Yesterday's sunset over today's church.
There are interesting shade, reflections etc when the sun is shining in the canals.
Today for the first time I couldnot get onto the first vaporetto going in the direction I wanted to go. I gather this is not uncommon in the main tourist season. There were a couple of Italians behind me making disparaging remarks about tourists. I was very tempted to make a comment. San Giorgio Maggiore is a church, tower, monastery etc complex built on it’s own island. It is another of Palladio’s designs that are designed to be viewed from a distance. The church looks better from the water than close up. Some people say Palladio’s designs are cold and harsh, but I rather think they are restful after the busyness of other styles. There are 2 Tintoretto paintings designed for the chancel. They are quite dark ( in colour and content). One is the last of a whole series of paintings of the Last Supper that he did throughout his career, but it is interesting to see how the light falls on it. Since it was built the island has had a checkered life, including being headquarters of the artillery. A rich guy, Count Vittorio Cini bought it in 1951 and restored everything.
I then went to Ca Pesaro – a baroque palace built in the 1600’s for the Pesaro family. It has been the Gallery of Modern Art since 1897. I approached the palace from the land, as you have to, but all the palaces along the grand canal were designed to look sumptuous from the water – I have yet to take the slow vaporetto down the grand canal to take pictures of some of these places I have been to. Some of the paintings and sculptures were interesting and some weird – quite unfathomable to me. I would like to learn more about Chagall – there was a painting of his The Rabbai of Vitebsk that I liked.
The next place I wanted to see was quite close by but I had lunch first – probably the nicest food but the worst service. I couldnot work out whether he was deliberately ignoring me or was just absent minded.
The Ca Mocenigo is another palace built in the 17th century, but this one, inside, is much as it would have been in the 18th century. In many of the rooms there are models of people ( men, women and children) wearing clothes of the day – all lavishly embroidered. I smiled at one of the female models. Some cotton wool had been put down the top of her gown to give her a more rounded shape ( 2 more rounded shapes to be precise)
Over the last few days I have seen street sellers selling sprigs of what looked very like wattle – the small round balls with feathery leaves. Today is La Festa della Donna. I had seen signs and yesterday asked Franca – sort of like Mothers Day except its for all women. The street sellers were out in force today with this flower and many women were carrying some around. It was always done up in cellophane and a bit hard to see. I finally talked to a seller and he said it was called mimosa – I’m sure I’ve heard one of the wattles called that so I suppose it’s the same - and it's tradition to give to women you know.
I’d dawdled so that it by the time I got nearly home I felt justified in having a gelato ( almond ) and watching the descending sun over the lagoon.
I then went to Ca Pesaro – a baroque palace built in the 1600’s for the Pesaro family. It has been the Gallery of Modern Art since 1897. I approached the palace from the land, as you have to, but all the palaces along the grand canal were designed to look sumptuous from the water – I have yet to take the slow vaporetto down the grand canal to take pictures of some of these places I have been to. Some of the paintings and sculptures were interesting and some weird – quite unfathomable to me. I would like to learn more about Chagall – there was a painting of his The Rabbai of Vitebsk that I liked.
The next place I wanted to see was quite close by but I had lunch first – probably the nicest food but the worst service. I couldnot work out whether he was deliberately ignoring me or was just absent minded.
The Ca Mocenigo is another palace built in the 17th century, but this one, inside, is much as it would have been in the 18th century. In many of the rooms there are models of people ( men, women and children) wearing clothes of the day – all lavishly embroidered. I smiled at one of the female models. Some cotton wool had been put down the top of her gown to give her a more rounded shape ( 2 more rounded shapes to be precise)
Over the last few days I have seen street sellers selling sprigs of what looked very like wattle – the small round balls with feathery leaves. Today is La Festa della Donna. I had seen signs and yesterday asked Franca – sort of like Mothers Day except its for all women. The street sellers were out in force today with this flower and many women were carrying some around. It was always done up in cellophane and a bit hard to see. I finally talked to a seller and he said it was called mimosa – I’m sure I’ve heard one of the wattles called that so I suppose it’s the same - and it's tradition to give to women you know.
I’d dawdled so that it by the time I got nearly home I felt justified in having a gelato ( almond ) and watching the descending sun over the lagoon.
1 comment:
Lovely photos mum xo
Post a Comment