After our Christmas in Ortisei we headed to Venice to see in the New Year. NYE itself was fun and it was great to see Venice in winter.

On this visit we stayed in the Santa Croce area which meant we had a chance to explore parts of the city that were entirely new to us.

In fact we ended up seeing much more of Venice than we intended to; which is another way of saying most days (and nights) we managed to get ourselves completely lost – many times over. And that, of course, is all part of the fun.

Buon Anno a tutti!

 

Watching the fireworks from Piazza San Marco, with thousands of others
Watching the fireworks from Piazza San Marco, with thousands of others
Including our new BFF from Ukraine, Georgia and France :)
Including our new BFF from Ukraine, Georgia and France 🙂
The city's Christmas Tree in Piazza San Marco
The city's Christmas Tree in Piazza San Marco
'Aqua alta' (high water) is a phenomenon that can occur in winter in Venice
'Aqua alta' (high water) is a phenomenon that can occur in winter in Venice
High tides and other factors result in the temporary flooding of low-lying parts of the city
High tides and other factors result in the temporary flooding of low-lying parts of the city
Piazza San Marco about 9:00am New Year's Day; fortunately it wasn't like this 12 hours earlier (the water is calf deep in places)
Piazza San Marco about 9:00am New Year's Day; fortunately it wasn't like this 12 hours earlier (the water is calf deep in places)
But the Venetians are well used to the problem and within minutes the city's staff have the temporary boardwalks in place and life goes on as usual
But the Venetians are well used to the problem and within minutes the city's staff have the temporary boardwalks in place and life goes on as usual
The famous Rialto Bridge
The famous Rialto Bridge
And the view from the Rialto
And the view from the Rialto
The regular morning traffic jam as the gondolas head for the Grand Canal (the first gondolier there is rocking that fantastic ranger beard) :)
The regular morning traffic jam as the gondolas head for the Grand Canal (the first gondolier there is rocking that fantastic ranger beard) 🙂
#EnjoyRespectVenice is the new campaign asking tourists to not dive into the canals, wear swimmers in the streets or hang about for too long on the bridges (among other things); we certainly didn't encounter any attitude from the locals and felt very welcome in their city
#EnjoyRespectVenice is the new campaign asking tourists to not dive into the canals, wear swimmers in the streets or hang about for too long on the bridges (among other things); we certainly didn't encounter any attitude from the locals and felt very welcome in their city
The Lion of St Mark, the symbol of Venice
The Lion of St Mark, the symbol of Venice
Looking towards the Grand Canal and the famous 'Support' sculpture highlighting the issue of climate change
Looking towards the Grand Canal and the famous 'Support' sculpture highlighting the issue of climate change
Communication two ways; bill posters and masks
Communication two ways; bill posters and masks
Beautiful mini masks, yours for only 2 euro each
Beautiful mini masks, yours for only 2 euro each
Of course Venice is fabulous at any time of year, and the city has a different vibe in winter
Of course Venice is fabulous at any time of year, and the city has a different vibe in winter
Grey skies, bare trees and far fewer tourists (even at New Year), make winter a good time to visit
Grey skies, bare trees and far fewer tourists (even at New Year), make winter a good time to visit
Ice skating, but not on a frozen canal
Ice skating, but not on a frozen canal
Reflections on Venice
Reflections on Venice
Winter morning walk
Winter morning walk
Back street :)
Back street 🙂
Market day
Market day
Windows through window
Windows through window
Window and door
Window and door
A glimpse of life
A glimpse of life
Typical street scene
Typical street scene
Amazing architecture
Amazing architecture
It's just one of the many beautiful things about Venice
It's just one of the many beautiful things about Venice
Doorbells
Doorbells
Venetian glass
Venetian glass
In the Santa Croce area
In the Santa Croce area
L'osteria da Carla
L'osteria da Carla
Little courtyard
Little courtyard
And on a much grander scale, the Doge's Palace
And on a much grander scale, the Doge's Palace
Ca' Rezzonico, formerly a palatial 18th century home, has been a museum since 1936
Ca' Rezzonico, formerly a palatial 18th century home, has been a museum since 1936
18th century Murano glass chandelier
18th century Murano glass chandelier
Apparently the best intact example of its type, the chandelier is a sparkling beauty
Apparently the best intact example of its type, the chandelier is a sparkling beauty
In the 1920's Cole Porter rented Ca' Razzonico for USD $2,000 a month (that would be about USD $25,000 today), and hired 50 gondoliers to act as footmen
In the 1920's Cole Porter rented Ca' Razzonico for USD $2,000 a month (that would be about USD $25,000 today), and hired 50 gondoliers to act as footmen
And finally, that iconic shot of Venice
And finally, that iconic shot of Venice