For sightseeing today, we decided to visit the Doges Palace which is the main attraction of San Marco Square. The 12 euro cost for entrance was well worth it, and the ticket included free entrance to four nearby museums during the day. On the bottom floor were some original columns and other statuary. I was amazed at how the sides of the palace were assembled almost like putting together a picture puzzle. The following picture shows how the different pieces fit together.
 |
| Note how pieces fit together -- like a puzzle! |
 |
| Inside Doges Palace |
 |
| In side Doges Palace |
 |
| Campo San Giorgio |
 |
| San Marco Basilica |
 |
| Exit of Doges Palace |
 |
| Campanile |
 |
| San Marco Basilica |
 |
| San Marco Basilica |
 |
| Campanile and San Marco Basilica |
 |
| Campanile |
Outside was the grand staircase at the top of which are two enormous statues of gods.
 |
| Grand Staircase of Doges Palace |
 |
| Statue at top of Grand Staircase |
 |
| Statue at top of Grand Staircase |
Going to the second floor is the entrance to the doge's portion of the palace. There was the Golden Staircase which led to the doge's personal residence in one direction and in another the rooms where government business was conducted.
 |
| Golden Staircase leading to Doges residence and government rooms |
First were the rooms of the doge, all showing paintings of the time. Then the next set of rooms were where members of the government met to decide laws of the time, judged trials, and performed all the same things that our own government does in Washington D.C. The rooms were among the largest rooms I've ever seen in any palace. In fact, one room is said to be the largest room in all of Europe measuring 53 meters by 25 meters. On one wall of that room is the largest frieze in Europe which measures 25 feet by 81 feet. Also on display was the original statue that was on top of one of the two pillars that greets visitors to San Marco Square if they arrive there by boat. The statues that are there now are duplicates of the originals.
 |
| Original statue on top of one of the pillars at the mouth of Grand Canal |
From the palace we went on to explore two of the museums for which we got free entrance. These museums occupied the west and south portions of the second floor of the entire San Marco square. The items on display there could take an entire day to see, but at this point we were all a bit tired and managed to see everything quickly.
After going through the Doges Palace, we finally realized why people were taking pictures in front of a small segment of marble that was highlighted by bright blue signboards. That segment was the Bridge of Sighs, the bridge across which prisoners would walk when they were led to trial or execution.
 |
| Bridge of Sighs |
While walking from the Doges Palace, we saw three gondoliers who were being photographed by some professional videographer. Here is a picture of them.
Later in the day, we decided to take a walk to the Arsenale. The Arsenale is not open to the public since it is still in use by the Italian navy.
 |
| Arsenale |
 |
| Arsenale |
 |
| Arsenale |
 |
| Arsenale |
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment