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 Statues representing moors have been striking the hour on the clock tower on the north side of the Piazza San Marco, uninterrupted since 1499, when this precious jewel of the Renaissance period was inaugurated. Underlying the sounds of Venezia (noises do not exist) are the melodious strains of the sprightly local dialect which resound from the campielli (piazzas) and the calle (alleys), the crowded haberdashers' and the high streets with their fine shops. An aire of harmonious chatter permeates the Frezzeria (to the west of Piazza San Marco) and the Campo Santo Stefano, with its open-air bar and souvenir shops. The sound of classical music is a familiar one to Venice, which boasted a very lively school in the 17th and 18th centuries comprised of 4 conservatories, the first public theaters and musical greats the likes of Monteverdi, Albinoni, Vivaldi. The latter was appointed "maestro dei concerti" of the Chiesa della Pietà church, constructed with special attention accorded to optimizing its acoustic properties.  To hear the echoed sighs of the condemned, there's a so-called "secret tour" of the Palazzo Ducale which includes a visit to the torture chamber, the dungeons and the Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri). Visits by appointment only, any day but Wednesday, Tel: 041-5224951. Venezia, the city without cars, is more silent than any other. A cradle of quiet where even the low hum of a steamboat boat is a disturbance. Another peaceful oasis is the island of San Pietro in the eastern sestiere of Castello, with its ancient church and lonely bell tower. Tranquil and nearly tourist-free is the Cannaregio district, where both Tintoretto and Marco Polo lived. Notable sights here are the Church of the Madonna dell'Orto and the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli with its colorful marble facade restored under the auspices of the American Save Venice Organization. Cannaregio is also the location of the ancient Jewish Ghetto, the first in Italy, which dates back to 1516. |
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