We’ve just returned from Venice, the capital of Italy’s Veneto region. While we’ve visited this magnificent city before, it was a first for our seven-year-old daughter POD. You might not think of Venice as being child-friendly but there’s an abundance of things to do both in and out of the city. We’ll be sharing where we went in another post but for now, here are some photographs from Piazza San Marco taken at sunrise.
While it wasn’t the plan to leave our hotel at dawn and walk to Piazza San Marco, I’m glad I made the effort to go there. Venice is at its busiest and hottest in August but at 6am, there’s barely a soul around. It’s the best time to appreciate one of the most beautiful squares in the world in all its glory. No wonder Napoleon referred to it as the Drawing Room of Europe. It’s magnificent and at this time of the morning, it’s easy to capture the splendour of this wonderful city.
St Mark’s Basilica, with its shimmering mosaics, is an unforgettable sight with the iconic St Mark’s Campanile positioned proudly beside it. Standing over 300 foot tall, this bell tower was originally constructed in the 9th-century when it was used as a watchtower. The current tower was re-built in 1912. To the left of the Basilica is Torre dell’Orologio, which is a clock tower above an archway, with the Piazzetta dei Leoncini square and its two marble lions nearby.
On Piazzetta di San Marco, the space connecting the Piazza and Riva Degli Schiavoni, you could see the sun begin to peep through. Alongside the Grand Canal, there were hues of orange behind the street lamps and across the water. Covered gondolas bobbed up and down while deliveries were made and the streets swept. There were few tourists, no tour guides and no street sellers. Just the heart of Venice looking sublime. Ponte della Paglia was empty, providing a perfect view of the Ponte dei Sospiri (the Bridge of Sighs).
And just like that, it was morning. Time to return to the hotel and get ready for breakfast. As I headed back through the Piazza, I couldn’t help but smile. What a wonderful moment to have captured. Less than two hours later we passed through and there was already a long queue for the Basilica. We had booked a 30-minute gondola ride and had big plans after that. To get ourselves lost. After all, to get to know the real Venice that’s exactly what you have to do. It’s amazing what you’ll find when you head off the beaten track too.
