10th Chapter – Venice
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Chapter One – Montpellier
Chapter Two – Aix en Provence.
Chapter Three – Paris
Chapter Four – Nice
Chapter Five – Spain
Chapter Six – Nice Revisited
Chapter Seven – Bordeaux
Chapter Eight – Florence
Chapter Nine – Italy Travel
This is Chapter Ten – Venice
Venice – Monday, October 3, 2022
Todays is Rebecca’s birthday! Happy 39th (again).
We went to a nice restaurant – Hostaria Osottoosopra (Calle San Pantalon 5754) and lived it up. We ended up sitting next to a a nice couple from Wales and had an enjoyable chat with them on a variety of topics.
Afterwards we took a leisurely stroll around Venice on a beautiful evening.
Tomorrow we pack for a month in Cannes as we fly out on Wednesday. We have enjoyed our month in Venice exploring its ageless beauty.
Venice – Thursday, September 29, 2022
Out walking around we chanced by Basilica dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo and stopped in for a visit. In a city of many beautiful churches it stood out. It is the final resting place form many famous people including 27 Doges. There was a guy mapping the inside with a drone.
The Basilica of Santi Giovanni and Paolo, otherwise known to the Venetians as San Zanipolo, is located in Sestiere Castello, being one of the biggest and most magnificent churches in town. It was established by the Dominicans and it took nearly one century to build. It was finally consecrated on 12 November 1430.The legend tells that Doge Jacopo Tiepolo wished to erect and donate a Basilica to the Dominican order as a result of a mystical vision. Ended in 1430, the imposing gothic building is dedicated to the holy martyrs Giovanni and Paolo. From the thirteenth century, the Basilica becomes Venice’s Pantheon: 25 among doges and distinguished characters of the Serenissima chose it as burial place. Some of the most famous are Sebastiano Venier, winner of the Battle of Lepanto, and Marcantonio Bragadin, who heroically withstanded the Ottoman siege of Famagosta for months.Numerous famed artists, as Giovanni Bellini, Tiziano, Tintoretto, Palma il Vecchio, Palma il Giovane, Veronese and many others, have contributed through the centuries to embellish the Basilica via their mastery. The Giovanni Bellini’s Polittico of San Vicenzo Ferrer and the Renaissance polychrome stained-glass window boast an outstanding beauty. The last one is a true one of a kind in whole Venice, entirely released in Murano glass on Bartolomeo Vivarini and Cima da Conegliano.The 14th-century Basilica of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, otherwise called San Zanipoło in Venetian dialect, it is located in Sestiere Castello and stands as one of the most impressive medieval and religious building in Venice.
Several doges and famous characters, who wrote crucial pages over the history of the Serenissima Republic from the XIII to the XVIII century, have been given burial here, under those solemn and monumental sepulchres which rewarded the Basilica with the name of Pantheon of Venice.
On our walk Rebecca investigates a nice local bakery. She returned a half hour later to find it closed. This was her reaction. Also the tides were high today causing some flooding of walkways.
This evening we booked a replacement apt for Cannes (https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/53597916). Air BnB gave us a discount do to the short notice of cancellation. All is good.
Venice – Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Yesterdays adventure was several hours inside the Basilica di San Marco. The art and mosaics inside were fantastic.
Originally this building was to be an extension of the Doge’s Palace, however the construction of the Basilica of St. Mark, which began in 828 and ended in 832, was made to house the body of St. Mark the Apostle brought from Alexandria to who they named protector of the city.
The works of the present basilica began in 1063 in Byzantine style to represent the power of the prosperous Venetian Republic. This basilica was built respecting the model of two basilicas of the ancient imperial city of Byzantium with a central plant in the shape of a Greek cross, with five large domes and a particular mixture of ancient and oriental art.
Over time, the Basilica underwent several modifications, especially as regards of decoration, pointed Gothic arches, Sant’Alipio arch, 17th and 18th century sculptures and mosaics of the main façade, bas-reliefs that represent the professions and zodiac signs of the central gate, the marbles that come from the East, the porphyry figures of the Tetrarchs and the horses of St. Mark. The result is a stunning and beautiful blend of styles.
Four bronze horses came to Venice during the reign of Doge Enrico Dandolo, as part of the rich war plunder gathered by the Venetians. After the conquest of Constantinople in 1204, at the end of the 4th Crusade; they were brought back together with other works of inestimable value, many of which are still housed in the Treasury.
