Uploads from STEHOUWER AND RECIO, tagged toerisme, with geodata

Ohrid lake, Struga, the beach people

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 02:48:42 -0700

Ohrid lake, Struga, the beach people

Ohrid lake, created 4 to 10 million years ago, is the oldest lake in Europe. It's a typical oliogotrophic lake, which means that it consists of low level of nutrients.
The lake lies in the valley between Ohrid and Struga in Macedonia, at 695 m above sea level. It covers an area of 358,2 square meters. The waterside line is 87,5 km long and 14,8 km wide. The approximate depth is 164 m, and the maximum depth is 289 m. The lake is surroundend by the Mokra, Jablanica and the Galičica mountains.
The major water mass of the lake comes from the numerous surface and underground springs. Most of the surface springs are located along the southernmost waterside, near St. Naum monastery.
It has about 40 rivers and springs entering the lake. The Sateska, Koselska and Čerava rivers are the only ones having significant water flow feeding the lake with water. The research of the wild life in Ohrid Lake shows the existence of flora and fauna, rich with endemic species. Due to this, the lake is considered as unique in Europe. Similarities may be found only with the Baikal lake in Russia.
Ohrid Lake is a UNESCO World heritage site.

Ohrid lake : little boats near the shore of Struga

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 00:16:49 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Ohrid Lake

Ohrid lake, created 4 to 10 million years ago, is the oldest lake in Europe. It's a typical oliogotrophic lake, which means that it consists of low level of nutrients.
The lake lies in the valley between Ohrid and Struga in Macedonia, at 695 m above sea level. It covers an area of 358,2 square meters. The waterside line is 87,5 km long and 14,8 km wide. The approximate depth is 164 m, and the maximum depth is 289 m. The lake is surroundend by the Mokra, Jablanica and the Galičica mountains.
The major water mass of the lake comes from the numerous surface and underground springs. Most of the surface springs are located along the southernmost waterside, near St. Naum monastery.
It has about 40 rivers and springs entering the lake. The Sateska, Koselska and Čerava rivers are the only ones having significant water flow feeding the lake with water. The research of the wild life in Ohrid Lake shows the existence of flora and fauna, rich with endemic species. Due to this, the lake is considered as unique in Europe. Similarities may be found only with the Baikal lake in Russia.
Ohrid Lake is a UNESCO World heritage site.

Ohrid

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:04:02 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Ohrid

Ohrid belongs to the oldest settlements in Maceconia originating from the pre Slavic-period. In the third century BC Lihnidos settlement was located at the today's location of Ohrid. In the 2nd century BC the city was under Roman administration and grew into an important settlement of Via Egnatia. Later, as a rich city, it fell under Byzantine authority. In the 6tj and 7th century heavy fights run between the Slavic tribes and the Byzantines. Later, as a the Macedonian Slavic state Ohrid was the metropolis of Czar Samuil. The fortress in Ohrid dates from the period of his governance (around the year 1000)
In the 12th abd 13th century Ohrid developed handcrafts and trade and became an important economic centre. In the period of the Byzantine empire Ohrid became a seat of the archbishop.
When Ohrid fell under medieval Serbia, the city was under jurisdiction of the Serbian czar Dušan.
In 1395 the city fell under Turkish governance.
In the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century the city declined dus to the constant attacks of the Albanians.

Nowadays Ohrid represents the most developed and attractive tourist place in the Republic of Macedonia.
The position of the city, the old city architecture, cultural and historical monuments, natural resources of Ohrid and Lake Ohrid were accepted as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Where the Black Drim starts in Struga, part one

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 02:51:16 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Black Drim or Black Drin

The, Black Drim or Black Drin (Albanian: Drini i Zi: meaning "the black deer"; Macedonian: Црн Дрим: Transliterated: Crn Drim) is a river in Republic of Macedonia and Albania. It flows out of Lake Ohrid in Struga, Macedonia. After approximately 50 km (31mi) it crosses the border to Albania, west of Debar, Macedonia. It merges with the White Drin in Kukës to form the Drin, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. It drains most of the eastern border region of Albania.
Where the Blak Drim flows in Albania there is an agricultural-based site. The main agricultural products are corn and barley, but the tree-culture is evolving as well. The Ohrid trout, which is a form of salmon, can also be found in parts of the river from time to time.

