The Scoletta dell’Arte dei Tiraoro e Battioro, found next to the Chiesa di Sant’Eustachio, dates from 1711, and was the home of the Guild of Artists, as well as makers of gold thread and gold leaf.  Here, the 48 members of the Guild would train others in their craft.  The Scoletta functioned until 1798, at…

After a quick breakfast, we were out the door, to explore more of the wonderful city of Venice.  A plaque on the facade of a building reminds those passing by that Aldo Pio Manuzio, the Italian humanist, scholar, and educator, stayed there while he was living in the city.  It was in this city that…

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…

As we walked through the lovely, tree-lined Viale Giuseppe Garibaldi, we came upon a flower and plant sale. Next, we came upon a ceramic sale, all items made by local artisans. After crossing a bridge over the canal, we found that we were at the entrance to the Giardini della Biennale, a park area where…

The Ponte de la Tana takes its name from the fact that the bridge once led to the Tana, which was a hemp-making center.  All of the rope needed for the construction of the ships, made at the Arsenal, came from this area.  Today, it is a largely residential zone. A plaque marks the house…

The Church of San Giovanni in Bragora is located in Campiello del Piovan.  Though it originally dates from the early 8th century, the church was rebuilt a few times, the latest being in 1475.  Both, Pope Paul II and Antonio Vivaldi, were baptized in this church. The small Ponte del Purgatorio crosses over a tiny…

Crossing the Rio di Palazzo, the Ponte dei Sospiri, or the Bridge of Sighs, is the second most famous bridge in Venice.  It was designed by Antonio Contino, and dates from 1600.  It connects the prison area with the interrogation rooms of the Doge’s Palace.  After being sentenced in the palazzo, prisoners were then led…

The Testa d’Oro, or the Golden Head, hangs on the facade of a building, not far from the Ponte di Rialto, in memory of what was the most important spice shop in Venice.  The shop was called “Alla Testa d’Oro”, and since most of the populace could not read, at the time, it was thought…

The monument pictured above pays tribute to the Venetians who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Up to this point, we had managed to avoid any of the horrible crowds that Venice is notorious for, especially around the Easter holiday.  But, as we approached the Ponte di Rialto, or the Rialto Bridge, the crowds began…

We began our Easter Sunday with a lovely breakfast, which consisted of fresh fruit, cold meats, coffee, yogurt, and a colomba di Pasqua, which is the Easter equivalent of a panettone.  It was a beautiful day out, so we wasted no time in getting out there, and exploring the city a bit more, once breakfast…

The largest campo close to our apartment was Campo San Giacomo, which was about a five-minute walk away.  This was the campo we would visit most often during our stay in Venice, as it held numerous cafés and shops, as well as a small supermarket, where we could pick up items we needed.  The campo…

My first visit to Venice was over thirty years ago, so it was time to return.  Now, older and wiser, I was able to experience the city in a new way.  Venice, like most Italian cities, has many layers.  The different layers only reveal themselves when one takes the time to breathe, to explore, and…