Getting to know the area where the hotel is located, John took an early walk around the streets, ending at the Duomo. Although much of the area was impacted by the allied bombing during World War II, there are many areas where the older buildings are still there, on small and narrow streets, with great personality and a sense of community. And as John came back to the Galleria and the Duomo the grand buildings took over the space. Most enjoyable. Walked some of the great shopping areas between the Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco (Milan’s old fortress) … in preparation for walking the area with crowds later in the day!!!! Breakfast was very busy – met and talked with a couple from New Zealand – and then went out to see the Duomo inside and ... read more

Bellini Bellini Bellini. Today is about the family Bellini … and the other Renaissance artists who inhabit the Academia Gallery Museum in Dorsodoro. We finished up our breakfast and arrived just as they opened at 8:15. Being let loose in the museum with all the fabulous works of Bellini (Jacopo, Giovanni and Gentile), Tintoretto, Georgione, and Veronese. Most are recognizable from art history books, but in person they are quite wonderful … and we had them all to ourselves for at least 45 minutes. Peggy returned to her year in Italy when she did a paper on Georgione’ Tempest while John climbed into the beauty of every Giovanni Bellini. Happy and filled after what seemed like a few minutes but was hours, we slowly made our way toward the Rialto Bridge with the idea of finding ... read more

John woke early again and took a walk past the old Arsenale (naval fortress) which is still in use by today’s Italian navy. In the days when Venice ruled the seas this little corner of the city produced one war ship a day using a technique of building in sections (sounds familiar alla Kaiser and Ford, who Americans think invented the production line. Out in front of the entrance to the Arsenale are some of the statuary captured in engagements with enemies back in the hayday of Venice. After breakfast we took the vaporetto to San Toma and the Franciscan church and guild hall. The church is filled with monuments to famous artists (Canova and Teziano) and religious art that is over the top (Bellini’s Madonna and Teziano’s Madonna Ascending). The guild hall had some incredible ... read more

We took our time getting ready – and getting everything into our carry-on bags – and made our way to the station. Using our electronic tickets was easy and we settled in for the ride to Venice. Arrived mid-day in Venice and took a water taxi to the hotel. We upgraded our room to one with a small view of the lagoon and a ROUND bed! Very large and very comfortable, but our first round bed. This is not a bordello but we feel a little like we are in one – gold and blue velvet chairs and velvet cover for the bed. But with a view of San Georgio Maggiore across the lagoon. We immediately went out for a quick lunch and ended up at Piazza Santa Maria Formosa and one of the restaurants on ... read more

Although we were up fairly early, we took our time and wandered up to San Marco and the monastery where Fra Angelico lived and painted. His superior was Savanarola – famous for his “bonfire of the vanities” in the mid-15thcentury – and Angelico painted a personal biblical scene in each of his brothers’ cells. So beautiful and so personal. We wandered through, with special focus on the cells and the library, and were pleased to have few crowds and the Sunday quietude. Afterwards we walked to the Piazza Annunciata nearby where there was a crafts market. Lots of beautiful wooden toys and kitchen utensils, but where would we put any of it in our new, smaller house. Moving on we had a nice tea at a new four-star hotel and spa (hotel is completed but the ... read more