Venice Due!

Today we visited the Basilica San Marco.  I had made advanced reservations on the internet so we didn't have to stand in the LONG line. . . that was 1euro that was well spent.  It was raining this morning and we were a little delayed in our entrance because they were putting up raised wooden walks because the square floods!  Luckily, we were one of the first ones to enter after the walks were installed so the Basilica was relatively empty.  

Piazza San Marco

The Basilica stands at the end of the piazza, it was originally built in 828AD but burned to the ground in 976AD during a revolt.  What stands now was built in 1071 and was patterned after the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.  There are five domes on the top and there are 43,000 square ft of mosaic on the outside and 500 columns on the outside!!

Mosaic over one of the entrances

Inside of the Basilica (illegally taken)

The most amazing thing about this Basilica is the every square inch of the ceiling and most of the walls is covered in mosaic!  Below is a photo of one face on the wall. . .the pieces of stone, tile, glass are no more than 1/2 inch in length!!  It is mind boggling to think of the number of hours went into the construction of such murals!

Close up of the mosaic detail!

This is another picture of the basilica interior showing the amount of mosaic work found in side.

 This picture is taken from the balcony overlooking San Marco Piazzo from the Loggia die Cavalli.

Loggia dei Cavalli

 These are replicas of the original horses, the authentic horses are inside the basilica in the museum.  They were created in the 1980's and originals restored and placed in the museum.  They are massive!

 The front of the Basilica. . .each of these arches has mosaic murals in them.

 After touring the Basilica when explored more of the San Marco district of Venice.  I love the tiny canals with the boats tied to the walls!

 This is the Accademia Bridge that was built in 1932 by the architect, Miozzi and was supposed to be temporary until something more substantial was built!  Not so much. . .still standing and the next few photos were taken from this bridge.

 This picture was taken to show how the water literally laps up to the front door of the houses on the waterways!

 Heavy traffic on the Grand Canal as seen from the bridge.

 Loved this colored poles. . .very Venice to me!

 This is a very narrow canal that runs between these buildings

This is a picture of the roof line of the Basilica San Marco. . . it should be at the top of the post but I am too lazy to try to move it up there right now :-)!  We are off to dinner at Antico Martini, a restaurant that my sister, Wendy told me not to miss!  We will be meeting up with our hiking partner in crime, Iwa.  Our other hiking buddy is presently stuck in Frankfurt because of whimsical strike on the part of an airline, hopefully she will make it out of there tonight!!

I should also mention if it is not known that each of the streets is packed with shopping. . . lace, murano glass, leather, masks, handmade paper, fountain pens, designer clothing, GELATO, and bistros!  We have been in number of the above mentioned establishments but are actual shopping has been limited because of the question "Do you really want to haul this around for 2 weeks while hiking?" . . .not so much!

Buono sera!