A quart into a pint pot

Yesterday the Accademia proved in many ways to be the jewel in the Venetian crown of museums. It can't rightly be compared with the Uffizi as a world class gallery but nevertheless there are splendid and varied examples of works by Bellini, Piombo, Georgio, Vechello, Tinteretto and especially Veronese. I was especially drawn to Tiepolo; one forgets the quality and the painterly technique.

Today however was a case of trying to fit too much in before a trip south to Florence. The Ca' Rezzonico is well worth seeing; not too over-powering in its content and some great seventeenth and eighteenth century works by the likes of Vecchia, Pellegrini and Ricci on the top floor. O yes....and certainly worth visiting for wonderful Venetian scenes by Guardi and Canaletto.

The Palazzo Ducale was incredible in its opulence (especially the ceilings), but is a case of Venetian bureaucracy gone mad. The council chamber, the chamber of the great council (some Tintorettos to die for here), the hall of the full council, the antechamber to the council, the senate chamber, the chamber of the council of tens and on and on and on...by the end one thinks take me to the armoury, run me through with a blade, and let me die in the prison below. Joking aside it is an interesting concept that laws are made, trials conducted, justice dispensed and incarcerations all happen in the same building.

And finally the Museo Correr has some great Flemish works in addition to the Venetian. But at this stage I would have preferred to be on the ground below, sampling the delights of Florain's caffe whilst bathing my weary feet in the partially flooded Piazza San Marco.