10/8 Tuesday
When we arrive at the bus station in
Venice, we stop at the Tourist Office and buy a Venice Pass, which will give us
entrance to the major sites. With this and our bus/boat pass, we’ll save money
and time as we tour the city. Our first agenda is to grab a boat to St. Mark’s
Square, not so easy since everyone else has the same idea. When we get to the
Square, we’re confronted with a wall of tours and tourists. Not only that, but
it is high tide, and the plaza is flooded, up to two feet deep in some areas. There’s
a narrow boardwalk set up for passage, completely clogged with people, and the
souvenir venders are selling neon colored plastic overbooties that will
probably last you a good hour. It’s crazy!
We figure this is a good time to
visit the Doge Palace, which is right here as well, but not attracting much
attention. This is the home of the ruling officials, The Doge, elected for life
by the city aristocrats, not really Dukes, but the senior officials who ruled
the city in both church and civic matters. The Palace is a huge mansion, with
rooms for meetings and courts and gatherings of the Councils. We wander through
the great corridors of court rooms, lushly appointed living apartments, and the
prison, which is pretty interesting, and through a passage over the Bridge of
Sighs, where tourists outside are taking our photo as we look out the windows.
By the time we get through the
Palace, the tide has retreated and we can get into the Cathedral, just a short
time before they close. The Cathedral is kept very dark, and that’s too bad,
because the ceiling is covered in gorgeous golden mosaics. It would be
indescribably beautiful in the light. As it is, it’s one of the most dramatic
churches we’ve seen. The floor is often neglected ass everyone is looking up,
but it’s also incredibly decorated with intricate designs in red, black and
green marble.
Back in the square, we’re treated to
the iconic view of St. Mark’s Square, tourists and pigeons cavorting. The cafes
that border the square have elegant bandstands with small orchestras playing
traditional music for the patrons sitting with their cappuccinos. The violin
and accordion notes of Volaré fills
the air.
1 Video Included
Venice St Marks Square
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