Blown away by blockbuster sites

The Leonardo painting "Lady with an Ermine," in Kraków. It was the first major piece of art that I had ever seen in person. The difference between seeing an original and a reproduction just, as you say, blew me away.

Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

Edit: apparently experienced a senior moment earlier today when I replied...so now...
Adding:
The Nightwatch at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Was in the room alone to view it. This was in 1973 before a whack job slashed it. Thus you were able to walk right up to it.
Michelangelo’s David in Florence on the RS Florence tour. We got to see it before the museum opened. Took my breathe away when I turned the corner and there he stood.
The Last Supper in Milan. Just myself and the guard in the room.
Seeing Stonehenge in the 80’s. My 2 friends and I had the place to ourselves.
Hiking and driving the Gap of Dunloe on a November day. It was stunningly gorgeous. That day still resonates in my heart and soul.
Lastly, walking into Notre Dame. All my catechism flooded back.

2nd EDIT: the impressionists paintings in the Musee D’ Orsay. Remember nearly crying thinking of the artists who never knew how universally loved their work would become.

Waking early and walking from my apartment in the Jewish Quarter of Rome to a trail that took me to the Roman Forum. I then strolled to the Arch of Titus and as I walked up a slight grade I saw the Colosseum. Took my breath away.

Venice, the whole thing.

I'm not sure if the BMW Museum in Munich is a "blockbuster site", but I put it in our itinerary as a bone to throw to my husband for suffering through all of "my" art museums. Guess who was blown away by the BMW Museum?

First, have to agree with Dick about Venice. My first time seeing it was a cruise departure, and we didn't even spend any time in the city--just flew in and got on the ship, had no interest in what I had been told was a smelly, crowded mess of a city. As we were slowly going along the Giudecca Canal, even badly jet-lagged, I realized I'd gotten some bad advice. Thankfully, have been fortunate enough to have returned several times since then.

Second, David, in the Accademia. You walk in, turn right, and BAM! There he is, floating above the masses down the hall past The Prisoners. Took my breath away. Still does.

For me it was the "Winged Victory of Samothrace" (otherwise know as the goddess Nike) in the Louvre.

It was a while ago and it's placed on a Mezzanine between floors. I stumbled on it by accident while going between floors. I was lucky enough to have almost no one there. It grabbed me like no other piece has done until I saw Monet's "Water Lilies", but that's to be expected.

So many! That said, all Antoni Gaudi sites in Barcelona. My very favorite was La Sagrada Familia. After being blown away inside, I stood outside across the street for at least an hour just staring at this phenomenal architecture.

Ness of Brodgar. Awesome. Orkney is a collection of islands just north of the Scottish mainland. The biggest island of Orkney is, itself, called Mainland. It’s filled with blockbuster Neolithic sites, less well-known than Stonehenge, maybe harder to reach, but not blocked off by fencing, and allowing people to see many with guided visits, and others to just walk up and experience. Among these is the Ring of Brodgar. It’s far bigger in diameter than Stonehenge, although with smaller rock slabs. Then there are the massive Stones of Stennes, another archaeological site to check off the Attractions List while you’re in Orkney. Driving between these two, we spotted several cars parked just off the right side of the road, and decided, on a whim, to join them. We soon learned this was the Ness of Brodgar, an ongoing archaeological dig.

The Ness is only open for a short time in the summer, while professional and intern archaeologists uncover new discoveries. They showed us some of their recent finds. Over to the side, they even had a practice “dig,” allowing visitors, young and old, to try brushing soil from a potential find. They had replicas of tools that ancient people would’ve used to make a fire, clay for making little pots, and a prehistoric-style knife, to get a feel for the lives the residents would’ve led. It’s a living, breathing place, not just silent boulders or piles of rocks. They accepted donations, and resultingly let us select a square on a grid that was overlaid over an aerial photo of the site. They said they’d let us know whether any artifacts were discovered in our square that season. Later that year, they notified us that our square did not actually yield any finds. But there’s a lot of digging yet to do, and being able to participate with some funding was rewarding. It wasn’t described in any of our guidebooks, but it’s another stunning sight on Orkney Mainland. And we “discovered” it!

