Venice - FAVORITES

This will be my last post of my time in Venice at the end of June with my mom and aunt. They are bits and pieces of my favorites from our 3-day stay!

Libreria Acqua Alta is the bookstore that I mentioned in a past post about an amazing bookstore that we stumbled upon in Venice. There are books ALL over... even a staircase made of books in the back that overlooks a canal! There are bathtubs and gondolas overflowing with books. I loved it. The Smithsonian wrote an article about this bookstore last year: Why Does This Bookstore Keep Its Books in Bathtubs?

I love this photo of Mom and Aunt Gail   : )   Le Sorelle! (The Sisters)

THE MOST delicious bruschetta I've ever tasted. (Twice.)   : )

These two weren't together on the water taxi but they are equally fabulous.

Gelatooooo!

Completing this set of photos with one of Le Sorelle   : )

Gorgeous Venice. Gorgeous Doors

This past trip to Venice was my favorite. I feel like we had enough time (over the two-night stay) to explore, walk, and enjoy. Venice is such a special city and I really, really love the details that are plentiful if you just look around.

Is this place for sale?? I love it!

We were waiting for the boat taxi to pick us up and go to Murano Island when this happened:

Not a door... but still gorgeous:

Venice - St. Mark's Basilica

St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is one of my favorite churches that I've seen. The inside is at beautiful as the outside. The gold mosaic on the ceiling of the inside - throughout the entire church - is amazing! The domes are also quite stunning -- each with its own story being told.

Mom, Aunt Gail, and I went upstairs and it was a nice walk around one side. We also went out onto the terrace for lovely views of the square below and even looking out to the main canal. When I came to Venice with my family 6 years ago, we didn't go inside St. Mark's because we were in the city during The Feast of the Redeemer (quite the celebration!) and the line was incredibly long. While inside the basilica this time, I kept thinking how much my dad would enjoy seeing this. (Dad, next time you're here!)

The Four Horses of St. Mark's 

(the original ones are found inside, in the museum that is within the basilica)

Looking out from the side of the basilica, along the side of Doge's Palace and out to the main canal:

The Bridge of Sighs:

The Bridge of Sighs is quite a famous piece of Venice. Prisoners would cross this enclosed bridge from Doge's Palace as they being sent to the prison. The view out of the windows from this bridge was the last view of Venice that they saw before imprisonment. Read more about the Bridge of Sighs here.

Venice -- those buildings though

My first time to Italy was during the summer of 2004. This was when I learned how much I enjoy architecture and design. Venice's architecture throughout the city is absolutely stunning. Even the buildings that look simple at first, seem to have something special about it if you look closely. I love shapes and details around windows... the colors... the arches... everything. One building is as gorgeous as the next.

The Doges Palace (Palazzo Ducale):

Venice, end of June

Sooooo, I'm behind on the blog! Yikes! I have plenty to catch up on. I've made it a goal of mine for the week to make sure that I post.

Finishing up my time with Mom and Aunt Gail in Italy this past summer, we went to Venice (after time in Cinque Terre and Tuscany). I haven't been to Venice in about 6 years, so it was great to get back. We enjoyed walking along the narrow alleys and over canals on the arched bridge-ways... and getting lost. Gorgeous city -- like no other in the world.

Our hotel gave us a free boat ride to Murano Island! We were then given a short tour of the factory and how pieces are made. Finally, we were directed into the showroom and shop... and expected to buy, buy, buy! (I did happily buy two glasses and a pair of earrings.)

We took a tour of this Murano glass factory.

The glass master made a few pieces while we watched and a lady explained in English.

It was amazing to watch this horse being made in just a couple minutes.

The glass master had to complete it in a certain amount of time while the glass was still hot enough to form. Incredible.

Maybe I like Venice so much because of all the doors  ; )

We found this GREAT bookstore! Books were all over -- in bathtubs even!

Taking a walk along the main canal at sunset