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Dosoduro Photos

The Arty Side of Town – Dorsoduro

Trip Over to Venice

Piazza San Marco is often crowded in the morning, so that is the time to explore other areas of Venice. The Dorsoduro area is the creative side of town, full of shops, galleries, restaurants, bars, museums, many smaller canals and space – some of the palazzos even have gardens!

With the Basilica San Marco behind you, walk to the far end of Piazza San Marco, follow the lane out of the square to the left of the Correr Museum. Stroll past some of the high fashion shops, Chanel, Prada, Hermes and Dior, past beautiful old churches like Chiesa San Moise. Make sure you venture up some of the side lanes as they are full of surprises around every corner, photo opportunities and bars to have a coffee to refresh and keep you going. Occasionally look up to see that you are following signs that say “All’ Academia”, or as you get lost exploring, keep returning to the last sign you saw to get your bearings again. Through the Campo San Moise you will cross a little bridge – watch the skilful gondoliers weaving past each other on the narrow canal, with the occasional outstretched foot to push on the wall to manoeuvre quickly around corners.

Continue following the “Academia” signs, though lanes and over tiny bridges, eventually you will turn left into Campo Santo Stefano, walk past the gardens of the Instituto Vento Scienze Lettre ad Arti (The Institute of Wind, Science, Literature and the Arts), with a giant white spaceman floating through the gardens with a plant and a chair! Then you will be at the Ponte dell’ Accademia, the high arched wooden bridge crossing the Grand Canal to Dorsoduro.




After crossing the bridge you are spoilt for choice of museums and galleries to look at, or just wander around the lanes and canals. On the advice of the concierge at our hotel, we turned right over the bridge and went in search of Ca’ Rezzonico, a magnificent 18th century palazzo, now a museum, full of art and luscious furnishings, and views of all the surrounding canals and over the roof tops.

Continuing to explore this side of the Grand Canal, we had lunch in a little home style restaurant that we found on the edge of a canal as we worked our way back towards the Gallerie dell’ Accademia and further on past to the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery which is surrounded by many smaller galleries, where we came across The Beatles crossing Abbey Rd, classic symbols of Italy in the form of Andy Warholesc coffee pots and Fiat 500s, enormous plush roses on chairs and the most amazing collection of wooden sculptures by Loris Marazzi. Then on through more winding lanes over bridges, past glistening canal views and to on the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and the Punta della Dogana art museum.

After catching up with artists from centuries ago and some modern day artisans you can either take a slow walk back the way you came, or catch the vaporetto back across the Grand Canal to San Marco.

We chose the slow walk back so we could do more exploring – I was amazed/horrified as I looked down one of the historic lanes towards a cute little arched bridge to see an enormous cruise ship leaving Venice through the Guidecca Canal. When I saw where the Cruise ship terminal was from the top of the bell tower in Piazza San Marco earlier, I thought that was bad enough, but I at least thought they would have the manners to arrive and depart around the south side of the Guidecca Islands and stay as far as possible from the delicate foundations Venice sits upon. After speaking to a number of local Venetians it seems they all absolutely detest everything about the cruise ships coming into the lagoon, and bringing 2000 plus passengers on each ship that all descend on San Marco Piazza at once making life hell for everyone, they add nothing to the Venetian economy, they don’t eat in the restaurants, most go back to the ship to eat. Apart from the damage the ships do by stirring up the water in the canal, sure they move fairly slowly, but underwater is where the damage is done, and Venice relies on what is under the water in order for the city to stay above it. Having that many tourists all trying to be in the same space at the same time, ruins Venice for everyone, there are times when you can’t move or see anything for the people, and a lot of them don’t seem to be remotely interested in the magnificent history of what they are experiencing – they are just getting in the way! I imagine that Venice earns good money from berthing the ships, but they could get the same money if the ships berthed out at the entrance to the lagoon, the passengers would still have a great view of Venice from the deck and those who were interested to immerse themselves in the historic splendour of Venice, could catch a vaporetto in to the city. Then they might have more respect for Venice and its people, instead of treating the place as a shipping terminal, as boarding and disembarking from a ship is easily done in less fragile surroundings.