I love these replies!

The Vasa Museum in Stockholm blew me away (thank you RS tour to Scandinavia!) and still does every time I see photos. For one thing, the massive effort they put into building that ship, and then to ignore the signs that it was not seaworthy, and then to forge ahead and pretend "it's fine, everything's fine", when it WASN"T! Plink it in the water and plop it blew over and sank. Massive waste of lives, effort and treasure. Real managerial malpractice, in an age (1628) where shipbuilding wasn't a mystery and major works of architecture had been constructed all over Europe already. Principles of advanced physics were known. But in this case....concerns weren't listened to. Like the Challenger explosion. Really s hows that you have to listen to all members of your team.

And then the genius behind bringing it up to the surface after hundreds of years and preserving. I just go wow all over in that museum. (And I have the same feeling of wow in the Stockholm subway system with its incredible painted stations!)

For another thing, the Vasa museum is brilliant in its second section in which contemporary happenings in other parts of the world are presented -what was going on in Japan and China in the early 1600s, for example. And then I remember that Plymouth Colony had been established, and African slaves had been brought to Jamestown, and the big Puritan exodus to the new world was just beginning.... what a dynamic and churning world the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus was bringing his war fleet into.

And, finally, the cafe is superb.

Jaw-droppers for me . . . (in Europe)

Organ recital in Notre Dame. I never appreciated organ music until I heard it where it was meant to be heard.
Michelangelo's David in Florence
First view of the facade of the Milan Duomo as you walk up the stairs from the Metro
Ravenna's mosaics, one after another
The Mezquita, Cordoba
The Greek temples in Selinunte and Segesta, Sicily in spring with masses of wildflowers

I did have expectations for all but the organ recital and the Duomo. I was overawed by all, much more than my expectations.

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed AKA St Basil's Cathedral in Red Square in Moscow. No picture does it justice.

Agree with Eric that the presentation of David in the Acaddemia in Florence blew me away.

I'm not sure if the BMW Museum in Munich is a "blockbuster site", but
I put it in our itinerary as a bone to throw to my husband for
suffering through all of "my" art museums. Guess who was blown away by
the BMW Museum?

I'd say that is the mark of a good museum, if it can amaze someone who is not that interested in the subject. I once had a similar experience in a small fishing museum on the west coast of Jutland. I can't say fishing interests me, but it was a really good museum.

The Taj Mahal. When we toured through Rajahstan the Taj was right at the end of our trip but it it was being built up every day, so much so that I thought, “they are are giving it such a big build up, it can’t possibly be as good as they are saying, they are falsely building up our expectations”. Well, the fact that it did live up to its billing when we got there speaks volumes.

Special mention of the fortified city of Jaisalmeer which rises out of the desert like a mirage. (A place very much not designed for wheeled luggage though).

And the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I first saw it as a very young boy back in the sixties when there was much less of it than there is today, but it nevertheless burnt itself into my brain and has stayed there ever since. I have returned a couple of times since and I’m hoping that I’ll get to see it when it’s finally completed.

Finally I love all mountains and well remember my first sight of Ama Dhablam, from a tourist flight to Everest. Everest itself just plain scared me. I had no irresistible desire to try climb it! Nor the Torres Del Paine, but they didn’t scare me, they were just awesome - in the literal, not colloquial sense of the word!

Ian

The Acropolis. We’ve all seen it in a million textbooks, photos, and movies but there’s just something about being there. It’s more intact than many ancient sights so my poor imagination didn’t get in the way, and it’s just a wonder.

The famous waterfalls in south Iceland. I can’t spell them to save my life, but they are stunning.

San Marco in Venice. Venice gets a bad rap, occasionally from me, due to crowds, but really I love it. And this particular church is amazing. I love the blend of east (Byzantine) and west. So many top cathedrals are beautiful but similar to others. This one stands alone.

