Giudecca Canal - Departing Venice

Seemed like our time in Venice went so quickly.  Probably as we spent the first night in the airport trying to deal with my missing luggage and missed our evening tour which didn't help.  I was really looking forward to riding in a gondola in the real Venice versus the ones I've riden in back in the US.  Not quite the same!  LOL.  The morning tour also blew by and we hurried back to the ship to depart Venice!  We got back on board and the ship deck was packed!  Everyone was hanging out to watch as depart Venice through the Giudecca Canal.  As this was my first cruise, I was not quite sure what to expect.  What a breathtaking view as we slowly cruised down the canal.  The view of the bell towers and buildings were much more impressive from the top deck of the ship than when I was traveling on a small boat around the city.   

I am hoping to get back to Venice again someday and visit more of the city and finally get that gondola ride I had my heart set on! :-)

 

Ok, new day.  Try to keep a positive outlook.  We are set to depart Venice around 1pm and had a morning tour scheduled to see Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Cathedral, and the Murano Glass Showroom.  First thing's first though....let's go shopping!  Uh, apparently shops don't open until we are at sea! WHAT?!?!  I've never been on a cruise so I didn't know.  We don't have time to deal with much anyways as our tour should be leaving soon. 

We board the transfer boat that is taking us to downtown Venice to start our excursion.  I scramble up front to get the best view and am amazed at the beauty of the main channel.  As we approach the main area to dock, we are stunned to see hundreds and hundreds of boats all over the place.  The guide tells us we are very lucky to be there this day as we get to witness a historic event in Venice.

  It's a boat race called, "Vogalonga".  There are so many boats we cannot even move since we are surrounded. 

Vogalonga 

Vogalonga originated in 1974 with the intent of making Venetians aware of hte problems created by engine-powered boats.  The number of participants in this historic race has reached over 1,000 in recent years.  This race is a non-competitive event, open to any type of rowing boat.  It starts in the St. Mark's Basin and winds through the islands.  Engine driven boats are not permitted to interfere (rather ironic since we were smack dab in the middle of all this.  Our boat continues to try and press through the throngs of people and next thing you know, the police are pulling us over! They shout something in Italian and our guide advises we are prohibited from continuing until the race actually begins.

  That's fine as it gives me more opportunity to take photos before we disembark on our way to the first tour stop -Doge's Palace.

 

Bridge of Sighs

On our walk to Doge's Palace, you pass the infamous Bridge of Sighs.  Many people mistakenly assume this is the bridge of lovers, based on a local legend that if you kiss at sunset on a gondola under the bridge.  The bridge actually connects the old prisons to the interrogation room in Doge's Palace, built somewhere between 1600 and 1603.  It's name is derived from the fact it is the last view of beautiful Venice that convicts saw, often eliciting a "sigh".   Of course, some reports indicate the bridge was not constructed until after the days of inquisitions and summary executions, only small time criminals were occupying the cells from that point forward.

  

 

Doge's Palace

Our first stop on the tour was Doge's Palace.  Doge's Palace is a gothic palace also called Palazzo Ducale di Venezia.  The Doge of Venice resided in the palace.  In addition, the palace housed political institutions of the Republic of Venice until the Napoleonic occupation of the city.  Reports indicate it was largely constructed from 1309 to 1424 (under Doge Bartolomeo Gradenigo) but badly damaged by fire around 1574.  The use of arcading in the lower stories was to produce a sort of "gravity-defying" effect.  In the rebuilding efforts, they tried to respect the original gothic style, although some classical features emerged, namely the Bridge of Sighs.

  After the fall of the Venetian Republic in the very late 1700's, Venice went through a series of political changes, until becoming part of the united Italy  After showing signs of significant decay, it was turned over to the Venice Council to manage as a museum. 

St Mark's Basicila and Campanile (Bell Tower)

One of the most famous churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture.  Located in St Mark's Square, is is connected to Doge's Palace.  It was a temporary building in the Doge's Palace, built in 828, when Venetian merchants stole supposed relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist from Alexandria.  It burnt down in 927 and was rebuilt between 1043 and 1071. 

The exterior of the basicila is divided into three registers: lower, upper, and domes.

  The lower register contains the five round-arched portals.  Above the central door are three bas-relief cycles of Romanesque art.  The external cycle frames a 19th century gilded mosaic (Last Judgment) that replaced a damaged one with the same subject. 

The Greek Horses - The horses of St Mark were installed around 1254.  They were long displayed at the Hippodrome of Contantinople, and in 1204 Doge Enrico Dandolo sent them back t Venice as part of the loot sacked from Constantinople.  They were brought to Paris in 1797 by Napoleon, and returned to Venice in 1815.  They have been going through a long restoration process and are now kept inside the basicila at the museum.  The horses seen now are bronze replicas only.

 

Murano Glass

Venetian glass is glass that is made in Venice, primarily from the island or Murano.  Real Venetian glass is unsurpassed in quality and it's brillance - all the pieces we saw in the showroom were breathtaking.  

The process of Murano glass is basically made through a technique called lampworking.  The glass is made of silica which becomes liquid at high temperatures.  As the glass passes from a liquid to solid state, there is an interval when the glass is soft prior to hardening.  At this time, the glassmakers begin to shape the piece. 

It was amazing to watch the whole process of how they make Venetian glass.  Although it took him practically no time, you could tell the amount of skill and technique involved in the process.

 

Murano's reputation for glassmaking began when the Venetian Republic ordered glassmakers to move their foundries to  Murano in 1291 fearing fire and destruction to the main buildings in Venice which were constructed mostly of wood.  Murano glass and Venetian glass essentially became intertwined.  Some of the most well known brands remaining in existence today are: Venini, Barovier & Toso, Pauly, and Seguso.  The oldest factory is Pauly & C - Compagnia Venezia Murano. 

There was a tour that went to the Murano glass factory itself but we would've missed the entire tour of St. Mark's Square and the historic streets of Venice so I am glad we did the showroom only.  It still was very educational and informative.

  We wandered around a bit and of course I brought a couple pieces home with me but be warned - real Murano glass is not cheap!  I bought a very small vase for myself and another for my Mother and while they had small 24ct gold accents, they were almost $150 US a piece.  YIKES!