Venice, Italy

Today we checked out of the Courtyard Marriott and took a Bus to the Vaporetto Station where we took the Water Bus through the Grand Canal to San Marco dock and then a short walk to the St Regis.  

During check-in, we were informed that they upgraded our room.  OH MY... Terrace view of the Grand Canal.

We were also informed of 3 things happening in Venice:

4/25 Saint Marco Day which is a celebration of Venice's patron saint, Saint Mark

4/25 Liberation Day which is the Anniversary of Resistance that commemorates the victory of the Italian resistance movement against Nazi Germany.  

4/28 Pope Francis will be here and that happens to be the day we checkout.  During his trip he will visit a woman's prison, the Venice Biennale and will celebrate a public mass in San Marco Square.  The last Pope to have come to Venice was John Paul I in 1978.   With the Pope arriving it has been a challenge for the hotels in the San Marco area (which is where we are) in making transportation for the guest who are departing that day.  As you can image, security is very tight.  All businesses in San Marco will be closed.  We are to check back in with the Concierge on Saturday with an update regarding our transportation.  There is a lot of temporary construction happening for his arrival.  He will walk over a temporary bridge (constructed for him) from Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and then make his way over to the San Marco's Basilica to conduct a Mass.

Walking Bridge for Pope

Mass stage in San Marco's Square

Today was a free day for us.  We walked and we walked and we walked.  Those of you who don't know but Venice is street walking or boat transportation ONLY!!!!.  

Here are some of the many photos:

San Marco's Basilica

Rialto Bridge 

San Marco's Square

We ended our evening with a Pizza and Glass of Wine at the Vino Vino.