Macedonia, a view over Lake Ohrid

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:02:20 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Macedonia , Ohrid Lake

Ohrid lake, created 4 to 10 million years ago, is the oldest lake in Europe. It's a typical oliogotrophic lake, which means that it consists of low level of nutrients.
The lake lies in the valley between Ohrid and Struga in Macedonia, at 695 m above sea level. It covers an area of 358,2 square meters. The waterside line is 87,5 km long and 14,8 km wide. The approximate depth is 164 m, and the maximum depth is 289 m. The lake is surroundend by the Mokra, Jablanica and the Galičica mountains.
The major water mass of the lake comes from the numerous surface and underground springs. Most of the surface springs are located along the southernmost waterside, near St. Naum monastery.
It has about 40 rivers and springs entering the lake. The Sateska, Koselska and Čerava rivers are the only ones having significant water flow feeding the lake with water. The research of the wild life in Ohrid Lake shows the existence of flora and fauna, rich with endemic species. Due to this, the lake is considered as unique in Europe. Similarities may be found only with the Baikal lake in Russia.
Ohrid Lake is a UNESCO World heritage site.

Venice in sepia, outside the tourist attractions

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:29:12 -0800

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

VENICE IN SEPIA, OUTSIDE THE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

The time has come to say goodbye to Venice.
I know, I've said it before, but this really is my last decent, Flickr worthy, picture from this beautiful city, Venice (Venezia), the romantic city in Italy that lives with the water.
Thank you all for watching this serie, it has been a joy to share it!

TGIF my friends!

If you want, view large: View On Black

Rovinj, a sailing ship at sunset time

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 03:15:15 -0800

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

ROVINJ

GENERAL INFORMATION

Rovinj (in Italian: Rovigno) is located on the western coast of Istria in Croatia.
Istria is the biggest Adriatic peninsula .
The climate is mediterranean, the average temperature in January is 4.8 C, wheras the average in July is 22.3 C.
Rovinj has around 15.000 inhabitants, and most of them are largely engaged in tourism, in the fishing trade, in agriculture, wine business and in wineculture. The town has a rich history, as well as interesting architectural buildings, beautiful natural resources and industrious people who are certainly worth a visit.
Rovinj is also one of the most famous tourist centers in Istria and Croatia, that is attended by many foreign and domestic guests. The accomodation capacities are diverse, reaching from campsites and private apartments and rooms to smaller board and lodging places and high class hotels.
It is hard to say with 100% certainity in which period Rovinj developed. For the first time it is mentioned in a work named «Cosmographia» by an anonimous inhabitant of Ravenna, who wrote about «Castrum Rubini» from the 5th century. It is very likely that Rovinj is much older, emerging somewhere at the turn of the 3rd and the 4th centuries.

If you want, view large: View On Black

Somewhere in Venice, a restaurant, a canal and a tower

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 00:31:28 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

VENICE:

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Venice or Venezia is universally proclaimed as one of the most beautiful cities. It is certainly one of the most unusual both in it's history, it's appearance and it's urban plan.
Venice rises fro the water and the first impression is that water is everywhere.
Actually however, the houses and churches are built on hundreds of islets and firmly reinforced by thousand of pylons sunk into the ground.
The canals (rii) that separate the islets and where all kinds of boats go up and down are the equivalent of mainland town streets. Some of the islands in the lagoon where inhabited by fishermen in Roman times, but not untill the Middle ages did it become a clearly defined political and social entity, when it came under the Byzantine sphere of influence, as opposed to the mainland cities that were dominated by the Longobards. In the 9th century Venice embarked on a new form of government, i.e. a duchy headed by a duke (Doge in Venetian dialect)
Having severed all ties with the Empre of the East, she enjoyed long centuries of prosperity and glory.
The great wealth ammassed with thanks to the Venetian businessmen (among them was Marco Polo) sparked of a big building boom.
Venice reached the highth of her polital and economical power in the 15th and 16th century.
In 1797 she was annexed by Austria and in 1866 she became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER:

Venice is absolutely the most impressive city I've eve seen (though I've only have seen Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam and Manila as for the big cities)
We have only been there for a few hours and ofcourse that is not time enough to have a perfectly correct impression, but I stand perplex of it's grand architecture.

