Venice is a unique city and very popular with tourists. Its location in the middle of a lagoon is what gives it its special charm. Venice was built on over 100 islands, and its main thoroughfares are the canals, which are navigated by boats and gondolas, including the Grand Canal with its Renaissance and Gothic palaces. In the central St Mark’s Square stand St Mark’s Basilica with its Byzantine mosaics and the striking bell tower.
We have been to Venice several times and experienced the city before the influx of mass tourism. Particularly impressive was the
Singing week with Susi Huber, October 8 - 31, 2003
Together with the ad hoc choir of Susi Huber, the 'Susians', we experienced romantic Venice. Musically, these days were mainly dedicated to Mozart's Nocturnos. Our rehearsal place with wonderful acoustics was the sacristy of the San Geremia church at the Canale Grande.
On walks in Venice we walked in the footsteps of Tintoretto *), Tiepolo **) and Titian ***). Excursions took us to Burano and Torcello, where we were impressed by the Romanesque church.
In our free time we enjoyed the atmosphere of Venice
*) We admired Tintoretto's works in the Chiesa della Madonna del'Orto and in the. Scuola Grande di San Rocco.
**) Giovanni Battista Tiepolo created admirable frescoes in the Scuola Grande dei Carmini. I saw his most magnificent work later in Würzburg.
***) my favourite painting by Titian is Danaé
Gerhard and Vreni on the Ponte degli Scalsi near the station. Behind us the Grand Canal.
Chiesa di San Geremia.
In the 18th century, architect Carlo Corbellini designed the new cross-domed church on old foundations.
The sacristy served us as a rehearsal room.
The church houses the painting 'Coronation of Venezia' by Jacopo Palma the Younger (1548 - 1628 Venice), also called Palma (il) Giovane.
San Geremia also houses the relics of Santa Lucia.
Saint Lucia lived and died her martyrdom in Syracuse. She was buried there in a church named after her. Her relics were later taken to Constantinople to save them from Muslim occupiers, then in 1204 during the 4th Crusade they were brought to Venice.
View of the Grand Canal from the sacristy window of San Geremia.
The sacristy, with its wonderful arcustics, was our rehearsal venue.
Canale Grande
The Grand Canal (Canale Grande) from the Rialto Bridge.
What would Venice be without a gondola ride. Susi waves up.
San Marco with many tourists and just as many pigeons.
This is Tintoretto's house. It is near the Chiesa della Madonna dell' Orto, where some of his famous paintings are located.
A trip – by boat, of course – took us to Torcello.
The picture shows Burano, as seen from the island of Torcello.