The Alhambra. I’m not usually one for palaces, but the design here is jaw dropping. Tile work, gardens, architecture, and fountains all work together to make a magical whole. I was the most excited to see this of anything I’ve ever done but also a little worried it wouldn’t live up, but it more than did. Been twice and I’d go back tomorrow if I could.

I'm adding Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I had read about it, seen pictures of it, and was still mentally rolling my eyes about going with our tour group to see it. Well. I cannot describe the impact that amazing structure had on me. I said in another post some time ago that seeing the Sagrada Familia would change your life. I was teased a bit for that, but I maintain that at some level, it did change mine.

What is so striking about the building is the organic unity of it. One part flows into another, and all the parts together form a whole that cannot be adequately described without referencing the energy and vision that bind it all together.

As a side note, should you go, be sure to go to the crypt section, where you will find fascinating displays explaining the design and construction techniques. And as guide extraordinaire Francesca Caruso always says: "The more you know, the more you see."

This is a collective being blown away by a site. Imagine traveling with 45 college age students from August to December, mainly throughout Europe studying history and art—visiting major art museums, churches/cathedrals and historic sites. In late October our coach started a counter clockwise decent into Florence when some students caught a glimpse of the Duomo dome rising over Florence. At the next turn there were more gasps and then the whole coach started applauding. Fortunately we were staying within a few feet of the Duomo so they could always be drawn back to that dome.

For me on a similar trip a few years later, I was wandering by myself in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister museum in Dresden. I knew it was there but when I started walking towards a distant room and saw the Sistine Madonna by Raphael, with its little Putti posed at the bottom of the frame, I had to sit down and catch my breath and wait to approach closer.

Just three years ago, in the Mauritshuis in Den Haag, when I walked into the Vermeer room I had to turn away from the Lady With the Pearl Earring painting until my eyes stopped tearing and I could see it better and then be blown away by the other Vermeer paintings in the room.

I have a lot of other catch my breath, pinch me moments but these stand out this morning.

The Last Supper - I always thought it was small, not an entire wall. I was gobsmacked to find out how narrowly it avoided destruction in WWII.

Stonehenge - We did the “might as well go we are here” visit and were enraptured. Good weather helped.

Venice - Walking out of the train station and seeing it live. We’ve been a dozen times and I can’t wait to go back. We know where to go that the average tripper does not venture.

Mae's Howe, the Ring of Brodgar, Scara Brae, the Lion Gate at Mycenae - a place I had never thought I'd actually get to see, the Swiss Alps, David, the baths at Bath.

Stepping out of the train station in Venice for the first time made me gasp. I also agree with St. Marks Cathedral. I did a night tour and when the lights were turned on and the guide said the glow is God's love embracing you - wow I wept.

Seeing David in the Accademia. I understood the brilliance of Michaelangelo. I enjoyed the Prisoners just as much. I didn't expect to be blown away but I was.

The train from Milan to Varenna. As you start to see water, mountains & the lushness of the landscape.

The Uffizi.
Like you I had no interest in art before our first trip to Florence many years ago, but after several hours viewing the treasures in the gallery I exited the building overwhelmed by what I'd just seen. Have never forgotten the experience.
That said, the single most amazing thing I've ever seen in over 60 years of travel around the world is the Taj Mahal. Though I'd seen pictures and videos of it all my life nothing prepared me for the experience of seeing it in person. It really is magnificent.

The Pantheon. It was our first time in Italy and I literally gasped when I stepped out from a narrow street and there it was.

Winged Victory of Samothrace. I couldn't stop staring at her belly, the way I could see her belly button through the "fabric". Actually most sculpture does this to me, moreso than paintings. In 2019 we went to the Borgese, and I was enraptured. One of those moments where I say " my eyeballs are so happy right now". Corny, but that's the way I describe that feeling to my husband.

Picasso's Guernica (despite the above paragraph). I read so much about it. We dutifully added it to our agenda and I was far more mesmerized than expected.

St Paul's Cathedral. I had an emotional response.