The power of Venice can not be told in words, or even pictures, you just have to see for yourself!
But one little note; it's crowded!
Venice is a 3 hours trip from Rovinj by boat.
Here's one of the views when you take a little walk in San Marco.
Have a nice week ahead my friends!

If you want; View On Black

Venice, gondola's in the rii

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 10:10:06 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

VENICE:

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Venice or Venezia is universally proclaimed as one of the most beautiful cities. It is certainly one of the most unusual both in it's history, it's appearance and it's urban plan.
Venice rises fro the water and the first impression is that water is everywhere.
Actually however, the houses and churches are built on hundreds of islets and firmly reinforced by thousand of pylons sunk into the ground.
The canals (rii) that separate the islets and where all kinds of boats go up and down are the equivalent of mainland town streets. Some of the islands in the lagoon where inhabited by fishermen in Roman times, but not untill the Middle ages did it become a clearly defined political and social entity, when it came under the Byzantine sphere of influence, as opposed to the mainland cities that were dominated by the Longobards. In the 9th century Venice embarked on a new form of government, i.e. a duchy headed by a duke (Doge in Venetian dialect)
Having severed all ties with the Empre of the East, she enjoyed long centuries of prosperity and glory.
The great wealth ammassed with thanks to the Venetian businessmen (among them was Marco Polo) sparked of a big building boom.
Venice reached the highth of her polital and economical power in the 15th and 16th century.
In 1797 she was annexed by Austria and in 1866 she became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER:

Venice is absolutely the most impressive city I've eve seen (though I've only have seen Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam and Manila as for the big cities)
We have only been there for a few hours and ofcourse that is not time enough to have a perfectly correct impression, but I stand perplex of it's grand architecture.

The power of Venice can not be told in words, or even pictures, you just have to see for yourself!
But one little note; it's crowded!
Venice is a 3 hours trip from Rovinj by boat.
Here are two pictures of the famous and expensive gondola trips, but with a beautiful view in the heart of Venice.

If you want, view on black: View On Black

Venice , architecture and view

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:01:37 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Venice , architecture and view

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Venice or Venezia is universally proclaimed as one of the most beautiful cities. It is certainly one of the most unusual both in it's history, it's appearance and it's urban plan.
Venice rises fro the water and the first impression is that water is everywhere.
Actually however, the houses and churches are built on hundreds of islets and firmly reinforced by thousand of pylons sunk into the ground.
The canals (rii) that separate the islets and where all kinds of boats go up and down are the equivalent of mainland town streets. Some of the islands in the lagoon where inhabited by fishermen in Roman times, but not untill the Middle ages did it become a clearly defined political and social entity, when it came under the Byzantine sphere of influence, as opposed to the mainland cities that were dominated by the Longobards. In the 9th century Venice embarked on a new form of government, i.e. a duchy headed by a duke (Doge in Venetian dialect)
Having severed all ties with the Emipre of the East, she enjoyed long centuries of prosperity and glory.
The great wealth ammassed with thanks to the Venetian businessmen (among them was Marco Polo) sparked of a big building boom.
Venice reached the highth of her polital and economical power in the 15th and 16th century.
In 1797 she was annexed by Austria and in 1866 she became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER:

Venice is absolutely the most impressive city I've eve seen (though I've only have seen Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam and Manila as for the big cities)
We have only been there for a few hours and ofcourse that is not time enough to have a perfectly correct impression, but I stand perplex of it's grand architecture.