Book a tour on your Trip Over to Venice

Itinerary for Trip Over to Italy – Milan, Como and Venice

Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Milan (Malpensa) from Sydney via Dubai
Stayed in Milan, Airbnb, for a week before going to Como
Picked up in Milan by Como Limousines and driven to Como
Stayed in Como, Airbnb, for 3 weeks
Picked up in Como by Como Limousines and driven to Venice
In Venice, water taxi to Al Ponte Antico Hotel for 3 nights and water taxi back
Picked up in Venice by Como Limousines and driven back to Como
Picked up in Como by Como Limousines and driven back to Milan (Malpensa) Airport
Qantas flight (Emirates code share) to Sydney via Dubai

Exploring Prague with lots of walking and lots of tram rides! Walking across Charles Bridge, up to the castle, through Lesser Town, into New Town, and historic Old Town.#prague #praguelife #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #seeeverythingdoeverything
✨ Inside the Royal Palace of Buda Castle…After wandering through the cobblestone courtyards and passing the watchful lion statues, it was time to step inside the magnificent Royal Palace.The palace has had quite a history. The original medieval royal residence dates back to the 13th century, although what we see today is the result of centuries of rebuilding, destruction and restoration.Inside, the grand halls, sweeping staircases, ornate details and beautiful architecture give you a glimpse of the palace's royal past. It’s hard not to imagine kings, queens and courtiers moving through these very spaces. Sadly, much of the palace was destroyed during the Siege of Budapest in 1944–45, and the building was later reconstructed. Today, the palace is home to the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.I love places like this where the architecture tells as much of the story as the exhibits do. And after all the walking around Buda Castle, I was more than happy to wander indoors for a while! 😂Another piece of Budapest history explored. ❤️Have you visited the Royal Palace at Buda Castle?✨️If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #BudaCastle #RoyalPalace #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel
A castle, a mysterious writer… and a politician! 🏰📚Exploring the grounds of Vajdahunyad Castle, I discovered a couple of bronze characters that definitely caught my attention.First up is the wonderfully mysterious Anonymous — a hooded figure sitting quietly with a pen in hand. The sculpture was created by Miklós Ligeti in 1903 and represents the unknown author of the medieval Hungarian chronicle Gesta Hungarorum. No one knows exactly who Anonymous was, which makes this rather spooky-looking fellow even more intriguing!The polished pen is said to bring good luck to writers and students, so naturally it seemed only polite to give it a little rub. 😉Nearby is a statue of Ignác Darányi, a Hungarian politician who served as Minister of Agriculture. Created by sculptor József Róna, the bronze statue was unveiled in 1907.I love finding these little stories hiding amongst Budapest's grand buildings. You can wander into a place expecting castles and turrets and end up meeting medieval chroniclers and 19th-century politicians!If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #VajdahunyadCastle #BudapestSculptures #HungarianHistory #HungaryTravel
🏰 The climb was worth it!After tackling the steep stairs and pathways up to Fisherman's Bastion, I finally reached the top — and was greeted by the magnificent bronze statue of King Stephen I of Hungary on horseback. Created by sculptor Alajos Stróbl and unveiled in 1906, the statue is packed with incredible detail. From the flowing robes (hard to believe they are all made of bronze!) and armour to the powerful horse and ornate stone pedestal, there's plenty to admire. King Stephen I holds a very special place in Hungarian history. Crowned around the year 1000, he became Hungary's first king and played a major role in establishing Hungary as a Christian kingdom. After all those stairs, I was more than happy to stop and admire him… and, of course, take a few photos while pretending I wasn't secretly catching my breath! 😉Sometimes the journey to a landmark is half the adventure — and in Budapest, it often comes with a pretty spectacular reward at the top. ❤️Have you climbed the steps up to Fisherman's Bastion? Or were you smarter and caught the bus????😀If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #FishermansBastion #KingStephen #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel
The fairytale world of Castle District, perched high above the Danube on the Buda side. Hours of leisurely strolling are a must!! My solo adventures in Budapest continue...#budapestcastledistrict #budapest #solotrip
After catching the tram across the river, I strolled through Letna Park, there are stunning views of Prague's Vltava river, the bridges and the castle, not to mention all the flowers in the park.#flowerseverywhere #viewsfordays #praguelife #solotrip #walkinthepark
Started off this morning heading to a market, but as I was passing St Stephen's Basilica, the bells were ringing to signal a service was about to start. I figured that would be the way to get in without paying the hefty admission charge ✨️I took a few quick photos before things got underway! Then realised I was the only person there who didn't know the words, or the actions, so when everyone stood up as part of their routine, as I was in the back row, I just backed out completely.....#ststephensbasilica #budapest #solotravel #sundayinbudapest
Hotel Pension Suzanne in Vienna is in the perfect location, walking distance to everything, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, shops and museums. ✨️Safe, quiet and comfortable, all requirements of the solo traveller✨️Click the link to my website in the bio for more information on the hotels I stayed in on my recent solo adventure to Budapest, Vienna and Prague.#hotelpensionsuzanne #solotravel #solotrip #vienna #traveltheworldwithme
Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of the CBD and Sydney Harbour all sparkling on an unseasonably hot day for June ✨️ Who would have thought hats and sunscreen would still be the order of the day, I would expect hats and coats at this time of year!!! #royalbotanicgardens #urbanoasis #walkinthepark #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks
Budapest... you certainly know how to make a first impression! After checking into Hotel President in the heart of this beautiful city, I couldn't wait to start exploring my local area before darkness fell. My afternoon took me past the magnificent St. Stephen's Basilica, the lively Budapest Eye Ferris Wheel, the stunning Hungarian Parliament Building, past to the iconic Chain Bridge, and to the moving Shoes on the Danube Memorial, a powerful tribute to the thousands of Jews murdered on the riverbank during World War II.Of course, no walk around Budapest would be complete without rubbing the shiny belly of the jovial bronze "Fat Policeman" statue for a little good luck. Whether it works or not remains to be seen... but I wasn't taking any chances! 😉As evening fell, and the jet lag started kicking in, there was only one way to finish my first afternoon in Hungary – with a steaming bowl of traditional Hungarian Goulash. Rich, hearty and full of flavour, it was the perfect welcome to this incredible city.If Budapest can pack this much into just a few hours, I was looking forward to what this adventure has in store for the rest of the week.If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #SoloTravel #SoloFemaleTraveller #exploringbudapest #Hungary
The moon stole the show at Vivid Sydney, rising up over this tree in front of Governnent House near the Sydney Opera House. Always need a full moon when there is a light show in Sydney!!!#vividsydney #fullmoon #sydneyoperahouse #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
At the top of Wenceslas Square stands the National Museum in Prague, an impressive building with breathtaking views from the Cupola.#praguenationalmuseum #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Beautiful day to have another amble around the gardens at Schonbrunn Palace after exploring the Imperial Apartments, in another month these gardens will be in full bloom☀️☀️☀️#schönbrunnpalace #schönbrunnschloss #palacegardens #solotrip
🏰 Arriving at Buda Castle...After making my way up Castle Hill, I arrived in the cobblestone courtyard of Buda Castle, surrounded by grand buildings and centuries of Hungarian history.But the real entrance was still ahead.Passing through the impressive archway, I was greeted by the magnificent lion statues standing guard. Created by sculptor János Fadrusz in the early 20th century, these imposing stone lions have been keeping watch over the entrance for generations.Walking through the arch, with the cobblestones underfoot and the lions looking rather serious about their job! Of course, these days there are cameras rather than knights, and comfortable walking shoes rather than armour! 😂✨️If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio#Budapest #BudaCastle #BudapestHistory #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel
St Matthias Church in the Castle District near Fisherman's Bastion. Climb the steep stone spiral staircase for a stunning view into the main church and explore the artifacts on display. This historic church dates back to the 11th century.#solotrip #stmatthiaschurch #budapestcastledistrict
Had a quick run around Prague after a 4 hour train trip from Vienna. I was last in Prague 9 years ago, all seems familiar except Wenceslas Square....apart from the statue of Good King Wenceslas on his horse, the rest of the square that used to be an elegant collection of historic buildings, hotels, cafes, etc......has now turned into Oxford Street, London...Primark, C&A, Half Price, the list goes on......who thought that was a good idea????#prague #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme #charlesbridgeprague
The Vivid Sydney light show in Argyle Cut, looking along Argyle St from Cumberland St, The Rocks.#vividsydney #traveltheworldwithme #sydney #seeeverythingdoeverything #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Strolling around Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens and Government House✨️ looking out across Sydney Harbour on a sunny mid winters day☀️#rbg #sydneylocal #sydneyharbour #seetheworldthroughmyeyes #sydneyharbourwalks
Budapest Central Market Hall built in the late 1800s, extensively damaged in WWll, left in ruins until the late 1900s when it was returned to it's former glory.....only to now be mainly selling tourist trash.#budapestcentralmarket #budapest #traveltheworldwithme #solotravel
The house where the Governor General lives in the Royal Botanic Gardens on the edge of Sydney Harbour. I'm thinking of applying for the job!!You can wander around the gardens and go on free booked tours of inside parts of the house most weekends - I love the way we all look around as if its a property inspection and we're looking to buy it😂#governmenthousesydney #sydneyrbg #sydney #sydneyharbourwalks #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
It's a museum kind of day in Vienna, 2 to 5 degrees, we've had a bit of snow, a bit of sleet, a bit of rain and a lot of cold ❄️❄️❄️The Furniture Museum is a collection of furnture and other items from the Imperial Palaces, including a display of the toilets from the day.The museum holds huge stores of furniture that they lend out for movies, plays and other events needing furnishings from that era.#viennafurnituremuseum #coldday❄️ #solotravel #traveltheworldwithme
