Venezia #3

The second day in Venice, we visited the Basilica di San Marco.  This fantastic cathedral was build in the 1200's and the interior is completely finished in elaborately detailed mosaics. This building plays second fiddle to no building anywhere. When you visit, make sure you pay for the side museums. You can view spoils of the crusades pilfered from Turkey and Arabia, and the original four horses snagged from the Hippodrome of Constantinople during the 4th crusade. Napoleon took the horses to Paris in 1797, but they were returned to the Basilica di San Marco less than 20 years later. Pictured below, Claire and Pat are enjoying a view of the harbor from the balcony of the cathedral.

Replicas of the four horse now adorn the front facade of the Basilica.

This is the Piazzo San Marco, the magnificently beautiful city square of Venice, viewed from the front doors of the Basilica.

The Doge's Palace is next door to the Basilica. It has been pillaged, occupied, burned down and rebuilt a number of times throughout the last 1200 years. As it appears today, most of the palace was constructed in the early 14th century, although most of the offices and senate rooms were destroyed in a fire in 1574 and rebuilt. The Doge, which means duke, is essentially the elected King of Venice. The Doge served for life and for the most part was not allowed to leave Venice. This palace is remarkably huge and filled with intricately carved sculptures, walls, doors and ceilings. The Senate, House of 10, House of 40 and other offices held by elected aristocratic officials are absolutely fascinating and magnificent. Below and next to the palace is a vast series of mid-evil dungeons. The gateway to the dungeons has long been called the bridge of sighs. There, you can still hear sighs of sentenced prisoners past. That is eerie. Both the Basilica and Palace are must tours.



Tourists enjoying the sights from the comfort of gondolas.

Pat and Claire on Rialto Bridge above the Grand Canal.