Take me away! A video visit to Venice

It’s been called “The Queen of the Adriatic,” “The Floating City,” and “Undoubtedly the Most Beautiful City Ever Built by Man.” Welcome to Venice.

Around 1000 B.C., the Veneti people settled in this region along the Adriatic Sea. On through the Middle Ages and Renaissance, this group of small islands served as the crossroads between East and West along the Spice Trail. Today this beautiful city, named after the Greek goddess of the sea, serves as one of the most artistic and cultural centers in the Western world.

Here are some of the spectacular sights on our video tour.

The Winged Lion of Venice

When you first arrive in Venice, by boat of course, you will be greeted by two soaring pillars. Atop each are the original and current patron saints of Venice: Saint Theodore, symbolized by a spear and the dragon legend says he slayed; he was later replaced by Saint Mark, symbolized by the famous Winged Lion of Venice.

Why a winged lion, or griffin?  Lots of theories there. One tradition says Saint Mark preached like the roar of a lion, and the wings represent a connection to the divine. And why Venice? Venetian tradition says that when Mark arrived in Venice, an angel spoke to him and said ”Here your body will rest." St. Mark became the patron Saint of Venice once his relics were brought here in 828 A.D.

Today, you’ll see the Lion of Saint Mark all over Venice, and throughout the former Venetian Republic.

St. Mark’s Basilica

St. Mark’s Basilica is the symbol of Venice on three levels: religious, artistic and political.  Religious, of course, because St. Mark’s tomb is inside. Artistic because it’s a wonderful blend of architectural styles from the East and the West. The church itself has been moved, burned down and re-designed a few times over the centuries. The onion-domed Byzantine and Italian style we see today was built in 1094, as a symbol of strength for the Venetian Republic.  Which brings us to its political statement. Venice’s glorious basilica was the city’s chance to say: We are the Rome of the East.

Why? Well, during the times of the Spice Trade and the Silk Road, Venice served as a super-power as the crossroads between East and West. That’s why you’ll see both those Western European and Eastern Asian architectural designs here.  Known as the “Church of Gold," the interior is bathed in gold with 85,000 square feet of mosaics.  All that gold symbolizes the glory of God, and heaven, as well as sneaking in one more political statement: that powerful Venice can afford all this opulence.

Torre dell’Orologio

Just outside the basilica is Piazza San Marco, with those famous Venetian pigeons. Wade through them carefully, and look up to your right.  You’ll see an exquisite bright blue clock: the beautiful Torre dell’Orologio, or clock tower, originally built in 1499.  From a distance, back in the lagoon, you’ll see how the Renaissance architects centered their clock perfectly between those two patron saint columns.

But back up-close, here’s where the fun begins. Notice anything unusual in the design? Here’s how you can tell it was built in the 15th century: If you look very closely at the clock face, you can see the Earth at the center, with the sun and the moon, and the signs of the zodiac circling it. Remember, Venice was known for its maritime explorers during the Renaissance (Marco! Polo!), and astrology not only guided the Golden Age of Discovery, but was happily intertwined with religion.  Now, believing that the Earth is at the center of the universe, and whether or not Venetian leaders were reading their daily horoscopes; well, those are topics for another time.

Palazzo Ducale

And don’t miss Venice’s other grand architecture, like the Palazzo Ducale, or Doge’s Palace, built in glorious Venetian Gothic style. The Doge, or Duke, was the leader of not just the Venice you see today, but the entire Republic of Venice, which at its height spread clear across the Adriatic Coast. The Doge was elected for life, and had some pretty nice perks, like living and working in the grand Palazzo Ducale.

Inside, check out the incredible painted ceilings framed in gold in the Council Chamber. In what is now a courtyard, there’s some wonderful Venetian symbols to decipher at the "Scala dei Giganti," or Staircase of the Giants.  Guarding the staircase are Poseidon, god of the sea, symbolizing Venice’s trade power along the coast. On the other side is Mars, the god of war, symbolizing Venice’s political power. The Doge would stand right in the middle for public appearances, and conveniently, right above his head, is that Lion of Saint Mark, symbolizing the Doge’s religious power.

Bridge of Sighs

Connected to the Doge’s Palace is the legendary "Bridge of Sighs." Prisoners were taken through a tunnel under the bridge, and would take their last look at beautiful Venezia through the grates, and sigh.

I prefer the above-ground view. Much cheerier.  With lots of gondolas. Cue the opera music.

Gondola hood ornament: The hidden map of Venice

A trip to Venice would not be complete without a gondola ride. But did you know you are actually taking a ride on yet another symbol of Venice?  The bow ornament on every true gondola is a rubric of Venice: The six prongs represent the six "Sistieri," the original neighborhoods of Venice. Sometimes you’ll also see three smaller ornaments tucked within those prongs, representing the three islands of Venice: Murano, Burano and Torcello.  The one prong sticking out backwards, towards the riders — that’s Giudecca, the island just south of the main island, facing the sestieri. The curve on the top is the Doge’s Cap, and the main S-curve symbolizes the Grand Canal.

And my favorite part? The tiny little arch under the Doge’s Cap: That’s the Rialto Bridge.

Arrivederci!

Christine van Blokland is a travel writer and host for Curious Traveler on PBS and Create-TV.