August 15 Some of the popular highlights

 I am so loving Venice and feeling almost like a local – it’s the neighbourhood I’m sure. Our days start and often finish with a walk through the ‘dog park’ under the fig and other trees to get to our local waterbus stop – sadly we have only a short time to explore this amazing city.  Today we were heading first to the famous Piazza San Marc and Bascilica. I have no words - the Basilica is superb! One of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. And the Campanile di San Marco  which stands opposite the Bascilica is the tallest building in Venice, standing close to 100m tall. There was a very long line of people waiting to go up inside the tower - we didn't join them.

Campanile di San Marco 

I am fascinated by the intricate srone work

Dressed to impress - typical of the young Venetian women

We watched this ancient 24-hour clock for some time - it was
very ornate but out of sync!

Of course we headed through this archway - who would'nt?

... and this is the back of the clock.

The Bridge of Sighs

Not far from the Square and down a narrow canal the Bridge of Sighs connects the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace to the Prigioni Nouve (New Prison). The view from the Bridge was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. Fairly chilling thought.

The prison

The Doge’s palace - we enjoyed it from the outside!

We skirted the Square and monuments taking photos as we went and then ducked down an alley to avoid the masses. We found a wee snack bar serving delicious fresh bread rolls stuffed to overflowing with slices of porchetta and importantly ice cold drinks - it is pretty hot today! 

The [back-alleys' always drew me camera eye

A great little lunch bar

Delicious cordials on display everywhere in Italy

Our next destination was the Jewish Ghetto.  We weren't entirely sure where to find it but knew the general direction and that entailed a great trip along the Grand Canal. The waterbus service is terrific - once you work out directions!

The water reflections under the bridge caught my eye. So beautiful

The Rialto Bridge

So many things to see as we churned along the Grand Canal. For instamce the Rialto Bridge. It was built in the late 1500s and is the oldest of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal. Apparently it has been rebuilt several times since it first construction as pontoon bridge in the C12. 

Beautiful colourful fanciful glass objects adorn this building. Murano or Chihuly?