Sunday, May 19, 2013

Venice week #4 - Gold

From the 11th century on, the St Mark's Basilica's has been nicknamed 'Chiesa d'Oro' (golden church), and it was not just because of it's gilded byzantine mosaics and opulent design, but because it was such a symbol for Venice's wealth and power at the time.
 

Venetian doorbells, so very elegant


another detail of the St Mark's Basilica
Bauer Palazzo

Voga alla veneziana (rowing Venetian style) ~ the gondolier stands while rowing, and turns to the direction of movement. The profession goes back to 1094, and it is controlled by a guild. The trade used to be handed down from father to son, but in 2007 a gondoliering course was introduced, which opened the profession to women. The first woman to pass the exams (involving 400 hours of instructions) was Giorgia Buscolo in 2010, almost a thousand years after the start of the trade. I have not seen a single female gondolier though..
view from the Accademia bridge
Gold and burgundy opulence
Lover's locks ~ they can be found on so many bridges

20 comments:

  1. Oh, MT....Venice just oozes romance! Behind every picture,every scene lurks the most beautiful light that draws you in! This has lured me into a dreamlike state for the rest of the day! Sort of feel like Owen Wilson's character in Midnight in Paris! Cannot imagine how it must have been in person<3 Bellisimo...and Bravo, T xx

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  2. Dearest MaiTai,

    I couldn´t agree more with dear Trudye. I have no words! There aren´t enough adjectives to describe cities like Venice or Florence, which are pure art in themselves.
    So magnificent, so opulent, so luxurious! Bellissime!!!!
    I can´t thank you enough for bringing back some wonderful memories. Reviewing Venice is like keeping the dream alive and one thing I know, I will go back one day. Love, M xx


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    1. My sweet dear Manuela, it is so very special to share our loves and passions here, and I am so glad that the pictures evoked memories of your previous visits. Chin chin to beautiful Venice, and to the happy times spend in these magical surroundings xx

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  3. So true, my darling Truyde, there is so much mystery, romance and beauty behind every corner! Now I want to see all these movies again, Don't look now, Death in Venice..and yes, Midnight in Paris! Hugs, T xx

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  4. I thought of Brideshead Revisited, when Charles Ryder and Sebastian Flyte spent some time in Venice with Sebastian´s father....

    Thank you for your lovely words, dear friend. M xx

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    1. Oh these scenes were so beautiful, my dearest Manuela! Will have to rent this movie again xx

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  5. Dear Mai Tai you have to make a special book for D S of all these very artistic beautiful details of the Bellisime.
    I like very much the one where the ligtht is refecting gold to the water with the pigeon and also the one with gondola it's another reflection. But all are sublimes!
    You know IMT.I h ave another way to picture Venise with more larger views trying to make a Canaletto paintings which gives less detais but more palacios and briges with this unique sky's light in the world but iyours gave me envy to photograph with another eye, i have learned with yours to capt this immediate luck to find the fantastic light on a subject. Thank's for that. I also use 2 different Canons with different lenses. It was a little parenthese to your beautiful point of picturung. And also We went there so many times that it reminds me such good memories with my Dh that I talk too much... The fault of your fantastic pictures...
    I would be happy to seeing you on a picture in Venice.
    Wonderful Pentecotes dearest and hope better weather than here...
    Monica

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    1. Merci, my dear Monica, it is so nice to know that you enjoyed the pics, and that they brought back happy memories! Thank you also for sharing about your photography, it is always so interesting to hear about different ways! Hope the weather has improved chez vous. We had torrential rain on Saturday, but it has been beautiful today. Have a wonderful week ahead. Amités

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  6. Is it just me or does anybody else here also wish this wonderful trip with all it's gorgeous pics won't end?! On the other hand I'm also excited to be inspired by dearest MTs summer looks with silk again soon. ;-) Sending bellini hugs, yours, Macs

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    1. Dear hair-mess, if you allow me to reply to your question - oh, I wish sooo much this series continues for a long while. I don't know whether it would be smart to ask our dearest MaiTai to prolong it for a day, maybe two? What do you think? Shall we ask her? :-). I will not tell anyone until you reply :-)
      Lea

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    2. So happy to see you join my quest, Lea :-) Well then, chère MaiTai. Encore une fois, s'il vous plaît! ;-)

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    3. Macs and Lea, you are so sweet! So lovely to have you sharing the trip, many thanks for the kind compliments. Will happily extend the trip by a post. Have a wonderful week ahead xx

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    4. Thanks a lot, our dear MaiTai. All of us, your readers will enjoy the prolonged Venice series and will dream in this beautiful story this week. So sweet and dreamy! Dear hair-mess, thanks for your support! :-) I find it so exquisite to share our memories, dreams and support here travelling through the Venice streets and canals. Thanks, dear MaiTai, for having created this beautiful journey for us and for having shared your personal memories - beautiful, we all respect it a lot and can touch all your dedication behind this. Love, Lea

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  7. Glorious golden Venetian moments!
    At which hotel did you stay? I've stayed at the Europa Regina, the Danieli and the Gritti, with the Danieli being my personal fave.
    Which Venetian hotel do you prefer?
    Barbara A

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    1. We seem to prefer the same location, my dear Barbara! We stayed at the Bauer, and it was lovely xx

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    2. Sorry, forgot to clarify as there are three Bauers in Venice. Ours was the Bauer l'Hôtel!

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    3. We stayed in a wonderful apartment on the ground floor of a Doge's palazzo on the Grand Canal. It had a wonderful water door and short jetty, and I would move a table and chairs there and sit watching the gondoliers and drinking tea.
      It was my 15 year old son's first trip to Europe and I was able to teach him the history of art by taking him to see some of the best European art first hand! Lucky boy. He especially loved magical Venice and the Bellinis and Titians.

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    4. Melissa...what an astounding and magical venue for your son's first trip to Europe! Sounds enchanting!!
      Barbara A

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    5. It was wonderful, and such a privilege to show it to my gorgeous boy. One very special memory was his introduction to live opera. We took him to see La Traviata performed in a Venetian Palazzo with the audience being the party guests at the begining, and Violetta singing the Brindisi in full magnificent voice standing right next to my son! It was electrifying.

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  8. Dearest MaiTai,
    Shimmering Venice…in sunlight or in moonlight, the beauty is otherworldly. You capture the most beautiful images, dear MaiTai - thank you for sharing your extraordinary vision. Wishing you a fabulously golden week. Much love and warmest hugs to you xx

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