Day Seven - The Winged Lion
I set off on my own to see some of the more residential areas of Venezia.
I walked north from Zecchini, away from the main streets, into the Jewish
Ghetto, thought to be named after "borghetto," Italian
for "small neighborhood." Watching the residents go about
their daily lives outside the tourist zones was very enjoyable. I could
hear music coming from several homes, as they prepared pranzo.
The
Quiet Neighborhoods of Venezia
(Click to Enlarge) |
The
Busy Streets of Venezia |
Fai
Finds New Friends |
I walked around for quite some time and became pretty lost. A lot of
the streets and alleys do not go all the way through and you have to
turn back and try again. The people I encountered were all very helpful,
pointing and gesturing the right path to me though I had never asked.
I found my way back to the hotel and Fai and I set forth into the city
where we browsed and shopped for hours. With no automobiles allowed,
the busier streets are filled with stands selling various goods and
lots and lots of people.
The numerous merchants in Venezia are very competitive with each other,
leading to lower prices overall. It's a great place to shop, especially
prior to the August 15 holiday, Assumption
of Mary, when almost everything closes.
We returned to Piazza San Marco for a daylight view and some pasta
and a nearby ristorante. During the day, thousands of pigeons fill the
sqaure where they are fed by the many visitors. We each took a turn
contributing to this process, under the watchful eye of the Winged Lion.
The Winged Lion is to Venezia what the Bald Eagle is the USA, as far
as symbolism goes. You see it everywhere throughout the city, in paintings,
sculptures, flags, and most prominantly, overlooking Piazza San Marco
on the Column of San Marco, which stands at the gateway to Venezia by
sea.
The
Winged Lion Represents the
Ever-Watchful Eye and Presence of
Venezia Over its Conquered Territories |
The front paw of the lion is always on the bible, indicating Venezia's
independent nature, not accepting the dominance of the church. The lion
is also always standing with his front feet over land and back feet
over the sea, signifying military strength by both land and sea.
The Winged Lion Graces the Flag of Venezia |
Feeling fully protected by the numerous winged lions, we continued
browsing the various shops and purchased some gifts and souvenirs.