A different Christmas in the spectacular city of Venice.. Veneto, Italy

We decided to spend Christmas than the usual ... In a spectacular city ...

 

Departure

Hello Francesca and Luca and this year we have decided to celebrate Christmas in different ways, in Venice.

We start the day before by train from Treviglio to 07.45 (even if we started at 08.30 due to the dense fog ... ....) We arrive in Venice S. Lucia at 11.30 and the time is not the best .. fact the sky is dark and you could see some mist in the air ...
We go straight to the hotel: www.hotelfalier.it booked online at a cost of € 178.50 for three nights under the B & B (and offer winter). The hotel is ten minutes walk from the station and is easy to find, the district is St. Cross.
The hotel staff is friendly and helpful.
After we settled in the room and have rested a bit 'start our adventure in Venice.
To get to Piazza S. Marco just follow the signs on the walls of houses, instead we did a different route because we wanted to see other buildings. We meet in the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, but it is closed (it is a religious confraternity dedicated to San Rocco where you can admire numerous works of Tintoretto), continuing the street is the church of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, which is open, but decided not to go see (you can choose to buy a ticket Chorus, which includes several churches in Venice at a total cost of 8 instead of € 2.50 a church www.chorusvenezia.org). The facade of the church is very beautiful and also the square. Then we visit the house of Carlo Goldoni, who do not visit because we do not care much ...
We pass through the square S. Polo, which is beautiful especially decorated for Christmas ... very impressive in the evening all lit up. We also intrigued to see the "Bridge of Tits", it took a bit 'but we managed to find it ... it's not anything special ... just a little bridge was named in the XV century, the prostitutes here are leaning out of windows within a naked to encourage clients particularly those homosexuals .. numerous in those days. We get to the Rialto Bridge, beautiful and majestic, with its colorful stalls selling everything ... crossing the bridge we come to the church of S. Salvador and Italy at the Telecom Future Center we wanted to visit but was closed for the Christmas period. Finally we arrive at Piazza S. Mark, majestic and full of tourists, despite the cold ... We visit only the square and take a walk "promenade". It is evening and hunger is felt ... we approach the hotel and restaurant are very nice (at 100 mts from the hotel) is called the Old Brewery in Venice, the menu draws us and also the prices are not bad. Thus ends our first day in Venice.

Christmas

E 'Christmas and you get up at 9.00 am, breakfast and we depart for our tour. We decide to take the ferry and cross the Canal Grande. Since there is only the active party is no 84, usually takes no 1, we decide to take him to the train station, so we can do all around the channel. Does all the stops and you see the facades of the most beautiful and important buildings, like the Church of St. Lucia, Ca 'Pesaro, Ca' d'Oro, the casino ... the Rialto bridge and then the University of Ca 'Foscari, Palazzo Grassi and the Accademia bridge and then to St. Mark where the race is over ...
The day was mostly sunny but cold air on the boat ... we felt we were right in pole position ... so all the air got to us ... but it was a good experience.
We visited the Basilica of St. Marco, beautiful and majestic with these beautiful mosaics of gold ... The visit to the Pala d'Oro, we had to postpone it because the staff at Christmas, which withdraws the money at home .... No comment ...
We saw the beautiful Christmas tree Murano glass that is set up near the church. A tip if you want to visit the Basilica backpacks and remember that you must deposit and the place is not far to the left of the basilica in the alley on the corner of the shop Murrina. The filing is free and takes 1 hour.
Christmas lunch we Burgh by fate ... is not the best but that's OK ... We did another walk through the streets of Venice and we found ourselves back to the Rialto bridge sad because, being a holiday, the shops were closed. We then come before the church of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari and decide to go ... we have not paid for the ticket ... but not because we have entered secretly, but because nobody has sold it, you see that you are placed a hand on his heart at least at Christmas ... The church is beautiful, deserves just a visit! There are monuments inside to admire. Back at the hotel and the evening we have dinner in the restaurant again yesterday.

Museums day

S. Stefano day devoted to sightseeing ...
8:30 am Wake up, breakfast and then walk to S. Mark, your day is beautiful, the sun is shining and we decide to visit Venice in a different way ... in fact, a gondolier stop and take the gondola ... I know it's expensive, because we paid € 100 for 50 minutes of access. The gondolier, Mauro, was very kind and helpful because it has been our guide, showing us a different Venice. The gondola ride recommend it strongly because it is an experience to do even if expensive. We passed under the Bridge of Sighs, near the home of Casanova (one of many houses ...) and the properties of Marco Polo.
Tour ends at 11.30 and we had an appointment to see the Ducal Palace at 12.00.
From home, I booked the Museum Pass (www.museiciviciveneziani.it) at a cost of € 18.00, according to me very convenient. First visit to the Palazzo Ducale (where to pick up the pass), is very nice, I recommend it. You can also see the prisons over a bridge of Sighs. If you're interested there's a painting in the Sala dei Dogi, which depicts the map of Italy and near the Grand Duchy of Milan there's my little town ... I think Caravaggio Caravaggio wrote ...
After we visit the Palazzo Ducale Correr Museum, also in Piazza S. Mark, is a museum which contains three major museums: one is about objects, the nineteenth century Venetian paintings, the Archaeological Museum (where there are remains of Roman, Greek and Egyptian) and the Biblioteca Marciana.
As to Luke likes the East and that in Venice there is a museum of oriental art go to visit (also part of the Museum Pass), the museum is beautiful and wonderful addition to the art museum there is also the eastern contemporary art. Before returning to the hotel we visit St. Stae but unfortunately the church is closed. After this very busy day back at the hotel, we arrange and we have dinner again at the same restaurant.

Last day (sigh!)

Last day ... We discovered that our hotel organizes free trips to Murano and ask at reception if it was possible, she says yes and at ten o'clock, after breakfast, the boat arrives, just in front of our hotel. We arrive at the glass and we have a lady who makes us see his factory. They have done a very good demonstration by creating from scratch a pitcher everyone. Then the lady showed us that even the shop and the various works that create ... it takes a lot of patience and skill. Have purchased some souvenirs.
The return is not organized by the hotel. We took the boat but first we visited a little island .. pretty. By boat there are many, we suggest taking the DM that is direct and does not make intermediate stops, virtually connects Murano Station.
We still have some 'time and we decide to go and visit the exhibition of Leonardo which is held in a church in the area S. Barnabas. The show is cute with all of Leonardo's machines built according to the original models, the only thing was the price .. six euros ... to see a few models.
We could not leave Venice without visiting the Basilica again ... let little row and enter, but this time we also visit the Pala d'Oro ... Spectacular, beautiful and shiny ... but I do not understand why they charge € 1.50 to see it ... mystery ...
Return to the hotel, we pack our bags we had in custody and return to the station sad ... sad but satisfied to have spent a different Christmas.
Venice offers a lot and is beautiful even in winter.
At the next trip!