Venice's Main Street: Canal Grande and other Venice, Italy Things to Do Tips

Lovely Lady: Canal Grande

Unlike most Main Streets, Canal Grande does not go in a straight line; rather, it flows as though it were a woman's body, in curves.
Perhaps that is why it is always referred to as female.

No matter how negative a person is about Venice, he/she cannot help but gasp on first seeing this magnificent body of water. It, I feel, symbolizes the essence of Venice--its
soaring domed churches (15), its beautiful bell towers(15+), its splendid Palazzos (210), its age-old sleek, black gondolas, and its three enduring bridges. Whether its seen in sunlight or in moonlight, it sparkles.

Be sure to take a slow Vaporetto (#1) both ways, once in the morning and once at night. That way, you experience the varying moods of this lovely lady.

Because we were in Venice for four nights, on our second day, we purchased a 3-day pass, which we could use anytime. It cost about 21 Euro for each of us.

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Address: From Piazza Roma to the St. Marks Square
Directions: An inverted S for 21.5 miles through the heart of Venice. A tributary of the River Brenta, it flows through the heart of Venice and then out to sea
Other Contact: Vaporetto, taxi, or gondola

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San Marco and Piazza: Feeding the Pigeons in St. Marks Square

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Updated by deecat

on Apr 26, 2005

Children Feeding Pigeons

It's irresistable...as much of a tourist trap as any I've seen; yet, it's irresistable.

Until you are there, you just cannot imagine the sight of all those pigeons and all those people together. And, the most irresistable sight was seeing the children's delight as they carefully threw the food so the birds would come to them. At first, they were frightened, but after awhile, they joined in with abandon.

My husband Allan captured this charming picture of the two little girls feeding the pigeons. We watched the whole family as they instructed the children, gave them the seeds (which they brought from home), and then assisted them to spray the seeds in the air. After a short time, the girls no longer needed adult advice...they were perfect at this activity!

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Address: All over St. Marks Square
Other Contact: Just join in.

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Things To Do: Original Venice Walk

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Updated by deecat

on Apr 26, 2005

Our Tour Guide: Beauty & Intellect

We were so glad that we took the "Original Venice Walk" tour the first full day that we were in Venice.

The meeting spot was the entrance to Royal Gardens in San Marco, and the tour is operated Monday to Saturday at 11:a.m. and lasts two hours.

It was a worthwhile two hours. Our tour guide was excellent and had a battery-operated microphone so it was easy to hear at all times. Our guide was not only knowledgable, but she was quite beautiful as well.

The tour featured San Marco and all its famous landmarks, the legends of Casanova and Marco Polo, the Rialto Bridge, entrance into the Basilica without standing in line, the Doge's Palace and its adjoining prisons, and then a walk to discover the "real Venice".

The walk was like entering a labyrinth of narrow passageways and alleys where we see meandering canals, delicate bridges, and locals going about their daily routines.

We learned that Marco Polo's prison roommate wrote about Polo's adventures in China from stories he heard in prison. Otherwise, we never would have had that historical knowledge. In addition, we learned about the barino (bars) and the tradition "ombre" (small glasses of wine)
and we ended the tour in a place we never would have gone, but found quite interesting...THE POST OFFICE.

It was a valuable two hours which acclimated us to the city and gave us background information from a "local's" point of view.

Cost: 10 Euro per person
All tours are in English Language only!
Tours are small groups

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Address: Contact Venice Walks & Tours
Directions: You can go to the Royal Gardens entrance before 11a.m. any day but Sunday and buy your ticket right there.
Other Contact: Go to Royal Gardens entrance

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Palazzo Ducale: Book a guided "Secret Itineraries Tour"

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Updated by deecat

on Apr 26, 2005

Doge's Palace Architecture Features

To avoid long lines at the Doge's Palace, book a guided "Secret Itineraries Tour". This tour follows the doge's footsteps through rooms not included in the general admission price. You must book it in advance. It cost 12.50 Euro per person.

The tour lasts for one and a quarter hours.
Only 25 people per tour.
English speaking tour: 10:00 and 11:30
This tour skips the main halls in the palace. It finishes inside the palace so that you can visit the missed halls on your own.

The tour is quite enlightening. We saw the prison cell where Casonova was held, and we heard about Casonova's arrest, attempted escape (which failed by chance), and then the real escape. Ironically, he then became a spy for the Venetian government!