More sculptures in the streets, and I found another one of the minitures that are dotted all over the city. It's hard to tell what it is, but perched on the wall near the castle, the little guy in the last photo is looking through his telecope at the city below!!#streetsculptures #budapest #artinthe streets #solotravel
As promised, a beautiful sunny Easter Sunday in Vienna ☀️☀️☀️ After being in Palermo last Easter, where it was underwhelming, Vienna really knows how to take Easter to the extreme!!!#easterinvienna #eastermarkets #soloadventure #vienna
Walking from Bratislava train station to the town centre takes 15 minutes, passing through a park and by the parliament buildings before reaching the historic cobblestone streets.This is where the touristification of the town kicks in, every shop is a restaurant or souvenier shop.Even the castle is a remake of what they think tourists want to see....we actually want to see the original castle!!#bratislava #streetsofbratislava #solotravel #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Everywhere you look in Budapest the buildings are amazing ✨️ so ornate, full of character, luckily the city is very walkable!!#budapestarchitecture #budapest #solotravel #walkingthestreets
Cesky Krumlov, a quaint medieval town in the south of the Czech Republic, a simple day trip by train from Prague....then lots and lots of walking on cobble stone paths!!#ceskykrumlov #daytripfromprague #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Budapest's streets are full of art✨️ apparently there are mini sculptures scattered everywhere, and I've found one of them so far!! The hunt continues.....#artinthestreets #budapest #solotrip #neverstopexploring
On a chilly Budapest morning, but the blue sky was a nice touch ✨️. I was planning to visit the Hungarian Parliament Building today... but Saturday crowds got the best of me! The exterior of this building is stunning, can't wait to explore the inside. #solotravel #hungarianparliamentbuilding #budapest #budapestarchitecture
🏰 Budapest has another castle… and of course I had to go and find it!Even though the weather was looking a little gloomy during my time in Budapest, it certainly wasn't going to keep me indoors. So I headed up to City Park (Városliget) to discover the city's other castle — the enchanting Vajdahunyad Castle.And what a beautiful surprise!Built between 1896 and 1908 as part of Hungary's Millennium celebrations, Vajdahunyad Castle is a wonderfully eclectic mix of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architectural styles. Rather than being an ancient castle, it was originally created as a temporary exhibition — but Budapest obviously decided it liked it too much to let it go!Today, its fairytale towers, turrets and lakeside setting make it one of the most photographed spots in City Park.The gloomy skies actually added a little atmosphere to the castle… although I wouldn't have complained if Budapest had turned the sunshine on for me! ☁️😂If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #VajdahunyadCastle #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel #VisitBudapest
✨ A little taste of Paris… in Budapest!I stumbled upon Párisi Passage in Budapest and, honestly, this is one of those places where you walk in and immediately forget where you were going!Tucked beneath the impressive Párisi Udvar building, this spectacular glass-roofed passage is a feast for the eyes, with its ornate Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic details, beautiful mosaics, stained glass and sparkling chandeliers.The building dates back to the early 20th century, when Budapest was enjoying its golden age and competing with the great European cities for architectural bragging rights. And I think it did rather well!Today, the passage is home to a beautiful café and hotel, making it the perfect place to stop for a coffee and admire the architecture from the inside.Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you weren't actually looking for! ❤️Would you add Párisi Passage to your Budapest itinerary?If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #ParisiPassage #BudapestTravel #HungaryTravel #SoloTravel
Finally a sunny day in Budapest, strolling on Margrit Island, great weather, no complaints, perfect!#margritisland #budapest #soloadventure #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
As usual, when it cones to museums, I usually find the building more interesting than the exhibits!! Vienna Natural History Museum was no exception!!#viennanaturalhistorymuseum #vienna #solotrip #seetheworldthroughmyeyes
Views, views and more views… and yes, I took even more photos of the Parliament! 📸Standing high up at Buda Castle, I was treated to some of the best views across Budapest.There was the magnificent Hungarian Parliament Building sitting proudly on the banks of the Danube — and honestly, you can never have too many photos of it! 😂Looking along the river, I could also see the elegant Chain Bridge, Elisabeth Bridge and the beautiful sweep of the Danube, with Budapest stretching out on either side. It's one of those views where you keep moving a few steps, thinking this must be the best angle… only to find another one a few metres later!The weather may not have been perfect during my visit, but Budapest certainly didn't let a few gloomy skies spoil the view.Sometimes you just have to stop, take it all in… and take one more photo of the Parliament. ❤️📸✨️If you're planning your own Budapest adventure, or would like to read about the hotels I stayed in during my solo journey through Budapest, Vienna and Prague, you'll find the link to my website in my bio.#Budapest #BudapestViews #HungarianParliament #Danube #SoloTravel
Vienna is magnificent to just wander around aimlessly, the buildings, the parks, everything, just perfect.#vienna #solotravel #solotrip #traveltheworldwithme

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