Our ship was led by a pilot ship down the Grand Canal. We were told that Venice was not going to allow ships to do this in the future. It seemed to take us about 3 hours and we watched from the top deck. Venice has 118 islands separated by 150 canals. Our tour guide told us there are 20 million visitors to Venice (I think there were 4 million the day we visited). The first settlement was in the 6th century. Not only were we fortunate to have a gondola tour right after our tour of St Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace, but we managed to enjoy every minute. We were surrounded by people at the Piazza San Marco with a view of the Campanile (bell tower) and Torre dell'Orlogiio (enameled clock tower with bronze figures that strike at the hour). Luckily our ship gave us a fast pass to St Mark's (built in 828). You must be fully covered to enter the Basilica and they make it easy by selling coverings for 1 euro. There is a 10th c altarpiece with 2000 gems. Our guide told us there were over 75,000 pieces of gold inside. After our tour of the Basilica, we went to the Palazzo Ducale /Doge's Palace which was the Venetian residence of the Doges who were the elected officials of the Venetian Republic. In 1866, Venice was annexed by Italy. We were reminded of the canvases NOT frescos inside the Doge's Palace and that Michelangelo had nothing on Titian (her words) with the colors. My other tour guide, Alex reminded me that at the Achillion Palace also had a Titian. Venice as seen from all the gold EVERYWHERE inside was one of the richest cities during the 11th C republic. Unfortunately, no one was listening to our tour guide, Alex who told us we needed our passports to come back to the ship. He was right and I was the only one with a driver's license. After some communication to the bridge (with 100 other passengers who were not listening unlike Alex), we did get back on the ship. We were so thrilled to have our gondola tour after the other tour otherwise, who knows how we would have packed, slept, ate our last meal!
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| The approach to Venice! |
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| You will see the Campanile (bell tower from all different views-ship, water taxi...) |
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| Notice the tilting tower! |
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| Little did we know that we would be walking on those sidewalks soon |
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| On route to water taxi! |
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| Long walk to water taxi! |
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| Waiting for water taxi! |
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| WATER TAXI! |
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| Our approach via water taxi |
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| We have arrived and now walk with the sea of tourists |
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| Bridge of sighs from Doge's palace which we saw from our walk, inside the palace, gondola, and ship too! |
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| Meeting our guide who gives us an earpiece to hear her! |
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| Campanile |
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| Top of Basilica |
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| Basilica di San Marco |
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| Torre dell'Orologio (12th or 13th c) |
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| Zoom in to clock |
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| Everyone waiting in line to get into Basilica |
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| In Doge's Palace |
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| In courtyard of palace |
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| Put notes to name suspicious people who were against the court |
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| View of courtyard |
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| Doge's Palace |
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| GOLD and GOLD |
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| View from window, no photos allowed inside |
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| Inside the jail, walking the bridge of sighs! |
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| Jail cell |
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| In JAIL! |
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| Looking out of bridge of sighs |
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| Looking out of bridge |
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| In jail, looking out window at the bridge |
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| Jail windows |
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| courtyard again on our way out |
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| GONDOLA RIDE! |
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| Gondola traffic |
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| Approaching canal towards Bridge of Sighs |
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| Gondola tour |
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| Texting and gondoliering?! |
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| Back on land waiting for water taxi! |
