Venice Daily Photo

Gothic tracery

2012-01-26T21:37:00.003+01:00

The Ca' d'Oro is certainly one of the most beautiful Venetian palaces. It is definitely the most famous. It was built during the 15th century, beside the Grand Canal, of which it is one of the jewels. Its loggias are fabulous flamboyant gothic tracery.

Walk

2012-01-25T20:47:00.003+01:00

Lover's walk under the archways...

Teatro

2012-01-24T19:32:00.001+01:00

The theater is so endlessly fascinating because it's so accidental. It's so much like life.
Arthur Miller

A quiet place in San Marco

2012-01-23T18:50:00.002+01:00

One of the most visited sestieri, San Marco nevertheless contains almost hidden little streets and quiet canals.

Ai Coristi

2012-01-22T09:49:00.003+01:00

A nice restaurant in San Marco Sestiere...

At water-level

2012-01-20T23:47:00.001+01:00

An other way to discover Venice...

San Giorgio Maggiore

2012-01-19T21:40:00.004+01:00

On the little island of San Giorgio Maggiore, the famous architect Andrea Palladio began in 1566 the construction of this church and monastery. The church would not be finished until 1610 by Simone Sorella. The façade was designed by Palladio and built 1607-10,after his death. San Giorgio Maggiore is a perfect counterpart of the San Marco complex on the other side of the Basin.

Rialto no se toca

2012-01-18T21:19:00.003+01:00

An angry lion to let the city council know that the Rialto fishmongers and shopkeepers won't let the wholesale fish market (currently at the Tronchetto) be moved to a "terraferma" warehouse for some alleged economic imperatives. If taken, this decision would mean the beginning of the end for the Rialto Market.

Sospiri

2012-01-17T23:06:00.000+01:00

Free... at last!

Voyage

2012-01-16T21:36:00.002+01:00

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.
Marcel Proust

Squero

2012-01-15T22:13:00.002+01:00

The Squero di San Trovaso, main gondolas shipyard still in use in Venice.

Early morning in Rialto

2012-01-14T23:42:00.004+01:00

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.
Henry David Thoreau

Two Venetian Bloggers

2012-01-13T21:51:00.012+01:00

Two great and enthusiastic Venetian bloggers, whom most of you know at least through their blogs. Yvonne (in red), author of Hello World (http://ytaba36.wordpress.com/) spent most of her life in Australia, while Karen, author of The Venice Experience,(http://www.theveniceexperience.blogspot.com/) is from the American state of Maryland. Both of them are now happy and proud Venetians...

Frog

2012-01-12T13:19:00.007+01:00

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”
Mark Twain

Many thanks to Lorenzo from Tramezzinimag, a true Venice lover and the deftest pen among the french Venetian blogsphere, who picked up Venice Daily Photo as one of his five favourite Venetian blogs.

And thank you so much to our dear friend Bert, who is so talented in making us share his Venice, participating in VDP.

Gondolas (2)

2012-01-11T01:13:00.002+01:00

I know Pierre posted a photo of gondolas a few days ago, but this is Venice - everyone has a gondola picture. These were arranged in a particularly symmetrical way, which was quite eye-catching.
You may know that gondolas have been black since a Sumptuary Decree of 1562. Old photographs show that there used to be a detachable cabin, called a felze, to protect passengers in bad weather. Do you know what a ganzer is? It's easy to find out these days with Google or any other search-engine.
There has been a ruling that gondolas in Venice will no longer be made with plywood, even though it lasts longer and needs less maintenance. So they will continue to be made of 280 parts and eight different types of wood.

Contre jour

2012-01-10T00:32:00.002+01:00

Give me the splendid silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling. - Walt Whitman

Pierre's taking a couple of days off. He posted a similar contre jour photo a few days ago, so here's one I made earlier - 2009 to be not too precise.

Informazioni

2012-01-09T09:53:00.003+01:00

An humorous drawing is sometimes better than a long explanation... And cheaper too!

