Tuesday28th September
Woken by bells ringing, surrounded by walls done in gold brocade fabric, under two putti/cherubs just wondering in their frame – looking forward to another big day: St Marks Basilica and the Ducale Palace. We boarded the water bus and floated down the Grand Canal – Mary would be happy to do this for the whole day. Every inch of the The Basilica’s huge interior is covered in mosaics walls and ceilings in gold and glass, floors in marble. We paid extra to see the 2 metre by 3 metre altarpiece which depicted hundreds of Christian figures and events painted and embossed in gold and each scene framed in countless thousands of gemstones – literally priceless. We then paid extra to get onto the first floor balcony to see the horse statues and enjoy the silver sparkling Mediterranean flanking St Marks Square – just too perfect.
The Ducal Palace was next – an extravaganza of opulence and size. Everything in it was immense. It wasn’t as opulent as Versailles –what is? – but it was more magnificent. There were murals by Titian, paintings by several Venetian artists such as Hieronymus Bosch, Tintoretto, Veronese, Bellini, just hanging on walls. It houses an enormous hall where all the Venetian privileged met to decide on matters of state with the Doge. This room was also magnificent, with a fabulous view over Piazza San Marco and out to sea. Great location! This room is/was apparently the largest in Europe.
We did as Venetians do and attended a concert by “world renowned” Venzia Interpreti, a group of musicians – violins, cello, piano etc who played Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, in the Church of San Vidal.
Very cultural.
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