After our tour, at Rebecca’s suggestion, we had a carnivore’s lunch at a steakhouse – Al Grill, (Santa Croce 2097).
Later that day we received notice that our Airbnb in Cannes had been cancelled. We were scheduled to fly there next week, so we are scrambling to find a suitable replacement.
Venice – Tuesday, September 27, 2022
We leave Venice in about a week so we did some sightseeing today.
Scuola Grande di San Rocco
The Scuola Grande di San Rocco is a lay confraternity founded in 1478. The popularity of the cult of St. Roch, whose remains had been in the possession of the brotherhood since 1485, contributed to the latter’s rapid expansion to the extent of it becoming the richest Scuola of the city.
At that point it was decided to build a new monumental headquarters and engage Tintoretto to decorate it with his most celebrated pictorial cycle, illustrating episodes from the New and Old Testaments. It is the only one of the historic Scuole Grandi to have survived the fall of the republic.
It is a unique site, where over 60 paintings are preserved in their original setting in a building that has hardly undergone any alteration since its construction.
The confraternity is still active today, carrying out its traditional charitable duties as well as looking after its extraordinary artistic patrimony.
There were so amazing carvings there as well as some very large and important paintings.
and a return trip (for me) to one of my favorites, Rebecca for the first time – The Chiesa di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari.. See Sundays listing for details.
Here are some details including a clock from the 1600’s
After we had a late lunch at a nice nearby restaurant – Al Vecio Forno (Sestiere Dorsoduro 3924). We split Spaghetti Carbonara and a salad. It was excellent and we hope to return.
Venice – Monday, September 26, 2022
Catching up with a few recent photos.
Venice – Sunday, September 25, 2022
Churches of Venice
Detailed info here- http://churchesofvenice.com/index.htm
Here are a just few of the more interesting churches in Venice:
The Chiesa di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. (San Polo, 3072, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy)
VIdeo at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2f2kc-rv2Y
The “Frari”, as it is locally known, is one of the most important churches in Venice. Founded in 1227 by the Franciscans after they were granted the land by Doge Jacopo Tiepolo, the original church was much smaller than the current one, which was rebuilt and expanded in the 15th century. This church is famous for the many works of Titian and other notable artists, including Bellini and Donatello, and is the resting place of Titian.
I visited this church on Sept 23. It was very beautiful and worth a visit.
The Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli. (Campiello dei Miracoli, 30121 Venezia VE,)
This church was founded in 1487, in the Venetian Renassance style, with a stunning marble facade. The unusual barrel vault is richly painted with images of saints, and the facade was completely restored from 1987-1997 at a cost of $4 million.
video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePrqYTOPgPs
The Chiesa de S. Angelo Raffaele. (Dorsoduro, 1711, 30123 Venezia VE)
The oldest church in Venice, L’Anzolo Rafael is believed to have been founded in 416 AD by the Lord of Padua’s wife. It has been burned, rebuilt, and restored repeatedly over the centuries, and the facade was most recently restored in 2004, disguising the true age of the church. The most famous work inside is the depiction of the story of Tobias, painted on the organ doors by Gianantonio Guardi in the 18th century.
The current church was built in 1618-1639 to designs by Francesco Contino, with further work in 1676 and 1685. The façade, facing onto a narrow canal, was rebuilt in 1735, with its statue group of Tobias, Raphael, the dog and the fish dating from this time too, and said to be by Sebastiano Mariani.
Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0MHzwf4I2w
St Mark’s Basilica (P.za San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia VE)
Blending the architectural styles of East and West, Venice’s magnificent basilica was consecrated in 832 AD as an ecclesiastical building to house the remains of St. Mark.
Originally this building was to be an extension of the Doge’s Palace, however the construction of the Basilica of St. Mark, which began in 828 and ended in 832, was made to house the body of St. Mark the Apostle brought from Alexandria to who they named protector of the city. This was a fundamental fact for Venice to be constituted as an independent episcopal seat.
The works of the present basilica began in 1063 in Byzantine style to represent the power of the prosperous Venetian Republic. This basilica was built respecting the model of two basilicas of the ancient imperial city of Byzantium with a central plant in the shape of a Greek cross, with five large domes and a particular mixture of ancient and oriental art.
