As we approached the docks to board a boat which would ferry us to the Venetian mainland, a feeling of anticipation hung in the air. The itinerary of any prospective tourist who has made it his mission to explore the continent of Europe is definitely incomplete without a trip to Venice. Venice’s uniqueness is defined by its abundance of small canals with buildings encroaching on each side; the charming, historic essence of the city further highlighted by quaint old bridges passing over the narrow canals adorned with breath taking renaissance sculptures and imagery. Our visit began at St. Mark’s square which is the tourist hub of the city and overlooks an imposing structure recognized all over the world for its artistic brilliance i.e. the St. Mark’s Basilica.
Believe it or not, but the seemingly portrait like painting in the image above is in fact not a painting but is composed of a number of tiles; these paintings adorn every archway of the St. Mark’s Basilica, each one more exquisite than the other, leaving an art lover transfixed and absorbed in its mesmerizing beauty. The walk around the Basilica was perhaps the slowest of my life as we soaked in the vivid artwork on display, each turn revealing a new masterpiece, a new sculpture which left us bedazzled.
The square itself was thronging with people from all over the globe, various shops were selling their fares at competitive rates, fares which might seem extremely common to a Venetian but left a tourist craving for a few more Euros in his wallet. The best bargain which caught my notice was gelato ice cream for a throwaway price of two euros which did not justify its rich taste and silky smooth texture.
After lightening our wallets by a significant amount we left to indulge in a trademark experience offered by Venice i.e. a gondola ride. The entrance to the canal was extremely crowded with people haggling over prices with the gondola drivers. The gondolas resembled long sleek luxury paddleboats, with seats in the form of cushioned sofas. They had an air of history and elegance about them which made tourists flock to them like bees flocked to a beehive.
As our gondola passed through the various canals of Venice we were transfixed by the architectural masterpieces on each side of us. A particularly charming image which comes to my mind when I recall our gondola ride is a charming café located on the banks of a canal which required one to tip-toe on a plank in order to enter, the idea seemed amusing and yet exciting and one which I wish I could’ve tried had I been able to spend a few more days in this beautiful city.
The square itself was thronging with people from all over the globe, various shops were selling their fares at competitive rates, fares which might seem extremely common to a Venetian but left a tourist craving for a few more Euros in his wallet. The best bargain which caught my notice was gelato ice cream for a throwaway price of two euros which did not justify its rich taste and silky smooth texture.
After lightening our wallets by a significant amount we left to indulge in a trademark experience offered by Venice i.e. a gondola ride. The entrance to the canal was extremely crowded with people haggling over prices with the gondola drivers. The gondolas resembled long sleek luxury paddleboats, with seats in the form of cushioned sofas. They had an air of history and elegance about them which made tourists flock to them like bees flocked to a beehive.
As our gondola passed through the various canals of Venice we were transfixed by the architectural masterpieces on each side of us. A particularly charming image which comes to my mind when I recall our gondola ride is a charming café located on the banks of a canal which required one to tip-toe on a plank in order to enter, the idea seemed amusing and yet exciting and one which I wish I could’ve tried had I been able to spend a few more days in this beautiful city.
After exploring the canals of Venice we stopped at the Murano glassworks outlet where we saw a fascinating demonstration of how intricate glassworks were created from a mere lump of glass. The skill and daring of the artist as he thrust the glass lump into a flame of fire and then molded it using metal tongs left us awed and spellbound. We spent of the rest of the day wandering along the narrow alleyways of Venice and soaking in its contrasting beauty; a majestic palace adorned with breath taking renaissance architecture.
As we stood in St. Mark’s square we soaked in the atmosphere, be it the majestic structures all around us or the quaint cafes playing music or the small shops selling clothing and memorabilia at ridiculously overpriced rates, it was an experience which we would never forget. We crossed the various bridges and reached the dock from where we boarded our boat back to the mainland. Our last look at Venice included the Clock Tower and the famous Doge’s Palace. We left Venice carrying with us a treasure trove of memories and strong desire to return again someday.
Stay tuned as I explore more of Europe, till then sayonara and happy exploring!
-SUBIN MITRA
Stay tuned as I explore more of Europe, till then sayonara and happy exploring!
-SUBIN MITRA