Print 10 x 14 Carnevale Porcelain Mask Venice Italy

The emblem of Carnevale was, literally, the mask, a term that could apply to the wearer as well as to the object, attesting to the depth of identification of individual with disguise. The masks of Carnevale derived most immediately from the masks worn on stage in the traditional commedia dell'arte and more distantly from masks worn in traditional societies, and shared with the latter certain basic characteristics thought to be universal to the practice of masking: simultaneously an act of simulation or mimicry and of disguise, masking could be alienating and transporting, intoxicating and liberating.

Legend says that Sienna was founded by Senio and Ascanio, sons of Remus, of the famous duo Romulus and Remus who founded Rome.

The Maori were the first to attribute the creation of the fjords to a “titanic mason”, Tute Rakiwhanoa, who hued out the steep sided valleys with keen edged adzes. No other explanation seems to fit, as it is impossible to comprehend the sheer breadth of geological events that created this seemingly perfect sculpture, as sheer cliffs rise vertically upward from the ocean.

Florence has an ancient tradition of craft work: once upon a time, each area of the city was characterized by a certain type of work, each controlled by the powerful Corporazione delle Arti: sculptors’ laboratories, leather goods makers, blacksmiths and goldsmiths. The corporations were based on strict rules and only the legitimate children of a member could join the profession. In this way, art and techniques have been handed down through the generations to the present day.

In September 1902 at Manly Beach, William Gocher openly defied the law and entered the water at midday. Despite being arrested, no charges were laid. From then on, the sport of ‘surf bathing’ quickly grew. As the sport became more popular, the dangers of the surf became apparent. It was then that groups of experienced surfers began to establish surf life saving clubs to help protect the less proficient swimmers from the dangers of the ocean.

The first layout of Saint Mark's Square goes back to the beginning of the 9th century A.D. In 832 A.D. the first church dedicated to the Evangelist Saint Mark, was consecrated. According to legend, the remains of the saint were stolen by two Venetian seamen from a monastery in Egypt, and brought to Venice.The symbol of the winged lion, proper attribute of the Evangelist, became the symbol of the city. St. Mark became its patron saint.

Tomorrow this Gondola will rear and plunge alarmingly in the wake of vaporetti powering from one bank of the canal to the other. Water taxis will swerve round lumbering barges, laden with everything from tourist baggage to household garbage. And, every so often, streaking through the chaos comes a river ambulance or police launch.

Australia’s first official surf life saving club - the first in the world - was founded at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, in 1906. There was little need for surf life saving clubs much before this time as it was illegal to swim in the surf during daylight hours before 1902. It was seen as immoral, and men and women could only 'bathe' in the early morning and late evening, and never at the same time!

Te Whanga A Hei (Cathedral Cove) is The Coromandel’s most famous scenic attraction. The beautiful rock formations, golden sand and scarlet pohutukawa blooms make the Cove a stunning summertime destination.  Accessible only on foot or by boat, Cathedral Cove is one of the "must visit" sites on the Coromandel Peninsula.

The most beautiful residence of Rome was built in 1613 by the Cardinal Scipione Borghese, nephew of the pope Paul V, to receive the Roman society and to delight his friends with a splendid collection of precious works of art, ancient pieces discovered in Rome or modern ones commissioned to famous artists of the time. This is the most famous villa both for its dimension and tha various ways of access to the city, and it is located between the Flaminio area and the Parioli area where the Lucullo gardens stood.

The "Borghese Gardens", named for the 16th century Roman family, cover almost one third of the northern part of Rome. The park covers 6 sq. km north of the Spanish Steps and V.V. Veneto. Its shaded paths, overgrown gardens, scenic terraces, and countless fountains and statues are a refreshing break from the fumes and chaos of the city.

These happy pigs, with their impeccable table manners, work for a butcher's shop in the back alleys of Florence, Italy.

Whether they are made of pork, as is most often the case, or of beef, veal, buck, goat, chamois, venison, sheep, wild boar, or horse, cured meats (salumi in Italian) were born of a need to conserve meat for months after the slaughter of the animal. Salting, smoking, and air-drying are the three processes by which fresh meat is transformed into a long-keeping staple.

While all meats are salted, some are smoked, and others are simply air-dried. Italians have been making an amazing array of cured meats for thousands of years using both noble and humble parts of the animals they raise. The ancient Romans prized the spicy pork sausages crafted in the southern region of Basilicata (called Lucania then, and giving rise to sausages named Lucaniche still eaten today). And, fond of intensely tasty foods, they smoked or salted whole pig thighs, yielding savory Prosciutti not unlike those still made in mountain villages across Italy.

Two thousand years later, pork remains Italy's favorite meat for curing. Pigs are especially prevalent in areas where there is a notable cheesemaking tradition: after all, wherever there is cheese, there is excess whey, which, combined with bran and corn, becomes perfect feed for pigs.

The massive natural rock arch at Cathedral Cove adds a sense of grandeur to this idyllic inlet and is a fitting focal point for this stunning stretch of Coromandel Coast. The scenery along this coast is some of New Zealand’s best and in 1992 the site was chosen for a nine square kilometre marine reserve because of the rich habitats along the coastline and outlying islands.

Tongariro National Park was the first national park to be established in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. Tongariro is a shattered remnant of an ancient volcano with red, blue and emerald crater lakes. Ngauruhoe is a symmetrical cone, which occasionally releases wisps of steam. Ruapehu is a huge multi-peaked mountain, which sometimes expels clouds of ash, and is one of the more active volcanoes in the world. Many rate the 12-mile Tongariro Crossing as one of the great hikes in the world.