Murano

A Murano glassblower creates a vase : Murano, IT

On our last full day in Venice, we went to Murano and Burano. To get to the islands, you have to take a ferry. The ride to Murano is about 10 minutes and to Burano, another 40 minutes. Murano is known for its glassworks and Burano is known for its lace and colorful buildings.

Campanile in Venice's Piazza San Marco as seen from Murano

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

The Doge and his Boys...

Doge Francesco Foscari kneeling before the St. Mark's Lion

Just a few final pictures for Venice during the day. To see more photos from our trip to Venice, see my Picasa Web Album, Canals and Mosaics.

A couple of guys I saw hanging out above Piazzo San Marco : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Portals of Saint Mark's Basilica

North Portal / West Facade : Basilica San Marco : Venice, IT

The above mosaic depicts what the Basilica of Saint Mark probably looked like in the mid-13th century. The four bronze horses that are part of the facade are included the upper arches of the mosaic.

Central Portal / West Facade : Basilica San Marco : Venice, IT

The central portal featuring the ascension of Christ. Above that, the winged lion of Venice and the four bronzes horses.

East Portal / West Facade : Basilica San Marco : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Torre dell'Orologio

The Clock Tower on Saint Mark's Square : Venice, IT

The clock tower that graces Piazzo San Marco was started in the 1490s. Its Renaissance facade features a winged lion -- the mascot of Venice -- and the Virgin Mother and Child. In the circular facade are the symbols of the Zodiac. The clock is topped by a bell and two ringers. On Epiphany and Ascension, depictions of the three Wise Men, led by a trumpeter angel, emerge and bow before the Virgin. 

Detail of the Zodiac feature on the Clock Tower : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Tripod Envy: How It's Done

A tripod is always useful! : Venice, IT

Tiny little sidebar here. I've long wondered how photographers get those photos that seem to be shot from vantage points that are unavailable to your average photographer. Now I know the secret: a enormous tripod, a cable, and a computer. This guy was shooting in the direction of the Doge's Palace and the Adriatic in front of Saint Mark's Basilica. I had tripod envy.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013.

Piazza San Marco

The Piazza San Marco, Basilica San Marco, and the Campanile : Venice, IT

When you visit a place for just a couple of days, you're pretty limited in your ability to get to know a city and take photos that don't look like all of the other 745.3 bajillion people who have snapped the exact same photo. Unfortunately, there's very little that's unique about the top photo, expect the people who are in it and who are probably not in the 745.299 bajillion other photos that are out there. Still, it's evidence I was there, so there's that.

View of the Doge's Palace and the Adriatic from the Basilica San Marco : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Art and the Biennale

 Medusa : Venice, IT

The Arte Biennale is an every-other-year event in Venice. This year is the 55th Biennale and we glanced in on one of the exhibits featuring an artist from the Republic of Slovenia. The photo above is of a wood carving and modern interpretation of Medusa. It was actually in a gallery and probably not part of the Biennale, but it was a good kick off to then stumbling upon the exhibit featuring art from Slovenia.

Custom wallpaper and fabric in the exhibit for the Republic of Slovenia : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M. Kincaid, 6/2013

Knockers and Other Three-Dimensional Beauties

Brass knocker : Venice, IT

Two things I love finding when I travel are knockers and bas-reliefs. Venice is full of some really gorgeous door knockers, like the one above. My favorite find, though, was the bas-relief below. It was tucked into a dark little alley behind a gate and was kind of obscured by a large piece of machinery sticking out of the side of the building on its left. It took a bit of acrobatic maneuvering and cropping, both on camera and in post-production, to feature this bas-relief.

Venetian Family Portrait? : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Venetian Warmth

Parallel Parking : Venice, IT

Despite the bright sunlight bathing Venice, the streets and canals are narrow enough and the colors of the buildings are muted such that the light is soft and warm. Just a couple of photos to illustrate that.

Venetian Warmth : Venice, IT

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013

Traffic in Venice

Gondolier : Venice, IT

We decided to take a last-minute trip to Venice before it is completely overrun with tourists, so we booked a B&B, threw the dog, our cameras, and a suitcase in the car, and headed over Mont Blanc to the Queen of the Adriatic Sea, Venezia.

We arrived late in the afternoon and I only snapped a few photos, none of which were that great. The next day, though, I caught this gondolier standing at the ready to ferry tourists and lovers around the canals.

After a disappointing lunch (never choose restaurants that are right on the canals), we walked all around Venice and while this isn't the greatest photo, I love the content. Gondoliers galore and the Campanile in Saint Mark's Square to boot!

Rush Hour Venezia Style

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/2013.