I shall think on this further.

I wasn't exactly "neutral" about visiting the garden at Sissinghurst while on a DIY garden tour in England in 2004 with my best friend, but beforehand I was much more excited about seeing other more modern and more tropical gardens on our list. I thought Sissinghurst would be nice. People warned us it would be swarming with tourists and "rather over-rated."

We stayed in a B&B a couple of miles away and walked to Sissinghurst on sign-posted paths through woods, which did give the experience a yellow-brick-road-to-the-Emerald-City sort of quality and perhaps helps account for my reaction.

I surprised both of us (since I am not a crier and she is) when I walked through the entrance gate and burst into tears and couldn't stop. My friend whispered to me fiercely to suck it up, for god's sake, but all I could blubber in explanation was "It's... just....so....pretty...."

My first visit to Segovia in 1978, seeing the aqueduct, and being able to drive through the arches. At that time I didn’t know there was no mortar holding it together, it was so large, and it still carried water to the city. Since it was before the days of the Internet, I had only heard mention of it and had no idea what to expect. It’s still amazing to look at.

The sites in Italy that were amazing to me include the Colosseum in Rome, the Duomo in Florence, all of Venice, especially the view from the upper terrace of St. Mark's Cathedral and the Grand Canal. Seeing the Last Supper in Milan was very moving in person. Sorrento and the Amalfi coast was a highlight with breathtaking scenery!

The French Riviera towns won our hearts with the beautiful Mediterranean coastline and charming villages like Villefranche sur Mer.
In Paris we loved the Musee D'Orsay with its magnificent Impressionist art and the boat ride on the Seine.

In Vienna, Austria the Schoenbrunn Palace was an unexpected highlight with its fabulous gardens and the Gloriette.

The Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens, Greece were mesmerizing, and the Akrotiri Archaeological site and ruins on Santorini were so interesting. Oia, Santorini had spectacular views, even better in person than the pictures show.

Windsor Castle and the Tower of London in England

The Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House in Amsterdam

Monaco with its port and the Prince's Palace and Oceanography Museum

The combination of Westminster Abbey and St Paul's in London. I wasn't that interested in the architecture or the history, and would have skipped if on my own. But once we visited them, one after the other for the contrast, I was very impressed.

At the Belvedere, where we went (among other reasons) to see the works of Gustav Klimt, the painting that blew me away was one of which I had never seen a reproduction: Portrait of a Woman, an early work (1894). It doesn't even show up in Wikipedia's list of his paintings, but it sure grabbed me.

Went to Versailles just cause I thought I had to. The scale of it blew me away, and answered many questions about the French Revolution. The kings built a palace so large, they started building smaller ones. And aristocrats so out of touch with reality, that they built and operated an entire ideal fantasy village of commoners..

Jewish Museum, Prague, and the Pinkas Synagogue. The names of over 80,000 victims of the holocaust are inscribed inside on the walls of the synagogue.

It was overwhelming, and I had to sit down, and cry.

We have visited so, so many natural and man-made sights that have awed and inspired us. But for me, the most overwhelming of all was leaving a dark room, climbing the narrow circular stairs and bursting in to the magnificent sun-lit windowed space of the Sainte-Chapelle. Stunned!

Wow, so many. Some that were total surprises. Most that were way better than I expected.

My blown away moments are all about how I feel when I see a place or experience something in person. Some emotional reactions are expected. Most are not.

Starting with the USA.

The Grand Canyon for the first time. The sun was setting in the west. At the same time a full moon was rising in the east. It was a spiritual moment I still think of often.

Crater Lake in OR. With snow. Simply incredible. I'd like to have my ashes scattered there.

The Holocaust Museum in DC. This may be the most extended gut wrenching emotional experience I will ever have.

Now elsewhere.

Seeing Michelangelo's Pietà for the first time at St. Peter's in Rome. I'm not a religious person, but to me this is the most beautiful sculpture ever anywhere.

Picasso's Guernica. I could look at it for hours and still not take it all in. Raw emotion for me.

