Venice

We took the 9 a.m. water taxi shuttle from the hotel back to Venice Island, where we got on the no. 1 vaporetto that would take up and down the Grand Canal.

Venice

Venice

On the Grand Canal. The building on the left is the Europa part of the Regina and Europa Hotel, one of the most expensive hotels in Venice. I have put the photos I took of our Grand Canal cruise on a slide show on this site: Go to Slide Shows, Western Europe, Italy–2, “Venice, Grand Canal……..–1 and –2.”

Venice

Venice

We finished our vaporetto trips both ways on the Grand Canal and came back to the Piazza San Marco. That is Keith smiling in the photo.

Venice

Venice

The Basicila San Marco. We walked around the Piazza and listened to the orchestras playing. I put a movie clip of one of the orchestras that was playing today on this site: Go to Movies, Western Europe, Italy, ” Piazza San Marco Orchestra–2, Venice.”

Venice

Venice

We walked around Venice some until San Giorgio Maggiore, across the Lagoon, would be open for visitors. Keith took this photo for me of the two bridges. The bridge in the background is the Bridge of Sighs.

Venice

Venice

And Keith also took this one for me of the three bridges.

Venice

Venice

Back to the vaporetto station to catch the no. 86 to cross the Lagoon.

Venice

San Giorgio Maggiore

The church of San Giorgio Maggiore across the Lagoon on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore.

San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View of Venice from in front of the steps of the church.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

San Giorgio Maggiore

Entering the church.

San Giorgio Maggiore

San Giorgio Maggiore

Sign at the church’s entrance.

San Giorgio Maggiore

San Giorgio Maggiore

Inside the church.

San Giorgio Maggiore

San Giorgio Maggiore

View of the sculptures from the back.

San Giorgio Maggiore

San Giorgio Maggiore

There are several paintings by Tintoretto in the church.

San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

The main reason we were visiting the church of San Giorgio Maggiore was to go up its bell tower. We paid 3 euros each to go up a lift which could hold four people at a time. However, four people didn’t always come down each time, so it was a bit crowded at the top of the bell tower. While we were at the top, the bells started ringing––there is nothing like being in a bell tower when the bells are ringing! The first bell got your immediate attention (you got to be kidding, this is not happening), the second ringing had you frozen in space, and the third one had you praying. But the views of Venice from the bell tower are incredible. Photo: Looking to the right

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

To the left.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

More to the left. You can now see the Palazzo Ducale.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

The Palazzo Ducale and the Campanile.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

Entrance to the Grand Canal on the left.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

Entrance to the Grand Canal on the right and Guidecca Island in the left background.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

Guidecca Island.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

The Lido in the background.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

Close up of the Campanile and the Palazzo Ducale. Photo taken with my zoom lens.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

Closer–up photo, also taken with my zoom lens.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

And even closer up, taken with a maximum 12x with my zoom lens. The new cameras similar to the one I have now have 18x zoom lenses––with that lens I probably could have taken photos of people’s faces.

View from San Giorgio Maggiore

Venice

We took the no. 86 vaporetto back to Venice Island and then our hotel’s shuttle back to the Lido. Note the size of the crowd––this was a Sunday and Venice was almost wall–to–wall tourists. We had a very good dinner this night on the Lido.

Venice