Exploring the canals around Venice is so surreal. It’s hard to believe that Venice is a real destination and not simply a romantic dream. One of our favorite activities was simply wandering the streets looking at all the photogenic locations and unbelievable canals. Our very first evening was shrouded in a misty fog which actually added to the mystique. We got some erriely beautiful shots that night, and best of all it cleared out completely by the next day and remained lovely for the rest of our stay.
The Doges Palace is without a doubt the most stunning palace we have seen in the world. The amount of wealth needed to create the golden crown mold ceilings is incomprehensible. Any royal visitor back in the height of the Venetian Empire must have been even more taken aback and over-awed with the beauty then we were. This is an absolute must see palace, even if you think you’ve seen enough royal rooms and baroque wealth you will still be amazed at the detail and intricacy of each individual room. The size and scale is breathtaking as well. The paintings that cover the ceiling are some of the largest we have ever seen. Venice was the entryway to Europe for the wealth of the East, their role as traders and merchants is on full display in all of it’s glory inside.
Our canal ride through the winding waterways was wonderful and full of hidden sites. You truly see another side of Venice by transversing it via gondola. Each new sight emerging from under the beautiful bridges was breathtaking. The gondolier carefully navigated tight canals to open up to the larger sea and blessed us with gorgeous views of the Doges Place and St. Mark’s Square.
We were very fortunate with the weather on our visit here. The sun lit up the bright buildings beautifully and allowed some great photo opportunities for us. Jamie looked stunning as usual and we took the opportunity to capture some truly beautiful shots. Her aqua blue dress nearly matched the color of the canals themselves, an absolute vision of loveliness as we overlooked the view from the Rialto Bridge.
Venice captured our hearts and our imaginations. The romance is tangible in the air here. It’s so lovely to walk along the twisting narrow streets, peer down each colorful canal and simply get lost in it’s charm. I bought fresh figs and kaki from small fruit stands and sipped exquisite espresso almost every morning. Jamie discovered every aperol spritz and cicchetti we could find. Our neighborhood was surprisingly affordable given Venice’s rather expensive reputation. Our three nights in Venice left us wanting even more. This city deserves more than the single day most people give it.
What a beautiful city!
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