Ca d'Oro

Riding the N°1 vaporetto line, from Santa Lucia (train station) or from Piazzale di Roma (bus station) to the Piazzetta (city center) the visitor is filled with wonder as he sails along those old venetian palaces lining the Grand Canal.

La Biennale di Venezia

Last week has been presented in Rome by its director Daniel Birnbaum the 53rd Biennale di Venezia, whose name will be Fare Mundi (Making Worlds). The famous International art exibition will start June 7 and will last until november 22.

Rainy day

It's wet today. Wet and chilly. And an Aqua alta could occur once again within some hours...

The French Bookshop in Venice

In the Castello Sestiere, some steps from San Giovanni e Paolo church, and Bartolomeo Colleoni's eqestrian statue, this friendly french book shop (managed since 1977 by a Parisian and an Italian) is one of the rendez-vous of the french community living in Venice and of all french literature lovers.

Vincenzo Scamozzi's facade

San Giorgio Maggiore will not be achieved before 1614, with Vincenzo Scamozzi's (1548-1616) façade. San Giorgio is a perfect counterpart of the San Marco complex on the other side of St. Mark's Basin.

Inside San Giorgio

In the little island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the famous architect Andrea Palladio began in 1559 the construction of this church and monastery. The church will not be achieved before 1614, with Vincenzo Scamozzi's façade (that I'll show you tomorrow).

San Giorgio's Cloister

The first settlement on San Giorgio (the island that you can see right in front of you when you are on the Piazzetta) dates back to 790, with the construction of the first church dedicated to San Giorgio. The present conventual complex has been built from the 15th to the 17th century. A large part of it (that I will show you tomorrow) is architect Andrea Palladio's work, between 1559 and 1580.

Local cafe on the Zitelle

Although situated right in front of Venice's Zaterre (across the Canale della Giudecca) Giudecca Island (that I showed you from above some days ago) is another quiet place in Venice. Tourists are few, in spite of two major points of interest that are Andrea Palladio's Zitelle and Redentore churches. So the neighbourhood cafes, as this little one two steps from the Zitelle Church, mainly attract local people and workers coming for lunch.

Marghera

Right near Venice, the uncontrollable expansion of Marghera's industrial harbour and oil terminal is widely seen as a threat to the lagoon's fragile ecosystem.

Lunch time

It's oranges season, isn't it! Some little connoisseur...

Rio di san Girolamo

Just behind Venice's Gettho, this large and quiet canal and its fondamenta (its bank) which is sadly little known to tourists.

Linea 51

Coming back home on the vaporetto 51, which skirts around Venice, worming its way between the Bacino Statione Marittima and the Dorsoduro, before arriving in the wide Canale della Giudecca. A much faster way than the Grand Canal line (though less beautiful indeed) to link Piazale di Roma to Piazza San Marco, the Riva degli Schiavoni or the Giardini.

La Giudecca at bird's eye

This long island, in front of Venice, was in the past called "Spina Lunga" (The fish-bone). It's present name "Giudecca" could come from the old Jews settlements in this part of the lagoon by the beginning of the 10th century. But according to other sources, the name of the island is not derived from "Judean" but rather from "zudega", the venetian word for the "judged". The island would then have been the place allotted to banished rebellious noble families.

Ponte San Donato

The little island of Murano, mainly famous for its glass factories, has been densely populated since the 6th or 7th centuries when fishermen and salt producers settled in the laggoon to shelter their families from the nomadic invaders coming from Eurasia.

Learning with the Guide

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
St. Augustine

Boarding the vaporetto

A venetian pleasure : ride the vaporetto. These aquatic buses allow you to quietly sail along the Grand Canal, nonchalantly watching the palaces on both banks. At night it is even different. Passenger are scarce, air is fresher and humid, lights are greenish... And you feel, under your exhausted by the long walk of the day feet, the healing vibrations of the boat's engine.

Last Ray of Sunlight

As I was crossing the Scalzi Bridge (in the Cannaregio sestiere, near Santa Lucia Train Station) the shade had yet invaded the Grand Canal, the last ray of sunlight colouring red, for one minute, the palaces facades.

Going with the flow

Gondolas are undoubtedly the stars of the canals, world’s most renowned boat, and a symbol of Venice. The words “Gondola” and “Gondolier” come from the Venetian dialect, used since more than a thousand years. In the 15th century, more than 15,000 Gondolas were into service in Venice.

Morning Stroll on the Piazzetta

The first tourists arrive on the piazzetta. The street vendors push their trolley towards a strategic site. In the chic cafes, the waiters set out their outside tables. It's 9 AM. An ordinary day begins in Venice.

Delivery

In the early yours, while the tourists are still asleep, Venice is a hive of activity. Backstage, the daily show is getting organized.

Crossing the Piazzetta

Me thinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.
Henry David Thoreau

Venice's Pescheria

Some steps from the Rialto Bridge, on the sestiere di San Polo, Venice's fish Market has been on this site since the 14th century. However the present neogothic structure dates back from 1907. It has been built according to Cesare Laurenti's paintings. With its high marble columns and its wooden ceiling, this beautiful market hall doesn't spoil the surrounding palaces.

Adriatic sea

Beyond San Giorgio Maggiore, beyond San Servolo Island, and beyond the long and narrow Lido, shine the quiet waters of Adriatic sea.

Taking things as they come.

Cool but sunny morning. Great light today. Let's have a nice stroll on the Piazzetta, going nowere. Taking things as they come.

From Gesuiti to Dolomiti

North of Venice. Cannaregio Sestiere. The church you see is Santa Maria Assunta, also called the Gesuiti. In the distance, you can see Venice's Marco Polo Airport and the snowy Dolomites.

Venice is for Lovers

How to be alone in the world in the crowded Riva degli Schiavoni?
I couldn't resist to take a snap of these two. Lost in their dream they haven't even noticed me. If they happen to see this image some day, I hope they will like it!

Training session

Some city-dwellers like to take a morning run to start their day... In Venice, city with so many "liquid streets" some stay in shape by rowing instead.