Il Casino degli Spiriti

Many scaring stories circulate about this so called "House of the spirits" isolated over the lagoon, in the north of Cannaregio, some steps from Madona del Orto church. This large 16th century house is indeed part of the Contarini del Zaffo palace. Some say one can hear uncanny noises coming from it at night, other that they have seen flickering lights through the windows. Some say that magical rituals took place there. Others that back in time the deceased used to be put here for a while before being sent to San Michele. I've heard too that in recent years, some rich owners renovated the house and had one bathroom paint in black... Anyway, these owners, disturbed by some "ghosts", didn't live here too long.

Souvenirs from Venice

And this is Venice too... so many little things that tourists love to buy and to take back home with them.

Calle del Soportego Scuro

Little street in Cannaregio...

A patchwork of colours

On the right part of San Marco's Basilica, where it leans on the Doge's Palace, I like to observe the colourful walls made of a real patchwork of large and old marble plates.

And below, Timothy Thompson comment :
Much of the marble cladding on St Mark's was looted from Constantinople's palaces after Venetians seized the city in 1204. So admiring St Mark's marble, you are actually admiring what's left of old Byzantium.

Campo Bandiera e Moro

A Restaurant window and Chiesa di San Giovanni in Bragora on the campo Bandiera in Moro named after two Italian patriots.

End of the day at the Miracoli

Campo Santa Maria Nova, a little campo near the beautiful Santa Maria dei Miracoli church. Maybe one of my favorites places in Venice, with its little bookshop where you can find new and used books about - among other topics - Venice and photography...

Pranzo

For lunchtime, a tasty italian sandwich while you keep on walking in the streets of Venice...

Morning Promenade in Castello

Near San Martino Vescovo and the Arsenal, little streets, canals, bridge, colored houses, reflections... but hardly any tourist. Venice as we like it, clean, quiet and provincial, so far from the tourist traps!

Campo Santa Maddalena

Campo Santa Maddalena in Cannaregio - with in the middle its round Santa Maria Maddalena Church - which looks like a theatre setting.

Saint George slaying the dragon

On the house right near the Teatro Italia (yesterday's picture) is this representation of Saint George slaying the dragon.

Teatro Italia

Campiello de l'Anconeta, between Rio Tera San Leonardo and Rio Tera de la Maddalena, in Cannaregio. A lively aera in a busy street that you follow on your way from the Rialto to Santa Lucia train Station. Almost in the middle of the way is the facade of this sleepy, almost unnoticed by the passer-by, venetian theatre...

Sail on by

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you

Sail on Silver Girl,
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
Paul Simon

Welcome Home

Right at the foot of the Academy Bridge (on San Marco side) is a nice little red house with a garden on the Grand Canal, and this nice and welcoming footbridge.

Gondola Gondola Gondole

Most probably the main symbol of Venice, the Gondola, here combined to one of the symbols of Italia, la Pasta... Buon Apetito!

Santa Maria dei Miracoli

Santa Maria dei Miracoli, particularly beautiful at sunset... Miracle of the Renaissance, built around 1480 by Pietro Lombardo and his two sons.

The Wall

"Every wall is a door..."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Morning Trafic

Morning Trafic on the Fondamente Nove...

Un bicchiere di vino

A nice glass of wine, in the Sestiere Cannaregio, calle della Misericordia, on my way to the ponte degli Scalzi.

Barge in San Pietro

At the east of Venice, San Pietro di Castello is linked to the main island by two bridges, one of whom is the wooden Ponte di Quintavalle. This tiny island, has been one of the first settlements in Venice. It's today an area mainly dedicated to all kind of navigation industries, with lots of fishing boats, transportation barges, with shipyards and engine repair shops, and fishing nets streched to dry on the wharfages.