If Florence is magical, Venice is straight out of a fairy tale. No cars, no bikes, no grass – just beautiful and narrow winding streets that abruptly deposit you into a plaza or across one of the hundreds of small canal bridges.
Oh yeah, and there’s water everywhere. An estimated 10 million trees driven into the floor of the lagoon support the city across its 118 different islands. It’s pretty amazing to think that the construction began more than 1500 years ago. Quite a feat without the aid of modern equipment or building techniques.
Today was a whirlwind of all things Venice.
Doge’s Palace
The Doge’s Palace palace included government offices, a jail and the residence of the Doge (Duke) of Venice – the elected authority of the former republic. It was originally built in 810, rebuilt in 1340 and extended and modified in the following centuries. It includes the famous Bridge of Sighs.
Basilica di San Marco
Saint Mark’s Basilica is dedicated to and holds the relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist (and possibly Alexander the Great?!), the patron saint of the city.
The church is located on the eastern end of Saint Mark’s Square and the current structure was rebuilt from 1063-1094 on the site of San Pietro di Castello, which was completed in 836.
Venice, Venice and more Venice
Presented in no particular order. (Or with no particular context, for now.)
Caffè Florian
When the oldest coffee house in continuous operation in Italy (and one of the oldest in the world) is in St. Mark’s Square, you’re required to visit, right? Dessert and a nightcap while listening to beautiful live music in a setting like Caffè Florian is hard to top.
Fino a domani!
On the Road with the Ashbys 