Dana at the famous
Rialto Bridge, the oldest of
only four bridges which
cross the Grand Canal

The bridge spans 28 meters
and is 8 meters high.

 Michelangelo was one of the
numerous leading 16th century
architects competing to
design the bridge.

He and the others lost out
to the winning project of
1588-91 by Antonio da Ponte.

The Rialto remained the
only bridge crossing the
Grand Canal until 1854.

a shop devoted to toys
and gadgets carved from wood

street view from
atop a footbridge

Many of the streets here
are festooned with
holiday decorations.

Absinthe is as popular here in
Venice as in other European cities.

the mercato del pesce al
minuto(retail fish market),
on the Campo de la
Beccarie, near the Rialto Bridge

Also called La Pescaria,
the present structure dates from
the early 20th century.

The immense foundations of
the Rialto Bridge stretch
650 feet on either side.

Heavy buildings were constructed atop the foundations to hold everything in place.

Previous bridges on this site could open to let big ships pass, but not this one.

After this bridge was in
place, much of the Grand Canal
was closed to shipping.

Records tell of markets existing in the Rialto area as early as 1097.

Sit for lunch, then jump in a vaporetto.

You'll pay significantly more
to enjoy your meal here
with this view than if you
venture a few blocks away
from the Grand Canal.

Rialto has always been the commercial district of Venice.

There's a place named for
MATT RADIO's home state.

In 1818, when the water
was cleaner, Lord Byron
swam all the way down the
Grand Canal from the Lido.

Yes, that is a UPS boat. 

2:06 pm

The water taxis must share
Grand Canal space with
about 500 gondoliers.

back at the Antico Doge hotel

all the pretty bottles

I assume this is self-serve?

our door

our room number

"cicchetti": an assortment
of seafood, zucchini, quiche,
tomato, sausage balls, etc.

Dana at the Ostaria Antico
Dolo, a cicchetti bar

Matt tries a Bellini at the
Ostaria al Diavo'lo L'Aquasarta.

Frames outside display the evening's food offerings.

You know I was sick, because I didn't even bother to try to take the unopened free cake with us when we checked out.