June 20, 2025
We are off to explore the incredible city of Venice!
Venice is Europe’s best-preserved big city. This car-free urban wonderland of a hundred islands—laced together by 400 bridges and 2,000 alleys—survives on the artificial respirator of tourism.
We bought our day passes for the local ferry and boarded a boat to take us to St.Mark’s square. The trip was incredible floating past so many islands filled with beautiful buildings on the edge of the water. It took us about 45 minutes to get to St. Mark’s square but it was so much fun.
When we got off the boat we turned the corner and were in the most beautiful square that I have experienced. Every expectation was exceeded. Because we were early there were only a few tourist so we really got to enjoy the sites.
We stopped at Caffe Florian. the oldest cafe in the world established in 1720!! The music was wonderful, the food was good and the atmosphere calming. I was in awe that I was sitting listening to music in St. Mark’s square. I am so blessed!!!
We wandered the little alleys and crossed many of the 400 bridges taking in all that is Venice.
In the afternoon we did a tour of St. Mark’s Basilica and Terrace. I have been in a lot of churches though out the world and this one is over the top special. From the terrace we could look down on the square.
Connected to St.Mark’s Basilica is Doge’s Palace. The palace includes government offices, a jail, and the residence of the Doge of Venice, the elected authority of the former Republic of Venice. The palace is opulent with art covering every inch and incredibly large rooms where thousand could be entertained.
The Bridge of Sighs is entered by a tiny passage to the enclosed bridge made of white limestone, with windows and stone bars it passes over the Rio di Palazzo, and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. Not a place you would want to be a prisoner!!
By the end of our tours I was dripping wet as the humidity is off the charts…but after about of water I was feeling blessed that I got to experience what I had seen in movies and books. It is so much better than I expected.
After dinner we took our ferry back to out flat and sat on our terrace to see the sunset and savor our day.
Absolutely “Best Day Ever….so far”!!!!!!!
Venice is indeed magnificent and all the other adjectives you can think of for that beauty. Thank you for taking us with you. We are blessed that you are becoming the expert traveler. When are you going to start your own tour company?!?!?!?!