Among the many busts and statues lining the paths of the Giardini della Biennale is the monument to Richard Wagner, by the artist Fritz Schaper.  The bust has an odd appearance, as the nose on Wagner’s face was recently knocked off by vandals.

The Monumento ai Soldati di Terra e di Mare, or the Monument to the Soldiers of Land and Sea, dates from 1885, and is the work of the artist Augusto Benvenuti.  The monument was erected to commemorate the help given to the city of Venice by the military, during the horrible flooding that  took place here in 1882.

The Monumento alla Partigiana Veneta, or the Monument to the Venetian Partisan Women, can be found at the water’s edge, in front of the park.  This incredibly moving work of art is by Augusto Murer, and depicts a woman who, after losing her life in the fight against the Nazis, lies dead in the water, with her hands tied next to her face.  It is worth making the trip to this section of the city, if only to see this powerful piece of art!

The Palazzina Canonica was built by Pietro Canonica, and dates from 1911.  This was the artist’s second home, with his primary residence being in Rome.  Now, this palazzina houses the Historical Library of Adriatic Studies of the Institute of Marine Sciences.

In a park area, next to the Palazzina Canonica, art was being installed for the upcoming Biennale, which opened a few days after we were scheduled to leave Venice.

A plaque on the facade of a building, along the Riva dei Sette Martiri, remembers a tragic event that occurred in 1944, when seven Venetian male citizens, who were being held as political prisoners by the Germans, were shot and killed, in retaliation for the death of one German soldier.  As it turns out, the German soldier died accidentally, after having too much to drink, and falling into the water.

The Museo Storico Navale is the museum associated with the Arsenale di Venezia, but, since it was late in the afternoon when we discovered it, we decided to save it for another trip.

 

Next up: Our third day in Venice begins by exploring a completely different section of the city!

 

Note: This blog is written in English and Spanish, and the author takes no responsibility for the quality of any other translations that may appear.  If you have enjoyed this post, please, check out our archives for more posts from Venice, as well as other Italian destinations.  Grazie!