Over time, the Basilica underwent several modifications, especially as regards of decoration, pointed Gothic arches, Sant’Alipio arch, 17th and 18th century sculptures and mosaics of the main façade, bas-reliefs that represent the professions and zodiac signs of the central gate, the marbles that come from the East, the porphyry figures of the Tetrarchs and the horses of St. Mark. The result is a stunning and beautiful blend of styles.
The basilica as we know it today, even though it was modify, has a Greek cross base with five domes. It became the cathedral of the city in 1807 and has more than 4,000 square meters of mosaics, many of them belonging to the 13th century, also has 500 columns of the 3rd century
Santa Maria della Salute (Dorsoduro, 1, 30123 Venezia VE)
Designed by Baldassare Longhena in 1631-83, the church’s façade is embellished with 125 statues, which form a sharp contrast to the somber interior. Santa María della Salute is one of the most important religious buildings in Venice. Its striking dome is depicted in most of the city’s postcards.
Salute, as it is commonly known, was founded in 1631. The basilica was built to commemorate the end of a terrible outbreak of the plague that began in 1630, and killed a large portion of the Veneto population. It was dedicated to Our Lady of Health (Salute in Italian).
The architect, Baldassare Longhena, was commissioned to design the church and had also been responsible for the construction of the Ca’ Rezzonico. Santa Maria della Salute took 56 years to build and was completed in 1687.
The Basilica’s interior is octagonal with small chapels on each side of the building. Although the church’s decoration is quite plain, there are several impressive paintings by Titian and Tintoretto.
The most magnificent canvas is called “Marriage at Cana” by Tintoretto. It is located in the sacristy.
Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hGbqDHxyG4
Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta (Via isola di, Campiello Lazzari, 30142 campello VE)
The original construction of the church began in the twelfth century and in 1657 the Jesuits bought it and the nearby monastery and rebuilt it. The majestic façade was erected with a donation from the Manin family and conceived by Fattoretto with non-traditional baroque shapes and an abundant decoration. The church preserves the ‘Martyrdom of San Lorenzo’ del Tiziano. Twenty paintings by Jacopo Palma il Giovane are housed in the sacristy.
San Giorgio Maggiore
San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the most photographed basilicas in Venice. The travellers standing in Piazza San Marco looking over the canal will be stunned by the temple’s façade with the gondolas swaying in the Lagoon in front of it.
The construction of the Basilica was completed in 1576 and the architect, Andrea Palladio.
Behind the Basilica’s façade, which is made of brilliant marble, is a meticulous interior which gives the impression of spaciousness. The church’s three floors contain various paintings by Tintoretto.
As well as the paintings by this great artist (The Last Supper, the Entombment of Christ and The Fall of Manna), the Basilica also features a painting by Sebastiano Ricci, “Madonna enthroned with Saints”, completed in 1708. This retable is considered the masterpiece of San Giorgio Maggiore.
Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7dXtgWg8ek
The Chiesa di San Sebastiano is a 16th-century Roman Catholic church located in the Dorsoduro sestiere of the Italian city of Venice. The church houses a cycle of paintings by the artist Paolo Veronese, as well as paintings by Tintoretto and Titian.
Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pjja8ahLeI
Santa Maria del Rosario
The Church of Santa Maria del Rosario, commonly known as I Gesuati (the Jesuates), is a church located on the Fondamenta delle Zattere, in the sestiere of Dorsoduro, in Venice.
The Gesuati name comes from the religious order of the Jesuates, suppressed in 1668, which owned a large convent in the area, later bought by the Dominicans.
The Compagnia dei Poveri Gesuati (Company of the Poor Jesuates) was formed at the end of the 14th century, and in 1432 began the construction of the nearby Church of Santa Maria della Visitazione and of the adjacent convent.
With the dissolution of the order, the complex passed to the Dominicans, who shortly after began the construction of a new larger church further along the Zattere. The church was built between 1726 and 1735 by the architect Giorgio Massari, with the collaboration of Giambattista Tiepolo and Gian Maria Morlaiter, and was consecrated on September 29, 1743, by the Patriarch Alvise Foscari.
Video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fc2nDWboZI
Venice – Friday, September 23, 2022
I decided to hit a few churches today. Details on Sunday.
In the meantime …
Venice – Thursday, September 22, 2022
I took it easy today as Rebecca recovered from yesterdays marathon day of travel.
