This morning, we had a rowing lesson to learn to row the traditional Venetian batele. These used to be the most common work boats that everyone used, but now it’s mostly motorboats in the canals. We each got a turn in the front, paddling, and in the back, steering.
The organization we worked with is a nonprofit that supports female rowing athletes, and Valentina, who helped us in the back of the boat, is a racer.
We saw other boats with racing teams training in the lagoon.
Our guide, Laura, was wonderful. She taught us so much about Venice and rowing, and the boats. She talked about how rowing in a boat like this one allows you to see Venice from the same perspective as people long ago, versus the view today from higher above the water.
We really clicked with our guide, Laura. At the end of our rowing lesson, she said that she was enjoying our curiosity, and offered to show us around town. So she gave us a tour of the less traveled routes as we walked toward the palace, and we invited her to join us for lunch.
We learned that these giant nails were pounded into the walls so that people could use them to get from their boats’ parking places to their door or the steps.
These cisterns were used to store rainwater for the neighborhood to drink.
We stopped by a modern art exhibit in an old guild hall.
Even the hospital here is gorgeous.
After lunch, we went straight to the Doge’s palace for our secret itineraries tour. The prison was definitely not somewhere I would want to stay.
We learned about Casanova’s time in the prison, and his multiple escape attempts. He was eventually successful, and there are records of a guard he tricked being punished, which corroborates his story.
We saw a bunch of old family crests dating back to the 1200’s. I liked this one, which looks pretty fierce.
The Doge’s palace was…palatial. And ornate. It seemed like all of the rooms were the same, just in different sizes. Ornate carvings, beautifully painted ceilings, and dark wood.
We weren’t sure why the doors were cut like this.
These clocklike things were interesting, but strange. We thought one was a 24 hour clock, and the other showed the months, but things weren’t in the positions we would expect.
This golden staircase is incredible.
The collection of weapons was really cool. Giant swords, armor, crossbows, and maces.
We went over the bridge of sighs, and looked out the window at the last view prisoners would have seen of the outside world.
The outside of the palace was very intricately decorated.
We picked up fresh homemade pasta and gnocchi at Baci & Pasta to eat at home. Everyone loved the cappelletti with smoked cheese sauce the most.
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