Venice Carnival

Photograph by Mariusz Smiejek , My Shot

Carnival revelers take a break at one of Venice's countless sidewalk cafes. As European influences continue to trickle in from the north, Italy is experiencing a reinvention across its large cities. However, as home to the eternal city of Rome and some of the world s greatest art and architecture, the country still clings to the roots that have provided the region s lifeblood for centuries.