To find our little mystery, get off the vaporetto at the Giardini vaporetto stop in Castello, and look for this arch, which is near the canal (Rio di San Giuseppe).
I can’t tell you anything about it, but it does look relatively modern, compared to many of the other sculptures, reliefs and structures we are used to seeing in Venice.
Here are some of the other details carved into the archway.
So, now you know where to find this, next time you’re in Castello.
Hello World 
A bit of progress in the what. Andrea del Sarto’s Madonna of the Harpies features creatures very similar to this one, but they’re not actually harpies, as they were named as such by Vasari, in error.
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http://www.googleartproject.com/en-gb/collection/uffizi-gallery/artwork/madonna-of-the-harpies-andrea-del-sarto/329467/
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Thank you, Jeff, for tracking down that bit of information! Somewhere, someone has the answer for us!
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OK, I was way off…
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No, not really, Bloke. They are so similar, who would think there’d be more than one of them in Venice?
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How strange, I saw this arch and photographed it (from a distance) just 2 weeks ago but didn’t get close enough to see the details!!? Now I’ll just have to go back …..! Tks Yvonne
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What a coincidence, Jo! Yes, you’ll definitely have to get back there now. 🙂
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Now, those are good questions, Darlene! When (if) I get some answers, I’ll be sharing them.
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I notice the same figure sitting in the frog position like the one you had in an earlier post. Who is that? And why that particular seated position?
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That was a fun treasure hunt Yvonne!
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Thanks, Susie. It’s so difficult to find anything that hasn’t been noticed by many others!
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Not for you Yvonne, you have a talent for ferreting out the overlooked details.
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Now, I’m looking at that chunk of marble in the garden, in the first photo, wondering if it has things engraved in it!
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So 450 years have taken it’s toll so it is possible she has “lost” some of her details.
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Imagine us after 450 years, Michelle! The mind boggles.
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The mind boggles at the details I have lost in my nearly 64 years….can’t imagine 450….wait…by then I will be dust….very fine dust.
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Like you, I would have strolled or trotted past there so many times, and finally SAW it, Linda.
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Thanx Bert for the additional info. Whew 450 years old…amazing!
Yvonne thanks so much….I’ve passed this many times…it’s wonderful to see all the details!!
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Thanks for the link, Bert. I was sure wrong about it being relatively modern! Thank goodness for all the research Jeff Cotton has done, eh? His site is brilliant and passionate.
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450 years old is relatively modern by Venice standards, isn’t it? 🙂
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Well, that is true, Caroline!
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You can find out about the arch here: http://www.churchesofvenice.co.uk/demolished.htm Go to Castello, and see Sant’Antonio di Castello. It was designed by Sanmicheli (allegedly), which would make it over 450 years old. I’ve never looked at it so closely – so thanks, Yvonne.
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