Last Night, Lucky Night

The organizers told us the tour took us to St. Marks square, and then we would go to dinner. The hosts were masters of understatement. We spent 20 minutes hearing about the history of the Basilica of San Marco in St. Marks Square. Then the guides invited us in through a side door for a private organ concrete, tour, alter walk through, and a visit to St. Mark’s crypt. We entered in darkness and sat listening to the first sounds from a huge pipe organ. Gradually lights came on, one by one, bank by bank, revealing millions of golden glass mosaic particles covering the walls and ceiling. WOW, double WOW. The Basilica can seat 1000 but was the private chapel of the Doge (elected ruler of the City Republic of Venice.) The vast majority of the tourists never even get inside of the hugh edifice, let alone hear an organ concert, and take a guided tour of the inside. Best of all, I was able to take some no flash photographs. Then off to a leisurely Italian dinner in one of the cities finest restraints, at the foot of the famed Feniche Opera House. MORE WOW!!!!