Anne Frank's house in Amsterdam. I first saw it when it was just the house and you were given a piece of paper with information about it in your language.

Basilica di San Clemente al Laterano in Rome. It had me at the Medieval mosaics. Both learning about the history and being able to actually see evidence of the varied buildings at different levels in the same spot were fascinating. Starting at the deepest level and moving up: a republican era villa and warehouse destroyed in the Great Fire of 64 AD, the home of a Roman nobleman that also was an early 1st century church, a 2nd century mithraeum and the 4th-century basilca that preceded the current one. I'd never seen anything quite like it. When Ron was in Rome, he took us there.

The Mezquita in Cordoba. Absolutely one of my favorite buildings anywhere. I do wish that the architecture of the original Mosque had not been muddled with the Catholic cathedral built inside it, but that's history and you can still see how beautiful and special this building is anyway.

The Guggenheim in Bilbao. I was so in awe of the beauty of this Frank Gehry building that we never even went inside. We just walked around it, slowly, pausing to view it from every angle.

Love reading through the responses.

I have 3 that come to mind; the first being Santa Maria del Fiore. I enjoyed it the first time but on a second visit with my sister, I appreciated it more. As we walked through alleyways, you could see hints of the Cathedral. As soon as we rounded the last corner, we stood in awe as we took in this massive structure towering over the piazza. Gives me chills every time.

The 2nd and 3rd were from our trip to Normandy. I understood the obstacles faced during the D-Day landings but I was “blown away” by the enormous undertaking Allied forces faced. Standing on the cliff side at Pointe du Hoc, trying to understand how they managed to climb the cliff side still baffles me. Lastly, we visited Omaha Beach at low tide to get a better idea of the distance covered, again, it left me with a larger sense of gratitude for the sacrifices made by those unbelievably brave men.

Growing up in Barcelona, with a balcony view to la Sagrada Familia, I witnessed her gradual construction from year to year. All these years and the exterior of the Basilica still wows me! I had a chance to visit the interior 2 years ago (for the first time no less) and I was just as awestruck as all the tourists around me lol! Being bathed in all those colours from the stained glass windows was truly a magical experience 😊

Statue of David in Florence
Michelangelo's Pietà
VanGogh Museum in Amsterdam
First time I saw Eiffel tower at night

Seeing the Statue of Liberty from a cruise ship leaving NYC
Rafting the Grand Canyon
First view of Machu Picchu as the bus rounds a high corner
The real David-it had more power than the copies
Eiffel Tower twinkling at night-didn’t know about the light show, especially from the boat ride
Truly surprised how much we enjoyed the WW1 exhibit at the Imperial War Museum in London
Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon-a much more dramatic view that the rim of the Grand Canyon

The two more popular answers seem to be Venice and David. I haven't seen David yet; I will, but I have to say I'm not giddy with anticipation, just curious to see if I'll be as impressed as many of you are. I always wonder if that will be the piece of art that finally moves me or if it will end up being another piece, possibly something insignificant that will just speak to me.

@Allan, don't build up expectations, and don't sub consciously build up barriers either. If you find yourself in Florence, visit the Accademia. Don't go 'to see the David'. That's a lot of pressure.

Seeing other people's responses has me saying, "Oh, yeah; I forgot about that one!"

David, for sure. I thought it would be cheesy; it was incredibly powerful. (And Maria F, I'm sure you meant to say "Florence." There is an Accademia in Venice, but the David is at the museum of the same name in Florence.)

Leonardo's "Last Supper." I was prepared to be underwhelmed, but was gobsmacked by it. Having a good guide to help explain the painting helped. And we had recently read "Rescuing DaVinci" by Robert Edsel, which added to our understanding and appreciation.

I’ve seen many incredible things while traveling, but one stands out because of the strong emotions I felt. I still get emotional every time I think about it. The American Cemetery in Normandy, a sea of white grave markers gleaming in the sun. As I pondered the enormity of what happened there I noticed people gathering at a flag pole in the distance. I walked that way to get closer and when I got there I realized that there was total silence. No one was talking and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The American flag started coming down and taps was being played. I was blown away by the scene in front of me and struck by the crowd of people there from all over the world that showed such respect.

