Milan and Venice

We bid a sad farewell to the Italian lakes and headed to Milan. 

We passed by castle Arona, the birthplace of Carlos Borromeo, later to be  Saint Charles

We visited the cathedral in Milan where St Charles is buried.

The first stone for the building of the cathedral was laid in 1386.

Robyn and I climbed to the top of the cathedral.

There are over 2000 statues that decorate the cathedral.

  This is one of 135 gargoyles that are part of the drainage system.

It was a great view.

I didn't really expect to see an English bulldog in an Italian city but he was having fun.

Then it was off to Venice and over the bridge to the main island.

We took a boat to San Marco square and then it was a short walk to our hotel.

My bed was certainly different.

We had no planned activities so set out to explore the many alley ways and to find some delicious food for dinner.

The following morning was an early start which is the best time to see San Marco.

Venice gets over 40 million tourists a year so gets very crowded later in the day

We had a visit to the Doges palace.

That is our guide Sergio in the courtyard of the palace.

The Doge was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice and was elected for life.

The first Doge was elected in 697 and last last one finished in 1797 when Napolean conquered Venice.

This little posting box was were you could submit the names of people who were suspected of tax evasion.

You posted the names into the mouth.

We went up the staircase and into the palace.

Along the corridor and then up the golden staircases.

It was ornately painted and decorated.

The council chamber had stunning paintings on the ceiling

As well as on the walls

This was a more sinister posting box.

Into it went the names of those plotting political intrigue.

The chamber of the great council was huge, 50 meters by 25 metres and like the other rooms covered with beautiful artwork.

From the outside this is what the bridge of Sighs looked like. It linked the palace where you were tried for your crimes with the prison.

This was the view you would have from the inside.

After our tour we took a gondola ride.

Here they are lined up outside the Doge's   palace.

Don't forget to duck Miss Linda.

 

Following the gondola ride we watched Venetian glass being made. The finished pieces are exquisite and very expensive.

We were in Venice on the weekend and we had to wait until the afternoon to see inside St Peters Basillica.

By then the tide was high as you can see and we had to walk on raised planks to get inside the church.

Our hotel had a small porch on a canal, a perfect place to relax and watch gondolas pass by.

I thought a continental breakfast would be a good thing and it was delicious.

Big cruise ships frequent Venice and this is an interesting picture of the old and the new world.

 

Farewell Venice, it was memorable and fun.