Strolling the Sestieri




Morning rush hour on the Grand Canal provided entertainment whilst enjoying breakfast.


Well fortified we set out on a stroll around the districts close to us, Santa Croce, San Polo & Dorsoduro.


 
Our stroll started  with two churches, the Frari .......

 


...... then San Nicolo da Tolentino. Here a cannonball embedded in the façade is a memento of the Austrian siege of the city in the 19th century. Then on to Campo Santa Margherita where we search out the tiny shop where we can fill up our plastic bottle with Ribolla wine for the princely sum of €2


The Ponte dei Pugni has footmarks imprinted in the stone to  denote the starting point for the fistfights that took place here. It overlooks a barge full of wonderful seasonal produce and is close to the church of San Barnaba which featured in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.



On past Accademia to the impressive Salute church, built in thanksgiving for deliverance of the city from plague.

 
 


From here we walk to the Dogana for panoramic views of San Marco & San Giorgio Maggiore




 

 
 We retraced our steps to sample hot chocolate at Tonolo. This was served in delicate china cups and, while delicious, was not actually as good as that we had sampled last night at Quanto Basta.



On our previous visit to Venice a few years ago we had ticked of all the main tourist sights and whilst admiring the undoubted beauty of the city we somehow failed to feel the magic. Venice wrapped in a mist supplied that magic this morning.
 
 
We just can't get enough of ciccheti this trip so decide to seek out All'Arco near the Rialto for lunch, as recommended by Bettany from Cima Rosa. This is a little gem of a find and the wine & cicchetti go down rather well.
 

 
 
The afternoon is given over to  Christmas shopping before having Prosecco in the neighbourhood square of San Giacomo dell'Orio.
 
Dinner tonight is at La Zucca, a very popular choice as it is really busy this evening. Of course we have to start with the signature dish - pumpkin flan.



 
It is a short walk back to Cima Rosa where we spend a little while watching the reflections on the Grand Canal from our window for one last time.