Venice
Capital of the Veneto, the world-famous city of Venice
emerges from the water like an impossible miracle. Classic
destiny for nostalgics and romantics, extends on an archipelago
of 118 protected islands from the sea by sand banks denominated
lidi. The city sinks every year a little more -23 centimetres
in the last decade according to the experts-, adding a
certain enchantment by its progressive announced death.
The fantastic piazza San Marcos contrasts with the labyrinth
city full of strolls with houses worn away by the uncontrollable
corrosion of the water. The piazza, opened to the Grand
Canal, is framed by beautiful porches with buildings and
coffee shops. Created at the end of the twelfth century,
when the channel that crossed it drowned and was remodeled
in the fifteenth century, moment at which the tower of
the Clock was elevated with its famous bronze figures:
a zodiacal circle and a winged lion, symbols of Venice;
also the Campanile, retort of the disappear in 1902 and
the library were built at that time.
The piazza jealously watches the imposing basilica constructed
between 1063 and 1073, perfect symbiosis of Greek, Medieval,
Byzantine and Tuscany art. The facade has five porches
decorated with marbles, mosaics and sculptures. Inside,
with a layout in Greek cross form, are outstanding the
recomposed mosaics of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
The altarpiece of gold that lodges precious stones and
enamels dazzles to the visitor with its stunning beauty.
Next to the basilica is the Ducal palace, old residence
of dogos and one of the maximum exponents of the gothic
style. Its facade rests on two columns with sculptures
that represent Adam and Eve and the Salomon Judgement.
Entering by the Porta de la Carta, the visitor finds works
of Tintoretto, Veronés and Bellini.
The bridge of the Sighs, that unites the Ducal palace
with the venetian prison, loads with the legend that the
criminals sighed when they crossed through the bridge
and saw the last light on the city before their confinement.
From the wharf of the Slaves there’s one of the
most typical postal of the city with the bridges of the
Vin, Della Pietá and of the Straw, and the church
of the Mercy as main attractions. The great Channel, main
way of the city, is bordered of tens of old gothic, Renaissance
and baroque palaces and residences of the old families
patriarchs. They cross bridges like the Rialto, the most
known in the city and the one that takes to the financial
district, and the one of the Accademia, that leads to
the gallery of Art and Santa Maria of the Salute, a beautiful
church maintained on wood pillars.
In this route, we can stop to admire places like the palace
Vernier of Leoni, with the magnificent Guggenheim collection
of contemporary art, the Corner palace and the magnificent
Cá d´Oro, with the gallery Franchetti, and
Cá Pesaro, seat of the museum of Modern Art.
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