The rooms where secret documents were kept were especially interesting.

The architecture of the palace reflects Gothic elements as well as touches of the Levantine which were not common in Europe.

I would highly recommend this tour.

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Phone: 041-522-4951
Address: Doge Palace
Directions: Go to information desk at the Doge Palace and they will give you a badge. Then buy your ticket. You will be directed to meet the others in the court yard.

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Churches: Basilica di San Marco: "Pirate Cathedral"

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Updated by deecat

on Apr 26, 2005

Silhouette Against Basilica di San

Marco

Basilica di San Marco has been called the Pirate Cathedral because so many of the valuable artifacts were stolen from Constantinople.

This Basilica was once the doge's chapel and did not become the city's cathedral until 1807. The literature indicates that the basilica is the embodiment of Venice's unique position which links East and West, both in war and peace.

For instance, its [Greek cross form] echoes the Byzantine grandeur of Constantinople's Church of the twelve Apostles, but Venice was Latin, not Greek.

Two sailors went to Alexandria, Egypt, to steal the body of St. Mark, the Evangelist and were able to succeed because they hid it on a wagon under a layer of pork.

The church was destroyed by fire and twice replaced. This version is from 1094. The mosaics within the arches depict the stealing of St. Mark's bones.

Like the rest of Venice, San Marco's creation copied many styles but then adapted them into something original.

One of the most interesting treasures, I feel, is the four Horses of San Marco on the loggia outside the basilica (they are only copies of the originals). To see the originals, you have to pay and go inside. These horses were also stolen from Constantinople.

The walls of the Basilica are covered with mosaics. The reading says that there are 2 acres of mosaics dating from Byazntine to Renaissance. It's quite a sight.

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Address: Dominates St Marks
Other Contact: Just go there; can't miss it.

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Churches: Visit the Great Santa Maria della Salute Church

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Updated by deecat

on Apr 26, 2005

Great Lady: Santa Maria della

Salute

After walking the Zattere, we went to the great Baroque church of Santa Maria della Salute. We were curious about it because we could see it across the way silhouetted against the night sky. It was so imposing.

It stands at the entrance to the Grand Canal, and almost everyone has seen a picture of it because it almost symbolizes the architecture of Venice.

The Venetians built the church as a thanks for surviving the plague of 1630. So now you understand the name, "Salute" which means "heath and salvation".

I was impressed with the massive size of this church. I had such a difficult time taking a decent picture of it up so close; it's impossible to include the entire structure in the picture.

The interior is a little disappointing because it is so sober and dark. There were famous pictures by Titian. I don't know the names of all of them, but the subject material was:
Cain and Abel and David and Goliath. I'm sure that there were others, but those are the ones that I recall.

The literature tells of a celebration held each November 21 where "a bridge of boats span the mouth of the Grand Canal for the celebration" and people can walk across to the church!

The church took 57 years to build. Once you see it, you will understand why it took so long.

Information:

Open 9am-noon and 3pm-6
(exception: in June-September, it is open until 6:30pm)
It is open daily.

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Phone: 041 520 85 55
Address: Campo dell Salute

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Things To Do: Visit the Rialto Fish Market

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Updated by deecat

on Apr 26, 2005

Two Views of Rialto's Pescheria

Note: Please click the photographs to see it all!

While visiting the Rialto Bridge and the shops surrounding it, a shopkeeper suggested that we visit the Rialto Fish Market (Pescheria). What a great suggestion.

From the pictures, you can see how interesting this visit is. I have never seen so many different kinds of sea life. There are fish that I had never heard of before.

The best time to see it is early in the morning when the locals are there shopping, and the people who own restaurants are there to purchase their seafood for the day.

The action is hectic with sellers "hawking" their catch, and anxious buyers jostling to get just the best merchandise.

If you go at dawn, you will be able to see the barges filled with actual crates of seafood arrive and unload at the quayside by the Grand Canal. Quite a sight!

Information:
Early Morning until Noon Tuesday-Saturday
Closed Sunday and Monday

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Address: East side of San Polo close to Rialto Bridge
Other Contact: Just walk there

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Things To Do: Don't Ignore: Columns of San Marco & San Teodoro

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Updated by deecat

on Apr 26, 2005

Entrance to Piazza San Marco