St. Mark's Square and the Grand Canal

Home of St. Mark's Basillica (right, in the distance) and the Doge's Palace (pic to follow). But this picture is interesting because it shows that the square is flooded! This apparently happens daily, depending on the tides and weather. By mid afternoon the water had receded quite a bit.

Inside St. Mark's church.

And another at the front where the priest would stand. That's the tomb of St. Mark in the background: the gold coffin.

The Doge's palace, as seen from our water taxi. Built in the eleventh century, it was home to the Doge, or ruler, of the Venetian Empire.

We hired Antonella for the morning to show us the sites. Here we board a water taxi to take us around the city.

Debb the intrepid sailor.

Locals traveling on the Grand Canal. You know they're local because they're standing and using oars! Only tourists sit down.

The Rialto Bridge, the first and for a long time the only bridge over the Grand Canal. Now it appears to be permanently occupied by tourists. There are even fancy shops along the bridge!

Thanks Antonella!

 

Posted with Blogsy