Day 2 started off very wet as the rain that was forecast started quite early. We went out to try and photograph a sunrise but the clouds and rain had other ideas. After getting some early morning light trails from the Accademia Bridge, we headed back to the hotel and picked up a croissant for breakfast. We bought tickets to the Doge’s Palace tour and headed out via St. Marks Square to the palace and eventually got inside. The palace includes government offices, a jail, and the residence of the Doge of Venice, the elected authority of the former Republic of Venice. Once we had finished the tour we headed back to St. Marks Square to visit café Florian once again. We visited the Café when we were here 10 years ago and had to do it again. After a short wait for a table to become free, we entered and ordered some ham and cheese toasties and hot chocolate (melted block chocolate!) which was super delicious. We went back to the hotel to wait until nightfall and go out for some more night shots.
Early morning light trails from the Accedamia Bridge, waiting for the sun to rise.Still waiting for the sunrise!Still no sunrise so another light trailVery light now and no colour so failed sunrise but nice light trails.St Marks Square after the rain giving a nice puddle reflectionOn our way to visit the Doge’s PalaceWe are in and going up the stairs to the first floorIt is an anonymous post box “Lion’s Mouth” (Bocca di Leone) which was a box for anonymous denunciations (Latin translation “Secret denunciations against those who conceal favours and offices or conspire to conceal the true income of these”).Typical Venitian door in the Doge’s PalaceAmazing sculptures in the Doge’s Palace. The skill involved is admirable.Ornate ceilings seems to be the norm in the Palace.Another ornate ceiling.Close up of one of the ceiling panels, again I wonder at the skill in painting such things.Heavily gilded ceiling, amazing work.Detail of the artwork on the ceiling.The walls also had huge paintings. This opulance is a stark contrast to what is to come later in the tour.The other end of this roomA huge painted frieze in another room.A mullioned window with leaded pontil glass.The view of Venice from one of the windows inside the ‘Bridge of Sighs’. This is the view prisoners would see moving from the interogation rooms in the palace to the prison on he other side of the bridge. It is said that ‘the prisoners sighed at their last view of beautiful Venice before being Incarcerated’. This is looking from the back of the bridge.A typical prison cell, in contrast to the opulence of the Palace, where the prisoners would be tried before coming to the jail.The bars ensured the prisoners were secure.The door to the cell was less than a metre tall but was cased in iron with huge bolts and hinges.The prison courtyardThe cell bars were cleverly forged in so much as the bars are interlocked and difficult to remove even if they are cut.The view from the other side of the Bridge of Sighs, looking out over the lagoon.The bridge of Sighs from inside the Palace. The window on the left was where the previous photo was taken.Café Florian, the most famous Café in Venice. The queue was quite long to get in, but once in the food and hot chocolate was superb.Cheese and ham toasties with a mug of hot chocolte at the café Florian.The rain in St Marks Square driving the crowds undercover.A night view of our Hotel.Another Venitian door.The Basilica Santa Maria della Salute from the Water Bus dock by the Hotel.Godolas by the Water Bus dock.
JL Photos 