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.

On the Way Back to Venice