The Jewish ghetto in Venice

What a day! We departed Duino at 8 for the train station in Monfalcone and arrived in Venice around 10:30. I was fortunate to spend the day with Jessica Paul, my friend and colleague from Luther. We began by exploring the Jewish Ghetto, the oldest in the world. Although the population living in this area has dwindled considerably in the past two centuries, it is still a vibrant and active community. We saw several interesting exhibits at the Hebrew museum, and then had a treat at a wonderful bakery.

Next on the agenda was finding the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, a guildhall where every surface was covered with an elaborate mural by Tintoretto. I don’t have any pictures to show, since photos aren’t allowed inside the building, but it’s worth exploring online. In addition to the artwork, the scuola has an extensive collection of relics, most of which are displayed in clear glass jars for all to see (such as a bone fragment from St. Peter!).

The entrance to the Scuola Grande di San Rocco

We ended by walking to San Marco and visiting the interior of this huge basilica. It was huge, ornate, crowded, and surprisingly dark on the inside. To get a sense of the place, it would probably be better to attend a service. After all that walking, we took a vaporetto (water-train) back to the train station. Jessica spotted a plaque marking the house where Wagner lived in Venice. All in all, a full, rich, and wonderful day in a beautiful city!

A plaque outside the house where Wagner lived

Long day!