Venice, Italy; Unusual and Beautiful City - Time Out #322

A huge belated shout-out to our country's veterans, their day officially celebrated Thursday. I come from a military family, and my family has always been big-time practicing patriots. A large "thank you' for all who have worn their various uniforms as members of our great armed forces.

O.K., let's continue our Italian travelogue we began last week, when we discussed Rome, the Eternal City.

Venice has been frequently called "the most beautiful city in the world", and because my bride, Lady Deborah and I have been there several times, we would totally agree. If you have not experienced it yet, hopefully, you will see it soon!

Venice has to be one of the most unusual cities on our planet; the historical part of the city is constructed on various islands. There are no streets, simply canals and bridges, connecting all the buildings of this historical world city. Technically, in the Venetian Lagoon are 118 islands, connected by over 400 bridges. The city's elevation is merely 3-feet above sea level, a factor that has led t0 severe flooding over the centuries. One of the principal modes of transportation between the water-filled areas are the colorful gondolas. These vessels are piloted by the serenading gondoliers, certainly a memorable experience for the visitor. Many times wine and cheese are served on-board, while the gondola passengers enjoy their water voyage.

My bride and I have arrived each time in this northeastern Italian city, located directly on the beautiful Adriatic Sea, in conjunction with taking cruises. Our cruises, involving Venice, had an eastern Mediterranean Ocean schedule. Many ships that visit Venice, also stop in various ports throughout Greece, and, occasionally, Turkey. Ms. Debbie and I have visited several cities in both those countries, too, courtesy ocean cruise vessels.

The sites and attractions of Venice are many in number. I will merely comment on my "top shelf" list of to-do things.

(A) St. Mark's Basilica and Piazza (square). The large outside square is famous for hundreds of pigeons hovering around the area. On our first visit, we have several wonderful photographs of my bride almost totally covered by the pigeons she was feeding. What a fun time! The church, consecrated in 1117, has impressive works of art outside and inside the famous religious icon. The church is connected to the (B) Doge's Palace, the home of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority in the former Republic. It was built in 1340, and has served as one of 11 museums in Venice since 1923. In addition, (C) The St. Mark's Campanile is on the central square, too, the bell tower for the Basilica, It was reconstructed in 1912, and at 323-feet, is the tallest structure in Venice. Another highlight in the main square is to secure a table at one of the many outside restaurants, eating delicious food and drink, while sitting in an excellent people-watching position for the entertaining outdoor activities.

(D) Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal. Both of these things are "must see", and provide the visitor a strong feel for this special city. The Grand Canal is the principal waterway, and is always full of watercraft activity. It is lined by more than 170 buildings. The Rialto Bridge is a historical structure crossing over the waterway, and is the oldest (1591) of the 4 bridges that span the Grand Canal.

(E) Bridge of Sighs. This limestone enclosed bridge, constructed in 1603, has windows with stone bars. It supposedly provided the last views of Venice convicts saw before their imprisonment; thus, they voiced a "sigh".

(F) Murano Glass. Manufactured on Murano island, less than a mile from Venice. The expensive ($$$) glass is handmade at their island factory since 1291. Regularly scheduled water taxis travel between Venice and Murano, so visitors may choose to watch the glass produced, and then purchase some of the finished products, too.

(G) Strolling the narrow alleyways throughout the city, shopping in their many unique stores, featuring all types of things to purchase, eat, drink, and, simply, enjoy the surroundings. Again, people-watching while strolling around is one of my favorite worldwide activities.

So, this is Venice. Please, enjoy a visit there as soon as possible?