Venice – Day 3, 24 Oct – Venice Walkabout

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Up early again to get the sunrise from the Accademia bridge, and surprise it happened, a lovely orange glow and nice boat wakes on the canal. Before the sun actually got above the horizon we moved to the waterfront by St Marks Square to watch the sun come up. And again we got some wonderful light illuminating the buildings with a golden colour. Once we had finished there we headed back to the hotel for breakfast and then out to walk to find the Scala Contarini del Bovolo, a fascinating building with an ornate spiral staircase outside the building. we continued on ending up at the Rialto Bridge, where we stopped for some lunch. We sat outside watching the boats on the Canal. On the way back we called in the most famous bookshop in Venice, the Alta Acqua Libreria. There are books everywhere and in everything from boats to tin baths and Gondolas. The steps to the outside viewing platform are made of books as well as some of the walls. When we got back to the hotel we decided to chil for the evening and watched a quiz show (in Italian) on the TV,

A sunrise at last! From the Accedemia bridge
Getting there
Becoming lighter and a nice wake from the boat
Moved to the waterfront by St Marks Square to watch the sun coming up
The making an appearance over some Gondolas
Golden light on the buildings
One of the many covered walkways around the square.
A gondolier preparing his boat for the days trade.
St Mark’s Campanile is the bell tower of St Mark’s Basilica in the square
Gondola reflections
Gondola ornamentation
Venetian cat dolls made of porcelain and dressed in elaborate costumes
Scala Contarini del Bovolo is a late Gothic building, with a distinctive spiral staircase.
A gondola negotiating one of the huge number of bridges in Venice.
Another bridge with reflections
A three way gondola jam. The Gondoliers are very skilful in getting the gondolas around tight bends
The Winged Lion at the foot of the statue to Daniele Manin a revolutionary leader.
Rialto Bridge (Ponte de Rialto), the oldest bridge across the grand canal and was completed in 1591.
The view across the Grand Canal from where we had lunch.
We have a similar picture to this hanging in our dining room. This was from the Rialto Bridge.
The Marforio dragon and the umbrellas mark the site of Venice’s famous Marforio leather goods shop which traded from 1875 until around 2000
Venetian masks used in the Carnival of Venice
The books in the Alta Acqua Libreria shop are piled everywhere and anywhere.
Including boats on their side…
I just hope that there isn’t a fire if this is the fire exit!
and Gondolas as well.
This is the exit of the shop with books being used as a wall.
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