Just a bit more exploring Venice
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San Giorgio Maggiore & Burano, Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Today we purchased a 24 hour pass (25Eu each) for the vaporetto (water bus) and visited two island off Venice –San Giorgio Maggiore & Burano
San Giorgio Maggiore is one of the most photographed basilicas in Venice. The construction of the Basilica was completed in 1576 and the architect, Andrea Palladio, also designed the neighboring church, Il Redentore.Behind the Basilica’s façade, which is made of brilliant marble, is a meticulous interior which gives the impression of spaciousness. The church’s three floors contain various paintings by Tintoretto. As well as the paintings by this great artist (The Last Supper, the Entombment of Christ and The Fall of Manna), the Basilica also features a painting by Sebastiano Ricci, “Madonna enthroned with Saints”, completed in 1708. This retable is considered the masterpiece of San Giorgio Maggiore.
There was a major art installation in the Basilica as part of the Venice biannual. The following picture was composed entirely of Lego’s.
After an hour or so in San Giorgio we reentered the vaporetto and continued on the revisit Burano, a favorite from a few days ago. Rebecca enjoyed shopping and I did some shooting.
Burano is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy, near Torcello at the northern end of the lagoon, known for its lace work and brightly colored homes. The primary economy is tourism.
It was as bright and colorful as before. Rebecca bought a new scarf.
Venice – Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Rebecca and I had lunch at my sushi joint. It was OK, not more.
We then went to the Vodaphone Cellphone store to get an eSIM for my iPhone so I could use both my Italian and French lines while traveling. Hopefully I can also check my Message on both lines that way as well.
Afterwards we just wandered around town for awhile enjoying the day and light. The weather is now prefect mid 60s for low 70s with plenty of sunshine.
Venice – Sunday, September 18, 2022
We did our usual walking to explore the area during the day.
We were then treated to a beautiful sunset as we headed off to the Piazzale Roma at catch a water taxi to the Casinò di Venezia
The oldest casino in the world, the Casino di Venezia, sits on the Grand Canal in Venice. Opened in 1638, it was originally a theatre called the Theatre Saint Moses, which had a wing for gambling during the intermissions of plays. It helped spark the start of a casino craze in Venice—by 1744, there were more than 120.
This Renaissance palace was initially built in the 15th century by Italian architect Mauro Codussi, who designed some of Venice’s most beautiful churches. It was commissioned by Italian nobleman Andrea Loredan, who was an art collector, and had ceiling frescoes and paintings made on its walls by Italian masters like Mattia Bortoloni, Palma il Giovane, and Gian Battista Crosato, many of which are still in place today.
The casino was initially called the Ca’ Vendramin Calergi; after its early days as a casino, it served as a home to Italian royalty, then became a frequent getaway for German composer Richard Wagner from 1858 until his death in 1883.
The best part was when Rebecca came over to me beaming while I was watching a Rolette game and told me she had just hit a $117 EU jackpot on a slot machine. Later I won $20 EU on two $10 EU bets on Rolette.
Before we left we chatted with a lady from Holland who was in town to attend a workshop on Mosaics.
We walked back to catch some live Jazz on the dock outside our Air BnB.
Quite an enjoyable day in Venice.
Venice – Friday, September 16, 2022
It rained all day. Didn’t do much. Just relaxed
Venice – Thursday, September 15, 2022
I took a walk over to the gondola repair shop for a few shots.
Later Rebecca joined me to catch the sunset off our canal.
Murano/Burano, Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Another excursion day. We took a tour (20EU each) boat to two nearby islands – Murano, known for its glass work and Burano, known for its colorful buildings and lace production.
The island of Murano is renowned for its long tradition of glass-making. Ferry-loads of visitors come to explore the Museo del Vetro, which tells the story of glass through the centuries, and to shop for locally crafted souvenirs. Built in the Romanesque style, the Church of Santa Maria and San Donato has a colorful mosaic floor and supposedly houses the bones of a slain dragon.
The typical colored houses of Burano are the distinctive sign and the very symbol of this island in the northern lagoon. These were the typical fishermen’s houses, with bright colors, clearly visible from the boats even in the winter fog.
We found Murano to be OK, but the colorful houses of Burano were a spectacular pallet of pastels.
Venice – Monday, September 12, 2022
I took out the trash early to catch the trash boat (6:30-8:30 AM) and saw some sunrise cool clouds.
Later I went out for s9me sushi (Zikiya Ristorante) and Rebecca headed out for coffee and bookstores
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We regrouped in San Marco and headed home.
Later we went out for a sunset and night walk.