Love these responses. Definitely bookmarking this for future consideration.

Mine are:

Skelligh Michael off the coast of western Ireland. It was foggy and there were penguins everywhere. The whole atmosphere was mystical and magical.

The Pantheon in Rome. I arrived early, early in the morning from the airport and found my hotel (Hotel Pantheon) where I dropped my luggage to check in later in the day. I went to the piazza where the Pantheon is and was alone. Very powerful. The inside of the Pantheon was interesting from an architectural perspective but that wasn't my wow moment. It was standing in that piazza with the fountain running in the early light of the morning.

The Stone of Destiny my husband and I had just landed in Edinburgh on our first European trip. We were both interested in Scottish history as he had some genealogical records - letters, birth records, etc, - that made visiting a personal experience for him. Tired as we were that first day, we went to Edinburgh Castle. When I saw the Stone of Destiny I actually got a little choked up. I teach American Government to college freshmen and am inspired by the age of our Constitution and here was this relic from probably 700 years earlier (date uncertain of how long it was used before it was stolen in 1296). It was emotional (and likely my tiredness from our overnight flight contributed to it!)

Liberty Leading the People - at the Louvre. My husband and I had rounded the corner from the swarms of people seeing the Mona Lisa and here was this massive painting that I had never learned about in school. The muted colors in which it was painted - reds and blues and greys - and the triangle composition of the painting with Liberty at the top with her flag and the sacrifices of the revolutionaries at her feet made quite an impression. Just happening upon it without expecting to added to the sense of awe we felt. I subsequently learned more about the painting after seeing it which I think has added to the impression it had on me.

Seeing other people's responses has me saying, "Oh, yeah; I forgot
about that one!"

I thought that as soon as someone wrote about Venice. I knew I was going to go sometime but didn't have it as a priority because as some others have wrote, I heard it was crowded and smelly. All I can say about Venice is Wow. I've never embraced getting lost more than I did in Venice, it seemed like every wrong turn just brought more laughs and memories.

Jane, thanks. Corrected. I am on vacation. Brain is, in particular :-)
Ah yes, the Pantheon was truly unexpected.

The Acropolis in part because I was apprehensive about the climb. I ended up chiding myself for another example of over-worrying. It was glorious to be up there and be so impressed with the feat of engineering that created it. The magical lighting at night just increased my enjoyment.

Another blockbuster that surpassed my expectation was Pompeii. I had no sense of the scale of the property or the level of excavation. The archeological work is so intricate. A guide who clearly loved the property helped with appreciation.

Two things come to mind. We took a water taxi from the airport to Venice. The view of its coming closer and the anticipation of being there made it an awe inspiring event. The other is "David" in Florence. I knew it would be taller than life-size but wasn't prepared for its perfection.

Wendy -

Penguins off the coast of Ireland? Presumably navigationally challenged ones! Do you mean Puffins? 😂🤣😂

Ian

Claudia, I am with you all the way. I was getting ready to list these three, and then I saw that you had listed the exact same three.

• Hagia Sophia in Istanbul
  
• The Nightwatch at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
• Michelangelo’s David in Florence

(Unfortunately, I haven't seen The Last Supper.)

The other place is Venice. My first experience in Venice was taking a vaporetto on the Grand Canal just as the sun was setting. I was not prepared for how gorgeous it was. Love at first sight, for sure.

My husband is museum-averse but both the Vasa and Van Gogh turned out to be highlights for him.

St. Mark’s in Venice. We went to a vespers concert there on Christmas Eve, mainly because everything else had closed and we wanted to do something Christmas-y. We had no idea what to expect. It was spectacular. The mosaics were twinkling. The chanting was other-worldly. It felt very intimate, even in such a grand place. We felt very privileged to experience it in a way that most tourists don’t.

