Venice
We took a boat from the dock near our hotel to reach St. Mark’s Square. In this photo, the Campanile (Bell Tower) is on the left, the Doge’s Palace is on the right, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Eiffel Tower are in the middle. Of course, it is not the Eiffel Tower, but it sure takes you aback when you see the depiction of it here. I thought that maybe Venice is trying to add some “Vegas” to itself. Actually, a French company is renovating a clock tower here and has come up with an interesting way to make the French connection known.
Venice
Walking to St. Mark’s Square
We walked from where the boat dropped us off to St. Mark’s Square.
Walking to St. Mark’s Square
Vecchia Murano
Then we walked to a Venetian Murano glass factory store––the Vecchia Murano.
Vecchia Murano
Vecchia Murano
After being given a glass–blowing demonstration, we went to the showroom. We were also told that there is quite a difference between the hand–blown and hand–decorated glass here and the industrial glass that is also sold in Venice. If you wash the industrial glass, the gold designs often come off. The stores selling real Venetian glass have to display a certificate in their windows. This particular decanter and glass set was being sold for only 2000 Euros, which we were told was a bargain as it was made for Tiffany and Tiffany’s price was over 100% more.
Vecchia Murano
Vecchia Murano
Some of the Venetian Murano glass being sold at the Vecchia Murano. I bought a set of six small vases as gifts for my family and had them sent home. They arrived at my house 16 days later via DHL and in perfect condition. The customs duty bill for them came about a week later. Don’t worry about having to pay duty, the duty charge was little. I still have not received a customs bill for the ceramic clocks that I had sent home.
Vecchia Murano
Vecchia Murano
Murano glass parrots for sale at the Vecchia Murano.
Vecchia Murano
Vecchia Murano
The Venetian glass showrooms were upstairs and downstairs was a wonderful store selling lace, dolls, Carnival masks, tapesties, and other glass items such as Christmas tree ornaments, and jewelry. This photo shows some of masks for sale––they were expensive.
Vecchia Murano
Doge’s Palace
We now had free time to walk around Venice. Starting at St. Mark’s Square, I walked pass the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale). This palace dates back to the 14th and 15th century and the site was the home of the doges, the elected rulers of Venice and its conquests. It is made of pink Vernona marble and is quite beautiful.
Doge’s Palace
Bridge of Sighs
On the right–hand side of the Doge’s Palace is the Bridge of Sighs. Prisoners walked over this bridge to await their fate.
Bridge of Sighs
Doge’s Palace
Doge’s Palace from St. Mark’s Square. One line is for the St. Mark’s Basilica and another line is for the Campanile. Some of our tour members visited the museum inside the Doge’s Palace and also the dungeons.
Doge’s Palace
St. Mark’s Basilica
The front of St. Mark’s Basilica. It has five domes and dates back to the 11th century and is quite beautiful.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
View of the top of the basilica.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
Close–up view.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
Another view.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
Mosaics on the outside of St. Mark’s Basilica.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
Close–up of the mosaics.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
More mosaics on the outside of the Basilica.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
More mosaics.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
No photos were allowed inside the Basilica. You have to imagine viewing 40,000 square feet of golden mosaics, the earliest dating back to the 12th century. Inside there is also an altar piece, the Pala d’Oro, with 250 panels, each embedded with precious stones. However, I was able to take photos of the mosaics near the entrance to the Basilica. Here is one of them.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
Another photo of the mosaics near the entranceway.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Basilica
And another photo of the mosaics.
St. Mark’s Basilica
St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square is known for its numerous pigeons. These people brought seed to feed the pigeons.
St. Mark’s Square
St. Mark’s Square’s Campanile
This bell tower only dates back to 1912, although its design is from the early 16th century. In 1902, its foundation gave way and the bell tower had to be rebuilt.
St. Mark’s Square’s Campanile
Campanile
Photo of the bottom of the tower taken while waiting in line to go to the top of it––it had an elevator! The views from the top were spectacular and I have put them on a slide show on this site: Go to Slide Shows, Western Europe, Italy–2, “Venice: View from the Campanile.”
