Exploring Venice

One of Venice's canals - by St. Mark's Square

After we left the apartment, we ate an interesting breakfast of pizza and croissants at a snack bar. We ate in the square as it filled with people waiting for the Basilica to open. When we got in line and St. Mark’s actually opened. the lines moved very fast though.  Inside the church, although there was no stained glass, you still had the feeling of awe and solemnity as in every other church we had been in.  The mosaics all over the walls and high vaulted ceilings “made it feel as if you were surrounded by one giant painting,” as Anneke would put it. When we saw the original horses that sat atop the cathedral, before Napoleon took them in 1796, we saw many scratches all over them. We read that they were there to stop reflectiveness.

When we came out of the Basilica, the square was already filled to the brim. Because we needed some groceries, we walked around and tried to navigate to the nearest store. We got lost among the winding canals, but made it there anyways. While on a back street we came across a church, San Zulian, and decided to take a look inside. It was small but beautiful and Chloe’s favorite church so far along with San Chapelle  and the Basilica of Notre Dame in Paris. We had lunch at a wonderfully refreshing non-touristy restaurant in the courtyard outside San Zulian. We got some gelato and, with groceries in hand, we walked back to our room for a needed rest.

After we had rested, we went out for dinner and a walk on the Riva Degli Schiavoni along the Canale Di S. Marco. It was on the touristy side of things, but beautiful. We found a wonderful and small little place to eat just off the main canal. We sat on the terrace and ate a delicious dinner. As we walked back to our room through the square, we heard music floating towards us on the breeze from the outside cafés. Again, the flying light helicopters were out, but the strolling police didn’t seem to mind. We listened to the music for a little while and then headed off to sleep.