We had a day of churches. First, San Zaccaria just east of San Marco. Bell ini's Enthroned Madonna was the attraction. A very peaceful and contemplative work of art.
Then brioche followed by a visit to the Basilica San Marco which is overrun by tourists. Still, it is well worth the €5 to go up to the 2nd level which is uncrowded with great views inside and out. The original bronze horses looted from Constantinople are there.
The shortest line in Venice is for St. Mark's bell tower known as the Campanile. The entire city can be viewed from there.
The vaporetto ride to the east brought us to residential Castello, peaceful and non turistica. We visited the original basilica, San Pietro, a banal building in a lovely setting. Napoleon was right to demote it in favor of St. Mark. On to the Arsenale where Venice's ships were built when Venice was the mightiest naval power in the world - circa 15th century.
Carl is very taken with the novels of Donna Leon, an American living in Venice who writes about detective Commissario Guido Brunetti. Fortunately,it was not too far out of our way to visit the Questura (Police station) :-)
From there we continued up to the Saints John and Paul Campo. Because the hospital is there, it also figures prominently in the Brunetti books. The magnificent church features Bellini and Veronese masterpieces And happens to be near Da Alberto, a great restaurant in the Venetian style where we ate more risotto and whole Branzino fish. We can't get enough of that combo.
From there, back to the vaporetto and a lovely walk back from the Accademia. On to Padua tomorrow. Buone notte from Venezia.
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Location:Venice
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