Shoes on the Danube Bank in Budapest. It's been eight years since I experienced that monument . . .the emotions I felt are as clear as they were that evening.

There are so many but #1 would be Murren in the Berner Oberland (Switzerland). Being 5,000’ up and surrounded by the Alps and the view was mind blowing.

I would have to agree with Allan........Venice blew me away. We had been told not to expect anything but a smelly crowded place and I fell in love with it. I am ready to go back right now and get lost in its charming maze-like streets. I also loved seeing that beautiful town of colorful Burano as our boat approached! The night we arrived in Venice we walked out of the train station onto that platform that has steps that walk down to the water......unreal....there it is. We boarded our water taxi on a Sunday morning......we left in the rain and stood on an overcrowded boat trying to protect ourselves......I remember hearing the church bells chiming and thinking that I needed to hold this sweet memory in my mind forever.....church bells chiming, Venice in the rain on a boat in the canal.......unreal.
Seeing the American cemetery at Normandy also had a chilling effect on me. We were there the weekend before Memorial Day in May.......they were testing the PA system and as we walked through the graves the intercom came on with taps playing......early in the morning with dew still on the ground......just incredibly moving to understand the sacrifices those soldiers made for me.......then a group of French school kids came and were putting flowers on graves......a new generation trying to comprehend what a prior generation had sacrificed for their freedom......the grounds crew was going grave-to-grave, digging the holes for the French and American flags to sit in for each grave....so quiet and respectful.........never will forget that!

I would also agree being blown away by Venice. Two weeks before leaving for Venice our daughter surprised us with some ancestral research dating back to the 1500's. We had photos of the family home & history. What I didn't know was prior to locating the home I had taken a photo from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection through a wrought iron window grill. Lo and behold there was the home across the Grand Canal. Following that encounter we discovered it was a 5 min. walk from our hotel. After a glorious week in Venice we took the Vaporetto to Piazzale Roma. On the way we said goodbye while passing the home. La Serenissima is calling me back.

Too many to even attempt a complete list, but among them are several that others mentioned: first view of Venice from the Grand Canal, David, Winged Victory, Guernica, the Alhambra, Westminster Abbey. However, I was also stunned by my first view of the Tower of Pisa. We’ve all seen many pictures of it, but there it was in the flesh, so to speak, beautiful and really leaning (pre-stabilization days). Took my breath away.
The interior of the cathedral of Monreale. The exterior is rather plain, and the entry area is baroque, my least favorite style after rococo. But when you step into the main body of the church, it is entirely different, completely covered with gorgeous mosaics depicting various Bible stories. And on mosaics, Ravenna’s church of S. Apollinare in Classe.

I have to share an experience with my teenage son. We were in Paris, and went to Sainte Chapelle. Before even entering, my son took notice of the armed guards with the “blah blah blah” gun with “dual sight blah blah blah”. I have no idea what exactly the weapon was, but my son sure did! I’m pretty sure he got a picture of it.

We were one of the first groups that entered the chapel that morning. We climbed the stairs, my son right behind me. As we entered, I heard him gasp and whisper “Wooooooooooowwwwww!” I was almost moved to tears sharing the awe of such an incredible place with my 16 year old.

Not Europe, but I was sobbing almost the whole time I visited Ellis Island ...

Several things:
1) The museum at the top of l'Hopital in Paris (where Napoleon is interred). This museum holds models of French cities from the 1500s and 1600s. Peter the Great of Russia visited the same place.
2) The church that my grandmother attended in Budapest
3) The National Archeological Museum in Athens. Just about every important piece of Greek art that is not in the British Museum is there.
4) The National Museum of Art in Budapest which had the best recorded guided tour outside die Alte Pinotek in Munich
5) The Hungarian Agricultural Museum in Budapest

Not the mention my favorite sites in Europe - the next coffee cafe on the square

Seeing the Acropolis lit up at night from our rooftop restaurant of our hotel!
Flam Valley in Norway
The Quirang-Scottish Highlands