24 hours in Venice

 

 

 

 

 

I spent 24 hours in Venice at the end of last week; I was there for work, to visit the spectacular new ship Regal Princess. By the time we arrived at our hotel by vaporetto (so James Bond) it was already dark, and the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute looked spectacular against the night sky.

 

 

 

 

The following morning I was determined to get up early and walk to the Piazza San Marco – our hotel, the Hotel Monaco, has a fantastic location right on the Grand Canal and this was my view of the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore when I threw open the shutters on my balcony at 6.30am (NB there aren’t ANY filters on any of these photos). Isn’t it spectacular? Like a watercolour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walking around Venice it’s always easy to see why it has inspired so many artists, particularly of course Canaletto. I was walking around at 7am and for once the Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square) was almost completely empty – just me, a couple of pigeons, a few tourists with insomnia and a street cleaner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s always such a thrill to see the Campanile…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two granite columns that stand at the edge of the square on the lagoon looked fantastic in the early morning light – this one, next to the Zecca (mint),  has the statue of St Theodore…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I was also able to go right up to the Basilica San Marco – normally there are tourists all around…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s the stunning astronomical clock…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The beauty of Venice is that there is always something stunning around every corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Afterwards I went back to the hotel to have breakfast al fresco. The Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute looked splendid in the sunshine and the blue of the gondolas and the red of the geraniums is a fabulous combination. You could never get tired of that view, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every time I visit Venice I fall more in love with this beautiful Italian city, the wonderful architecture and ever-changing light. I’ve already told you why Venice is great for kids. You can see a lot in 24 hours in Venice but of course it isn’t enough. Hopefully it won’t be too long before I return.