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The trip to San Marco Square from the train station on a waterbus was amazing. It was like entering another world. Not a car in sight. |
I knew that Venice was a city built on islands, but the amazing reality truly came home to me on that trip down the Grand Canal. |
People going about their daily lives, and water lapping right up against the buildings. |
This is our room at the Concordia Hotel. We were told it was the only hotel on San Marco Square, but until we arrived we had no idea that we got the most incredible room in the hotel. |
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What? Hey we had a balcony. This is the view that greeted us. How did we rate this? |
Here is another view from our balcony. This has got to be the room with the best view in Venice! |
Once in San Marco Square we had to check out the location of our room just to make sure we weren't dreaming. Yep, there it is! |
Our first stop was a visit to St. Marks Basilica.. A visit to the interior brings home a realization of the building's great age. |
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Prancing over the entry are copies of the horses taken from Constantinople in 1204. The originals are now housed in the cathedral museum. |
The square is filled with tourists and pigeons as we head toward the canal. |
View across the Grand Canal to Santa Maria Maggiore. |
What would a trip to Venice be like without a gondola ride? This photo was taken from inside the gondola. |
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The gondolier steered us down a canal flowing under the Bridge of Sighs. This famous bridge connects the Ducal Palace with the prison. |
It was a great ride. We marveled at the great agility displayed by the gondolier. |
Shops, shops, and more shops. If you like to shop you won't be disappointed. |
View of the city from the Water Taxi on our way to Murano. This was a waste of time. Murano has beautiful glass showrooms but prices are astronomical. |
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Typical scene from any one of many bridges. |
Courtyard of the Ducal Palace. |
In San Marco Square again. Are there more tourists or pigeons? |
One of the several bandstands at restaurants on San Marco Square. |
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One last look across San Marco Square. Probably the most beautiful public space in Italy. |
Yep, that is our balcony on the center left of this last photo. Venice is a very unique city. A walk through San Marco Square is like a walk through a fairy tale. |
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