Strolling the streets of Venice....

Day 3 in Venice, so we decide to stroll the streets of Venice  just see where we end up & what we will find along the way....The one thing i have noticed here is there are so many shops markets & stalls down lane ways in the squares, just the more you look the more you find. when you think that you have seen them all, you turn & there is more. We caught a vaporetto to the church Santa Maria Della Salute, this church was constructed in 1631 immediately after the plaque of 1630 in Venice where it claimed a third of the population some 46,000 people, on the surrounding lagoons the number was much higher, some 94,000. it was built & dedicated to the Virgin Mary who was thought to be the protector of the Republic.

The facade has the 4 Evangelists, Mathew Mark Luke & John....

After hours of strolling the streets enjoying the warmth of the sun we came across the Rialto Bridge, this is another famous bridge in Venice. Rialto Bridge is one of four bridges spanning across the Grand Canal. It is the oldest bridge across the canal & is the dividing line for the districts of San Marco & San Polo. Opened in 1591 it's 23 metres wide & spans 27metres.

Railto Bridge.....

So we jump back on a vaporetto & head for our hotel, we stop & go into the Saint Mark's Basilica. It is one of the cities most famous churches. The church burned down in 976 during an uprising. It was rebuilt twice, the last time in 1063. At that time the power of the Venetian Republic had risen dramatically, and the new basilica, consecrated in 1094,would come to symbolise the republics growing power & wealth. This basilica is the one we see today. It was the Doge's private Chapel until 1807, when it became the cities cathedral. This is in St Marks Square which goes under water up to 4 times a day. We have only seen a little water in the square, thankfully!!!

Inside Saint Mark's Basilica....

Detail of the rooftop showing Venice patron apostle St Mark with angles.
 Underneath is a winged lion, the mascot of Venice.....

Enjoying the sun in Venice......