We had just one full day in Venice, so we ambitiously booked a Viator tour called "Venice In A Day." In retrospect, I would not advise anyone to try and see Venice in one day. (What was I thinking?!) I walked a bazillion steps and my feet were aching by the time I got back to the hotel. It was a push to finish the tour and I'm so grateful I was able to do it.
Front door of our hotel.
We had to leave the hotel early to reach our tour meeting place at 8:30. The hotel Concierge arranged for us to share the cost of a private water taxi with another Viking couple who were booked on the same tour. We left in a water taxi at 7:45 for the adventure.
The seating was enclosed which was nice, but hard to crawl into.
When we stopped, our driver vaguely gestured "walk over there to the left." Luckily we found the tour groups gathering several blocks away.
We were put in Francesca's group. She did a great job giving us a lot of information as we followed her around through the crowds. It was very hot all day!
We met in front of this old building. Notice the clock. She said it was a church. Everything in that particular area seemed abandoned.
There were plenty of souvenir carts, all selling the same things.
Vegetable market in the Rialto area. The produce was beautiful!
View of the Grand Canal, which is the main waterway through the city proper. All the poles are for mooring boats. They are like parking spaces.
You can see the Arabian influence in the architecture.
Flowers for sale next to the vegetables and fruit.
Fish market. It smells exactly like you think it would.
Lots and lots of seafood of every kind for sale.
Is this a swordfish?
After the fish market we headed down what seemed like alleys, but they are the streets. Very narrow walkways with tall buildings on each side. The city was a medieval labyrinth.
This place of business was said to be very old.
It's hard to see but they were making bread.
This was like a warehouse area. The ceilings were painted with frescos.
This is the Rialto Bridge. This is when Ricky decided to go back to the hotel. Walking in the heat up and down all the stairs was really taxing. Our guide helped him arrange for transport and he got back to the hotel while I continued the tour.
View of the Grand Canal from the bridge.
Looking back at the bridge.
The plazas are called "campos." At the center of each is a well with a locked lid. This is the old water system from medieval times. Rain water drained into cisterns through what look like manhole covers with holes in them. The water filtered through clay or sand, and was then drawn up from the well. People were afraid of someone poisoning the city water, so they locked the wells. They were opened twice a day and people were allowed to get water then.
The wells are no longer used, but they are a constant reminder of an older time.
The picturesque views go on and on.
This is the church of San Giovanni.
I don't remember this military hero's name.
The building next to the church was a place wealthy people donated to in order to help care for poor people. Sort of ancient charity.
This image of a winged lion is everywhere. It represents St. Mark, the patron Saint of Venice.
This street performer played exactly the kind of music you would expect to hear in Italy. I was enchanted and left him a tip.
The ancient Venetians built with bricks.
Several of us ducked into this gelato and pastry shop for a quick break.
View of the restaurant from the campo.
After a brief pit stop we continued on. Our guide led us down another maze of narrow walkways.
More bridges to cross. There are over 400 bridges in Venice according to our guide. Venice is built on 118 islands. The ancient Venetians drove tree trunks into the sand bars and laid marble on top. This is the foundation Venice us built on. Every time you cross a bridge, you're going to a different island.
This is an old fashioned covered gondola. They all used to be covered for protection and privacy. Like a private car.
This is the back of another church we walked around.
The red building is a library.
This is the entrance to Hotel Colombina. The walkway is barely wide enough for two way walking.
Another Winged lion decorates this corner.
We finally walked into St. Marks square, the big gathering place. It was very crowded. This is the front of St. Mark's Basilica.
The tall bell tower is a landmark.
We are standing in line for a gondola ride. A nice family group from Ft. Worth let me join them. There were big crowds waiting to take a ride. The Venetians have morphed it into an amusement park like experience. It truly felt like the log ride at Six Flags.
This felt like a canoe ride. Very low to the water and everyone had to stay seated and not rock the boat. With all the boat traffic in the Grand Canal, we did a lot of bobbing and rocking. Nary a life jacket to be seen.
Because all the gondoliers at this location used the same route, the smaller canals were quite crowded. The gondoliers used a variety of parkour skills to push off the buildings to avoid collisions.
These old buildings are still in use.
This sign caught my eye. "Foreigners Everywhere." Some people in Europe are fed up with over tourism.
St. Mark's and the bell tower
Political building that forms one side of the huge campo with restaurants and shops on the bottom floor.
