Venice tourismo 2
26 June 2022
Phil Heaton
Left to our own devices we had to do the two big ones – San Marco and the Doge’s/Ducal Palace.
The former was impressive but in a way that was emphasised by the amount of gold leaf in the interior – this is Italy and it has a surfeit of magnificent and marvellous churches – so while it is described as awesome and having developed and been remodelled into the 18th century, we were not overly awed.
The palace is a different story having been developed in the 14th and early 15th centuries, and it is extraordinary in its sumptuousness and enormous scale. Much of it was developed in this way to impress foreign dignitaries, ambassadors and so on, with the wealth and power of the state that was Venice. Despite only being foreign (not dignitaries or ambassadors) we were immensely impressed both by the architecture and the art. Tintoretto’s ‘Paradise’ in the Great Council Hall is (forgive the cliché) breathtaking. The lavish Scala d’Oro makes for a jaw-dropping entrance to the major apartments and offices of state.
There are intriguing features such as the post box where Venetians could denounce their enemies, and the interior of the Bridge of Sighs which is striking from the outside but a simple crude passageway for those condemned to the prison to which it connects from the palace.
Venice continues to impress and we have been exploring some of the neighbourhoods off the beaten track such as Cannaregio in the north of the city.
Photos in the Gallery.