Venice Venice: The Diary of an Awestruck Traveller: Volume 3: Hidden Gems

Volume 3 (Hidden Gems) follows Gillian on her fourth and fifth journeys to la Serenissima. Staying on board the Croisi-Europe riverboat MICHELANGELO for her fourth visit, her time is spent visiting a mask-making workshop; understanding the skill required to build a gondola at the Tramontin i Figli squero (gondola boatyard); and exploring the newly refurbished Fondaco dei Tedeschi, transformed by Benetton into a luxury shopping mall (she has her own views on this!). She manages to locate the Societa Bocciofila San Sebastiano (Bowling Club), and, strolling again through one of her favourite parts of Venice (the Ghetto), she continues on to discover that most beautiful, yet less well known or visited, of churches, I Gesuiti. Once back on board, the MICHELANGELO then cruises down to Chioggia, where Gillian spends the morning sightseeing before travelling on to Padova for an afternoon''s tour of that very elegant city before returning to Venice for one last enjoyable gala night on the boat. For her fifth visit, Gillian returns to one of her favourite hotel, the Hotel Bel Sito in the Campo Santa Maria del Giglio. On this trip she tours both La Fenice Opera House ( she has not yet been successful in obtaining a ticket to see an opera - her great ambition), and the Torre d''Orologio in the Piazza San Marco. She also discovers the Museo della Musica at San Maurizio; attends Communion at the Anglican Church of St George in the Campo San Vio; follows Donna Leon''s popular character (one of her favourites), Commissario Brunetti, to his place of work at La Questura; and cannot believe her eyes as she enters the seemingly higgledy-piggledy world of the Libreria Alta Acqua at Santa Maria Formosa. A climb to the top of the Campanile di San Giorgio Maggiore beckons, where she is in her element photographing the beautiful views spread out before her. Then follows a voyage of discovery to the island of Pellestrina by bus and ferry from Lido; and finally a very enjoyable trip down memory lane to renew her acquaintance with Burano and Torcello. So much to read, absorb and enjoy in Volume 3! See more