The power of Venice can not be told in words, or even pictures, you just have to see for yourself!
But one little note; it's crowded!
Venice is a 3 hours trip from Rovinj by boat.

Happy weekend everyone!

If you want, view large: View On Black

EXPLORED, with highest ranking± #94, thank you all!

Piazza San Marco in Venice

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:44:07 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Venice

Piazza San Marco

Originally, Piazza San marco was a grasscovered open space traversed by a canal with a church on each of it's other ends. Now it's one of the most beautiful squares in the world, it's the civic and religious heart of the city. There are crowds of tourists everyday seeing the ever-present pigeons and elegant shops.
It is surrounded by the two solemn buildings of the Old Courts and the New Courts.
And on one side the Napoleonic wing and ofcourse, on the other side, the famous St. Mark's Basilica.

+ 1 more in comments.

If you want, view large: View On Black

Venice, St. Mark's basilica, the details

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 03:03:31 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Venice

St. Mark's basilica

General information

In 828 the mortal remains of St. Mark the Evangelist were brought to Venice from Alexandria in Egypt. On this occasion it was decided to build a church worthy of containing such a precious relic.
Most of the grandiose basilica was built, bit by bit, between the 11th and 15th centuries.
The result is a harmonious blend of Byzantine gold, Gothic spires, Romanesque round arches and Islamic domes, bearing witness to the international and eclectic vocation of Venice.

Photographers impressions

A beautiful basilica, I couldn't take my eyes off it. But comparable with the overload of highlights like in the Palace of Versailles. We didn't go in, because there was a large queue, and time was limited.
I've been processing a lot of time on this picture, and got different results. After some thinking, I've decided this one was the best I got from this famous building.
St. Mark's basilica is located on the Piazza San Marco in Venice.

+ 3 more in comments, didn't have the oppurtunity to be in Venice at sunset, so I'll skip my sunday sunset shots for a week or two.

View on black: View On Black

St. Mark's basilica , Venice

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 00:38:39 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Venice

St. Mark's basilica

General information

In 828 the mortal remains of St. Mark the Evangelist were brought to Venice from Alexandria in Egypt. On this occasion it was decided to build a church worthy of containing such a precious relic.
Most of the grandiose basilica was built, bit by bit, between the 11th and 15th centuries.
The result is a harmonious blend of Byzantine gold, Gothic spires, Romanesque round arches and Islamic domes, bearing witness to the international and eclectic vocation of Venice.

Photographers impressions

A beautiful basilica, I couldn't take my eyes off it. But comparable with the overload of highlights like in the Palace of Versailles. We didn't go in, because there was a large queue, and time was limited.
I've been processing a lot of time on this picture, and got different results. After some thinking, I've decided this one was the best I got from this famous building.
St. Mark's basilica is located on the Piazza San Marco in Venice.

Have a nice weekend my friends!

If you want, view large: View On Black

EXPLORED, with highest ranking: #475, thank you all!

Venice : Doge's palace

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 00:11:11 -0800

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

A picture from our daytrip to Venice, Italy in the summer of 2011.
Done for slider's sunday!
Have a nice week ahead my friends!

If you want, view large: View On Black

Venice

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:07:53 -0800

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

VENICE

VENICE:

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Venice or Venezia is universally proclaimed as one of the most beautiful cities. It is certainly one of the most unusual both in it's history, it's appearance and it's urban plan.
Venice rises fro the water and the first impression is that water is everywhere.
Actually however, the houses and churches are built on hundreds of islets and firmly reinforced by thousand of pylons sunk into the ground.
The canals (rii) that separate the islets and where all kinds of boats go up and down are the equivalent of mainland town streets. Some of the islands in the lagoon where inhabited by fishermen in Roman times, but not untill the Middle ages did it become a clearly defined political and social entity, when it came under the Byzantine sphere of influence, as opposed to the mainland cities that were dominated by the Longobards. In the 9th century Venice embarked on a new form of government, i.e. a duchy headed by a duke (Doge in Venetian dialect)
Having severed all ties with the Empre of the East, she enjoyed long centuries of prosperity and glory.
The great wealth ammassed with thanks to the Venetian businessmen (among them was Marco Polo) sparked of a big building boom.
Venice reached the highth of her polital and economical power in the 15th and 16th century.
In 1797 she was annexed by Austria and in 1866 she became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER:

