The Doge Lived a Nice Life

The golden staircase glimmers at the palace.

As if the golden staircase leading up to the Doge's apartment didn't give it away, the elaborate rooms with extremely ornate and detailed ceiling frescos, carvings and paintings would have. The Doge of Venice lived a nice life. The Doge's palace is our version of the White House. Some of the rooms for the Doge's personal use featured huge marble fireplaces -- some that were made in the 1500s. The Palazzo Ducale AKA the Doge's Palace was my favorite tour. It has multiple rooms for the Doge's use and also court rooms for administering law and order. One of the rooms for the nobles to gather was the largest room in Europe at the time and features the longest canvas painting in the world.

Prisoners saw this on the way to a cell.

The Doge's Palace is also connected to the prison via the famous Bridge of Sighs. Back in those days they would be convicted in one of the court rooms, then whisked away to the prison without ever leaving the building. Prisoners would cross the bridge to be taken to prison. The bridge is fully enclosed, but has some cracks where you can see through to the beautiful canal and the Venetian skyline. They say it was the last view of Venice for those sentenced to prison. And although the prison was chilly and the cells were small, the long and shadowy corridors made for a neat tour.

Prison halls were narrow.

The Basilica di San Marco was also very impressive. Nearly every inch of the ceiling was covered with large mosaics made mostly from tiny gold tiles and other colored pieces. The church is literally covered in gold. The story is that Venetians decorated it with the riches they acquired from their many trade routes. It really reminds you of a treasure chest.

A scene in the Correr Museum.

We opted to buy our ticket for the Doge's Palace at the Correr Museum across the square since you can get into both tours and you can skip the line at the Palazzo Ducale. The Correr Museum was a collection of artifacts, coins, old maps, paintings and various other really old things. It even had marble sculptures and lanterns that were posted on ships. We wondered what one marble wall sculpture meant.

What do you think is going on in this picture?

While we did not take a gondola ride, we were frequently serenaded by singing gondoliers weaving through the many smaller canals. Gondoliers waiting for a tourist to come by relaxed in their boats. This probably qualifies as la dolce vita for these guys.

Comments

Discovering the Real Italy

April and Stephanie hit the streets of Sacile with me for the colorful bounty of market day in the city center. This is the Italy I had been waiting for. We discovered a casual version of Italy where everyday life looks beautiful--full of color, sweet smells and personality. Market Day It was market day in Sacile and the town's streets and squares were full of fresh produce, specialty foods and an amazing selection of discount shoes, clothes, purses and home goods. To the locals, it's just the day of the week for the shopping done all on foot in the center of town. But for three American girls, it was an adventure for the senses with a discovery around every corner. The sweet smell of cheeses filled the air near one stall while the fresh smell of flowers filled the air near another. Hearty salami hung casually on display next to a colorful array of fresh fruits and vegetables. Senior-aged men grouped together in small huddles in the center of the cobblestone street...

Going the Way of Paul in Ancient Ephesus

The Library of Celsus When Paul, one of the apostles, preached in a giant stadium in front of thousands, he was at the stadium in Ephesus. We stood there. When people selling mini Artemis statues rioted because his Christian teachings were bad for the idol business, Paul was taken to prison. We saw that prison on the hill above Ephesus. In fact, ancient history is so well preserved at Ephesus, it's obvious why tourists worldwide come to see what was once a major city of the Roman Empire. One of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world We walked down the original wide marble roads in the city’s downtown area and walked into public restrooms outfitted with ancient marble toilet seats and a drainage system for waste. We stood in awe in front of the Library of Celsus where the Ephesians stored 12,000 scrolls, and we sat in seats once reserved for ancient theatre performances. Terrace Houses Ephesus also offers a look inside the luxurious condo-style ter...

Paris When it Twinkles

Paris really is a beautiful city. And it's even more beautiful at night. The Eiffel Tower twinkles with lights every hour on the hour for five minutes as soon as it gets dark. In mid-October, that means the magic begins at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m. it's dark enough for a real light show. The Eiffel tower twinkles on the hour. We weren't the only ones to admire the twinkling lights that make the iconic tower sparkle. At night, a crowd of onlookers gather at the Champ de Mars to admire the Eiffel tower splendor. Afterward, there's a slow promenade when everyone walks along the Seine back to a hotel or apartment. It's absolutely magical. We walked from the Eiffel tower to the Champs-Élysées metro stop and it was a beautiful nighttime stroll. Not once did I ever feel unsafe. We walked past the dreamy Seine with riverboats lighting the waters on their many twilight tours. Couples strolled hand-in-hand in the cool night air and Parisians walked their dogs. The Pret...

The Travelin' Redhead

Search This Blog