Murano and Burano: The Islands of Glass and Lace

"Venice was a great end to our time in Italy. We were grateful as we got the best weather in the city of sparkling water. Murano was a unique, special place away from the main island of Venice. It is an isolated island filled with craftsmen, who blow and create magnificent glass forms. We were really lucky to have the opportunity to witness glass blowing in action. It was amazing because all the glass blowing was kept to a family tradition where each father passed on his skills to his son.

The surrounds of the island of Burano were very humble compared to the majesty of Rome and Florence. The brightly coloured homes, painted in complementary colours, added a surreal atmosphere to this quaint island village, almost like a setting in a theme park, yet locals carried on behind closed doors with the normal routine of life."

From Helena and Imogen

We returned to the main island of Venice to explore the narrow lane ways, bridges and piazza's from one side of the island to the other ending up in San Marco Piazza. Here we gathered our last souvenirs for Italy before we head off to Dubai tomorrow. On the ferry ride back, we sat at the front of the vaporetto, and with wind blowing through our hair and waves lapping at the edge of our boat, we contemplated the amazing experience we have had in Venice and the other major cities.

 

 

Unfortunately we have to say arriverderci to Venice and Italy for a wonderful, enriched experience of art and culture, and look forward to a time when we can return - we have to because we all threw a euro into the Trevi Fountain and made a wish!

On return to our hotel, The Rigel, we all donned our sloppy joes bought at either Rome, Florence or Venice as a memento of where we have been.

 

 

Quote of the day on our journey through Italy: "we have not only traveled through space but also time" from Julie

 

 

Bella Venezia! St Marks, Klimt and Peggy Guggenheim Museum

What a stunning city! So much beauty and character in one place! We started our day with a vaporetto ride from The Lido back to the city. Arriving at Piazza da San Marco we saw the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs so named because prisoners were walked across it to meet their doom! The Piazza was full of people and pigeons! We went inside the Basilica of St Mark to see the beautiful mosaics but they appeared tarnished and dull after we saw San Vitale's mosaics yesterday. We stopped for a minute to take a group photo Just as a Hugh ocean liner passed by the Piazza. We then headed off to see an exhibition on the artist Gustav Klimt at the other end of the piazza.

 

We wandered through the narrow lane ways and connecting bridges past picture perfect vistas and gondeliers (for the rich at 280 euros for one hour!) to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art where we saw many famous artworks from the 20th century. Our lengthy stay at the Guggenheim prevented us from seeing the Accademia which closed early.

 

We wandered back through the narrow streets of Venice stopping to appreciate the work of local glassmakers and see a range of venetian masks, all of which tell a story.

We boarded a vaporetto to do the loop of the Grand Canal to see the restored palaces and majestic homes of the wealthy, some of which have now been converted into hotels and museums. Our sunny, warm balmy day, which started off misty and overcast, came to an end with a downpour of rain from threatening looking clouds. Off to the islands tomorrow to see glassmaking on Murano and the beautifully coloured buildings of Burano before coming back to the city to investigate the Rialto Bridge area.

 

Ravenna, Mosaics and The Lido in Venice

We left Florence in the morning and drove to the UNESCO site in Ravenna. Arriving for an early lunch, our tour guide Luciani, led us through the streets of Ravenna on her bicycle, while we hastily followed behind to catch up. She took us to Saint Apollinaire Nuovo with beautiful mosaics of saints, to Dante's Tomb, the mausoleum of Galla Placidia to see the oldest complete mosaics in the world and to San Vitale to see the famed mosaics of Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.

 

Our bus then drove us onto Venice, to catch a private boat to The Lido, one of the islands of Venice that has beaches facing the Adriatic Sea. It is a very popular holiday spot with an upmarket feel to it. The hotel has bedrooms based on a different medieval or Renaissance theme, with a large lobby so we can have group bonding time.

 

 

The Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio and the Palazzo Pitti

The fine weather didn't last and today the umbrellas were out with light rainfall all day. Our first stop was the Uffizi Gallery, Italy's premier art collection. Lucky we had pre-booked tickets because the queue to get in was already long at 9am. The Botticelli room was breathtaking, his paintings so graceful and highly detailed - a master painter at work! We also saw works by Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian and many notable Renaissance artists.

 

After purchasing souvenirs in the Uffizi gift shop, we headed to the Ponte Vecchio lined with expensive gold jewellery shops. We all ended up at the Ponte Vecchio Cafe at the end of the bridge to have lunch and try some Florentine gelato!

 

This week is Culture Week in Florence and many galleries had free admission so we headed for the Palazzo Pitti that has more Renaissance artworks and a costume gallery. It also has the famed Boboli Gardens but because of the rain we stayed in doors.

A busy last day in Florence soaking up the Renaissance atmosphere and capturing many memorable photos.

We are traveling to Venice tomorrow via Ravenna, a UNESCO site of Early Byzantine churches with glittering golden mosaics. Arrivederci Florence! We will miss you!

 

A day in Florence with Michelangelo and the markets

After a quick briefing in the courtyard of our Florentine hotel, we wandered the narrow cobblestone streets of Florence to the Galleria Accademia to see Michelangelo's famous 'David' statue.....and what a sight to see! At around 5 metres and raised on a marble pedestal, the sculpture is absolutely breathtaking in its beauty. We moved on to the Medici Chapel to see more of Michelangelo's famous works. The wealth and majesty of the tombs were amazing.

 

After all the art appreciation, our stomachs grumbled and we headed for the fresh food markets where we had to practice Italian and ask for food for our lunch. We'd like to thank Mr Watson's son Fabian for taking us there and to the many other sights and eateries he had found while spending time with us on our travels.

We ate our lunch on the steps of Florence Cathedral, a majestic highly ornate building that is the focal point of Florence. We also had a chance to peruse the San Lorenzo markets, well known for its leather goods. A number of students, parents and teachers now own leather jackets, wallets and handbags!

 

In the evening, we walked to Piazza Michelangelo, a lookout that gives a panoramic view of the city skyline, Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio.

Tomorrow we are going to the Uffizi Gallery, crossing the Ponte Vecchio, looking at the Pitti Place and Boboli Gardens and exploring the Oltrano district - the art quarter of Florence.