Italy Travelogue (6/17)

January 01, 2025

Italy Travelogue (6/17) - Venice

September 6, 2024 (Friday)

I went for an early morning walk around the Point Hotel.

The area is industrial, with modern buildings dominating the surroundings.

The hotel lobby features paintings with bold lines and vibrant colors.

At 8 a.m., I had breakfast at the hotel restaurant. The fresh vegetables, such as salad and fruit, were a pleasant touch.

Paired with bread, ham, and butter, it was a refreshing change from my usual morning routine. Meals while traveling always feel special.

Journey to Venice

After driving for an hour from Conselve, we reached a port with a view of the sea, where we boarded a boat to Venice’s main island.

Entering Venice

We boarded a cruise ship to the main island.

The steering cabin was located on the second deck.

The water was calm and remarkably clean, with none of the salty or fishy smell you’d expect from the sea. It felt more like a river.

From the ship, the buildings of Venice appeared precarious, as though they might sink into the water. With reports of rising sea levels every year, it’s easy to feel concerned.

The view of Venice from the cruise ship was stunning—a picturesque scene straight out of a postcard.

About Venice

Venice, known as the "City of Water," is located in a lagoon in the northern Adriatic Sea. It belongs to Italy’s Veneto region and is one of the world’s most iconic and beautiful travel destinations.

The city is composed of 118 small islands connected by 400 bridges. With no roads or cars, Venice is famous for its gondolas navigating the canals.

The city hosts numerous global events, including the Venice Film Festival—one of the top three film festivals in the world, along with Cannes and Berlin. Other events include the Venice Biennale and various international conferences.

Remarkably, Venice was built on reclaimed land by driving alder wood piles into the ground, then covering them with layers of clay and limestone slabs. Buildings were constructed on this foundation, which continues to sink gradually due to the soft ground.

Arrival at Venice's Main Island

The Adriatic Sea, which is largely surrounded by land, tends to have calm waters with low waves.

We arrived at Venice's main island. The architecture is grand and awe-inspiring, making it hard to believe it was built on reclaimed land.

The Equestrian Statue of Vittorio Emanuele II

At the entrance to St. Mark’s Square stands the statue of King Vittorio Emanuele II, who unified Italy in 1870. He is celebrated as a national hero for accomplishing Italian unification.

Around the dock area, street vendors sell colorful paintings and unique souvenirs.

The Bridge of Sighs

Here are photos of the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and the Prison Palace (Palazzo delle Prigioni), borrowed from Google Maps.

During the Venetian Republic, the Doge’s Palace served as the residence of the Doge (the ruler of Venice) and housed the council chambers, senate, courts, prisons, and armory.

Prisoners sentenced in the courtroom on the first floor were transferred via a bridge to the prison building to serve their sentences.

Across the sea channel is the Doge’s Palace, while the building with lattice-patterned iron bars was used as a prison.

The Bridge of Sighs

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QAyYPeyyKLUEwqPt8

Between the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) on the left and the prison palace (Palazzo delle Prigioni) on the right lies the famous Bridge of Sighs.

During the Venetian Republic, the Doge’s Palace served as the residence of the Doge (Venice’s ruler). It also housed council chambers, the senate, courts, prisons, and an armory.

Prisoners sentenced in the courtroom were transferred to the prison via this bridge.

The name "Bridge of Sighs" originates from the story that prisoners sighed as they crossed the bridge, taking their last glimpse of Venice’s beauty before confinement.

One of the most famous prisoners was Casanova, a Venetian native, who was convicted of public morality offenses but became the first person known to escape the prison.

St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco)

St. Mark’s Column and St. Theodore’s Column

The square features two iconic columns.

Atop St. Mark’s Column stands a statue of a winged lion holding a gospel book, symbolizing Mark the Evangelist.

In Italian, "San Marco" translates to "Saint Mark." The term "San" means "saint," while "Marco" refers to Mark, a key figure in Christianity and the author of the Gospel of Mark.

The name "Marco" corresponds to "Mark" in the Bible, known in Korean as "Maga." He is traditionally believed to have written the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament. His Latin name is "Marcus," which is rendered as "Marco" in Italian and translated as "Maga" in Korean.

St. Theodore’s Column features a statue representing a soldier martyr who was venerated as a saint after his death.

"San Todaro," in Italian, translates to "Saint Theodore." The name "Todaro" is the Italian version of the Greek name "Theodoros" (Theodore).

St. Theodore, a soldier martyr, became a saint after his sacrifice. He was the original patron saint of Venice, later succeeded by St. Mark (San Marco). Today, statues of both St. Mark and St. Theodore can be found in St. Mark’s Square in Venice.

During high tide, parts of St. Mark’s Square flood due to its low elevation.

St. Mark’s Bell Tower

The Campanile di San Marco stands 323 feet (98.6 meters) tall in St. Mark’s Square. Originally completed in 1514, the simple brick structure collapsed in 1902. The current tower was rebuilt in 1912.