Locanda Herion Venice

... Ages through the Renaissance, and connects the works on canvas to the sculptural works that preceded them. We were glad that we visited here last , because it tied together everything that had come before. (The Rick Steeves audio guides helped tremendously!)

Tomorrow, we set out for our road trip through Tuscany and, hopefully, a couple of days at a less hectic pace, visiting the hill towns on our way back to Rome.

Can't believe we only have two days left!

... man in order to attempt to salvage his dead father’s soul. Regardless of the intent, it is an amazing site for both artistic and religious reasons.
The rest of the day was spent driving the Autostrada from Padua to Florence. Up and down mountain with gigantic trucks weaving across the lane lines, everyone at maximum speed and tailgaiting like nothing you would ever see in the U. S. And, yet,

... they no longer swarm the tourists. But it you still have to watch out for the Pigeon Poop! The Basillica was another feast for the eyes - and ears! As we approached the central altar, imagine our surprise as the “theme” from Phantom of the Opera suddenly blasted from the organ!
Next, we toured the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. This wealthy American woman, who lived in an palatial home on the Grand Canal, had two great loves: her dogs and modern art. After her death, her ...

... What a magical place this is: unique beyond description. Our first stop was the Accademia Museum, home to a nearly overwhelming array of Venetian Renaissance Art. Next, we headed to the Basilica Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. This church, built over two centuries, is typically Gothic in architecture style, but inside the aisles and every nook and cranny hold a succession of art treasures, each more surprising than the last. It is one of the ...

... of fruit, and waited until we could check in.

When the owner got there, he informed us that the hostel had been shut down for winter, so he was housing us in hotel rooms. He gave a 3 person room to the girls, and Steve had to stay in a room with another guy, but he was only staying for one night so he didn’t really care. We were all very pleased with our rooms, but so tired from the ...

... the iPod (The Spill Canvas - thanks Alex!!!) considering my options when a girl asks me in Italian for directions! I stammer out that I don't understand italian and she jovially joins me in English and tells me that she's in Venice studing but doesn't know where she is, and I pull out my map and tell her that I'm in the same boat, being lost that is. She quickly shows me where we are and we decide to make the next trek together towards her destination which is ...

... on one of the docks for a while, trying the local cuisine (DELICIOUS GELATO!), etc... We went to San Marco square, but didn't go into the church because there was a really long line, and we didn't think waiting in line several hours was worth it. Even the outside of the church was incredibly extravagant in the Baroque style. Another really fun thing we read about and then I eventually did was to find one of the wine shops. Since we did a ton of ...

... on our own. The doge was the ruler of the Venetian empire. The empire lasted for around 400 years until the late 1700s. The palace was spectacular. HUGE paintings covered every ceiling and wall. Beautiful art work was just everywhere. We also saw the prisons and the bridge of sighs. I'm so disappointed that from the outside, the bridge of sighs is covered by huge advertisements now. I don't know if they are renovating ...

... an American woman and I almost bumped into each other in a shop, smiled and excused ourselves, and I told her she looked so much like somebody I know at home. As we struck up a conversation of "where are you from?" she insisted I had to meet her travelling companion when she found out I was from Texas. Turns out the girlfriend is in the military, and bought some land along the Lampasas River when she was stationed at Ft. Hood, and plans to retire there. The ...

... ride for 40 minutes in a traditional gondola that went out to the grand canal and under the Rialto Bridge. After the ride we found a pizza shop that served the biggest thickest pizza slices ever seen while looking at the Rialto Bridge. Afterward lunch we walked over the Rialto Bridge with hundreds of other people (Venice is full of tourist from all over the world near and far) and then caught the public boat along the grand canal and then ...