Big Spenders

 

Having spent some time catching up on a little admin (aren’t showers with endless water a real treat?) we headed back to Piazza San Marco to find the Tourist Information Office - not an easy task for a city that hosts some 14 million visitors a year.  Somehow we had managed to find out about a 7 day “Venice” Card for € 40 each.  Admission includes various museums and 16 churches…talk about subtle conversion!  (Sorry) 

GS however, had her own mission.  She had discovered a decent camera shop in downtown San Marco (via a helpful blog link) and this day became THE one to solve said lens discrepancy.  

The thing though, was to find the shop deep in the bowels of Venice along Calle dei Fuseri, once a street of metalworkers, now given to high fashion.  Don’t things change? 

Back to the tale of woe, which solicited much sympathy from the store owner, and ensured our cornered Cap’n forked out for a spanking, wide-angle lens....the end result is a happy Galley Slave and Mr Canon is back treading the boards & earning his keep…..

After a little more souvenir shopping, it was time to visit the Palazzo Ducale (Duke’s Palace).  Our wonderful Venice Card ensured we missed lining up at the back end of 100 people – marvellous!  So, how does one begin to describe this amazing monument to the might of an Empire?  Like most castles, this one started life in the 9^th c and over time was modified to be the incredible pink marble, Gothic palace of today. 



Prison Cells...Casanova was Here



Post Box for telling tales on your neighbour
if they weren't paying their proper taxes

Bridge of Sighs

 

This lavish Palace served not only as home for the Doge, but also the seat of government, as an institution for serving justice and also the site of grand ceremonies of state.  Dank prison cells, reached by the famed Bridge of Sighs, contrasted sharply with those halls and chambers occupied for state business.  Artists of great fame (Veronese, Tintoretto and Bellini) covered ceilings and walls with incredible canvases or provided paintings which underpin the lessons of religion belief (Hieronymus Bosch - which even in those days must have been a bit creepy!).  Less decorative walls were covered in mere silk wallpapers.  We wondered about the significance of the 24 hour and zodiac clocks and noted secret passages and doors made to look like cupboards.  Intrigue and mystery; yet it is said that Venice had a unique and ordered administration set up to ensure those in power were elected fairly. 

Sale del Maggior Consiglio (nice wide angle shot, hmmm?)

The most magnificent hall is without doubt the Sala del Maggior Consiglio (Hall of the Great Council) – simply breathtaking – where the portraits of 76 of the Doges (past) must look down on gawking visitors and wonder if it really was all worth it. 

Definitely not a well dressed Italian....but smiling again