Taking a Grand Canal "cruise" on a vaporetto, especially the "slow boat #1" with late afternoon light, was an ideal way to rest our weary feet and see the lavish palaces lining the waterfront of Venice's "Main Street". With the guide book in hand we learned a bit of history to compliment our views: The earliest surviving private palazzi date from the 13th century and reflect the architectural influence of the Byzantine world. Elaborate Gothic palaces are more numerous and most of those were built in the mid 13th to 15th centuries. The most famous of all is the Doge's Palace in St. Mark's Square with its elegant arches and fine stone tracery creating a delicate, lace-like façade (detail in corner). Copied throughout the city, we recognized this design by its pointed arches and trefoil (three leaved) carved windows. We also spotted Renaissance and Baroque houses along the Canal, each with its own style of ornate columns, stone carvings and window designs. Our guide book suggested that many of the oldest and largest of the palazzo are no longer residences, but if they are, they're likely to harbor their chandeliered elegance above mossy, often flooded first floors.

Not surprisingly, Sangaris' resident photographer snapped lots of pics to give you an idea of the exotic scenery!
So, here's a sample house tour: 1) A view of canal gondolas in front of a row of "typical" Venetian palaces with their fancy pastel facades, 2) Palazzo Loredan, former residence of Doge Francesco Loredan, 3) Palazzo Contarini Fasan, a tiny 15th c. palace a.k.a. 'the House of Desdmona' from Shakespeare's Othelllo, 4) detail from 'the' Doge Palace, 5) the red façade near the Rialto "water-bus" stop marks the 15th c. Gothic Palazzo Bembo,
6) the Ca d' Oro (House of Gold) at the center is the finest example of Venetian Gothic architecture on the canal, 7) Palazzo Franchetti Cavalli and 8) on the lower left, is the one story Palazzo Venier dei Leoni, an 'unfinished' palace that was Peggy Gugenheim's home and is now displays her collections as a large modern art museum.