Venice ~ Queen of the Adriatic
"You've got to see a city of slender towers and white domes, sleeping in the water like a mass of water lilies. You've got to see dark waterways, mysterious threads of shadow, binding all these flowers of stone together.”
― E. Temple Thurston.
My first trip to Venice was in the summer of 2004. I was fortunate enough to go back to Venice in the summer of 2018. What a contrast. The beautiful city was overrun with people. It was hard to catch a deep breath. I am so glad that I have beautiful memories wandering through the back ways and canals exploring the nooks and cranny’s and browsing in shops, drinking espresso, enjoying scrumptious food in the waterfront cafes, feeding the pigeons in Piazza San Marco. While many of these things are still possible the crowds quite overwhelmed me during my second visit.
Bridge Of Sighs
The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. The bridge's English name was bequeathed by Lord Byron in the 19th century as a translation from the Italian "Ponte dei sospiri", from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. In reality, the days of inquisitions were over by the time that the bridge was built, and the cells under the palace roof were occupied mostly by small-time criminals. In addition, little could be seen from inside the bridge due to the stone grills covering the windows.
Rialto Bridge
Rialto Bridge, is a stone arch bridge crossing over the narrowest point of the Grand Canal in the heart of Venice. Built in the closing years of the 16th century, the Rialto Bridge is the oldest bridge across the canal and is renowned as an architectural and engineering achievement of the Renaissance. It was designed and built by Antonio Da Ponte and his nephew, Antonio Contino, following a design competition in the city.
My clearest memories is of climbing the stairs to find a young man selling designer bags. I still use the Louis Vuitton overnighter my Italian souvenir that I bought right here on these steps.
Grand Canal
View from the breakfast loggia at the Hotel Danieli where we were fortunate to stay on our first visit. We did have fun exploring the various churches and museums and overloading on the beauty of the art and architecture. We were warned before our trip that the city was dirty and smelly. This view of the sparkling water definitely made a lie of the warning and we enjoyed every day of our time in this jewel of a city.
Doge’s Palace
A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, the building and its sculptural decoration date from various periods. The interior, with works by artists such as Titian, Veronese, Tintoretto, and Tiepolo, includes vast council chambers, superbly decorated residential apartments, and austere prison cells.
No roads, no cars, only water craft and the music from the gondoliers plying their passengers along the canals. Intellectually we know Venice is a city of canals and yet you feel there must be some roads somewhere. Imagine the surprise to exit the train station and hike your luggage down to the dock to engage in a water taxi or vaporetto to take you to your destination.
I recall our dismay at having to lug our heavy suitcases (definitely learned a lesson about traveling light in Europe) down the stairs that lead from the exit of the train station to the water. I also fondly recall my friend and companions dismay when seeing that the only roads were water canals. She got over the surprise and chagrin pretty quick and we spend an amazing time scrambling through all the back alleys and shops during our time here.
“There is something so different in, Venice from any other place in, the world, that you leave at, once all accustomed habits and, everyday sights to enter an, enchanted garden.” - Mary Shelley. To me, it’s like an old lady that retains her innate beauty and charm.