Just some views of Venice from San Marco's rooftop, which are of course spectacular. Equally spectacular are the special effects Somchai used to create panoramic photos by combining several smaller photos, don't you think?

The interior is truly stunning, a giant Alladin's cave covered with gold mosaics from the thirteenth century. The mosaics tell dozens of biblical stories, but since the stories climb up to the ceiling, they're entirely impossible to follow. The whole effect, down to the dim lighting and smoky atmosphere, is magical, but for the fact that the crowd control system here is deadening. There's only a narrow corridor where the crowds can funnel in and around the church, so it's impossible to explore on your own, and the whole experience is like being in a giant conga line. The four horses in the photo were ancient Roman sculptures that the Venetians stole from Constantinople in the thirteenth century, and are something like the city's mascots.

Venice's cathedral is certainly unique in Europe,and looks much more like a mosque than cathedral. Its origins date to 828, when two Venetian traders in Egypt broke into St. Mark's tomb, stole his corpse, and smuggled it out of Egypt by hiding it in a shipment of pork, which the Muslims wouldn't investigate. The basilica was built to house the corpse, and has been the center of Venice's religious life ever since.