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 The bell tower of San Marco, accessible by elevator, affords a marvellous view of the canals, the bridges, the lagoon, the islands and, in clear weather - even the Alps. If the lines indicate too long a wait, try the bell tower of San Giorgio Maggiore on the island of the same name across from Piazza San Marco which is also equipped with an elevator and offers an alternative perspective. A less complicated view of the Palazzo Ducale and San Marco can be enjoyed from Punta Dogana at the end of the Canal Grande. The Loggia dei Cavalli in San Marco's basilica affords an unusual view: a flight of stairs leads to the museum and a gallery offering a splendid view of the church's interior, while the outer gallery (with its famous pair of horses) looks down on the piazza itself.  The atmosphere of long-ago Venice, with all the pomp and magnificence of the Serenissima are reproduced each year by means of several spectacular festivals with the whole city in costume: And of course, there's Carnevale, that glorious confetti of costumes, masks and joie de vivre (that's gioia di vivere in Italian!), held on February 5-16 in 1999. |
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