Venice is absolutely the most impressive city I've eve seen (though I've only have seen Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam and Manila as for the big cities)
We have only been there for a few hours and ofcourse that is not time enough to have a perfectly correct impression, but I stand perplex of it's grand architecture.

The power of Venice can not be told in words, or even pictures, you just have to see for yourself!
But one little note; it's crowded!
If you want, view large: View On Black

Bye bye beautiful Venice!

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 09:27:22 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

VENICE:

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Venice or Venezia is universally proclaimed as one of the most beautiful cities. It is certainly one of the most unusual both in it's history, it's appearance and it's urban plan.
Venice rises fro the water and the first impression is that water is everywhere.
Actually however, the houses and churches are built on hundreds of islets and firmly reinforced by thousand of pylons sunk into the ground.
The canals (rii) that separate the islets and where all kinds of boats go up and down are the equivalent of mainland town streets. Some of the islands in the lagoon where inhabited by fishermen in Roman times, but not untill the Middle ages did it become a clearly defined political and social entity, when it came under the Byzantine sphere of influence, as opposed to the mainland cities that were dominated by the Longobards. In the 9th century Venice embarked on a new form of government, i.e. a duchy headed by a duke (Doge in Venetian dialect)
Having severed all ties with the Emipre of the East, she enjoyed long centuries of prosperity and glory.
The great wealth ammassed with thanks to the Venetian businessmen (among them was Marco Polo) sparked of a big building boom.
Venice reached the highth of her politcal and economical power in the 15th and 16th century.
In 1797 she was annexed by Austria and in 1866 she became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

IMPRESSIONS FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHER:

Venice is absolutely the most impressive city I've eve seen (though I've only have seen Paris, Barcelona, Brussels, Amsterdam and Manila as for the big cities)
We have only been there for a few hours and ofcourse that is not time enough to have a perfectly correct impression, but I stand perplex of it's grand architecture.

The power of Venice can not be told in words, or even pictures, you just have to see for yourself!
But one little note; it's crowded!
Venice is a 3 hours trip from Rovinj by boat.

This is my last Venetian upload of the city. It's back to Rovinj my friends!

If you want, View On Black

EXPLORED, with highest raking: #354, thank you all!

Venice, Rialto bridge

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:11:27 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

Venice

Rialto Bridge, Grand Canal

The Rialto is the oldest, most famous bridge of the Grand Canal. It was originally made of wood and in the 16th cenury it was decided that the bridge would be made of stone. The hight of the bridge is 7,5 meters and the bridge rests on 12.000 wooden pylons.

TGIF my friends!

If you want, view large: View On Black

Redentore Church, Venice

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 10:05:44 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

VENICE , 4 churches

Venice has many beautiful churches. I understand that not everybody likes these kind of shots, so I'll upload the rest of my church pictures from Venice in one time.
The main upload is the Redentore church.

Here's the description:

Redentore Church

Andrea Palladio/Antonio Da Ponte 1577-92

History
Fiorenza Corner and Teodosia Scripiana builchurch and monastery to St Mary of the Angels, given to Fra Bonaventura degli Emmanueli and his Capuchins in 1541. They were expelled five years later by the heretic Fra Bernadino Occhino, they found refuge in the nearby monastery of Sant'Angelo, returning in 1548 when the monastery was destroyed and the heretic expelled.