Carlo Goldoni

2012-01-08T21:59:00.002+01:00

The world is a beautiful book, but of little use to him who cannot read it.
Carlo Goldoni (1707-1793)

Gondolas

2012-01-07T23:32:00.005+01:00

Gondolas are undoubtedly the stars on the Grand Canal, world’s most renowned ship, a symbol of Venice. The words “Gondola” and “Gondolier” come from the Venetian dialect, used for more than a thousand years ago. It is known that at the 15th century, there were more than 15,000 Gondolas in Venice.

Baby Elephant

2012-01-06T23:05:00.002+01:00

A baby elephant, somewhere in Venice. And I'm sure many of you know where...

Cappuccino et vino rosso...

2012-01-05T22:19:00.001+01:00

A nice stopover in a little café not far from the Scalzi...

Traffic on the Grand Canal

2012-01-04T22:40:00.001+01:00

Daily traffic on the Grand Canal.

The Little Trawler

2012-01-03T21:37:00.001+01:00

Little trawler on the lagoon...

Winter Light

2012-01-02T21:37:00.003+01:00

Faith that increaseth,
Walking in light;
Hope that aboundeth,
Happy and bright;
Love that is perfect,
Casting out fear;
These shall insure thee
A Happy New Year."
- Frances Ridley Havergal, A Happy New Year

Remains of the Day

2012-01-01T22:02:00.000+01:00

Remains of the day, beginning of the year...

Cheers

2011-12-31T08:38:00.003+01:00

Spritz to end this year. Cheers to you my dear friends and visitors...

Street Lamp

2011-12-29T20:04:00.003+01:00

Bajo la penumbra de un farol
Se dormiran
Todas las cosas que quedaron por decir,
Se dormiran.
Junto a las manillas de un reloj
Esperaran.
Todas las horas que quedaron por vivir,
Esperaran.

Corte Sconta

2011-12-28T19:38:00.003+01:00

One of my favorite concealed campi in Venice...

Foto Color

2011-12-27T21:10:00.003+01:00

A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into.
Ansel Adams

Crossing the bridge

2011-12-26T10:52:00.001+01:00

“Let every man praise the bridge that carries him over”
English Proverb

Go on! Rub my belly!

2011-12-25T17:15:00.002+01:00

Since Pierre seems to be resting, and knowing how impatient you all are for fresh photos (this one is only just over a year old), I thought I would see how many of you have noticed this when you have been walking around the Piazza. Can you see how the belly is polished? This is because there are two rows of columns in front of it, and it is considered bad luck to walk between the columns (like the ones in the Piazzetta). If you find you have inadvertently walked between the columns, you can cancel the bad luck by rubbing the belly on this carving.
It's not a good photo, I'm afraid. I don't like using flash, if I can avoid it.

8 AM in Cannaregio

2011-12-23T10:50:00.003+01:00

It's eight in the morning, Venice wakes up...

Water

2011-12-22T10:53:00.003+01:00

One can not reflect in streaming water. Only those who know internal peace can give it to others.
Lao Tzu

Gondola ride

2011-12-20T22:45:00.003+01:00

A gondola ride at dusk...

Waterfalls

2011-12-19T22:30:00.005+01:00

A video installation on the windows of Palazzo Pestrin, over the Contini Art Gallery. A surprising work by Fabrizio Plessi.

Skyline

2011-12-18T23:26:00.003+01:00

From the boat, leaving Burano to Venice...

Santa Maria della Salute

2011-12-17T23:45:00.002+01:00

In the aftermath of a terrible bubonic plague epidemic, the Republic of Venice decided that a votive church would be built. Chosen to work on this project the young architect Baldassare Longhena (1598 - 1682) will dedicate fifty years of his life to this masterpiece, from 1631 to his death in 1682.

Waterborne greengrocer

2011-12-16T22:18:00.002+01:00

A floating vegetable shop, somewhere in the lagoon...

Sunset

2011-12-15T17:02:00.000+01:00

Fishing, on a quiet autumn evening.

Night Walk

2011-12-13T21:57:00.001+01:00

When I am traveling in a carriage, or walking after a good meal, or during the night when I cannot sleep; it is on such occasions that ideas flow best and most abundantly.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Marta

2011-12-12T21:15:00.002+01:00

Pinot Nero or Grigio, Raboso, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Prosecco... On your way from San Giacomo dell Orio to Campo San Polo, make a stop at Ponte Parucheta to have a glass of wine at Marta's.

