Our last major Italian city – Venice.
Day 1.
We left early-ish from the campsite by an expensive ferry across the venice lagoon from Fusina to Venice. On arrival we were pleasantly surprised at Venice’s cleanliness and non-smelliness (we had heard stories).
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| Customs point and San Giorgio (in the distance) |
We walked along the Canal della Giudecca to the Dogana (customs point of Venice). From here we had a good view across the canal to San Giorgio Island (Island of St George) – they really like their saints here in Venice!
We then headed around the point along the Grand Canal stopping off at Santa Maria della Salute – a church built in celebration of the end of the plague.
As well as saints Venice has a large collection of art galleries, mainly housing modern work. One of which, an exhibition called “From Asia to the rest of the World” was particularly weird as well as another (sorry can’t remember who the artist was) that featured comical painting and sculptures of well known figures eg. Batman with a topless wonder woman, self portrait of Mona Lisa and Adolph Hitler as a playboy bunny to name a few.
We continued to meander the streets and canals of Doso Duro finding a great corner pub with a view up along one of the canals.
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| The lunch table |
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| Our view |
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| Pont del Academia |
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| The Grand Canal from The Pont del Academia |
After refuelling on sandwiches and pizza we crossed the Pont del Academia into San Marco eventually ending up in the Piazza San Marco outside of the Basilica.
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| St Marks Square |
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| Eew pigeon people |
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| I love shopping! |
Our mission was to get to the third bridge the Ponte degli Scalzi which i am happy to say we succeeded in.
After this we made our way back to the ferry terminal, back to Fusina.
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| Grand Canal from the Pont degli Scalzi |
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| Dave, always on the big boat lookout, finds another in Venice |
Our first day in Venice and we didn’t get lost!
Day 2.
We planned a later start today with the bulk of Venice covered on foot yesterday and some internet and Skype time required.
We arrived at lunch time and made a beeline for Piazza San Marco and the entrance line for the Basilica.
Luckily like most cathedrals the line (which wasn’t as long as we had seen it yesterday) moved quickly and we were inside in no time. (just a little time to wrap myself in scarves so i would be presentable).
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| All ready in my church atire - fashion forward I think! |
An interesting mosaic series inside the church told the story of the stealing of St Marks body from Alexandria by Venetians. They hid it in a barrel of pork so that the Muslims wouldn’t check it. Once they had it safely in the crypt they thought it was all over... but oh-no a major flood caused the need for the removal of the relics. While rebuilding and remodelling the place the relics were stored “somewhere safe” and only known to a few special people. Problem was the rebuilding took longer than anticipated and the special few died in that time, taking the location of the relics with them. Luckily St Mark was pretty kind to the Venetians and appeared before the masses after they prayed for 3 days and let them in on the secret. Marks relics were found and are now safely housed under the main alter. They were last opened up about 10years ago when the king/sultan of Alexandria paid a visit and needed to touch them (as you do).
We also saw the jewel spangled Pala d’Oro – the gold altarpiece covered in priceless jewels as well as seeing the original 4 horse from the Basilicas facade (spoils of war from Constantinople in the 2nd Century AD) now having a rest from the elements inside.
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| View from the top of the Basilica |
We finished the afternoon with a visit to the Doge’s palace and the hotel Danieli (famous luxury Venetian hotel).
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| Dave at the Danieli |
On the way back to the dock we grabbed our last official Italian gelati (although sadly it was a little disappointing) and said goodbye to Venice.
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