Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy

     Let's pretend. You are an official from some small kingdom in Europe and come to Venice. You are taken on a tour. One place they will take you is the shipyard and show you how they can and do build a warship a day. If you are not impressed by that, or the great food with spices from around the world, they invite you to the Doge's Palace.
     The Doge is the head guy in Venice and to get to the room where he will meet with you, you have to climb a stairway with the ceiling pictured above. If that doesn't impress you, there is more, but that ought to do it. (Photo by Marietta McLellan)