Chimney stacks

2011-12-11T20:45:00.004+01:00

Venetian chimney stacks, like a bunch of thin men silently pacing up and down the roofs...

Path

2011-12-10T18:59:00.001+01:00

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
Henry David Thoreau

Eagle

2011-12-09T06:37:00.004+01:00

When you are in front of the bookshop (last image) keep on walking and you will find this eagle, on a facade by Pietro Lombardo, whose name I will let tell by my cultivated visitors and friends...

Books

2011-12-07T21:43:00.003+01:00

How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.
Henry David Thoreau - Walden

Newlyweds

2011-12-06T22:22:00.002+01:00

Love me and the world is mine.

Painting Venice

2011-12-05T22:33:00.003+01:00

There are two things in the painter, the eye and the mind; each of them should aid the other.
Paul Cezanne

Donazione Senatore Pietro Canonica

2011-12-04T17:00:00.004+01:00

Not far from where yesterday's picture was taken, this building bearing the name of Italian sculptor and composer Pietro Canonica ((March 1, 1869 – June 8, 1959.

Watching the leaves turn

2011-12-03T09:08:00.005+01:00

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.
Elizabeth Lawrence

Evening on the lagoon

2011-12-01T22:43:00.001+01:00

The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.
Albert Einstein

Zora da Venezia

2011-11-30T22:31:00.003+01:00

Night shopping in San Marco sestiere...

Fondamenta

2011-11-29T23:14:00.000+01:00

Midnight in green...

Sailors

2011-11-28T21:24:00.001+01:00

A stroll, between friends, in the city...

Per Rialto

2011-11-27T11:04:00.005+01:00

Loneliness in the city...

The Narrow House

2011-11-25T23:28:00.006+01:00

The Narrow House, a funny artwork by Austrian artist Erwin Wurm, at Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti.

Campo Santo Stefano

2011-11-24T21:07:00.001+01:00

Autumnal walk...

Back from the Islands

2011-11-23T18:57:00.001+01:00

On the boat, back from Burano...

Basilica dei Santi Maria e Donato

2011-11-22T20:58:00.006+01:00

Santi Maria e Donato, on the Island of Murano, is one of the oldest religious buildings in the lagoon. The foundation of the church dates back to the "saulniers" era, around the 7th century. The name of Santo Donato was added in 1125, after the saint's relics were brought back from Cephalonia. The church was restored by the American Committee Save Venice during the 1970s.

Sunset on the Canal

2011-11-21T19:10:00.002+01:00

Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun.
Pablo Picasso

Carabinieri

2011-11-20T09:51:00.001+01:00

Morning in Burano...

Nothing since Thursday!?

2011-11-19T16:09:00.002+01:00

Pierre must be busy. To keep you amused, I'm posting an image of an attractive capitello in Cannaregio. It is near to two churches dedicated to saints from the Old Testament, and on a fondamenta named for one of them. If you are not keen on puzzles, the answer follows in white: Capitello on Fondamenta San Giobbe, Cannaregio 579 - 579A

Delicious autumn!

2011-11-17T22:37:00.002+01:00

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
George Eliot

Oksana Mas' Eggs

2011-11-16T21:17:00.006+01:00

Here is the material used for these hudge Oksana Mas "Mosaics". Those eggs are part of a work exposed in front of San Stae, on the Grand Canal. I must say that I had to carefully select the part I wanted to show you. Was I right or wrong I don't know, this being an artwork. Let's say it's just the photographer's choice. But the presence of a certain symbol, may be used in various ancient civilizations around the world, mainly in ancient India, but strongly associated in Europe with terrible ideologies of a recent past, disturbed me.

Oksana Mas

2011-11-15T20:56:00.005+01:00

In Chiesa di San Fantin, near the Fenice, you can see until November 27, within the framework of the Bienale Arte 2011, this work, entitled "Post Vs Proto Renaissance" by Ukrainian Artist Oksana Mas.
I will show you tomorrow what kind of material has been used to make this large image.

