Day 3 - Discovering Venice
This morning, we set out to discover the grandeur of this
floating city on a guided tour. The entire city depends on its
network of waterways and we are transferred by boat to St Mark's
Square. After disembarking, we take a guided walking tour starting
in St Mark's Square. This famous square is flanked by several
historic buildings including the Basilica di San Marco, known for
its many domes and 86,000 square feet of mosaic walls, vaults, and
cupolas. The piazza also houses the Museo Correr, home to an
extensive collection of art.
We walk down to the Rialto Bridge, the oldest of the 4 bridges
that join the 2 banks of the Grand Canal. Built between 1588 and
1591, this white stone-arch bridge is famous for its multiple
walkways. Our next destination is the Bridge of Sighs, an enclosed
bridge made entirely of white limestone that connects the
interrogation room in the Doge's Palace to Prigioni Nuove, a former
prison. Legend has it that the bridge was so named because the
closed vestibule was filled with the sighs of thousands of
prisoners who were deemed guilty in the interrogation chambers
before being transferred to the prison. Such is the bridge's
attraction that it even found mention in Lord Byron's famous
narrative poem, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.
After the tour you are free to explore on your own. Perhaps,
visit the Doge's Palace, a Gothic building, home to the Doge, the
supreme authority of Venice, since the
14th century. In 1923 it was converted into a
museum and most of the paintings we see were commissioned
specifically to decorate the walls for visitors. Lace-like patterns
carved on pink Verona marble, gracefully arching windows, and an
ornamental main entrance make the palace an architectural
masterpiece. After a day of explorations, we return to our hotel by
boat. Overnight Venice.
Includes