This plaque was all but hidden from view, dwarfed by the picturesque marble arches that surrounded it. I'm glad I looked up.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Hidden Guilding
This plaque was all but hidden from view, dwarfed by the picturesque marble arches that surrounded it. I'm glad I looked up.
Porta della Carta
The Porta della Carta leads into the courtyard of the Doges' Palace in Venice through the Foscari Arch, a Gothic porch richly ornamented with columns, niches and turrets, and already displaying
elements of the Renaissance style, especially in the statues of Adam and Eve by the sculptor Antonio Rizzo.
Palazzo Ducale
Palazzo Ducale
This exceptional building was the center of Venice’s political, social and economic life right from the beginning. Palazzo Ducale was the private residence of the Doge, but it was also the home of the Government’s and the Courts’ main offices . There is some proof that the original building dates back to the first half of the 9th century, a building that was then changed through several renovations that were carried out over the centuries. Substantial changes were made in 1173, during the rule of the Doge Sebastiano Ziani, and the palace was expanded. However, in 1340, the building took on a truly grandiose size when the Gothic style wing was built that faces the San Marco bay, where the Greater Council meeting were held. The portico supported by the large columns and the upper open gallery that face the bay are wonderful. The Gothic-style Porta della Carta, the entrance of honor to the palace, dates back to the 15th century. It was given this name as the proclamations issued by the Republic were attached to this door.
The Real Venecian Masks and Costumes
Seeing the masks and costumes in the windows of these shops, the postcards and photos of Carnivale, I really wished we'd been in Venice at that time of the year. If we go back, I'll definitely try to get there during carnivale. I just know the photographic opportunities would be bountiful
Scala Contarini known as "del Bovolo"
Near Campo San Bortolo, hidden among a labyrinth of alleyways, there is one of Venice’s most unusual sites: Scala Contarini, known as “del Bovolo”, which was built around the 17th century. This strange name was given to it due to its strange spiral shape that reminds one of a snail, which in Venetian dialect is Bovolo. The staircase winds up Palazzo Contarini façade and is seen as a high cylindrical tower from where you get a charming view of Venice’ rooftops.
Venecian Public Telephone
I've been asked why I took a photo of a public phone box. So I thought I'd blog this photo to let you all know. Public phone boxes vary greatly all over the world. We all know what the phone boxes in London look like - all of us that remember Dr Who and the Bill anyway. The phone boxes in Australia are old-fashioned, daggy and dirty compared to the ones I saw in Venice. That's why I took this photo, I wanted to show my friends and family back home how somethings are the same, and some things different, but mostly things are just slightly different from what we have at home, and it's this that intrigues me.
Rialto Bridge
The Rialto Bridge was originally the only permanent connection between the two banks of the Grand Canal. It is said that in 1172, a bridge made from barges was designed, which was then replaced with a bridge with wooden columns a few years later. This bridge was destroyed in 1310. In 1444, a new wooden bridge was built that was much bigger than the previous one and which even had shops on it.
The final stone version of the Rialto Bridge, as we know it today, was built in the period 1588-1591 by Antonio da Ponte. Building the bridge was difficult due to the instability of the site and its height (8 meters).
Narrow Venician Streets
Some of the streets in Venice as so narrow that to touch both sides as you're walking through is only a matter of extending your arms. At night time these allyways were very intimidating, but in the daylight they took on a mystical, rustic quality. No wonder they call it tunnel vision, even the shortest lane ways seemed to go on and on forever, but there's always a light at the end of the tunnel and in Venice it's more shops and streets and buildings and restaurants to explore.
Venician Units
The most different thing I found about Venice that I'd not experienced at home was the lack of visual contact with the skyline. When you're on the waterways you can see the skyline, but as soon as you pass the first row of buildings lining them, you're surrounded on all sides by building such as these, old, rustic and intriguing. I found myself on many occassions staring up at the sky my imagination carried away with thoughts of who lives here and what goes on in there.
Venician Shops
The shop fronts in Venice are really clean and tidy, the shops themselves squeezed between and beneath various forms of accomodation. I've not seen, before or since such interesting, classy, fashionable shops. I know I could have spend weeks exploring them all, rifleing through each one by one, like a child sifting through their grandparents attic, in search of once-loved treasures.
Lord Byron in Venice
"After visiting a mistress at a palazzo in Venice one evening, Lord Byron jumped, fully clothed, into the Grand Canal and swam home. The following night - in order to avoid being wounded by the oars of passing gondolieri - he was careful to hold a torch in one hand to make himself seen."
I found this quote interesting as not only does it speak on Lord Byron, a great writer and interestingly strange human being, but it also states that he swam the grand canal AFTER visiting one of his mistresses. I bet his mistress was glad he didn't decide to swim the grand canal to see her.
Venecian Waterways
As mentioned on an earlier posting, the Venecian waterways were just gorgeous, the water an almost teal green, if it weren't for the smell and the cold I'd have been tempted to go for a dip, being the water-baby that I am. But alas, I fear I couldn't hold my breath for that long and besides I think if I had have taken a dip in that water, I'd still be trying to wash the smell out of my hair.
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