Jun 29, 2017
We started our 3rd full day in the Rialto area of Venice
We took a water taxi over to the Rialto area as we knew that the day would incorporate a lot of walking. Our stop is less congested complete with kayaker. Photo by me.
Can you spot the nine gondoliers in this shot? Talk about congestion not to mention the lack of romance.
I shot this as people swirled around these packages. The fellows who have to move these carts up and down the stairs in the area were taking a much deserved coffee break.
One of our first stops was to purchase this Murano glass bracelet located next to the Rialto Bridge. I had spotted it the first time we were in the area but the shop was closed.
A snap I took of the Rialto Bridge.
The Rialto area is as popular as the Piazza San Marco. It was mid morning and already busy with people crossing over to the other side of the Grand Canal.
The obligatory photo mid span of the bridge. Once you cross over you are now in the San Polo district and that of Santa Croce.
Next stop was the famous Rialto Market. Of interest is that you are not allowed to touch the produce. You point and it is bagged for you, so no squeezing the avocados. Photo by me.
So much fish to choose from and many I had never seen before. This is where the restaurants come to buy what we will be eating for dinner. Everything is purchased fresh each day. Photo by me.
There are a few areas along the Grand Canal where for 2 euros you can hire a gondolier to ferry you across rather than climb the bridge. It is traditional to stand during the crossing. The one time we were going to take one of these ( later in the day ), the fellows were about to take a 10 minute break and we were tired so we took a water bus instead. Photo by me.
Along here one just wanders through a warren of short and narrow alleys. Walk a few yards and then another turn, another choice to go left or right. Many many shops in this area both high end and souvenir as well as shops for the locals such a this candy shop as well as several bakeries and tiny cafes as well as the many gelato shops. Photo by me.
It was along here that I spotted this older local woman unlocking her door, her bag full of her morning purchases.
Our next stop was not planned but I just could not walk away from this lovely soft leather purse. Later that evening at another shop near Piazza San Marco I bought a very small leather wallet, just enough for a few essential cards and bills and change. I have only used this bag since I got home. I love it and the color.
Of course Venice is known for Carnival and there are many shops selling masks. It is a popular souvenir. These masks caught my attention. I took so many photos at this shop. This one and the next two photos are by me.
All the masks in the shop were designed and created by this gentleman. He kindly gave me permission to take these photos.
So much detail. I had to pull myself away and move on.
Once again we just went with the flow and somehow we ended up where we were headed. Well there were a few corrections in direction here and there. The first museum of the day was to be a short stop but is ended up being rather interesting and we stayed for quite some time. We were at the 18th century Palazzo Mocenigo, click here for more information, as well there are several other links on the internet. Frankly there are many many museums to see in Venice and if you don’t see it on your first trip then you can see it on your next, for there will certainly be another visit in your future.
The Mocenigo family were one of Venice’s oldest families and seven of them have been Doges and one of them a Pope. The rooms are set up to show what the house of a Venetian nobleman was like in the 17th and 18th centuries. The palace was fully restored in 2013 so it’s in beautiful condition. Sadly there were no successors and the final Contessa gifted the family home to the City of Venice to be used as a museum. This one as others have had, had cards to read about what you were seeing in each room. So helpful and most engrossing.
Here is the current Contessa sitting in a drawing room that once belonged to the Mocenigo Contessa.
This photo was in an earlier quickie post from Venice, but we really enjoyed our hour or so here. Fresh custom made panni and perfect Spritz. In fact we each had two. Sadly as we sat here the weather changed and it began to drizzle. So neat to watch the locals come in and order an espresso at the stand up bar and then they were off again. This is a good time to mention that I ate a lot of bread with oil and balsamic vinegar not to mention all the pasta and I never gained weight. All that walking kept things in balance.
We walked thru a light drizzle to our next museum, the Scuola Grandi di San Rocco. This was not a part of our museum package and we paid 10 euro each to enter. We later found out that there was a free concert that evening, a choir and orchestra from the USA. We could have got in for free but that would not have allowed us to tour the museum.
