Peggy and I return to Venice today as part of our Armchair Travel in the Time of Covid-19 series. Among other things we walk on water, check out a winged lion, and learn about the Saint who was shipped to Venice in a pork barrel. Again, this is adapted from earlier posts I did when visiting the Mediterranean in 2013.
St. Mark’s Basilica is a beautiful church that dominates St. Mark’s Square in Venice.
Being eager to begin our exploration of Venice we picked up a water taxi from the cruise port. It retraced our earlier route from a sea-level perspective and deposited us near a large statue of Victor Emmanuel. He served as the first king of Italy when the various Italian city-states were united in the mid 1800s.
I took this photo of King Emmanuel charging into battle with his sword raised and horse’s tail flying.
Another photo of Emmanuel’s imposing horse on the waterfront monument in Venice.
In addition to an imposing horse and Victor, the statue features Venice, represented as a woman, and St. Mark, represented as a winged lion, book-ending the monument. On one end, the lion bites through the chains of Austrian oppression while Venice looks on in a tattered dress; on the other end he roars in victory and Venice is clothed in an expensive dress.
While St. Mark the lion chews through the chains of Austrian oppression,Venice looks depressed and disheveled in this photo of the Victor Emmanuel statue in Venice. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
St. Mark, with his representational lion, is the protector of Venice. The lion can be found almost everywhere. Mark— of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John— supposedly came through the region when it was a swamp and gave his blessing. This justified two Venetian merchants turning into grave robbers and stealing the body from Alexandria in 828 AD. They slipped Mark into a pork barrel for transport. Muslims consider pork unclean so the barrel was unlikely to be checked by the local officials.
Mark made it safely to Venice in his smelly container, was presented to the Doge of Venice, and was subsequently buried under what would become St. Mark’s Basilica located on St. Mark’s Square, which was our objective for the day.
Along the way we would pass by the Bridge of Sighs and the Doge’s Palace. We would also walk on water. Actually we walked on tables that are placed in the square to help people avoid the Adriatic Sea, which is a regular visitor. Between Venice sinking some nine inches per century, high tides, and global warming, floods have become a serious problem for the city.
Peggy, Kathi Saage and Frances Dallen pose in front of the Bridge of Sighs. They aren’t sighing but they are cold. A gondolier lurks in the background. I suspect he was cold as well.
The Bridge of Sighs was so named because prisoners, condemned in the Doge’s Palace, would have their last look at freedom as they crossed the bridge from the Palace to the prison. Supposedly they sighed. It took a poet, Lord Byron, to give the bridge its name.
The Doge’s Palace once served as the center of government for Venice and was home of the Doge, the most powerful man in Venice at the time and therefore one of the most powerful men in the western world. Today the palace is a museum filled with magnificent art. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)
A rather furry Neptune, symbol of Venice’s sea power, welcomes visitors to the Doge’s Palace.
A view of the inner courtyard of the Doge’s Palace in Venice.
St. Mark’s Basilica, located next to the Doge’s Palace is Byzantine in appearance. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)
An evening view of the colorful St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. The bronze horses on the upper right were stolen from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade when Venice was supposed to be helping Constantinople, not plundering it. But then, if your church is built on the stolen bones of a Saint, why not? (grin)
St. Mark’s Basilica and street lamps by night.
The Campanile is a prominent St. Mark’s Square and Venice landmark. In 1902 it came tumbling down and had to be replaced.
This clock tower is another well-known landmark in St. Mark’s Square. Note the winged lion and the digital clock with Roman Numerals. The bronze bell ringers on top and the astrological clock at the bottom are also impressive.
As I mentioned, Venice is subject to frequent floods. Global warming has added to this problem. This shot, taken just below the Clock Tower in St. Mark’s Square, shows people using the table walkways and walking over the water.
I’ll close with this flood photo I took in St. Mark’s Square that reflects both lamp posts and walls located in the Square.
FRIDAY’S POST: We will visit the famed canals of Venice.
12 thoughts on “St. Mark’s Square, Walking on Water, and a Pork Barrel Saint: Venice… Armchair Travel”
So many wonderful sights! I will confess I was most taken by the last two photos (I’m a sucker for reflections) and by that digital clock with Roman numerals. That made me laugh.
It’s a fascinating city, Linda. I really loved that last photo as well. The next to the last one caught the feeling of the city at flood stage! We also found the clock humorous. Have to think that the folks who did it had a sense of humor. –Curt
In a strange way, good to experience, Annie. The future of ocean/sea front properties, even though global warming as opposed to sinking will be the main cause. –Curt
A wonderful series, Curt. It all looks so voluptuous and overpowering. It must have been a culture of appreciation and beauty but also not shy of brutality and torture towards opponents. As for rising waters or dropping lands. I wonder how The Netherlands, most of it already below sea-level, is preparing for rising waters?
Wandering through Time and Place 
So many wonderful sights! I will confess I was most taken by the last two photos (I’m a sucker for reflections) and by that digital clock with Roman numerals. That made me laugh.
It’s a fascinating city, Linda. I really loved that last photo as well. The next to the last one caught the feeling of the city at flood stage! We also found the clock humorous. Have to think that the folks who did it had a sense of humor. –Curt
I need to revisit Venice. Hope it’s not when it’s overrun by tourists.
Best bet is off-season, Peggy. But Venice may yet decide to reduce the number of tourists…
Napoleon Bonaparte stole those horses as well but they are back now in a museum. Those on the façade are replicas.
I have never seen Venice under water like that, the sun has always shone for me.
Thanks for the info on the horses, Andrew. It was so long ago, I don’t remember my source.
You’re just a sunny kind of guy, I guess. 🙂 –Curt
You weren’t very lucky with the weather 😉 Guess it does flood rather often.
In a strange way, good to experience, Annie. The future of ocean/sea front properties, even though global warming as opposed to sinking will be the main cause. –Curt
A wonderful series, Curt. It all looks so voluptuous and overpowering. It must have been a culture of appreciation and beauty but also not shy of brutality and torture towards opponents. As for rising waters or dropping lands. I wonder how The Netherlands, most of it already below sea-level, is preparing for rising waters?
First, thanks, Gerard. I have had fun going back and revisiting Venice. As for The Netherlands… Build higher dikes? 🙂 –Curt
Sounds like pork barrel politics to me…
Great photos! I never knew the origin of the name of the Bridge of Sighs. Thanks, Curt!