We left Vienna traveling south and passed though the Carinthia to reach the Italian border. We only stopped at a travelers lunch spot and continued on through the Semmering Pass and cross the border at la Dolce Vita, (it means ’the sweet life’), until we reach Venice, Italy. I thought that Venice would be a much larger City but we were told that that there are about 100, 000 people living here.
We arrived in time for dinner at our Hotel that was not in Venice. We found out that to reach Venice our Coach took us to a Train Station, then it took us about 15 minutes to reach the first canal. The first night we were to have a ride on a gondolier. I was so excited and MM was terrified, and our group helped me push her into the last gondolier. She calmed down and said, ’The brochure said we would be traveling through gentle waters that lapped on the side of the boat, and the were right.’ Everything went well until the ’gondolier’ told us to ’duck’. We only had one minute to follow his instructions before we passed under a bridge that was so low that there was only a foot between the bottom and out heads.
The following morning we took the coach to take the train to take us to the Grand Canal. As we traveled along the canal this seemed to be a city where time has stopped. The beautiful Byzantine buildings seem to be crumbling and not kept up as they appear to be sinking into the canal.
The canal might be lovely to travel in the early fall, winter and spring. In the summer it frankly stank! I was so happy to reach the Plaza where were took a boat across the misty, (smoggy?), Adriatic Sea to visit some of the islands near Venice. There are 117 islands off the coast and we visited three.
We first went to the Murano Island to see how the famous Venetian glass is made. Some of the people bought their glass there but MM and I didn’t. We next went to Burano to see how their lace was made. MM and I each bought a large table cloth and matching napkins here. The last island was Torcello where we saw the old Byzantine Cathedral. On the boat back ’Chico’ handed me some more money the tour company owed me.
A Guide from Vienna met us at the dock and gave us an hour tour around the plaza.
The DOGES PALACE, (the Doge was the head of the Government), has been renewed because it had many fires. I was pleased to see my Cousin’s (the Sarfatti), hanging survived the fires. The Palace is decorated in a Gothic style and is very ornate. The outside of the building is beautiful. Inside the palace there are displays of the Art History of Venice. THE GOLDEN STAIRCASE has frescoes, gilded ceilings, and bias reliefs. THE COLLEGIUM is the hall where the highest authorities met. The ceiling is carved with pictures that show ’the Virtues’. The only way to describe the Palace is to say it was ’awesome’.
We went to see the St.. Mark’s Cathedral. I had been told to look left of the altar to see a stone with a crude Star of David, (the legend is that it was brought from the second Temple). There are also mosaic of ’Moses’ & ’The Judgment of Solomon’ and statues of ’Joseph’ & ’Abraham’.
The Guide showed us the cafes and shops that surround the Plaza and on the small streets that flow from it. Our tour was over and the rest of the day was free so our Group did not go back to the hotel with the rest of the people.
We ate lunch at ’Harry’s Bar’, (this is the original bar). After lunch we walked back to the streets behind it. We found a wonderful glass shop. ’MR. ITALIAN CHARMING’ greeted us when we walked in. I knew what I wanted, (a set of brandy glasses for my Husband). MM took her time enjoying the ’salesman’. I was amazed when he sold her a $2000.00 USD Venetian glass owl. She collects owls and there were smaller and cheaper ones in the shop but that’s the one she got. The were shipped home for us at no charge.
Next we walked along the canals to the Rialto Bridge. The Rialto Bridge is pretty and the view from it was wonderful. Yes, it is a ’tourist trap’ but we were tourists and we wanted to see this famous bridge.
My friends were nice enough to come with me to see the Jewish Ghetto.
Venice was where you will find the first Jewish Ghetto in the World. In the Synagogue the Talmud was burned.
The Jews Community never numbered more than 5, 000 it represented a crucial bridge in the progression of Jewish history. Many Jews who fled Spain and Portugal settled in Venice.
Venice was a center for Hebrew printing and kabala. Kabbalists from Venice help the people in Safed, Israel learn these ancient mysteries.
This is where Shakespeare, (who never saw a Jewish person as they were banned from living in England during his life), to created the fictional Shylock, (an anti-Semitic stereotype), lived. Shylock was a real Venetian Jewish family who moved to London and Benjamin Disraeli is a descendent.
The 500 Jews who live in the ghetto today are considered an import part of Venetian.
The center of the ghetto Vecchio is the small square called Campiello delle Scuola. We visited the Levantine and the Spanish Synagogues
We took a taxi to the train to return to the Industrial area and our Hotel. The next morning we left Venice.
SOME THOUGHTS
Please remember when you travel on a tour you go where the
tour goes. There is not a lot of ’free time’.
I would have loved to come back to Venice in the spring with my Husband. It just was not possible so this was the only time I have visited here.
©LL