Not only was it the Scuola Grandi di San Rocco Museum it had quite the grand staircase. This is the second set of stairs. Lovely murals along the staircase which we observed and discussed as we left several hours later.
I urge you Google this place. It is grand beyond grand. It has a very interesting history which involves a US connection re funding hence the US concert later in the day. The ceiling features 50 Tintorettos completed between 1575 and 1587. San Rocco was the patron saint of the plague stricken. The 1575-77 plague claimed the life of one – third of Venice’s population. Tintoretto painted scenes of looming despair and last minute redemption. The paintings are very dark but of great detail and depth. There are mirrors available to use to avoid neck strain from looking up at the ceiling.
Up yet another double set of stairs one is allowed into the recently opened Tesoro ( Treasury ). So many priceless pieces such as a coral candelabra and some 13th century Iranian lustreware. This a relic, a piece of the body of some very very important Saint. I took this photo but I neglected to photograph the write up so I have no idea who it is. I was beyond exhausted by this time. Sorry Arizona Gal, I took this for you but…….regardless it was very special and held the place of honor among similar relics.
The entire time we were inside it poured rain. We had neither jackets nor umbrellas although we did have both with us back at the apartment. The rain was a surprise. Fortunately we only had to wait about ten minutes for the rain to stop and we were able to head back home. We were both exhausted and Colin had a nap while I did one of my mini posts. We then changed and headed to the Piazza San Marco and area which we were drawn to almost each evening.
We ended up sitting outside a wine bar/pub where we watched passersby and just relaxed and enjoyed a lovely meal.
Our plan had been to finish the evening enjoying a glass of wine and the music at the Piazza San Marco but with the off and on drizzle it was a dud and no one was playing. All in all another long and wonderful day in Venice.
Must dash as it is 9:20PM and my dinner is about to come out of the oven. If there are any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes please take it in stride 😆
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It looks lovely! I ended up eating some bread (for my Tzatziki and for breakfast) and when you walk so much it doesn’t stick to your gut like it does at home. So many beautiful buildings there.
So much to see and do… A very informative write up and I must say you guys definitely got your monies worth regarding the history and museums of the place. Great pictures.
Thank you for another wonderful post.
When we did our gondola ride we were so lucky. The sun was just starting to set and the canals were empty except for us. Literally no one else on the water. by the time we made it to the Grand canal it was almost empty too. Such luck and a nice memory as this ride was a gift from my late mumsie.
THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ME. I GOOGLED THE TESORO AND FOUND THIS. “AMONG THE RELICS STANDS OUT IN THE MONUMENTAL RELIQUARY OF ST. ANDREW’S FINGER”. HOWEVER, I THEN GOOGLED ST. ANDREW’S FINGER AND IT IS IN A TOTALLY DIFFERENT RELIQUARY FROM THE ONE YOU PHOTOGRAPHED. I ALSO RULED OUT SEVERAL PIECES IN THE TREASURE/TESORO AND CAN’T FIND ENOUGH INFORMATION TO SAY WHAT SAINT THAT IS. UNLESS IT IS ST. ROCH BUT IT DIDN’T SEEM TO INDICATE THAT. IT REALLY DOESN’T SAY WHERE HE IS BURIED BUT HIS FINGER IS ALSO SOME PLACE. MAYBE I CAN FIND MORE INFO LATER TODAY. IT’S ALREADY 12:38AM ON CANADA DAY. I DIDN’T GET ON THE PC UNTIL LATE THIS EVENING.
AS SOMEONE ELSE COMMENTED, YOU ONLY EXPERIENCE A ROMANTIC GONDOLA RIDE IN THE NIGHT WHEN THE CANALS ARE NO LONGER BUSY. YOU’D NEVER GET A ROMANTIC RIDE DURING THE DAYTIME HUSTLE AND BUSTLE ON THE CANALS!
LOVED ALL THE PHOTOS AND THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING.
Lovely bracelet n purse, I too like the color.. pretty pics again… hard to imagine a place such as this… neat to see it even second hand…
You guys did a lot in a week. I’m glad you had a great and trouble-free trip.