Exploring Venice
Exploring Venice
The next day we started exploring the city by getting lost in the cobblestone ally ways, only to find ourselves jumping aboard one of the best ways to experience Venice, by gondola. The beautifully crafted wooden boat (more like a large kayak) navigated and transformed us into the old world. Upon entering the canal system of the city, you cross underneath what is the most famous bridge in Venice, the Bridge of Sighs. The bridge got its name, because it sits along the edge of the city, and is where criminals would be transferred to the prison. They would look out onto the water, and sigh, knowing it would be the last view they would ever see, of their beloved city.
Traveling by gondola, there is no lack for your viewing pleasure, just let yourself get lost between the character of the old wooden docks, bridges and floating homes of history's most famous royals and poets.
The city itself is built on little floating islands, so boat is the only form of travel if you are trying to explore the city as whole. The water taxis are beautiful old craftsman boats, but they are, in itself they're own piece of artwork. Lacquered and in pristine form, while traveling abroad them, they allowed us to see Venice in a whole new way. While in search of The DaVinci Museum, Basilica di Santa Maria, and many more, we crossed the Grand Canal, encountering views of some of the most famous and esteemed hotels, castles and bridges. This is probably what makes Venice the most beautiful cities in the world. All the architecture of the basilicas, homes, docks, boats, everything is a beautiful work of art.
The most famous bridge in Venice, is the Ponte di Rialto. Sunsets from the bridge are to die for. The light the sun casts on the water and the city will leave you speechless. I now understand why this is the most popular and largest bridge in Venice, it allows passage to some of the larger more popular parts of the city, and at the base of it, is a large fish, foods and goods marketplace. But don't let the crowds deter you from going to this spot, everyone else just always wants to experience the magic of it. It is absolutely worth the trip, and these are the moments you dream about when you are back home.
When traveling, I believe in getting fully emersed in the culture, and for me, that means also seeing the beautiful museums, castles and churches as well. Although not the grandest, I think that the most beautiful awe inspiring basilica that we saw was the Basilica Dei Frari. We stumbled upon it after leaving the DaVinci museum. In the courtyard before entering, I just stood in amazement of the buildings surrounding us. The architecture and detail in the buildings themselves was so elaborate and unique. I asked everyone to pick which view or building they thought was their favorite, which to me was almost a joke, because it was hard to compare them. Maybe this was my favorite church we entered on the trip, because I didn't expect it to be. I thought maybe the Santa Maria or St. Mark's would be the most memorable, but the Frari was in this fairly uncrowded neighborhood, it was a church for the people. When you walked in the doors, I was blown away and for the next hour in utter amazement by every room, pew and detail inside. And that probably just scratched the surface. Many times we brought up this church during our dinner conversations, and unanimously decided it must have been the most amazing one we experienced.