First, due to high water forecast with the high tide occurring on Thursday morning, we have decided that we need to leave during low tide on Nov. 5 instead of Nov. 6. We were alerted to this when our landlady brought boots to our doorstep late this afternoon. We cannot imagine trying to drag our suitcases through the water.
Second, Clark and Lewis have no post for today. We were visiting churches and even I have some sense of decorum. It’s hard to pose Clark and Lewis on the altar rail without feeling a little sacreligious.
So this is going to be a quick post.
I love seeing artwork in the venue for which it was intended. In Venice you can buy a ticket called the Chorus Pass which lets you into 14 churches. Each church has a placard that explains what the church is about and what the artwork is. There’s a map of the artwork in the church on the back. It’s 12 Euros and totally worth it.
First and best church up first – Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. Pictures are not allowed so I only was able to sneak a couple (I am so bad.)
The best artwork in my opinion is the Bellini altarpiece. It is so beautiful and Mary looks like she is about to step right out of the picture. Unfortunately there were too many people around for me to get a photo. I got a picture from the internet but it just doesn’t do it justice.
Next church, San Polo.
I was able to snag that last one because the guard got a phone call.
One more church before lunch, San Giacomo dall’Orio
This was a wide church without any little corners to hide behind to take pictures.
We’ve been on our feet for about 4 hours at this point so we decide to take a break for lunch. We end up in a kind of grubby place called Captain Hook’s. The place is full of workers. No women. No English. Our meal is okay. Not outstanding.
After lunch we go to St. Stae. It has mostly 18th century stuff.
We catch the slow water bus #1 down the Grand Canal. It stops at every stop. It’s good to be sitting down. Our last church of the day is Santa Maria della Salute. It is enormous. The best works are in the sacristy. We are given mirrors to look at the artwork on the ceiling.
Here’s a picture of me in front of the church.
After this the sky begins to threaten and we hurry back to the apartment and get the news about the Aqua Alta which starts tomorrow. Time to pack up and leave during low tide!