Light and Space
Although we did not go back to the Gallerie dell’ Accademia to revisit St. Wilgefortis, the message of the saint of embracing life with everything that is, seemed to be manifested in Venice itself. Brilliant, intensive light created crisp, clear shadows on bridges and arcade passageways, streaming into windows and doors and made the passageways of light even more visible. Light and Venice are so intimately intertwined that it is no wonder Venetian painters captured the light in their paintings.
Arcades of the Palace of the Doge (14th century)
Doge’s Palace
Doge’s Palace with the entrance to the inner rooms and no tourists
Light streaming into the Sala del Senato of the Palazzo Ducale.
Crisp reflections on the Canals
In addition to the intensive interplay between light and shadow, I do not know any other city where the feeling of space is so a dominant as it is in Venice. Openness and spaciousness are side by side closed and narrow spaces and this contrast leads to an even bigger awareness of spaces.
View from the Campanile (bell tower of St. Mark’s Basilica) with the cupolas of the basilica in the foreground and view to Cannaregio in the northwestern part of the city.
Empty Piazza San Marco
View from the balustrade of St. Mark’s Basilica down to the piazza with the weekend “crowd”
The Chamber of the Great Council is one of the biggest rooms in Europe. At the end of the room, you see the throne of the Doge in front of the longest canvas painting in the world, Il Paradiso by Tintoretto.
There is also a very dark side to the palace – the secret denunciation places and the prison cells – Â the absence of space and openness.
One of several mailboxes in and around the building of the Doge’s palace. Citizens could submit information on neighbours, accusing them of violating some laws. These accusations were always investigated and sentences were often harsh.
Bridge of Sighs connecting the interrogation rooms to the prison – the last chance of the prisoners to see the outside
Narrow walkways with small entrance doors to the prison cells
The space inside the Basilica de Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari is overwhelming. It must have been especially impressive for the people in the 13th century, when the church was built. The church contains many monuments, including the memorial of Titian and Antonio Canova.
Inside one of the many synagogues in Cannaregio. When it was a synagogue, this area was only for men.
The limited space for women in the synagogue was in the balcony
