Torcello - Part 4

Photos from the top of the campanile on Torcello.  You can see the stairs going up the tower on one.

Also you can see the marshland in the lagoon, it is swampland like this that Venice is built on!

The swampy lagoon.

The path from the vaporetto.

Burano in the background.

Marco Polo airport.

The roofs of the two churches.

Torcello - Part 3

Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, founded in 639 and with much 11th and 12th century mosaics.  I've had to download them as no photos inside.

The Last Judgement

Torcello - Part 2

From Burano, the island where the houses are coloured to help the fishermen back home in the fog & where lace is made.

Then on the path to the Duomo on Torcello & the campanile, which I climbed.

The bridge with no sides is called Devill's Bridge.   Legend has it that during the Austrian domination over Venice, a young lady fell in love with an Austrian soldier, who was subsequently killed by her family as they opposed their unpatriotic relationship.

The grief stricken girl sought the aid of a witch who agreed to meet her on the island of Torcello – an isolated place and ideal for magic rituals. The witch called upon the devil who brought the young Austrian back to life and so the two lovers were united again. But it is well known that the devil doesn’t do anything for nothing so he made the witch promise that for the next seven years she would bring him on Christmas Eve the soul of a dead child who had recently died.

The witch died soon after in a fire and was not able to keep to her pact with the devil… So to this day on the eve of 24 December the devil comes to the Devil’s Bridge in Torcello in the guise of a black cat and claims in vain the souls he was promised…

The trip to Torcello

1st vaporetto to San Marco, the Number 12 just leaving as I arrived.  30 minute wait for the next.  

Finally on to the Lido then had to get off at Punta Sabioni.  Another 30 minute wait for the vaporetto to Tre Porti. 

While waiting at Tre Portie

Wildlife on the lagoon.

 The thin rope is the door to stop people falling out! Punta Sabioni to Tre Porti.

Luckily at Tre Porti the vaporetto to Burano comes very soon, then change again for Torcello.  The journey of five miles or so took 21/2 hours!

The Duomo at Torcello..  The tower is finally open again, it's ten years since I last climbed it so I did it again.  You can just make out the mountains.

Part 2 to follow.

Tuesday's sunset over Marghera & the Giudecca.

Sylvia & Joyce arrived last Tuesday afternoon.  It was a beautiful day & we had a water taxi from Marco Polo airport to the hotel.  Sylvia's introduction to Venice couldn't be via Piazza Le Roma!

Some views of the lagoon.

Sunday lunch

Last Sunday I was invited along with two others to lunch at jane's apartment.  We first had prosecco on her altana - roof terrace.  The view was amazing.  The food was even better - cottage pie - especially after not eating for almost a week.

A few lovely views.

The Biennale bar - a great place on the grand Canal for a spritz in the sunshine.

The front of a gondola: The Doge's hat, the six sister of Venice, the Giudecca and the Grand Canal.

A Lion of Venice peeping out from some bricole.

Blog siesta

Sorry I've been very quiet.  I had two friends arrive from Wales & the first full day they were here I began with an upset stomach.  I then spent the next three days in bed before spending their last day with them.  SO annoying.  I missed going to Padova & lots of other things I had planned for them.

But the second cabino has been put back so normal service at Palanca has returned.