Venice: San Giorgio

So one day we took the slow vaporetti around the big island and down to San Giorgio, the scenic little island with the big Palladio church and campanile that is one of Venice's more prominent sights.

San Giorgio from the campanile in St Mark's Square

Another relatively austere church interior, but
this time with one of the strangest--no, the
strangest--item of religious art we have seen

yet; the basin at the bottom blows holy vapor
which rises to the suck-tube in the dome

The suck job in action; seems particularly

appropriate when you're relying on smoke and

mirrors anyway; besides, this "artistic"

installation has appeared already in South

America and Russia, which, I assume, makes

it OK, or at least ecumenical; seems to me it

would work for (Tibetan) Buddhism, Hinduism,

and others

Alas, the Tintoretto Penultimate Supper had moved on (no

explanation given); this is a strange church

But there was at least this fine statue of St.

Gabby, patron saint of hustlers, rustlers, and

tusslers; "you're dern tootin'"

And, on the same island, but closed when

we got there, was this interesting and

interestingly titled exhibit; we stop for

anything named "Penelope"; details at

http://www.cini.it/en/event/detail/1/544;
especially relevant for a child born on
Shakespeare's birthday

Venice: Murano

One of our excursions took us to the island of Murano, famous for its Venetian glass.

An entire symphony orchestra in glass

Murano centro, glass sculpture

In an artisan's shop (we bought a Christmas ornament)

In the Glass Museum; a table setting in Murano glass (evidently

for royalty)

More traditional Murano glass in the museum

We have seen every manner of chesst set: Greeks vs. Persians,

Athenians vs. Spartans, Romans vs. Carthaginians, Romans

vs. Whomever, Christians vs. Moors...but here is the one I

would want (if I played chess): angels and devils; I have not

played chess since c. 1968, when Mel Ulm performed fool's

mate on me three times in a row; remember that, Mel?

c

Venice: Cruisin'

Some say Venice is best seen from the water. We did that, buying a 48 hour vaporetti (water bus) pass after wearing our legs out the first day. (Vaporetti = "your money vaporizes"; but just about anything in Venice is expensive). Here are some canal scenes.

A flotilla of gondoliers, one playing accordion, one singing; fortunately, we did 
that when it was much cheaper

The Palazzo Vendramin, where Wagner died in 1883; big plaque on the left

Grand Canal again

Venice ground zero

The Bridge of Huhs and beyond it, in the blue grotto, the Bridge of Sighs

Garbage truck; I will admit that it is nice to be in a place, however crowded, 
and not have to dodge cars, trucks, scooters, bicylces, and the like

In addition to the vaporetti and water taxis, there are also these traghetto, which 
simply cross the Grand Canal here and there for a mere half euro

We even rode out to boring Lido, using up our last few minutes...

Venice: Gallaerie dell'Academia (2)

[I accidentally deleted this post on January 9, 2021, but have recovered the pix, which are below. I'll add commentary in due course].

Venice has many art museums, of which the Galleries dell'Academia is perhaps most famous. Below are some of the works that most impressed us.

Venice: Campanile

We had never gone up in the Campanile, so we figured why not and it's only 8 euros. The views were spectacular. Plus there was an elevator.

St. Mark's Square

Panning around but avoiding ugly Mestre

San Giorgio island, where we'd go in another day or so

The little piazza off St. Mark's

Looking toward the duomo and beyond

Venice: St. Mark's Duomo

I had never seen a church like this when I first saw it in 1979, with all the late Byzantine mosaic and gold. I guess I have seen a lot of such churches since this, and a lot of mosaic. Better presented too. St. Mark's does not grow on you.

Exterior

Interior

Angel

One of several domes

Altar

Altarpiece

Another dome

One of the portal half-domes, well-lit (naturally)

Venice: Doge's Palace

So we took the train (4.80 euro round-trip) from Treviso to Venice. About an hour all-told, including the bus from the camperstop to the station in Treviso. I think we did three very full days in Venice on this basis. It was already warming up considerably (mid-June), and the place was crawling with tourists; as always.

But first, a word about Treviso, a beautiful little city, northwest

of Venice, but loaded with (merely scenic) canals, and a very

helpful TI and attitude toward campers (free camperstop)

So here we are in Venice; we don't always try to wear matching

outfits, but with our limited wardrobe, it's inevitable...

Grand Canal: I am always reminded of the quip to an editor

"Arrived Venice. Streets flooded. Please advise."

Rialto Bridge

A bit down the road, as it were, St. Mark's Square; the usual

number of tourists, far less trash and pigeons than in years

past; the City of Venice now is apparently now "poisoning
the pigeons in the park," introducing pigeon birth-control

substance into the pigeon feed; a good thing 

Doge's Palace, off St. Mark's Square

Great Hall in the Doge's Palace; behind the backs of the

guards, I succeed in getting a foto of the place, including the

largest oil painting ever done, Tintorello's (or was it

Veronese?) last judgment; I tried for a second shot, but

she turned on me in an instant...

Nevertheless, I still got this favorite shot: in the

hall are portraits of all the Doges (dukes); this

guy somehow betrayed the city (renegged a

Japanese tour bus contract or somesuch) and

has forever since had his portrait covered in

black

View of the Bridge of Sighs, from the Bridge

of Wows (or possibly the Bridge of Huhs or

the Bridge of Whys)

View from the Bridge of Sighs to the Bridge

of Wows, etc.

My favorite art work at the Palace of the Doges