Venice, Italy
After 3 days at sea, Caronia finally arrives in Venice. Stepping on deck to watch our arrival, you will see that for a major port, Venice is really unusual and breathtakingly beautiful. To begin with, you'll probably wonder just where is Caronia going to tie-up for her 2 day stay?
The total absence of cranes, the most usual feature of any seaport, will probably confuse you at first, so just where are we going to berth? Then, as the ship proceeds slowly towards the St Marks Basin, and the tugs come to meet and help her turn, you realise that she will be berthed at one of the low quays nearby.
This is quite unlike arrival at any other international port. The actual berthing place is called Riva del Sette Martiri (7 Martyrs Quay) and it's within easy walking distance of St Mark's Square, right there in the heart of Venice! This Quay commemorates a gruesome act of vengeance by the occupiers during WWII, after a German sentry went missing, presumed captured by the Italian Resistance.
An Easterly walk over the bridge towards the Biennale Gardens takes you past a unique momunent at the water's edge, erected in 1965 from plans drawn by Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa. It's of a recumbent woman sculpted in bronze by Augusto Murer in 1961 to honour the bravery of the women involved with the Resistance.
With the quayside barely 18 inches above the waterline, and the gangways placed way down on “B” Deck, this will be a unique opportunity to walk alongside the Caronia at a leisurely pace and appreciate just how big she really is. Usually, you would only ever get to see her at this level when she was at anchor, and you were approaching in one of her tenders.
Having arrived on a Wednesday, we are told that we have just missed a Venice highlight event of the year. The “Regata Storica” or Historical Regatta, an annual trial of strength mostly involving the city's gondoliers had been held on its traditional day, the first Sunday of September.
from starboard side of Caronia
[Photo: Copyright © Peter Stevens 11/1964]
The brochure extols…
Venice is Italy's most unique and fascinating city. This City by the Sea is built on hundreds
of tiny islands, wooden piles and stones. Her streets are canals - spanned by colourful bridges.
A ride in a gondola is the only way to fully appreciate the picturesque charm of the city and
its canals.
Ride down the Grand Canal - lined with magnificent palaces - spanned by the Rialto. Visit the Doge's Palace and the nearby Prison and Bridge of Sighs. Relax in St. Mark's Square at a sidewalk café and feed the pigeons, wait for the striking of the hour by the enormous bronze figures at the top of the Clock Tower and admire Venice's most sumptuous building - the Cathedral of St. Mark.
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