruction of World War II, the great flood of 1966 and was recently featured in a novel by Dan Brown.

Ponte Vecchio, Florence

Dan Brown's Inferno: More Venice in Photos

While visiting Venice this past summer I saw more of the locations mentioned in Dan Brown's novel Inferno that I hadn't come across on my previous visit. Here are new photos, beginning where Robert Langdon did at Santa Lucia Train Station.

Travel Theme: Broken

This week's travel theme is broken and brings to mind photos I've taken in Provence, Monte Carlo and the city of Venice. The first photo is Saint Bénézet Bridge that once spanned the Rhone River at Avignon. It was damaged by heavy flooding in the 17th century and never rebuilt.

Saint Bénézet Bridge, Avignon

The Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

One of my favourite spots in Florence is Piazza della Signoria, a busy square dominated by the fortress-like Palazzo Vecchio. As a fan of Dan Brown's novel, Inferno, I toured the palazzo's museum to see some of the items mentioned in the book for myself, like the Hall of Five Hundred, the Mappa Mundi and Dante's Death Mask.

The Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

Dan Brown's Inferno: More Florence in Photos

My trip to Italy last month took me back to Florence and Venice, two major locations in Dan Brown's novel, Inferno. Earlier blog posts included photos of some of the sites in Florence and Venice featured in the story but after reading the book, I was eager to visit the sites I hadn't explored before. My first stop was Florence, centre of the Renaissance and birthplace of Dante Alighieri.

The Google Art Project

The Google Cultural Institute has initiated some very interesting projects with hundreds of cultural institutions around the world. Of particular interest to travellers are the Art and World Wonders projects. The World Wonders Project uses 3D modelling and Street View to bring world heritage sites like Stonehenge and Pompeii to your computer screen. Google has partnered with UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) to provide detailed information on each site.

Stonehenge

Pompeii

Dan Brown's Inferno: The Art

Dan Brown's latest bestseller, Inferno, centres on the writings of 14th century Florentine poet Dante Alighieri. The Divine Comedy details the journey of the departed as they descend through the various levels of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven, and the images conjured by Dante influenced artists for centuries to follow.

Portrait of Dante, Botticelli
(WikiPaintings)

Dan Brown's Inferno: Venice in Photos

In Dan Brown's latest novel, Inferno, Robert Langdon leads readers on another thrilling chase through the streets of Florence and Venice. I've assembled my own photos of some of the locations in the book. (Update: There are more photos from a second trip to Venice in the post Dan Brown's Inferno: More Venice in Photos.)

After completing his quest in the historic centre of Florence, Langdon boards a train bound for Venice, La Serenissima, and arrives at Santa Lucia Station.

Dan Brown's Inferno: Florence in Photos

Dan Brown's latest novel, Inferno, was released on May 14th, just in time for a rainy long weekend. It was hard to put the book down as I followed Robert Langdon on another thrilling chase through the streets of Florence and Venice. And it prompted me to look up my photos of some of the locations from the book.

Inferno opens with a mysterious character running north from the Arno River, behind a palazzo with a crenellated tower, through Piazza di San Firenze toward the spire of the Badia.

Palazzo Vecchio, Florence

Piazza di San Firenze and the Badia Spire