A new church was commissioned from Palladio by the Republic to commemorate the end of the 1576 plague (which killed 50,000 people, Titian among them) the church of the Redentore (Redeemer) was built for ceremony, on the site of the church of San Jacopo.
Palladio's original design was for a central-plan church like the Pantheon, but this was rejected as a pagan building. What was eventually built is reckoned to be Palladio's finest church, it was completed by Da Ponte following Palladio's death in 1592.The high and wide staircase and the huge doorway are designed for processions. And the church is made to be seen from afar -the best view (left) being from the Zattare opposite.
The Festival of the Redentore, giving thanks for the end of the plague, continues. Every year on the third Sunday in July a bridge on barges is built from the Zattere so that Venetians can make the pilgrimage previously lead by the Doge and the Signoria. The festival is also famous for the fireworks the night before.
Interior
Fine, but with no great paintings. There are three good paintings by Bassano, Veronese and Alvise Vivarini but these are mostly in the (rarely open) sacristy.

A visit
An unusually uncluttered interior, mostly because the church was built on a site belonging to Capuchin monks, who agreed to take it on providing their vows of poverty were observed. So, no remunerative funerary masses and monuments, and one elegantly unembellished interior. High, pale and airy (due to the many windows) and very Palladian. The wide and aisleless nave has three connected chapels on each side. Over the chancel there's a balustraded dome, and there are two side apses so the Doge and Signoria could sit unobserved by the common herd. There's some middling art (the Tintorettos are 'school of') and so even a Palma il Giovane Deposition stands out a bit. The leaflet in the church speaks airily of 'The nearby sacristy' which 'keeps important works by great artists'. But the Chorus info sheet mentions it not and there seems to be no ready access.

Campanile 48m (136ft) electromechanical bells
Two minaret-like towers

The church in art
Il Redentore by Duncan Grant, 1948.

The Church of the Redentore by Canaletto (below left) from the Manchester Art Gallery. The demolished church of San Giacomo della Giudecca is visible to the right.

The Depositing of John Bellini's Three Pictures in the Church of the Redentore, Venice by J.M.W. Turner shows the three Bellini paintings arriving in splendid procession in gondolas. This almost definitely never happened, especially as the paintings in question are now known to not be Bellini's work

Source: www.churchesofvenice.co.uk/

If you want, view large: View On Black

EXPLORED, with highest ranking: #472, thank you all!

Venice, belltower of St. Mark's

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:12:22 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

St. Mark's basilica

General information

In 828 the mortal remains of St. Mark the Evangelist were brought to Venice from Alexandria in Egypt. On this occasion it was decided to build a church worthy of containing such a precious relic.
Most of the grandiose basilica was built, bit by bit, between the 11th and 15th centuries.
The result is a harmonious blend of Byzantine gold, Gothic spires, Romanesque round arches and Islamic domes, bearing witness to the international and eclectic vocation of Venice.

This is the belltower of the basilica.

If you want: View On Black

San Giorgio Maggiore

nobody@flickr.com (STEHOUWER AND RECIO) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:42:52 -0700

STEHOUWER AND RECIO posted a photo:

VENICE:

San Giorgio Maggiore, church in Venice.
Andrea Palladio/Simeone Sorella 1565-97

As an image of the Salute church screams 'Venice!' so too does a photo of San Giorgio Maggiore taken from in front of the Doge's Palace, usually with parallel-parked gondolas in the foreground.

History
There's been a church on this island, originally known as the Isola dei Cipressi, since the 9th Century. Previously there'd been a vineyard, a cypress grove and a mill. A Benedictine monastery was established here in 982, with a church erected in 987 by Vitale Candido and the Badoer family. The body of Saint Stephen was brought here in 1109 from Constantinople and from then on the Doge and the Signoria visited the church every year on the saint's day, the 26th December, and this became one of the most popular festival days in the Venetian calendar, involving the floating of thousands of candles in the Bacino di San Marco, lasting until the end of the Republic. In 1204 the body of Saint Lucy was brought here too, but her feast day celebrations on the December 13th became so popular that after a storm resulted in the deaths of many people in 1280 her body was moved to the church of Santa Lucia in Cannaregio. The church and monastery were damaged by an earthquake in 1223 and rebuilt by Doge Pietro Ziani, who later retreated here.

