From the very interesting Murano Glass Factory on Giudecca island, we crossed the Lagoon to Piazza San Marco where we met our local guide who took through the narrow streets and over bridges to Campo San Giovanni e Paolo
Centre … Palazzo Ducale – Doges’ Palace, once home to Venice’s rulers, and to the offices of the State. On right .. Ponte della Paglia with Bridge of Sighs behind. On left … St Mark’s Square with Campanile
We docked further to the right in front of the Church of Santa Maria della Pietà (1745-1760) – better known as the Vivaldi Church - where seasonal Vivaldi concerts are performed by I Virtuosi Italiani ..
Elaborate Venetian carnival costumes … very difficult to snap their photos without giving them a contribution !
Hotel Danieli – 5 star luxury hotel
I’ve learnt something today .. the arches above the windows are called ogee‘s !!
The Bridge of Sighs – a corridor leads over the bridge, built in 1614 to link the Doges’ Palace to the prison. The sighs refer to the prisoners sighs who passed from the courtroom to the cells while taking a last look at freedom as they glimpse the lagoon ..
Porch of the Doges’ Palace .. now a museum (since 1923) ..
Before we met up with our local guide, there was time to take photos in the Piazza which Napoleon described as ‘the most elegant drawing room in Europe’ and pop into the magnificent Basilica di San Marco
Torre dell’Orologio – tower and clock date back to the last decade of the 15th century … displays the time of day, the dominant sign of the Zodiac and current phase of the moon. It was placed where the clock would be visible from the waters of the lagoon. Commissioned in 1493, it still keeps perfect time ..
Basilica di San Marco (St Mark’s Basilica) – constructed in 1073, the Roman Catholic Basilica .. Italo-Byzantine architecture .. was originally the chapel of the Doge and became the city’s cathedral in 1807
Beautiful mosaics in the lunettes (another new word for me!!!)
13th century mosaic shows the body of St Mark being carried into the basilica ..
Horses of St Mark were installed in 1254 ..
Porch or narthex (yet another new word for me !) is adorned with intricate gold mosaics ..
All this intricate and elaborate mosaic decoration before we even step inside the basilica through the large bronze doors ..
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Woodcarvings of the twelve disciples on top of the altar screen ..
St Mark is on the right holding a book and stands next to, if memory serves, Virgin Mary ..
I think this figure is also the Virgin Mary, but I could be wrong – if any of my readers know, I would be grateful for a comment ..
Tomb of St Mark in the high altar ..
Beautiful mosaic flooring ..
Water mark from flooding ..
Time for our walk-about through the narrow streets of Venice …. next post
… Trafalgar Tours : Best of Italy : June 2013