These glass mushroom caught my eye.
Column topped with the Winged lion.
Column topped with St. Theodore, who was the patron Saint of Venice until St. Mark kicked him out. These two ancient columns stand side by side and greet visitors who arrive by the grand canal. Public executions used to happen between them. They are next to the Doge's Palace.
The Doge's Palace. The Doge was an elected ruler. He governed Venice, along with his 10 advisors.
This building is next door to the church.
Souvenir stalls all seemed to replicate each other.
Outdoor Cafe with blue umbrellas.
Front of St. Mark's Basilica. The gold color is real gold.
I stopped in this snack bar and got a bottle of water and an ice cream cone.
Who could possible resist this on such a hot day?
We gathered the tour group back together at 12:15 for the afternoon session.
This was the line to the Doge's Palace. Our tour aided us in skipping that line.
Standing inside the courtyard. The original grand entrance is in the background.
Close to where we entered, there is an entrance to the prison.
This building served as a residence, government headquarters, judicial system, and prison.
The lawyers and officials sought to maintain control through rumors and telling on each other rather than relying solely on torture for information. This plaque was by an entrance to attorney/investigator offices.
It's difficult to see, but the ceiling above this staircase is decorated with gold leaf.
Statue of Atlas
Statue of Hercules killing the hydra
This pagan figure reminded me of the Snake Goddess of the Minoans. Also, the Starbucks logo with her split tail.
The official government rooms were massive and covered with huge wall and ceiling sized paintings with gold leafed frames. The opulence was overwhelming. It seemed to go on forever.
Notice the 24 hour clock. I saw several of these and need to research for more information.
After a trial in this room, a guilty criminal was led through one of these doors to the prison.
This room was insanely large and there were no columns to support the ceiling. It blew me away.
Detail of one mural that caught my eye.
This painting portrays the fall of Venice. An aging Neptune is gazing at Venice as a Queen whose crown is slipping off.
Painting of the Winged lion. I know it represents St. Mark, but I couldn't help but think of Aslan and Narnia.
We left the rich and extravagant palace and walked through The Bridge of Sighs into the prison. The bridge is so-named because here prisoners caught a last look of Venice through the windows and sighed in sorrow.
The part of the prison we visited was very hot and crowded. People was pushing past and separating us from our group. The walkways were narrow and for a minute I started feeling some claustrophobia. As a result, I failed to take enough pictures.
I just wanted a "get out of jail" card!
The heat, crowded conditions, and centuries of grime and suffering were palpable.
Another medieval door on the passageway out.
Finally we emerged back to the Palace side and the attorney's chambers.
This statue of St. Theodore used to be on top of the column at the grand entrance to the square. He is standing on a dragon that looks more like an Alligator. According to the plaque, the statue is piece-mealed together from parts of other older statues.
The Grand staircase that was the original entrance to the Palace.
Detail of decoration on the steps.
We left the Palace and walked next door to the church. This mural on the front depicts two merchants smuggling St. Mark's bones past Muslims on the border. According to legend they covered the holy relics with pork to avoid being searched.
Another bell tower. Notice the 24 hour clock with the zodiac symbols.
Entrance to the church. The ceiling is covered with gold leaf and paintings.
According to our guide, the first two churches built here were destroyed. This third one was built in 1036. It is built in the Byzantium style and reminded me of the Orthodox churches I have visited with Joy and Tanner and family.
The many murals depict old testament stories, the creation, the fall of Adam and Eve, the Gospel story, and Pentecost.
The Mosaic floors are original.
The alter where St. Mark's relics are buried.
This mural depicts the Pentecost. The twelve apostles are seated in a circle with the fire at the top coming down to each apostle's head.
Gold statue on top of the bell tower gleam in the sun.
The Bridge of Sighs connecting the Palace to the prison.
A statue I passed by on my way from St. Mark's to catch the Viking shuttle back to the hotel.
The sign on this building caught my eye.
I found the Viking shuttle without problem and I was so glad to sit down!
Sailing back down Giudecca canal
One time I spotted motorized vehicles: two cement trucks being moved on a boat.
Glass creation on display in the reception area.
We opted for an easy supper at Rialto in the lobby. The salmon on Ricky's salad tasted raw and he just couldn't stomach it. I had a pizza.
Walking and/or taking boats everywhere would take some real getting used to.
I didn't see a single woman driving a boat. Only men. Hmmmm....
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