Venice – Sunday, September 11, 2022
We had a slower start after yesterday’s marathon exploring Padova.
But we did get out and do some wandering. Rebecca wore one of her new dresses and looked great.
I went out at sunset and did a few shots.
Padova/Pauda – Saturday, September 10, 2022
Today we made a snap decision to visit Padova a historic town about 45 minutes train ride west of Venice.
Padua was settled in 1183BC, making it the oldest city in Northern Italy. The legend says it was founded by the Trojan Antenor, whose relics the commune recognized in a large stone sarcophagus exhumed in the year 1274. The historical Padua inhabited by Veneti thrived thanks to its excellent breed of horses and the wool of its sheep. A Roman municipium since 45 BCE, it became powerful and famous in Roman times. Abano nearby was the birthplace of the historian Livy, and Padua was the native place of Valerius Flaccus, Asconius Pedianus and Thrasea Paetus. The city of Padua (from the Latin Patavium, Padova in Italian) is the economic and communications hub of the Veneto region in northern Italy. It is the city of St. Antony, one of the main saints of Catholicism, and is where most of the action in Shakespeare’s play, “The Taming of the Shrew”, takes place.
We visited Piazza dei Signori where a vibrant market was underway. There one can see the famous clock towner –Torre dell’Orologio.
SITTING ON THE CLOCK TOWER in Piazza dei Signori, the astronomical clock of Padua was built in 1344 and is one of the oldest clocks in the world still in working order. The designer, Jacopo de’Dondi, became so famous for this work that his family name was later changed to “Dondi dell’Orologio,” or “Dondi of the Clock.”
The magnificent timepiece has a 24-hour dial, so the hour hand makes a full rotation only once a day, not twice, moving at half the usual speed and starting at the right (“zero hour”) rather than at the top. The clock also strikes the hours on a bell from 1 to 24. The dial shows the day of the month, the current phase of the Moon, the motion of the planets, and the position of the Sun in the Zodiac.
There we caught a quick lunch and then walked to Basilica of Saint Giustina near Prato della Valle
Basilica di Santa Giustina which houses the Tomb of the evangelist Luke. While we were there wedding was getting underway.
The huge Basilica of Santa Giustina dominates to the south of the Prato della Valle. The imposing brick church was built in its present form in the 17th century and is dedicated to Saint Giustina, the patron saint of Padua. Giustina was executed in the 4th century in Padua at the age of 16 and has her grave in the Basilica di Santa Giustina along with several other martyrs and Luke the Evangelist. As with most of the other major churches in Padua, the exterior façade is unfortunately not finished, but that only slightly diminishes the visual effect of the gigantic building with its eight domes.
Prato della Valle it was in the eighteenth century that this square underwent great changes. The idea came from Andrea Memmo, a high-ranking official of the Venetian Republic who was also fond of architecture. He arrived in Padua in 1775 and ordered the reclamation of the entire area that until then, was basically a swamp. The project was assigned to Domenico Cerato, abbot and Professor of Architecture at the University of Padua. The works started in summer 1775, in preparation for the autumn fair dedicated to Saint Justin. The new look of the Prato would feature a central isle (named Isola Memmia after its creator) surrounded by an artificial elliptical channel displaying a double ring of statues, in total 78 (the original project envisioned 88 of them). Among the most eminent people portrayed was Andrea Memmo himself, but also Antenore, the mythical founder of Padua in 1132 b.C., Titus Livius, Petrarca, Tasso, Ariosto, Mantegna, and Galileo.
Walking back to the train station we came across The Church of the Eremitani.
The Church of the Eremitani in Padua stands on the homonymous square and is dedicated to Saints Philip and James. It is called “degli Eremitani” because many pilgrims passed through the guesthouse of the annexed convent. The building was built between 1276 and 1306, on very ancient pre-existing structures, and on a project by Fra ‘Giovanni degli Eremitani, a monk of the convent known for having built the large roof of the Palazzo della Ragione. The architectural layout of the church is typically Franciscan, due to the simplicity imposed by the containment of construction costs
We caught the train home in tie for sunset where I met a nice couple. Sara and Gianluca. They were filming the sunset. She coincidently was from Padova where we visited today and he from a nearby town to Venice. We had a nice chat.
Venice – Friday, September 9, 2022
Today was a “lets buy a few dresses day” for Rebecca disguised as a “lets just walk around day”. She scored three new dresses which look very good on her.