St Martin

2011-11-14T18:39:00.004+01:00

Last Friday (November 11) was in Venice St Martin's Day. Kids besiege shops making as much noise as possible shouting and knocking pans with iron spoons, asking for "Soldi, soldi...", while bakeries and pastry shops sell these oddly decorated cakes depicting St Martin and his horse.

When every leaf is a flower

2011-11-13T11:38:00.001+01:00

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
Albert Camus

Night walk

2011-11-12T08:15:00.002+01:00

If I could not walk far and fast, I think I should just explode and perish.
Charles Dickens

Precious autumn sunshine

2011-11-11T10:33:00.001+01:00

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

How do they do this?

2011-11-11T00:43:00.002+01:00

This is really quite a crude mosaic - compared with many that you can see in Venice and elsewhere - and yet the face of Mary is so sweet. This capitello is on the side of a church in Castello. It is rather high up, and difficult to take a good photo through the grill. For more mosaics and more capitelli you should visit Churches in Venice (http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/annienc/), not to be confused with The Churches of Venice site, which is really good too (http://www.churchesofvenice.co.uk/).

Do you see what I see?

2011-11-09T15:55:00.002+01:00

Sometimes this looks spooky, like the Munch 'Scream', and sometimes it looks quite comical. If it's not been painted over, you will find it in Castello if you follow the star.

Lest we forget

2011-11-08T17:17:00.003+01:00

Since it is nearly Armistice Day, I thought I'd post this photo of a war memorial. It reads: "Anime Infantili Ravvivano la Fiamma d'Amore per gli Eroi" (Children's souls rekindle the flame of love for the heroes - I'm open to a better translation). You will find it near the church where the little dyer is buried.

Shortening the odds

2011-11-07T16:02:00.002+01:00

Pierre may be busy for a few days, so I thought I'd show you how difficult it can sometimes be to get a photo without people getting in the way in Venice. I had that capitello on the right beautifully framed, when, all of a sudden, two people strolled into the shot. I took the photo anyway, just to show people the problems for a photographer in Venice. I would welcome any suitable quotes. Also the location, for some reason, has gone completely out of my head.

Wearing effect of time

2011-11-06T21:39:00.003+01:00

O time! swift devourer of all created things!
Leonardo da Vinci Thoughts on Art and Life

Pali

2011-11-05T22:26:00.009+01:00

These wooden stakes are a part of the very little tip of the iceberg. Venice was indeed built on a real underground forest of wooden poles which came from the Alps and the Balkans, and were meant to strengthen the fragile and swampy emerging grounds of the lagoon. Did you know that Santa Maria della Salute was built on 1.156.672 oak and larch trunks four meters long.

One autumn night

2011-11-04T20:17:00.004+01:00

“One autumn night, five years before, they had been walking down the street when the leaves were falling, and they came to a place where there were no trees and the sidewalk was white with moonlight. They stopped here and turned toward each other. Now it was a cool night with that mysterious excitement in it which comes at the two changes of the year. The quiet lights in the houses were humming out into the darkness and there was a stir and bustle among the stars."
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Oarsmen

2011-11-03T20:48:00.003+01:00

"Crew is life ... everything else is just details."

Going back home

2011-11-01T21:39:00.002+01:00

Going back home, across the bridge.

Ruga dei Oresi

2011-10-31T18:24:00.003+01:00

In sestiere san Polo, one of the most buzy streets in Venice.

Rain

2011-10-30T19:25:00.002+01:00

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.
John Ruskin

Campo Santa Maria Formosa

2011-10-29T18:38:00.003+02:00

You will cross this large campo, one of the largest in Venice, on your way from the Rialto to the Campo San Zanipolo. A nice place, with its little daily market and its colored houses. The church, Santa Maria Formosa, was built in 1492, to the design of architect Mauro Codussi.

Straight

2011-10-28T18:21:00.001+02:00

What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it's curved like a road through mountains.
Tennessee Williams

Dolci Ebraici

2011-10-27T11:32:00.003+02:00

A Jewish bakery in Cannaregio. Flour, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and mainly grated almonds. Appetizing, isn't it?

Build for ever

2011-10-26T11:22:00.002+02:00

"Therefore, when we build, let us think that we build for ever."
John Ruskin (1849)

Red and white

2011-10-25T21:58:00.002+02:00

I was looking for this house because I had a photo of it in a book. It should have been easy, because the photo showed the number - 213. As you can see, they must have re-numbered the houses on Burano at some time.

Silent Church

2011-10-24T11:47:00.002+02:00

I like the silent church before the service begins, better than any preaching.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don't like Mondays

2011-10-23T16:02:00.002+02:00

I went to Possagno on a Monday, and it was shut. The next time I went, not on a Monday, I saw a note on the door of the Tempio Canoviano that gave the opening times. Half an hour after the doors should have opened I went to the Canova Museum (not a short walk) to ask why the Tempio was not open. The attendant told me that the times posted were the winter times, but they had not yet come into effect. You can find out all you need to know on-line, so I will say no more, other than don't believe the discovertreviso.com site that says the Tempio is open on Mondays.

Lonely Street

2011-10-21T18:58:00.002+02:00

You might be a sweet-toned sure nuff high-class talker,
You might be a stone, stone expert at kissing.
But it don't do too much good to be talking,
Brother, when there ain't no, ain't nobody listening.
And if you are shy, just not much of a talker,
Don't impress the people that you meet.
You might as well be a lonely walker in a lonely town, on a lonely street.
Bill Withers

Superstizione

2011-10-20T15:57:00.002+02:00

Open umbrella? Why not! But outside the house please...

Violinist

2011-10-19T11:16:00.002+02:00

“A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy.”
Albert Einstein

Rialto

2011-10-18T08:38:00.003+02:00

The beautiful Rialto Bridge, built during the Renaissance (1588-1592). Its author, the Italian engineer Antonio Da Ponte, won the contest ahead of Michelangelo himself... Until the 1850s, it was the only structure linking the two banks of the Grand Canal.

The lion was framed

2011-10-17T00:57:00.002+02:00

This noble lion may be found in the courtyard of a noble who strives.
The inscription beneath the plaque reads: Sub umbra alarum tuarum (under the shadow of your wings) [Psalms 16:8]

Fishing

2011-10-14T22:38:00.001+02:00

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
Henry David Thoreau

Balcony

2011-10-13T21:57:00.001+02:00

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity.
John Ruskin

We need only look up if we wish to feel small

2011-10-12T21:56:00.002+02:00

“Many religions have attempted to make statues of their gods very large, and the idea, I suppose, is to make us feel small. But if that's their purpose, they can keep their paltry icons. We need only look up if we wish to feel small.”
Carl Sagan

Caffé Quadri

2011-10-11T22:48:00.002+02:00

The Caffé Quadri, on Piazza San Marco, has maintained its original character throughout the centuries.

Stairs

2011-10-10T22:28:00.001+02:00

“Each day a day goes by” used to say the famous man who lived in this house...

Notte

2011-10-09T20:02:00.001+02:00

Buona notte, buona notte! Separarsi è un sì dolce dolore, che dirò buona notte finché non sarà mattina.
William Shakespeare

Take another look

2011-10-08T14:17:00.003+02:00

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the night and the empty skies, my love,
To the night and the empty skies.

Written by Ewan MacColl for his wife, Peggy Seeger

This may look like one of the Madonnas that I have shown you before, but you will see that there is no Child. Chapter 12 of The Revelation of St John the Divine begins,"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." This woman is sometimes identified with Mary, the mother of Jesus. Some of the stars have fallen from the ring above her head. She is also trampling some sort of monster - a dragon or serpent - beneath her feet. Lots of symbolism here. The figure of Mary on top of the Salute also has a ring of twelve stars around her head and the moon beneath her feet.
It is probably a coincidence that there are seven stars on the ring and that Dante Gabriel Rossetti wrote a poem called The Blessed Damozel with the line: "And the stars in her hair were seven."
To find her, look east from where Katharine Hepburn fell into a canal.

Let's set sail

2011-10-07T19:12:00.002+02:00

Let's set sail with Captain Morgan
or we'll never leave dry land...

Bric-a-brac

2011-10-06T21:27:00.003+02:00

“The mind of a the thoroughly well-informed man is a dreadful thing. It is like a bric-a-brac shop, all monsters and dust, with everything priced above its proper value.”
Oscar Wilde