Mediterranean Cruise - ORIANA : Venice

06-August-2010, Venice : Italy

Weather: Sunny, Temp:27°C, Sea State:Slight, Sunrise:06:00 Sunset 20:32

10:30 Pick up local Pilot

10:50 Pass Fort St Andrea

11:05 Pass the Venetian Naval College

11:15 Arrive at Piazza San Marco

The Lagoon of Venice some thirty five miles long and seven miles at its widest point is made of 118 islands made from the sand, shale and mud brought down from Alps by three fast flowing rivers.

In the fifth and sixth centuries the people of Veneti (mainland Italy) were forced out from their cities by the Barbarians (Germans) and sought refuge in the small islands in the Laguna Veneta.

Building up the properties on wooden of oak, alder and larch stilts driven some eight meters in the sand and joined together using timber slats and  marble slabs.

In the last eighty years the Eastern side of the city has sunk some seven inches and there are many projects in place trying to save the many historic buildings.

As you enter St Marks square, which regularly floods at night, from the Grand Canal. On your right you see the marbled Basilica de Marco taking it’s inspiration from the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople.

Up to 1807 the Doges Chapel (Duke of the city) since then the city’s Cathedral. The walls are covered with some 4,000 square yards of mosaics.

An extra charge is made to view the Pala d’Oro.

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