Venice, Italy Photos

On my first night, the sunset on the way to the Grand Canal.

There are hundreds of foot bridges throughout the city.

During the high tide season, the people of Venice still need get around the city even when most of it is under water, so they have a back up plan at the ready.  Below, is the pile of the platform pieces that are used to assemble an elevated walkway in areas of the city which would be under water. According to my guide, the locals affectionately call them benches because most of the time, they are stacked as they are below and tourists often sit on them like benches.

St. Mark's Square is faced by the Procuratie Nuove (below) that used to house the church and city leaders, but now is filled with museums.

Clock Tower with its original clock from the 15th century that still strikes with each hour.

St. Mark's Basilica has fresco paintings at the top of each of the three front entrances.  Each painting illustrates a story from the life of St. Mark.

St. Mark's Basilica

The Doge's Palace, the first palace of the duke.  It was built as a combination of palace and fortress for the protection of the duke in the uncertain times of the early medieval world of the 12th century.

Bridge of Sighs that connected the prison on the right with the Doge's Palace on the left, where judgments were made for criminals.

Venice's own leaning tower.

View of St. Mark's Square on our way out of Venice.

In front of the Bridge of Spies is another bridge, the Riva Degli Schiavoni, became a major promenade after Napoleon built the public gardens in the 19th century.

The Church of Santa Maria Della Salute, built in the mid 17th century.  From this angle at the entrance of the Grand Canal, the octagonal shape can be more clearly seen.

The entrance to the Grand Canal.  It is considered the main street of Venice and is approximately two miles long.