stillLUV2go

Day 9 & 10 - Grand Canal Cruise The Parlor of Venice   "Venice is like eating a box of chocolates in one go."   Truman Capote If the buildings along the Grand Canal were pieces of candy, it would be hard to pick a favorite. Here are a few to watch for as we take the Grand Canal cruise. Early on, the Grand Canal was the port of arrival.  Trading ships sailed right up to the Rialto Bridge to unload their spices, furs and other goods. Another way for merchants to receive goods was to build a fondaco.  These buildings were designed with a warehouse on the water's edge for easy unloading of goods.  The second floor was the market for selling the goods.  The top floor had lodging.  The fondaco above, Ca' da Mosta, is one of the oldest.  It is now empty due to high water. Above is Fondaco Dei Turchi, or Turk's Inn for the Turkish merchants who ran it.  It is another of the first warehouses to be founded in Venic...

Day 9 & 10 - Grand Canal Cruise The Grand Canal "The Most Beautiful Street in the World" The Grand Canal is Venice's pride and joy.  This ancient waterway follows a natural channel that winds its way through the city in a large reverse S shape, traveling from the San Marco Basin on one end to a lagoon near the rail station on the other.  It is roughly 16 feet deep, 2.36 miles long, and ranges from 100-300 feet wide.  At various points, the Grand Canal connects with a maze of much smaller and more narrow water channels that snake through the city, connecting the more than 120 little islands. The blue line traces the Grand Canal.  All of the other dark lines represent the lesser waterways that define the 120 little islands which are connected by all types of bridges. All of these waterways are the lifeline of Venetian life.  Everything that is done by motor vehicles in most cities must be done by watercraft in Venice.  There a...

Day 9 - Arrive in Venice on a Sunday afternoon.  Explore the city. Venice - the History To build a city where it is impossible to build a city is madness in itself, but to build there one of the most eloquent and grandest of cities is the madness of a genius.   Alexander Herzen Venice, Italy's water baby, has a unique history.  Open these links to find out why. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSf6kAput9I https://www.tours-italy.com/discover-your-italy/venice-travel-guide/history https://www.livitaly.com/how-was-venice-built/ VENICE THEN & NOW If you are still wondering how a city built on wooden piles could still be standing centuries later,  take a look at this interesting clip. https://youtu.be/B3INp81NimE Photo Credits in order: 1.   https://pixabay.com/photo-81181/ 2.   https://flic.kr/p/68LxMe 3.  public domain 4.  public domain 5.   https://flic.kr/p/6sJ6pN 6.   ...

 Day 9 includes a visit to the historic town of Verona. Read Verona's History https://www.zainoo.com/en/italy/veneto/verona/history Take a tour -  "Veron a in 4K" https://youtu.be/racoWNZVBJU   Verona will be our stop on the bus ride to Venice.  Some of us may choose to sit at a cozy cafe and soak in the 2,000 years of history, while others of us may want to explore every inch of the city that time allows.  There will be something for everyone in Verona. The Arch Scaligeri A group of five tombs honor the Scaligeri family who ruled Verona from the 13th to late 14thC.  The most celebrated of the family is Cangrande, a great warrior, prince and patron of the arts. Congrande is Italian for "Big Dog". Castle Vecchio The red brick castle and bridge crossing the Adige River was built by Cangrande ll.  Known as the "old castle", its most distinguishing features are the red brick M-shaped merlons. Today it is a museum. ...

Day 9 - On this day we will travel through the region of VENETO (ven'-uh-toe) Madonna della Corona  Veneto is a region in northeastern Italy that stretches from the alpine Lake Garda on the west, flanked by lemon and olive groves, all the way to its crown jewel, Venice, and the Adriatic Sea on the east.  In between are the snowcapped Dolomite mountains, gently rolling foothills lined with world-class vineyards, charming medieval towns, Palladian villas and the nature reserve of the Po Delta. Lake Garda Largest of the Italian Lakes,  it is surrounded by many medieval villages and castles.  Ezra Pounds described its allure in a letter to James Joyce in 1921 - "Dear Joyce, I'd like you to spend a week here with me.  The location is well worth the journey - I guarantee it!" Olive Groves and Lemon Trees DH Lawrence wrote:  "The lake lies dim and milky, the mountains are dark blue, the sky glistens, the light burns ...