What news on the Rialto? Sunday 8th March with a bit of Saturday as well.

Arrived after car, plane, coach and vaporetto journies to the Hotel Le Boulevard, not quite the Grand Hotel des Bains, but well appointed nonetheless. The Lido is fairly quiet this time of the year. The bar had shut at 9pm and although we had a mini bar there were no tea or coffee making facilities in the room however we provided our own. The room was spacious with a double and two single beds, front facing and with a balcony. The bathroom was bigger than some bedrooms we have slept in. Have a look at some pictures of the room. Having read on TripAdvisor that the fourth floor is very cramped I phoned up in advance to request a decent one on the first floor. That was exactly what we got. 

No bath but a good shower and bonus special footbath,I think. After a quick look at Death in Venice on Utube to get in the mood, we were off to sleep. We didn't realise that the pittance we paid for accommodation also includes breakfast,so we stuff ourselves on croissants, yoghut, scrambled eggs, bacon, orange juice, tea, some more croissants and jam and that should take care of lunch today as well. 

Vaporetto time and our first port of call is the Gallerie dell' Accademia. This was a nunnery before Napoleon decided to use it to display his looted artworks when he came here on holiday in the early nineteenth century. I suspect he was getting a bit fed up with Spain every year. 

On the way there we pass a few familiar sights. You might spot a few Canalettos.

Centralising the Churches artistic treasures is certainly really handy for today's tourists. What a far sighted person Napoleon was! Let's have a look at some of the pictures he chose specially for us. 

This is the entrance room which is up a splendid marble staircase, like the floor you can see here. Note too the humble nunnery ceiling.

Tintoretto Creation of the Animals. He's really strong on the fish and birds, domestic animals get a look in but the big beasts and the wee beetley things must be coming later.

Originally entitled the Last Supper, this painting by Veronese was condemned by the Inquisition for showing drunks and dogs cavorting with the Apostles. He was told to repaint at his own expense. He refused and after some thought changed the title to Feast in the House of Levi. Semantics one, religious bigotry nil.

I really enjoyed this painting because there is so much happening.  I can't remember who the artist is but there is a touch of Heronimus Bosch about it. 

This is a life size painted wooden carving of the crucified Christ. I think it is called Jesus with the dreadlocks and fancy pants.

Back on to the Grand Canal as we make for the Old Jewish Ghetto. On the way we pass under the eponymous Rialto bridge. 

The relief sculpture above is portraying Jews arriving at a concentration camp. They were deported from here in 1942 and finally "cleared" in 1944. The word Ghetto originates from this place, getto meaning foundry in Italian. 

This was our purchase from the famous art glass making island of Murano. In case you can't tell, it's a picture of a picture frame. Finally back to our hotel for the night. A picture of which you can see below. 

Read the next exciting instalment in tomorrow's What news on the Rialto.