Palladio's replacement of this gothic church, together with his renovation and enlarging of the monastery, began in 1565. The church was also realigned at this time, its façade having originally faced San Marco. Palladio died in 1580 and Simeone Sorella continued the work for a further 30 years. In 1610 Palladio's facade was finally finished, having been begun by Sorella in 1597.

The façade
Another temple front, it's a development of Palladio's design for the façade of San Francesco della Vigna.

A visit
The interior is a Latin cross - stony and monumental, with white walls and thick clusters of supporting Corinthian columns and pilasters. On the right as you enter is an Adoration of the Shepherds by Jacopo da Bassano, an atmospheric night time scene that benefits greatly from a .50 euro coin in the light. Opposite it is an odd Martyrdom of Saint Lucy by Leandro de Bassano (one of Jacopo's four sons, who were all painters in his studio) which depicts strong men and oxen trying to move the saint with ropes. I went up the campanile too - 3 euros and there's a lift - for some stunning views over Venice, and into the nearby cloisters (below right).

Art highlights
Three late Tintorettos (including a deposition painted in the year of his death). Also works by the Bassanos, Ricci and Palma il Giovane

Lost art
Veronese's Wedding Feast at Cana, was removed from the refectory of the monastery by Napoleon and is shamefully still in the Louvre. On September 11th 2007, to celebrate the 210th anniversary of the looting, a computer-generated facsimile was hung where the painting should be.
The church in art
Monet, Turner, Guardi, Canaletto...

Campanile 63m (206ft) electromechanical bells
The original campanile stood in front of the church, collapsed in 1442 during a storm and was rebuilt. A new tower, behind the church, was built in 1729 by Scalfarrotto following the collapse of the previous campanile in 1726. This one itself collapsed in 1774, killing one monk and wounding two others, and was rebuilt in 1791 by Fra Benadetto Buratti. In 1993 the wooden angel on the top of the campanile was struck by lightning. It now stands in front of the ticket office for the campanile. A lift takes you to the top, giving panoramic views towards San Marco and into the monastery's cloisters.

Ruskin said
It is impossible to conceive a design more gross, more barbarous, more childish in conception, more servile in plagiarism, more insipid in result, more contemptible under every point of rational regard.
Observe, also, that when Palladio had got his pediment at the top of the church, he did not know what to do with it; he had no idea of decorating it except by a round hole in the middle ... Palladio had given up colour, and pierced his pediment with a circular cavity, merely because he had not wit enough to fill it with sculpture. The interior of the church is like a large assembly room, and would have been undeserving of a moment's attention, but that it contains some most precious pictures.

Effie Ruskin said
...to my mind a very corrupt form of architecture and very ugly, half Greek Temple-ish and half anything else you like, the inside heavy and unimpressive...
Letter to her mother, 15th December 1849.

The Monastery
Cosimo de' Medici when he was banished from Florence in 1433 took refuge here. He brought Michelozzo with him who designed and built a library (demolished in 1614 to make way for Longhena's grander library) to show Cosimo's gratitude.
There are two cloisters. One Giovanni Buora's Cloister of the Bay Trees begun in 1517 and completed by Buora's son Andrea in 1540. The other is Palladio's untypical Cloister of the Cypresses, begun in 1579, the year before died, but not completed until the mid 17th Century. In 1806 the monks moved to Santa Giustina. In 1808 an airship was built in the church and in 1929 the complex became a barracks and ammunitions store In 1951 the monastery was taken over and restored by art patron Count Vittorio Cini , and renamed in memory of his son Giorgio, who was killed in an air crash in 1949. It now hosts conferences and courses and so is not generally open to the public, except at weekends when there are guided tours. Some Benedictine monks remain too.

The church in film
In memoria di me (In memory of me) an Italian film released in 2007, was filmed in the monastery and the church. And very handsome they look too, especially at night with atmospheric lighting.

Source: www.churchesofvenice.co.uk/

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