Obviously, as we were in Venice, we did have to view all the sights!
So St Mark's Square tops the list......
We went into St Mark's Basilica, where we attended High Mass on the Sunday....and so avoided waiting for hours in line to enter and we were able to view the fantastic 13th century mosaics while seated! And we also got to see the mosaics illuminated!
And we checked the exterior mosaics on the way out.....
Then into the Doges Palace......
The five windows on left are of the Sala del Maggior which is 53m x 25m, which when it was built was an enormous span. It is suspended from wooden beams up above.... which we were able to check out on the secret itineraries tour! Tintoretto's Paradise is in this room and it is still the largest canvas painting in the world at 7.45m x 24.66m!
The interior courtyard was also interesting, with its bronze wellheads....
And we saw one of the secret denouncement boxes in the courtyard..... I have already commented on this in my blog on Verona. Apparently it was totally acceptable, even expected, to denounce people for tax evasion, treason etc.
Then a quick trip across the Bridge of Sighs to see the prison on the other side!
While in the Doges palace we went on their secret itineraries tour which was very interesting. We actually got to see where Casanova was imprisoned.....
And got to see the type of view he might have had when he was allowed to exercise...
The Correr museum around the square in fascinating..... and it extends into the Archeological Museum...
allow lots of time!!!
The Accademia should not be missed....... it has the largest collection of Venetian art in existence!
The Ca Pesaro is also worth a visit....
Venice's newest contemporary art gallery the Punta della Dogana should be visited. We were not too sure about their permanent collection but the building is spectacular. It was the old custom's house and got a 20 million euro overhaul last year, thanks to the Francois Pinault Foundation and the architect was Tadao Ando.
The space and location is spectacular!
And no trip to Venice would be complete without a trip out to the island of Murano .............
The island is quite small but quite unspoiled and had very few visitors while the Carnevale was on in Venice.
It obviously has some beautiful glass .........
But we were amazed by some of their glass sculptures around the island..
And as we were about to return to Venice we noticed the birds!
So St Mark's Square tops the list......
And we checked the exterior mosaics on the way out.....
Then into the Doges Palace......
The five windows on left are of the Sala del Maggior which is 53m x 25m, which when it was built was an enormous span. It is suspended from wooden beams up above.... which we were able to check out on the secret itineraries tour! Tintoretto's Paradise is in this room and it is still the largest canvas painting in the world at 7.45m x 24.66m!
The interior courtyard was also interesting, with its bronze wellheads....
And we saw one of the secret denouncement boxes in the courtyard..... I have already commented on this in my blog on Verona. Apparently it was totally acceptable, even expected, to denounce people for tax evasion, treason etc.
While in the Doges palace we went on their secret itineraries tour which was very interesting. We actually got to see where Casanova was imprisoned.....
The Correr museum around the square in fascinating..... and it extends into the Archeological Museum...
allow lots of time!!!
The Accademia should not be missed....... it has the largest collection of Venetian art in existence!
The Ca Pesaro is also worth a visit....
Venice's newest contemporary art gallery the Punta della Dogana should be visited. We were not too sure about their permanent collection but the building is spectacular. It was the old custom's house and got a 20 million euro overhaul last year, thanks to the Francois Pinault Foundation and the architect was Tadao Ando.
And no trip to Venice would be complete without a trip out to the island of Murano .............
The island is quite small but quite unspoiled and had very few visitors while the Carnevale was on in Venice.
It obviously has some beautiful glass .........
But we were amazed by some of their glass sculptures around the island..
And as we were about to return to Venice we noticed the birds!
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