The Rialto Bridge
At the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery
Lunch!
Piazza San Marco
Just one of the Mosaic ceilings in the Basilica - most incredible work. The entire ceiling is mosaic! and some people think quilters have patience.
Part of the floor of the Basilica - all marble floors in all different patterns
Ah! Breakfast on the balcony overlooking the Grand Canal. Such a beautiful day, again. The weather has been superb all trip – we have been so lucky.
Today we made our way to the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery which had some great modern art. She was so fortunate to have inherited heaps of money with which she decided to buy some sort of art work everyday. She subsequently opened a Guggenheim Gallery in London, New York and finally in Venice, where she ended up living. She turned it into a magnificent gallery, on the water of the Grand Canal, just about opposite St Marco Square. Miro, Picasso, Dali, Kandinsky, just to name a few favourites. There was also an amazing component showing ‘The Vorticists’ who were rebel artists in London and New York 1914-1918. Some sections of this were verging on early Art Deco type symbols and styles, very interesting!
We then walked all the way to the point which is right at the end of the Grand Canal. We could see across to the Doges Palace and the clock tower in the Piazza San Marco. By the time we returned it was lunch time and we found a great place for pizza and a Campari! For the afternoon we booked two tours around the Piazza San Marco – one based on the Basilica and the other based on the Doges Palace. We had a very entertaining guide (as we did in Florence) who was able to re-tell some of the history of Venice in a most amusing way. The Basilica was the most amazing space our eyes have ever gazed upon! The gold mosaic work on the ceiling and the marble tessellated floor designs, in 3D style as well as pictures and symbols was a sight to behold. I believe a couple of centuries were spent building this as well as Doges Palace which was just as ornate and stunning!
A ferry ride back to Rialto Bridge. Found a place for our last dinner together L. Then back here to pack and organise for our trip to Rome. Clare will be off to Athens on Wednesday.
Since I’m leaving for Athens on Wed and this is our last “blog” together, I have to have my last little comment. As Lou Lou said, both the Basilica and the Doges Palace was unbelievable – every ceiling, as well as stair cases has 24 ct gold all over them – should have been ostentatious and gaudy, but it wasn’t. However, Venice really is sinking – wonder what people will make of all of this when they “re-discover” Venice under the sea in a few thousand years time.
Venice is truly beautiful – not necessarily “romantic” beautiful, but rather a style and atmosphere that is indescribable – and it really is possible to get lost in all the alleys between canals. Italy had been wonderful and our time together has come to an end very quickly. From me – “Over and out”. (Clare). I will be following the blog from Greece J
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