A couple of days ago I went to Venice for the day just because I could. In a few days it’ll no longer be so simple to do.

My fourth or fifth time there, this visit was entirely different. I wasn’t on a mission, I wasn’t in a mad dash to fill the memory card of my (still-malfunctioning) camera. I wandered in a very relaxed, spontaneous, slow manner and it was nice. (Read my previous posts here.)

“Benvenuti a Venezia” – Welcome to Venice.

San Marco square, the large piazza in front of San Marco Cathedral, is the destination for every visitor stepping off the boat or train into Venice. (That and the Rialto Bridge.) All signs point to San Marco, guiding the flow of foot traffic.

And yet, upon arriving at San Marco, it is FORBIDDEN (on threat of fine) to simply sit in the piazza to enjoy the sights. This law is entirely contrary to the countrywide custom of the main plaza being the “living room” and gathering place within an Italian city. In fact, there is NO place to sit in Venice unless a visitor orders food and pays a cover charge to sit at a table. This astounds me.

As I’ve learned about Venice, there are major walking routes always filled with tourists. But step off those routes onto the side streets, and the city becomes very quiet and local.

Italy is wall-papered with supergraphic advertising, even covering classic, historic buildings. This Mario Testino ad created a blue channel through which the gondolas floated.