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Gondola Workshop (Squero di San Trovaso) – What
would Venice be without the gondolas? At the corner of Rio Di San Trovaso
and Rio Ognissanti canals (on Fondamente Nani), you can see one of the oldest
gondola workshops. Gonodola making is a closely held art, going back 800+
years, and here kids can watch gondola makers at work in the open air squero,
resanding and repainting gondolas (the recipe for the black-lacquer paint
is a secret). |
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Galleria dell' Accademia – Like the Uffizi in Florence, this
is the art museum for Venice, filled with large paintings from illustrious
Venetian artists such as Titian, Tintoretto, the Bellini's, and Veronese.
Throughout the Accademia, look for different Mary and baby Jesus paintings,
especially the Madonna with Child by Titian – Mary is often
painted with porcelain skin and typical Venetian reddish gold hair, and
the babies are adorable. In the huge Feast in the House of Levi by Veronese find the big cat lolling under the table. In the Miracle
of St. Mark Freeing the Slave by Tintoretto, St. Mark barrels down
out of the sky like Superman. The museum collection has wonderful family
portraits, and check out all the lovely Renaissance gowns and jewels in
the paintings. |
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Walk along the Zattere – After you've trooped
through the Galleria dell' Accademia, make your way to the Zattere (Fondamenta
Zattere Pal Ponte Lungo), a wide promenade along the Guidecca Canal where
you can run around, watch the boats go by or find a gelato. |
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Ca' Rezzonico – Ca' Rezzonico is a very fancy palazzo, a
Baroque Venetian mega-mansion, extravagant for its time, which today is
filled with 18th century portraits and paintings of Venetian life. The
marble staircase and ballroom gets your attention with gilded chandeliers,
the throne room has a fabulous rococo gilded throne with a ruby red velvet
seat, and a Tiepolo ceiling fresco packed with adorable winged cherubs.
In the grand salon, check out the sedan chair (what a way to be transported
around). On the upper floors are paintings with scenes of Venice by Canaletto,
and family portraits, kids on horseback, ice skating on the frozen canal,
costume parties, a woman having her hair fixed and sipping hot chocolate
in the morning (just like moms today ...). Don't miss the reproduction
of an 18th century bedroom, with a lovely lacquered cradle, and on the
top floor a pharmacy filled with ceramic jars of exotic ingredients. |
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 Play
garden – Outside the Ca'Rezzonico, to the left of the entrance,
a small garden is tucked away, a fountain filled with little fish, benches
and a small toddler play area. The garden is open when the museum is open,
and any morning you'll find local children and strollers in the garden.
Tip: If you have toddlers, they may want to stay in the garden and play,
while older kids visit the palazzo.
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Campo Santa Margherita – Looking for
a place to relax in the neighborhood? Campo San Margherita is a very large
campo, lined with restaurants, cafes and outdoor seating, room for the kids
to run around, a fruit stand and ice cream vendors. Lively and fun, this
is another one of our favorite campos. |
