Italy – Day 4,
apprehension was the order of the day when we left to go to Venice this morning…
would we be able to find a parking place for the van (it doesn’t fit most car
park buildings)? How were we going to get around the city? Would the crowds be overwhelming
and the queues long? Reading the reviews we were expecting the worst but our
fears were not realized and we had an astounding day! Venice really is a beautiful city and once we
got off the beaten track away from the crowds we enjoyed the city and drank in
the sights - the narrow streets, the buildings perched in the canals, the
gondolas winding through the water ways and under the many bridges.
We visited the amazing Doge’s palace, just so unbelievingly
ornate and grand, built in 1340 it still retains the grandness from its
original founding. It had really interesting huge paintings that that were full
of detail, we imagined them looking at a painting like we do a movie! Each one tells many stories, and you kept
noticing new details with each look.
There were also rooms full of armour, original prison cells (of which
there were quite a few in the bowels of the palace) and unbelievably stunning
halls with massively ornate ceilings, gold leaf used extensively throughout.
The Piazza San Marco, and St Mark’s Basilica were awe
inspiring, but it was in escaping the crowds and getting lost in narrow side
alleys that we really felt the heart of the city. The photos just don’t do
justice to the colours and quaintness of the inner city.
Doge’s Palace with its stunning paintings, halls (in wing 15!),
and ceilings
A painter’s depiction of animals going into the ark, there are unicorns being led up the ramp!
Internal courtyard of the Doge’s Palace where we had our
lunch stop.
A door with some brutal history, one of the many original gaol doors in the Palace.
Even armour and weapons to keep the lads interested.
Cool little canals and narrow alleyways, some were so narrow you could easily lean out and shake your neighbors hand through an opposite window.
The Piazza San Marco, and St Mark’s Basilica
The wonderful canals of Venice!!
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