Campanile
Campanile
One of the five bells on top of the Campanile and they do ring them on the hour. Luckily, I finished by visit before the hour struck.
Campanile
To the Rialto Bridge
Paolo told us that we wouldn’t get lost in Venice. You will see either Per S. Marco (St. Mark) or Per Rialto on a street corner. Per Rialto will take you to the Grand Canal and Per S. Marco back to St. Mark’s Square. I walked through winding old streets to the Grand Canal. I put the photos that I took along the way plus other photos that I took of Venice on a slide show on this site: Go to Slide Shows, Western Europe, Italy–2, “Venice: Walk from San Marco to the Grand Canal.”
To the Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge
This famous landmark of Venice dates back to 1588 and spans the Grand Canal.
Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge
Close–up of the bridge.
Rialto Bridge
The Grand Canal
One microsecond of life on the Grand Canal.
The Grand Canal
Sidewalk Dining
These pigeons are ready for lunch.
Sidewalk Dining
Gondola Service
You can arrange for a gondola ride here, among other places in Venice.
Gondola Service
Carnival
There were people dressed up for Carnival along the way I walked to meet my tour. (Of course, you had to impart with some Euros to take their photos.) Carnival in Venice is a major event.
Carnival
Carnival
More people in costumes and more Euros given in exchange for the photo.
Carnival
Carnival
These ladies made a lovely photo.
Carnival
Carnival
Close–up of one of the masks.
Carnival
Carnival
Close–up of another of the masks.
Carnival
Carnival
Close–up of the third mask.
Carnival
On the Way to Burano
There was an optional trip to the island of Burano: Lagoon Cruise with Lunch on the Island of Burano, which I went on. We cruised through the lagoon past the island of Murano. This is where the glass factories are located. It has been the center for glass–making since 1291. You can take a boat here.
On the Way to Burano
On the Way to Burano
We also passed this building on another island in the lagoon––it was once a convent.
On the Way to Burano
Burano
We can now see Burano. The church tower in the photo really is leaning: The Leaning Tower of Burano.
Burano
Burano
Burano is known for its very brightly colored houses. Burano didn’t have any street signs or house numbers so people painted their houses different colors so they could find their houses. Today, painting your house a different color from the original color is not allowed.
Burano
Burano
Another view of Burano from the water.
Burano
Burano
Burano is a fishing village. It also has a shopping street selling lace, which used to be a big industry here, and other items. One of our tour members found a Murano glass shop here with prices much less than those in Venice. The owner said that his family owns a glass factory on the island of Murano. We ate lunch here––quite a delicious feast: spaghetti with little clams in their shells, risotto with shrimp, salad, two kinds of fish, calamari rings, and cookies to dip in the local wine, peanut brittle, and Amaretto coffee. This photo shows the shopping/eating street of Burano.
Burano
Burano
It was an experience of the senses just walking around Burano with its very bright colors. I have put most of the photos that I took of Burano on a slide show on this site: Go to Slide Shows, Western Europe, Italy–1, “Burano.” I particulary like this photo.
Burano
Burano
I also like this photo with the reflection of the houses in the canal.
Burano
On the Way Back to Venice
This is where a seawall of some type is being built to stop Venice from flooding. It is where the lagoon meets the Adriatic Sea.
On the Way Back to Venice
On the Way Back to Venice
Cruise ship leaving Venice. We saw two cruise ships in port while we were in Venice.
On the Way Back to Venice
On the Way Back to Venice
This is how close the cruise ship came near us. I did not use my zoom to take this photo.
On the Way Back to Venice
On the Way Back to Venice
Cruise ship passengers waving at us.
On the Way Back to Venice
On the Way Back to Venice
Back to St. Mark’s Square. We picked up tour members who didn’t go to Burano with us. We could also get off the boat to spend more time in Venice and then take a bus back to the hotel. I wish that I had had the energy to do this, but didn’t, so this was the end of my time in this beautiful city.
