Bella Venezia ~ Beautiful Venice

To build a city where it is impossible to build a city 

is madness in itself,

but to build there one of the most elegant 

and grandest of cities

is the madness of genius.

~Alexander Herzen

VENICE 

Settembre, 2017

To say that Venice is photogenic would be a gross understatement. I suppose this comes as no surprise. It has been a painters dream location for centuries. Google the images of John Singer Sargent's watercolors in Venice and you'll see why. You could do the same with Monet, Whistler, J.M.W. Turner, Renoir, Manet, and for his many paintings for rich travelers on "The Grand Tour" Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto.

Looking up to beautiful mosaics on the façade of the Basilica of San Marco! 

The next view is looking down from the campanile which is also the top photo in this post! We got our tickets ahead of time online for both the campanile bell tower and the interior of the Basilica. It was a pretty low price, as I recall, and it was totally worth it! We walked right up at our appointment time and avoided the very long lines! 

We also made sure to be down from the tower before the bells rang at noon. I was afraid we wouldn't be able to hear for the rest of the day!

Peaking around corners, there are lovely views everywhere.

Puppets, reflections and laundry ...

There is something so different in

Venice from any other place in the world,

that you leave, at once, all accustomed habits

and everyday sights, to enter an enchanted garden.

~Mary Shelley

This next photo was just down from our apartment.

I love all the warm tones of the buildings as well as the unexpected colors, like the gorgeous green above!

When I seek another word for 'music', 

I never find any other word that 'venice'."

~Friedrich Nietzsche

I got as much wear out of my new hat as possible! The bonus of traveling with black clothes is you can generally go accessory crazy once you arrive. Especially in Italy!

A realist, in Venice,

would become a romantic

by mere faithfulness

to what he saw before him.

~Arthur Symons

I took so many photos! Everywhere you look is another gorgeous view. For now, I'll leave you with a bit of twilight over the beautiful waters of Venice.

Next up Verona and more exciting art from the Venice Biennale! 

Ci Vediamo!

A Presto!