We walked along the fondamenta towards the south end of the Island where the newly refurbished "Molino Stucky" building is. This was an old abandoned flour mill that has been converted into a luxurious Hilton hotel. Before you reach the hotel you pass by "Harry's Dolci", the sister bar to the world famous "Harry's Bar", the home of the Venetian cocktail the Bellini. It was closed for Winter so my wallet was sparred a good hammering.
Molino Stucky Hilton.
A walk through the centre of the Island and Monica pointed out a few more historic buildings. Guidecca is home to an all female detention centre. It looks like the place is falling down in to the canal. I hope they are not dangerous criminals as escape would be possible by knocking on the wall and watching it crumble.
The Redentore.
Back on the fondamenta facing Venice and a walk to the northern end. Here you have fantastic views of St Marks square. The spectacular "Redentore" church is here where an annual festival takes place in July. The church was built to celebrate the end of the plague in the 16th century. The festival celebrates this by building a bridge of boats from the church across the Giudecca canal to San Marco. The pilgrimage to the church to give thanks occurs on the third Sunday in July. Towards Midnight a huge firework display marks the finale to the day.
View of San Marco from Giudecca.
At the end of the Island is the "guardia di finanza", the fiscal police. Similar to the coast guard and Customs & Excise. The view back to Molino Stucky shows how curved the Island is. You don't notice it when you are walking. Turning back I noticed a fairly nondescript building with a door open. Peering in and it looked very posh. It turned out to be the side entrance for one of the poshest hotels in Venice, The Cipriani. I had always thought that it was located in Venice, near "Harry's Bar".
View from the Academia bridge.
In the afternoon we took a trip over to Venice with Roberto and Antonella. I had bought a 3-Day travel card for the Vaparetto but Monica advised that I shouldn't use it until tomorrow. We were only crossing the canal and it costs 2 Euro there and back. Except if you buy the ticket on the boat, where a single ticket was 5 Euro! I wasn't paying that and I didn't have to thanks to Antonella. She talked so much to the conductor that I think he was only too glad to see us get off.
Monica, Antonella and Roberto at the Christmas Market.
To get to San Marco from the Zattere vaporetto stop you walk over the Academia bridge. In this area there is a small Christmas market set-up, selling traditional sweets, cakes and delicacies along with murano glass and other gift wares. It had a nice Christmas feel to it, the cold air adding to the atmosphere.
The tree at San Marco.
In San Marco, they had the usual decorative lights on for Christmas. Near my two friends the lions was the Christmas Tree display. An unusual glass tube structure of different colours. Weird. Time for a Spritz in a local bar and back to Giudecca for dinner.
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