Before we left for Venice, our very good friend Robin Varma messaged me via WhatsApp (how trendy is that!) copying a review from the Guardian about Damian Hirst's new exhibition in Venice - Treasures from the Wreck of the Unimaginable. We decided to attend this exhibition and after several abortive attempts to buy the tickets online we decided to head to the Palazzo Grassi (where part of the exhibition was taking place) to acquire tickets for Saturday morning.
This was accomplished with no problem and, contrary to the web site, it did not appear necessary to abide by timed entrances. Our plan was to visit on Saturday so we wandered off around the myriad of narrow streets and stopped for the customary cappuccino in Campo San Stefano. On then across the bridge at Academia and on to the Peggy Guggenheim gallery of modern art. There had been much debate about whether or not we had visited before but after deciding that we definitely had we still agreed to visit. Now, modern art is not normally our preference and apart from a few interesting surrealist paintings and a room of Jackson Pollock' so it proved again!
Being very close to the eastern tip of Dorsodouro we wanted to experience the great views across to the Doge's Pala and San Marco so we walked to the magnificent Santa Maria della Salute and spent 20 minutes admiring the paintings and sculpture within.
On then via Fundamenta Dogana towards the point passing the Punta della Dogano where the second part of the Damian Hirst exhibition was housed.
It was very busy at the eastern point and having enjoyed the views and captured a few photos, we were interrupted by a siren and security message asking all to leave the area! Having heard stories very recently about ISIL attempting to blow up the Riallto Bridge, we lost no time in leaving!
All seemed to have calmed down and we decided that the Punta della Dogana centre was a safe distance away and, as we were in the area, it seemed sensible to visit this part of the exhibition.
Well it is certainly interesting but we are really not sure about art! The story is that a ship, owned by an ex Roman slave who having been freed had become hugely wealthy, and collected numerous large sculptures and artifacts, was sunk off the east African coast. The wreck was apparently discovered a few years ago and many of the treasures salvaged from the sea bed.
The exhibition was of numerous huge Damian Hirst sculptures depicting the treasures and mostly including corals and seaweeds growing from various parts of the sculptures.
Back to our area on the borders of Santa Croce and San Polo for a good lunch at a canal side restaurant.
Later we walked back to San Toma and decided upon a Gondola ride which was enjoyable but relatively short. More walking to the Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, known more succinctly as the Frari, which is huge and full of interesting paintings.
More walking back past the Scuola Grande di San Rocco to our local Campo where we experienced the local after school club
This was accomplished with no problem and, contrary to the web site, it did not appear necessary to abide by timed entrances. Our plan was to visit on Saturday so we wandered off around the myriad of narrow streets and stopped for the customary cappuccino in Campo San Stefano. On then across the bridge at Academia and on to the Peggy Guggenheim gallery of modern art. There had been much debate about whether or not we had visited before but after deciding that we definitely had we still agreed to visit. Now, modern art is not normally our preference and apart from a few interesting surrealist paintings and a room of Jackson Pollock' so it proved again!
Being very close to the eastern tip of Dorsodouro we wanted to experience the great views across to the Doge's Pala and San Marco so we walked to the magnificent Santa Maria della Salute and spent 20 minutes admiring the paintings and sculpture within.
On then via Fundamenta Dogana towards the point passing the Punta della Dogano where the second part of the Damian Hirst exhibition was housed.
It was very busy at the eastern point and having enjoyed the views and captured a few photos, we were interrupted by a siren and security message asking all to leave the area! Having heard stories very recently about ISIL attempting to blow up the Riallto Bridge, we lost no time in leaving!
All seemed to have calmed down and we decided that the Punta della Dogana centre was a safe distance away and, as we were in the area, it seemed sensible to visit this part of the exhibition.
Well it is certainly interesting but we are really not sure about art! The story is that a ship, owned by an ex Roman slave who having been freed had become hugely wealthy, and collected numerous large sculptures and artifacts, was sunk off the east African coast. The wreck was apparently discovered a few years ago and many of the treasures salvaged from the sea bed.
The exhibition was of numerous huge Damian Hirst sculptures depicting the treasures and mostly including corals and seaweeds growing from various parts of the sculptures.
Back to our area on the borders of Santa Croce and San Polo for a good lunch at a canal side restaurant.
Later we walked back to San Toma and decided upon a Gondola ride which was enjoyable but relatively short. More walking to the Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, known more succinctly as the Frari, which is huge and full of interesting paintings.
More walking back past the Scuola Grande di San Rocco to our local Campo where we experienced the local after school club
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