Coby

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@SimpleCRE I’m sure it’s hauntingly beautiful then!

@Cobylefko There's nothing else remotely comparable. If you think it's great in the summer, visit more in the winter months. It's even better then.

Venice has to be the most beautiful city in the world, right? It’s somehow surpassed my lofty expectations of it. Yes, there are tourists. But it’s not really an issue outside of St. Mark’s. And it’s beauty more than makes up for whatever momentary crowding there is!

@queensnative123 The arts, and it seems there are some who work remotely but it’s predominantly tourism driven

@Cobylefko Can you work there in an industry that’s not tourism related?

@aussieflya Otherworldly!

@Cobylefko Just incredible!

@donnelly_b And it was built out of nothing! The ambition to build in the middle of the labor and to do so in as excellent of a manner achieved makes me think, more and more, that modern city building and cultural production generally will be regarded as dark ages by future historians

Reminder that Venice was built out of economic utility, reaching its zenith in the 15th century. Trade was by water and Venice had the absolute right geography to monopolize commerce between Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

@immanuelgilen Dorsoduro is just magnificent, it felt like a stage set walking around. The pathway along the water at sunset is something I won’t soon forget! I was hoping to, but it was closed today! So I walked around the Giardini and admired the backs of the pavilions

@Cobylefko The only correct opinion. ;-) Wander around Cannaregio or Dorsoduro late at night and I dare you to not fall in love. Are you checking out the Biennale? Both the Giardini and the Arsenale are usually worth a visit.

@AustinTunnell That’s the best way I’ve heard it described. It is surreal, just like the other wonders!

@Cobylefko It feels like a world wonder. It’s incredible.

@CJHandmer Just let us know when you need the jackhammers / wrecking balls

It's currently impossible to take a photo of St Pancras Station without some modernist atrocity slop in the foreground. Delete!

@BradTBuchanan San Marino is the last one, Ravenna is the first!

@Cobylefko What city is this?

In many Italian cities, there are ZTLs (zona traffico limitatos) that restrict vehicle access, which makes them so much quieter, safer, and more pleasant than many other cities. While some cars are let in, they're often more cautious because the city isn't oriented around them

This model is particularly relevant in the US sunbelt, where high temperatures are made far worse by sprawling development patterns that absorb and trap heat. There's nowhere to find protection in Arizona unless one hides inside. Arcades and narrow lanes allow people to still spend time when it's really warm.

Because these cities aren't oriented around cars, there are fewer paved areas, which reduces temperatures via minimizing urban heat islands This effect is further limited by using stone as opposed to asphalt, & siting buildings closer together. More beautiful, more functional!

@city_of_bits Arcades are excellent, I’ve been rushing into them wherever I can find them! Only a bit more tricky than trees haha

@Cobylefko Agreed! To be fair, arcades like in Bologna/Modena, are a decent alternative (though much harder to retrofit than trees 😂)

Italian plazas would be so much better if they planted trees. I'm sure there's some historic reason why many do not, but when it's almost 100 degrees, those reasons don't make much sense. No shade cover means no one spends time in what should otherwise be excellent public space

@Alex_Yates_ I get that, but this isn’t incompatible with planting trees along the periphery or having movable pots / planters for when those events are held. It seems a bad trade off for dense urban cores (where homes are small without private space) without much public space.

@Cobylefko Main piazza’s are often used for weekly markets or events such as concerts. They’re functional economic areas in the city centres, not purely leisure spaces to relax in, which is why most don’t have trees which would inhibit those activities.

@dallas_ak That’s not incompatible with a few trees! Some of the best outdoor European markets are small clusters of tents in loggia or thickets of trees. There are dedicated football pitches, and people can still gather with trees. I’d wager more would!

@Cobylefko Some of them are markets, football fields, place of gatherings etc. Italian towns are not as big as American towns so need wide open places for crowds during festivals and public events.

This is the only reasonable pushback I’ve seen so far, but even still rows of trees could be planted at the boundary of the square and potted plants / movable furniture could go in the middle. Then the question to ask is it worth having the space be so underutilized for most of the year without even having movable greenery?

@Cobylefko Cannot do this once a year with trees

@jaddeyekabir Yeah, the need is probably stronger there with much of that space being punishing for pilgrims / visitors who will have their experience lessened. There’s no reason Via della Conciliazione shouldn’t at least have trees

@Cobylefko Would you plant trees in front of St. Peter's?

@godsaveourgdp There can still be forced perspectives to maintain views of basilicas like this - it’s not like trees are incompatible with vistas!

@Cobylefko In that particular square, pretty sure it’s to ensure a good view of the basilica that was behind you when you took your photo

@Steve_Sailer There can still be forced perspectives for special structures with rows of planted trees, as Paris, London, and other cities do, so I’m not sure I agree here

@Cobylefko Trees are most aesthetically necessary when you have ugly architecture, like the Boston City Hall square. Italians tend to have attractive architecture, so their squares tend to lack trees to keep the trees from blocking views of the buildings and statues.