Daily Archives: November 6, 2008

Will Venice go the same way as Atlantis…?

Posted by Wendy on November 6, 2008 No comments

As I enjoyed my recent visit to Venice I couldn’t help but feel sadness at what looks to be an inevitable fate for this beautiful and unique city. Venice is not only sinking, but the sea levels are rising at the same time creating what would be the most expensive rescue bid of all time.

But will it work and for how long…?

Right now when the rains hit Piazza San Marco fills with water, and as there are canals instead of streets, wooden walkways are erected for people to walk along through the myriad of little alley ways around the city. Venice has been effectively sinking at a rate of 24 centimetres each 100 years and you can really see just how evident this is. Many of the buildings along the canals have steps at their front which are under water now even during the dry season.

A conservation project costing several billion euros has been drawn up for the next 20-30 years and the future of this island city depends on it’s success. It would not need to be totally submerged for a catastrophe to occur – shops, houses and the famous landmarks would be inaccessible and ruined. The water currently flows into the entrance of St Mark’s Basilica I noticed when I was there and we all walked along raised wooden planks.

Just imagine; in 500 years time that the history books could be speaking about the Venice ‘that was’ . I have a vision of the top of St Mark’s Basilica just poking out from the waves of the lagoon – the scary thought is that maybe, one day, that’s all that will remain to be seen of ‘the lost city of Venice’.

Copyright © 2007-2012 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.

Arrivaderci Venezia!

Posted by Wendy on November 6, 2008 No comments

I’m baaack ! And there I am, looking every bit the tourist.

Four days in glorious Venice have left me feeling rejuvenated and totally inspired - what an amazing place. The women looked so stylish, the Italian men…well, need I say anymore?

I felt such a dag walking around in my sensible walking shoes (you do need them though as you can only walk around Venice – no cars) and ‘practical clothes for the weather’ – but we were there to so some serious sightseeing and I never knew that ‘people watching’ would be such a main part of it.

They really go in for appearances there; no daggy shoes on the women but stylish boots and some of the most gorgeous jackets and accessories I have ever seen. The only correct thing to do would have been to disappear into one of the many boutiques and emerge with several bags of fashionable items to wear – but the price tags stopped me in my tracks from joining the Venetian style elite. It was nice to look though :)

All the little shops selling cakes and pastries; the cafes and the waiters wearing dazzling white jackets; the string quartets playing al fresco on Piazza San Marco; the pizza’s (I’ve eaten enough pizza to last me a lifetime…), and the wonderful coffee.

St Marks at night

The Gondolas and their gondoliers were straight out of the books; at 100 euros for a ride they were a bit out of our range budget-wise but I have promised myself a gondola experience if we ever go back.

I attended Mass in St Marks Basilica and was breathless at the fact that every single one of those countless tiny mosaic tiles had been put in place by human hands over the centuries – is it possible to count how many others had stood on the same spot and marvelled at the same thing…?

Music at a cafe in Piazza San Marco

Standing amidst so much rich culture and history was awe-inspiring. This city began centuries ago when local people escaped the barbarian invasions by fleeing to the 120 little islands in the lagoon – they began to build little dwellings on the islands eventually connecting them with bridges and thus it developed into a place which inspired Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, Vivaldi and just about every poet and artist of note throughout history.

And for four days I walked in their footsteps.

Venice might be home to the Bridge of Sighs - but I would go one step further call Venice itself The City of Sighs.

The famous Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal

Copyright © 2007-2012 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.