While she shopped I checked out a church – Santa Maria dei Miracoli
The church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli was originally built to house a small miraculous image of the Virgin and Child painted around 1409 that is traditionally attributed to Nicolò di Pietro—although recently scholars have also suggested that the painting may be by the hand of Zanino di Pietro. Commissioned by Francesco Amadi, the painting was displayed outdoors in a calle near the Amadi home, where it became a popular votive image for those who lived in the neighborhood. Over seventy years later, miracles began to be credited to the image.
We also walked back to San Marco Square during high tide to discover it partially flooded.
Feeling a bit peckish we stopped for lunch and had a another average lunch, after eating we pledged to check the review more carefully before selecting a pace to eat.
In the evening we caught the sunset outside our Air bnb and went for a random walk returning to our dock to enjoy some evening live Jazz. We made a reservations for tomorrow evening to enjoy dinner under the full moon.
Venice – Wednesday, September 7, 2022
We took the water ferry [GUGLIE “A” to LIDO SANTA MARIA / 9.5 Eu each) to ‘Lido di Venezia’ to drop in on the Venice Film Festival which is wrapping up in a day to two. We didn’t attend any screenings or see any big celebs but was was fun to explore Lido and see the cinema trade folks in action. The boat passed the Building Bridges sculpture.
On Friday, May 10, 2019 Quinn unveiled Building Bridges, an installation consisting of six pairs of hands arching 50 feet over a waterway at the Arsenale former shipyard in Venice’s eastern Castello District. Made from white resin to mimic the white marble seen around Venice, the hands symbolize the need to build bridges and overcome differences.
We also walked back along the Adriatic Sea side to view the beach and many cabanas which populate the shores.
Lido is the town on the island of Lido di Venezia. The island is best known for its beach and the film festival that takes place there. In winter it is wonderfully quiet, but in July and August the island attracts many tourists. The islet, together with Lido Pellestrina, forms a barrier between the Venetian lagoon and the Adriatic Sea. The narrowest part of the island is heavily built-up, while the northern and southern extremes contain a lot of nature.
Later we went out for an evening walk.
Venice – Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Today was a wander around Venice day. We also had lunch which exceeded our expectations and was above average.
Venice – Monday, September 5, 2022
I got out a bit early to explore and do a few photos. It was interesting watching all the delivery boats making their rounds.
I walked over to San Marco Square and took the elevator to the top for a great view of Venice.
Rebecca joined me and we walked all over town.
We had a very average lunch off the Square and continued our exploration as we came across a nice park and some outdoor art.
We returned to the apartment around 4 PM to a rest.
Later I went out for the sunset.
Ortesei / Venice – Sunday, September 4, 2022
We were up at 6:30 AM to finish packing and catch a quick breakfast which opened at 7:30AM.
The plan was to pick up Jackie and Lee at the Adler at 8 AM, drive them to the Bolzano train station by 9 AM, drop off our bags with Rebecca at the station to be stored, I then drive to the airport to return the car with Hertz and then take a bus back to the train station, walk with Rebecca to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano to see the Otzi the Ice man and catch a 11:31 train from Bolzano to Venice.
Well it worked just as planned. The 3 1/2 hour train ride was spectacular.
It was great to see Jackie and Lee one final time and give them a lift to the station. From there, they were to start their 5 day bike adventure.
Ötzi the ice mummy is one of the oldest mummies in the world, estimated to be around 5,000 years old. The shepherd was found in 1991 by hikers on Giogo di Tisa. It was perfectly preserved including its complete set of clothing and many pieces of equipment. His death must have been very sudden. The body of the mummy from the glacier was not disturbed by burial rituals or other human intervention – something very rare that makes the man from Similaun so special. Ötzi is on display in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano.
Read more about Otzi here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA3AiNup7fY and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1KgN4kLP7o
It was pretty cool to actually view the actual 5,300 year old mummy. Unfortunately they do not allow photography in the museum, but here are a few shots anyway. We wish we could have spent much more time at the Museum but we had a train to catch and could only spend an hour there.
I found his shoes to be especially interesting consisting of bark string, stuffed with grass/straw and covered with a pelt. Pretty advance for 5,300 year ago.
Our train to Venice arrived about a half hour late and we were hungry and tired. After check in we caught a bite to eat, stopped in a supermarket for some provisions and then I took Rebecca home as she needed a rest. I headed out to watch the Venice regatta and do a few sunset shots.
It was a long but very interesting day.