We’re all familiar with the appearance of this famous Basilica, thanks to TV documentaries, newspapers or holiday photos.
Photo sourced online
If you climb the steep stairs to access the museum of the Basilica, and then go out onto the loggia, you’ll be treated to a close up view of some of the intricate details of this place of worship.
What lucky workers were chosen to place the highest of the statues? Did they enjoy their work? Were they paid danger money?
To my knowledge, I’ve never heard this bell ringing. Has anyone else?
At the risk of a very stiff neck, there are a number of mosaics to admire as you walk around the loggia.
I wonder how many pieces of mosaic are in just this one work? And, who put them all into their proper places? And, why couldn’t they have been put at eye level to save my neck?
Not on the Basilica, but visible from your place of elevation, is this rooftop with a splendid example of an ancient chimney. I know some of you will be able to identify the building that’s under that roof.
Hello World 
I am speechless when seeing Your gorgeous photos. They cause in me wanderlust to see this.
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I hope you get to see Venice one day. Go about this time of the year, there aren’t such huge crowds of visitors.
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Have you watched Francesco’s Venice, Yvonne? I’m working through it before I go this time.
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I sure have, Andrew. Maybe it’s time to watch it again. Keep your eyes open, you may see him when you’re in Venice.
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I certainly hope that bell is never wrung. I wouldn’t want that poor little statue underneath to get a headache.
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That’s very thoughtful of you, Bun. 🙂
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Friend of statues everywhere, that me! 🙂
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I don’t think I’ve ever been up there. Thanks for taking me along. Last time I was in the basilica, we were a bit restricted in where we could go. You basically had to stay on the ramps two foot off the floor. Otherwise you’d be ankle deep in water.
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I just found you loitering in my spam folder, with a few shady characters, MoSY! I rescued you from that bad lot.
It’s amazing that the lovely floor in the basilica has withstood the onslaught of the tides for so many years.
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Thank you for saving me! Yes, I had a big catch up day on Saturday, reading and commenting on lots of blog posts so Akismet decided I must be a spammer. I’m slowly waiting for everyone to free me from their spam jails.
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Spam, spam, spam …
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😀 One of my favourites. 😀
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Both times I was in Venice, the basilica was covered in scaffolding 😦
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That sounds about right, lady. The only time I saw it free was in 1980, and I had no idea how lucky I was.
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Oh, you so were 🙂 *jealous*
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It’s such a beauty. When we were in Venice it was being renovated. Is that the right word? Restored perhaps. I can definitely understand the stiff neck!
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It seems to be in a constant state of renovation/restoration! It’s definitely a beautiful basilica, inside and out.
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I love beautiful mosaics and marvel at the patience required to piece all those little tiles. How beautiful.
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They had some seriously talented mosaicists (I may have made up that word) in the decorating of San Marco. I liked going to mass there, when the lights were on and all the golden tiles glowed.
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Nope, you are very clever. I googled and you are correct.
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It’s nice to see something other than the usual parts of San Marco. Good for you for climbing those stairs. Otherwise, I’d have never seen those statues…
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You’re welcome. Those stairs are very steep, with quite high risers (if that’s the correct word for the height of the stairs).
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And probably not much in the way of railings…
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Solid walls on either side!
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Beautiful and I’m guessing there was no “danger pay” in those days.
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I wonder if there was very much pay, in fact.
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wonderful post – and I also wonder about mosaic tiles – like in New York subway waiting areas – and laughed when you suggested they lower them to prevent the neck strain- how fun – …
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Yes, those artisans were so darn thoughtless, no consideration for us at all.
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😉 🌍
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Grazie, Yvonne. I needed a good dose of Venetian blue. I’m sure someone has the answers to the questions you pose…but not me. But I do have a reasonably priced plane ticket for March!
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It’s nice to have a target date in place, Michelle.
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It is indeed.
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Wow.
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Wow, indeed, especially when seen against a brilliant blue sky.
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I’m just now imagining that scenario…
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It is definitely a wonderful ‘place of worship’ but I wonder how much of the gold was stolen from the new colonies in South America. But in spite of that there seems to be nothing that can stand in the way of dedicated craftsman when in comes to creating a beautiful building.
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I think a lot of the building material may have been “liberated” from other countries, John.
How is Tasmania this morning?
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Tassie got up to 12C today. A pleasant winter’s day.
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Napoleon stole the horses and took them to Paris but they were returned sometime later!
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Those horses have travelled more than many people, Andrew.
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The new colonies in South America weren’t occupied by Venice. It was Spain that ‘liberated’ most of the gold. Of course, some of it might have ended up in Venice eventually.
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True. But a lot went to the Church.
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