Italy Day 6: Venice-The Original Water World
After a 3rd helping of bread.. ham.. salami.. cheese.. eggs.. and unending cups of expresso.. cappucino and hot chocolate.. we headed out to brave weather. It had been raining heavily last night.. and still raining in the morning.. so it was flooded everywhere! We had to walk on planks so that our feet won't get wet.. unless you're wearing wellingtons and able to splash through the water.. even umbrellas weren't much of a defense against the strong wind! It was an amazing feat trying to juggle a camera in one hand.. an umbrella in the other.. while wearing a heavy winter coat and a beret.. plus a knapsack on my shoulder.. ha ha!
We made our way slowly and somewhat precariously to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) where several museums were located.. and started with Palazzo Ducale (The Doges' Palace). The decorations and Renaissance paintings were quite different from those we saw in Rome.. everything seemed to be gilded.. the golden domes.. cornices.. picture frames.. sculptures.. the backgrounds were dark with bright colours to highlight the main characters of the story who were usually at the centre.. and the black and white paintings (at the sides also) also projected a 3-D illusion. We ventured across the Bridge of Sigh to the dungeons (so named because the prisoners would sigh heavily as they crossed the bridge of no return).. those poor souls.. *haiz*
Next, we visited the Museo Correr (Art and History Museum). Jared, with his dry humour, made some witty remarks when he saw that many ancient statues had missing appendages from certain parts of the body.. 'Oh you two are unlucky'.. 'Ladies shouldn't come here.. there are too many naked men around'! Justin amused himself too.. moon-walking on the 600 year old floor and trying to find 'Wally' in the painting with 1000 figures! Thankfully, the security guards didn't arrest him. Ha ha ha! The symbol of St. Mark was a majestic lion, often depicted with halo and wings. What amazed me most was the Venezia a volo d'uccello.. a cartography of Venice in 1500 by Jacopo De' Barbari.. he drew the entire map in reverse (mirror image) on graphite which was then used to make multiple prints!
Upon completing the tour, we were beginning to experience art and culture 'overdose'.. especially of the Madonna and Bambino (Baby Jesus).. and I certainly have never looked 'up' for such an extended period of time before in my life! This could be the cure for stiff neck due to looking 'down' at the computer? Ha ha!
Then one end of the square was San Marco Basilica (St. Mark's Church) and then we took the vaporetta across the canal to the Santa Maria della Salute Church.. walked to the tip of the island.. that ended with a tower.. whose roof stood the statue of Fortune on a golden ball. We decided to grab the MacDonald €1 hamburger deal and added some gamberi (fried prawns) plus a piccoli piaceri (tomato tortellini wrap). Dinner was back at Hotel Malibran's restaurant.. octopus with potato cakes.. spaghetti with clams.. ham and mushroom tortellini.. BURP!!!
Venice is even more beautiful and romantic at night.. although much colder. As we roamed the streets, we saw many shops selling elaborately decorated Venetian masks as souvenirs and also to be worn by patrons and guests of the famous Venice International Film Festival held at Lido di Venetia.. woven laces.. linen.. and fabrics made on Burano Island (which we didn't have time to visit unfortunately).
We made our way slowly and somewhat precariously to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square) where several museums were located.. and started with Palazzo Ducale (The Doges' Palace). The decorations and Renaissance paintings were quite different from those we saw in Rome.. everything seemed to be gilded.. the golden domes.. cornices.. picture frames.. sculptures.. the backgrounds were dark with bright colours to highlight the main characters of the story who were usually at the centre.. and the black and white paintings (at the sides also) also projected a 3-D illusion. We ventured across the Bridge of Sigh to the dungeons (so named because the prisoners would sigh heavily as they crossed the bridge of no return).. those poor souls.. *haiz*
Next, we visited the Museo Correr (Art and History Museum). Jared, with his dry humour, made some witty remarks when he saw that many ancient statues had missing appendages from certain parts of the body.. 'Oh you two are unlucky'.. 'Ladies shouldn't come here.. there are too many naked men around'! Justin amused himself too.. moon-walking on the 600 year old floor and trying to find 'Wally' in the painting with 1000 figures! Thankfully, the security guards didn't arrest him. Ha ha ha! The symbol of St. Mark was a majestic lion, often depicted with halo and wings. What amazed me most was the Venezia a volo d'uccello.. a cartography of Venice in 1500 by Jacopo De' Barbari.. he drew the entire map in reverse (mirror image) on graphite which was then used to make multiple prints!
Upon completing the tour, we were beginning to experience art and culture 'overdose'.. especially of the Madonna and Bambino (Baby Jesus).. and I certainly have never looked 'up' for such an extended period of time before in my life! This could be the cure for stiff neck due to looking 'down' at the computer? Ha ha!
Then one end of the square was San Marco Basilica (St. Mark's Church) and then we took the vaporetta across the canal to the Santa Maria della Salute Church.. walked to the tip of the island.. that ended with a tower.. whose roof stood the statue of Fortune on a golden ball. We decided to grab the MacDonald €1 hamburger deal and added some gamberi (fried prawns) plus a piccoli piaceri (tomato tortellini wrap). Dinner was back at Hotel Malibran's restaurant.. octopus with potato cakes.. spaghetti with clams.. ham and mushroom tortellini.. BURP!!!
Venice is even more beautiful and romantic at night.. although much colder. As we roamed the streets, we saw many shops selling elaborately decorated Venetian masks as souvenirs and also to be worn by patrons and guests of the famous Venice International Film Festival held at Lido di Venetia.. woven laces.. linen.. and fabrics made on Burano Island (which we didn't have time to visit unfortunately).
posted by mamajac at 6:51 AM
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