Early morning at the Ponte di Rialto

In and around and around and around Venice

If I was tired after hiking the one segment of the Cinque Terre, that was only a warm up for Venice.  We must have walked 10 miles our first day in the city.  I wanted to see the Rialto Bridge early in the morning, and although the crowds were sparse, the banners and scaffolding behind the bridge didn’t make for great photo opportunities.  Oh well, it was nice to see the bridge again.

Detail of a water fountain

We measured the distance on the map from our apartment to the Rialto Bridge and figured it was about ¾ mile.  We did the round trip three times today, plus much more.

The exterior of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari

One of my must see cultural sites in Venice was the Basilica di Sant Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.  We got started early and entered the church while only just a handful of other tourists were there.  It is impressive architecture, but I was there to see Titian’s Assumption of the Virgin.  I remembered it from 18 years ago and longed to see it again.  We purchased the English audio guide which was helpful with details.  There is a lot to see in the church and we took our time.  I was however, very disturbed to see many people taking photos inside the church and of the Titian masterpiece while standing right in front of the “No Photos” sign in English, Italian and the international red slash across a camera symbol.  I always ask the admissions personnel if non-flash photography is allowed, and did so here.  I was told absolutely no photos of any type were allowed.  Regardless of a dozen signs around the church, we saw many people clicking iPhones and flashing cameras at anything and everything.  I purchased a postcard of the painting instead.

Tiziano Vecellio’s ‘Assunta’, at the Basilica S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice.

Buildings reflected in a puddle from the storm the night before. We saw piles of hail many inches deep that lasted all day

Somewhere in the Dorsoduro area

Bridge detail

From the Campo de Frari we walked through the maze of narrow streets, trying to use our sense of direction instead of maps, crossed the Accademia Bridge into the Dorsoduro neighborhood and out to The Punte della Dogana to see St. Marks from across the Grand Canal.  It was warm and sunny, and a bit breezy.  We circled Dorsoduro, strolled along the Zattere and walked back across the Accademia Bridge.

Palazza Ducale and Campanile taken from Punta della Dogana

That would have been enough, but we headed straight to Piazza San Marco for more walking.  St. Marks was where the crowds were.  It was four people deep taking photos at the Bridge of Sighs.  Too many people for me and we headed back to the relatively quiet part of town where we are staying.

San Giorgio Maggiore taken from in front of the Palazzo Ducale

Ponte dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs)

Lion detail from a statue on the Molo riva degli Schiavoni near the Palazzo Ducale

We took a Bellini break before heading out one last time to the Rialto Bridge for sunset light.  It was unspectacular, no colors and more crowds.  We picked up two “take away” pizzas and another bottle of Bellini and called it a night.

The Grand Canal from the Rialto Bridge at sunset

Gloves in a shop window. There are many glove shops in Venice

A mask in a shop window. There are many mask shops too, some really gorgeous ones