Aww Italy, Part IV

 Venice

A City of 118 Islands 

We arrived at the Venice train station and the first thing we had to do was cross a canal to get to our third rented home away from home. We would soon get accustomed to crossing canals, as the big island of Venice is really a group of small bits of land. If you are interested, there is a fascinating history about the marshes that became this famous seaport. 

After lugging the suitcase over the big steps, we found we were not far from our small apartment. We were happy to have a small secluded outdoor space to regroup before heading out into the great unknown!

 

Here is the small alley that led to . . .

our little patio. With the thousands of tourists, we were fortunate to land in a very quiet part of Venice. Again we were surprised that it is a very walkable town as well as easy to hop on a vaporetto or water bus. 

 

Being money conscious we never did ride a gondola while there, but really enjoyed sitting on a small canal and watching the gondoliers skull around corners, managing to avoid the motorized water taxis.

Narrow canals and narrow streets describe much of Venice. They often offer a way to escape the crowds.

Here is one of my favorite photos. I just happened to be at the right place at the right moment.

Two gondoliers on their way to work!

However, most visitors here are more interested in seeing the fabulous architecture. As we hopped on our first vaporetto going down the Grand Canal, we had no idea of where we were going or where we might hop off until we saw this marvelous church.

Santa Maria della Salute

This magnificent structure was built in 1630 as a "votive offering" in hopes that the Virgin Mary would bring health to Venice where the plague was wiping out 1/3 of the population. 

The dome of Della Salute became one of the highlights of the Venetian skyline and was later painted by many artists including . Turner, Monet, Sargent and others.

But more famous (and much more crowded) is St Mark's Square, home of St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge Palace. 

St. Mark's Piazza and Basilica

The building of this Basilica began in the 9th Century and was completed in the 1300's. With a combination of Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque styles there is an amazing amount of eye-candy.  Historically Venice was the commercial and naval power of Europe, so marbles and stones were imported from far away places to create some of the most remarkable pillars and carvings anywhere. 

Venice is more than monuments, canals, bridges and tourists. It is home for people who shop at the market and go home to cook. We enjoyed seeing both the beautiful history and the reality of Venice.

With one more stop ahead of us before heading home, we took the train back to Milan where we would say Goodbye Italy.