Following yesterday’s late celebrations, which fortunately involved limited alcohol intake, we nonetheless managed to get up at the very acceptable time of 08:30 hrs. After a quick cup of coffee/tea and having decided to follow itinerary 1 from our newly acquired Venice book, we again set off for the Piazzo San Marco to visit the Basilica and various other historical sights.
By the time we reached the square, other of the innumerable tourists in Venice had already started queuing at the entrance to the Basilica of San Marco. Although the queue was rather long, our patience was rewarded soon enough with views of the most beautiful mosaics I have ever seen, all the more amazing when you realize how long ago these were first made. We were also completely stunned by the magnificent Pala d’Oro (golden altar screen), the most priceless work of art in all Christendom. The entire church, covered throughout with mosaics, frescos, freezes, paintings, marble statures and architectural masterpieces, stands as a testament to man’s artistic expression of religious devotion.
The bronze statues, taken as war booty to create the Four Horses Of The Apocalypse that stand above the main entrance, have through recent radioactive dating, been shown to originate from the 2nd century BC. Surely there is no more poignant symbol of the magnificent achievements of ancient human endeavour that were so tragically lost during the subsequent one thousand years of The Dark Ages.
After our extensive tour of the Basilica, we next paid a visit to the Doge’s Palace. Walking from room to room here too we were completely taken aback by the splendour of the artworks, in particular the ceiling fresco’s. With so much on display, our poor near-lifeless tummy’s were almost completely overlooked. However, considering the prices charged for even the simplest of refreshments (a large coke for € 5.50!) we almost elected to forego food entirely.
After a quick lunch “on the go” we joined the line of people for the Clock Tower, which since its most recent collapse in 1902, has fortunately been fitted with a lift that took us to an excellent viewing spot 60 m above the square.
Next stop: Correr Museum. Although not as impressive as the Doge’s Palace and probably due to the fact that we were slowly but surely reaching museum meltdown, we dragged our tiring legs through the extensive collection of artworks, etc. on display. Time for a refreshment.
Trying to meet up with Dave and Kerri proved to be impossible as the majority of their little group seemed to be distracted by the shops encountered on the way to our meeting point. Being forced to spend time with just each other we decided to slowly make our way back to our B&B, stopping off on the way for a quick drink (or two).
By the time we’d had our drinks and shower we decided to revisit the restaurant we had dinner at earlier in the week.
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