Just Venice~

Sep16


I will not lie. She is way too crowded, and these are some of the reasons why.

These are ceiling shots of the Scuola Grande di San Rocco which opened in 1478 and was named after the patron saint of plague victims. The scuola (school) was a brotherhood of citizens devoted to charitable welfare.

Tintoretto was eventually a member of the brotherhood, and his paintings cover much of the interiors.

How this happened is interesting. There was a competition among artists (including Veronese), to determine who would paint the interiors. They were asked to submit sketches. While the other artists busily worked on their sketches, Tintoretto, installed one of his completed paintings in the scuola. (1) The result is history!
Titian also has artwork here.

This is the adjacent Chiesa San Rocco, a Venetian version of a modest little chapel.

They take churches very seriously in Venice. There are 139 of them! They provide a weary tourist wonderful respite from “the madding crowd.”

Cheers to you from Venice and her stunning quiet corners~
(1) http://www.scuolagrandesanrocco.org/home-en/tintoretto/sala-dell-albergo/

183 thoughts on “Just Venice~”

  1. Spellbinding, isn’t it? There’s something about those Italians! Reminds me so much of my lovely Florence trip. 🙂 🙂 But I could get very cross about cruise ships, Cindy.

    • Of course you could. I remember being in the Sistine Chapel with my children and just lazing away part of the day there. Fast forward ten years and people were packed in like sardines, you couldn’t move and it was actually unsafe, not to mention totally horrible.

  12. I’m so happy you’ve posted from Venice. We were there in 2008 but only had 2.5 days…not long enough at all. I would have love to see more if the interiors. Stunning right? I don’t think we’ll ever see artist like this ever again. I’m fascinated by Venice and the age of the buildings and living in the canals with boats going to and fro but mostly remember the evenings. With classical musci wafting through the air and the beautiful reflections of history glistening in the dark on the water, there is just no place like it. Beautiful! xo B

    • Yes the evenings are pure magic. The daily tour groups leave. The place quiets down. The open air pizza ovens start firing up and your biggest decision is where to go for an outdoor dinner. It is magical.Perfect strolling time….

  16. Such glorious photos Cindy!! Would sure love to be sitting in those places, studying the beauty and stories of these walls and ceilings. Thanks for the look at them… You are amazing! xo

    • I can’t wait to see your photos when you do! Consider late fall or preferably winter. The photos are incredible because everything is empty, there is a light dusting of snow on the ground, and the air is crisp and clean, sharp reflections everywhere. It is cold, but that won’t scare you, or me! Anything to be in the Uffizi all by myself!

  21. Thank you, Grazie, Merci Beaucoup. . . I have only been to Canada, Mexico and Spain all before age 30 and now,finally booked my first flight in decades to see my college friend and first maid of honor, Patrice. She spends half year in Charlevoix which is like Camelot in Michigan and I loved it there (car ride and stayed a few days) and the other half will be my first trip to New Orleans and Long Beach, Mississippi. Just yesterday, my youngest daughter booked it for me, so special to see Venice and other views you shared.
    In early November, I’ll be wandering alone through the French Market since my friend has schizophrenia and doesn’t want to listen to dead people talking to her. Poor thing but brilliant!! xo 🌾🍁🍃

    • You have exciting travels planned Robin. I am happy for you! People with schizophrenia are brilliant and we have so much to learn from them if we are willing to listen and accept. I am glad you are her friend. She deserves friends~ ❤ ❤

  24. Wow! Isn’t it so beautiful! I doubt that we’ll ever see this kind of talent again. Too bad it was so crowded in Venice. We visited in October of one year and it wasn’t bad at all. Hard to imagine 169 churches in one small area. The competition for attendee’s on Sunday might be like the WWF 😀 I think going to church in a motor boat would make it for fun

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