 |
The gondola ride at the streets of Venice. |
 |
The Piazza San Marco, the heart of Venice, is an
immense, regally proportioned square bordered on three sides by palatial arcades lined
with outdoor cafes and shops. Gondola's can be hired at the San Marco Station. |
 |
The Basilica Di San Marco, a masterpiece of
Byzantine architecture, was begun as a tomb for St. Mark, whose body reputedly was stolen
from Alexandria by two Venetians in the 9th century. It is rich in rare marbles, mosaics,
gold and priceless works of art. On the outer terrace are facsimiles of the famous "Four
Horses" of gilded copper, a Greek work of the 3rd century B.C.
|
 |
The Ponte Dei Sospiri (Bridge of Sighs) connects
the Palazzo Ducale with the prisons. Completed in 1600, the bridge was supposedly named
for the convicts who crossed it en route to their executions.
|