Venitian souvineers

[buddymum]

Does anyone know if you are able to buy Venetian glass christmas tree baubles in Venice. I usually purchase baubles wherever I go as souvineers

[Phxazzcruisers]

Just about anywhere. If you want the real good still go to Murano. That is the Island where the glassworks is actually done. However, shops EVERYWHERE in Venice sell glass.

[TLCOhio]

Does anyone know if you are able to buy Venetian glass christmas tree baubles in Venice. I usually purchase baubles wherever I go as souvineers

 

From being in Venice on the Solstice last June, my quick answer would be YES, that they have everything, needed or not, for sale in this great historic city. No sure where and/or what quality. You'll see a wide. wide range of items, quality, costs, etc. Some are glass items sold in Venice, but as happened with our friends on items bought there, the items didn't not hold up that well.

 

Here's a good resource, Venice Tourism Office. You should be able to find on their website an e-mail address. I would write them and ask about where would be good to check, look for these types of items. See:

http://www.turismovenezia.it/venezia/eng/default.asp?lingua=en

 

Since Venice is one of your key stops, you might look at this earlier posting that I did on the Italy board that shows many options and visual potentials for this city that is so great for "walking around", personally sampling the great history and architecture.

Venice: Loving It & Why??!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1278226

 

Don't miss the sail-in and sail-out on the Solstice. Below are a few of my visual samples to get you excited about what is coming up soon.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 86,833 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

 

As we sailed into Venice, here is a tighter shot of the main square and the crowds that were there around 1 pm on June 14. Next are a couple of other views from that great sail-in to Venice and the sights of various interesting buildings and church. Love Venice so, so much!!:

 

 

 

As we sailed into Venice on the Solstice, here is one of the views up a smaller canal, with a stone bridge, people and various buildings providing that great sampling of this unique city’s charm and architecture. It is much more just a few historic buildings there. It’s all over!:

 

 

 

As we sailed in, here is one of the churches we saw along the Giudecca canal after passing San Marco Piazza. It is the Santa Maria del Rosario or St Mary of the Rosary. It is commonly known as I Gesuati and is an 18th century Dominican church in the Dorsoduro. The Dominicans built to celebrate the glories of their order and to encourage devotion to the rosary. Built in a classical style with Rococo decoration, it is exceptional preserved in its original form and with key decoration intact. The architecture and almost all the sculpture and paintings were created within the same thirty year between starting in 1725 and consecrated in 1743. To support the weight of the facade, 270 piles had to be driven into the soil. Giant Corinthian pillars support a heavy triangular pediment. The main entrance door is surmounted by a curved pediment, is surrounded by four niches with large statues of the four cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. The smaller, white stone-faced church that is shown on the left is Sta Maria della Visitazione that goes back its construction starting in 1493.:

 

 

 

With the Solstice schedule, having an overnight there allows time to sample the evening orchestras on San Marco Square playing to the crowds. Great fun at night in a wonderful setting.:

 

 

 

This is a mask shop hidden on the back-streets of Venice. We had discovered this great place in 1999 and were lucky to find it again as we explored a little off of the typical tourist streets of Venice. They have such delightful and creative designs serving more of a professional customer base. It is not just a tourist place with imported “stuff”. These are the “real” deal that made this art famous in Venice. It is called Tragi comica. Their web address is http://www.tragicomica.it. :

 

 

 

From the St. Mark's Campanile tower in Venice, here is a view looking across San Marco Piazza (with the shadow of this 323’ high tower showing in this picture). In the first visual below, we are looking towards where the Solstice is docked at the top, right side of the picture. Lots of great views in all directions from this tower. The tower is topped by a pyramidal spire with a golden weathervane in the form of the archangel Gabriel. The campanile reached its present form in 1514. The current tower was reconstructed in 1912 after the collapse of 1902. The tower was originally used as a watch tower for the dock. It is now one of Venice’s most famous symbols. The original Campanile inspired the designs of other towers worldwide.:

 

[rebeccalouiseagain]

Wonderful pictures. I love the little mosaic tile frames myself. They are so cute!

[bdoster]

Love your pictures, great shots and nice suggestions to do while in Venice, we plan to go pre cruise next fall.

 

Chao

[celyvabeach]

Thanks Terry for sharing your usual awesome pictures. We will be in Venice in Oct on the Splendour OTS.

[pete_coach]

Back to Buddymums question after TLCOhio's photo interlude.

Venice has many types of souvenirs. Glass being one and it is avaliable all over the city. On Murano itself, it seems to be a bit more expensive. To be honest, we saw Murano glass much cheaper in Milan and Rome LOL.

Venice is also known for it's masks, some extremely eaborate, all part of their famous carnival "Carnevale di Venezia".

Many of the shops will ship the masks or the glass to you.

The Island of Burano is known for it's lace. Tablecloths, scarfs etc.

Veince is also known for it's ceramics (although not as popular as other Italian pottery). It was one of the first italian pottery centers.

And then there is art. Lots of it everywhere. I have a collection of black and white pencil or chalk drawings of everywhere I have been on one of my walls.

There is lots of stuff at the Rialto Market as well as the Via Garabaldi market. Some is from Venice, Murano, Burano and surrounding areas and some is not so, there are lots of things to buy LOL.

[rebeccalouiseagain]

The best shopping I did was on Burano. They sell everything not just lace. Murano glass is available everywhere in Venice and the glass factory is a tourist trap.

 

Everything i bought in Burano was shipped home for me. It was a great experience and the little island is wonderful. Don't miss it!

[TLCOhio]

Wonderful pictures. I love the little mosaic tile frames myself. They are so cute!

 

celyvabeach: Thanks Terry for sharing your usual awesome pictures. We will be in Venice in Oct on the Splendour OTS.

 

bdoster: Love your pictures' date=' great shots and nice suggestions to do while in Venice, we plan to go pre cruise next fall. Chao [/quote']

 

Appreciate the very nice and kind comments on my pictures. Sorry for distracting a little, but, walking around Venice and stopping in the various shops and stores are such great fun. I would urge getting a little away from the places right in and around San Marco Square. Lots of variety there in Venice. Many, many shops. Below are some more pictures that I have not posted previously to reflect the great variety of items and potentials there for BOTH shopping/buying and just looking/enjoying the experience/views. In Venice, the good news is that the "looking" and soaking it all up is "priceless".

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 87,298 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

 

Here are two more visuals from the mask shop somewhat hidden on the back-streets of Venice. As noted earlier, we had discovered this great place in 1999 and were lucky to find it again as we explored a little off of the typical tourist streets of Venice. They have such delightful and creative designs serving more of a professional customer base. The shop is called Tragi comica. Their web address is http://www.tragicomica.it.. Lots of unique art and design here.:

 

 

 

 

 

In 1999, I bought a couple of ties at this shop right on San Marco Square. Then, the prices were lots and lots of lira, but only $8.50 in our money. We stopped back last June. They still had the designs for the two ties I wear now, but the prices in euro are much higher, but not too bad for the quality offered. Lots of silk items in Venice to consider!!:

 

 

 

Here are people in our group checking out one of the small shops off of the main areas. There are many potentials to consider as gifts for others and/or our use.:

 

 

 

Here was a sampling in a unique shop that specialized in many different types of chocolate. These items were very special and I am sure tasted wonderful. Lots of unique art and design here.:

 

 

 

Here is a shop window in Venice featuring unique designs in fabric.:

 

[Victress2007]

Souvenirs from our recent trip, the tablecloth is from Burano and the glasses from Murano. The champagne bucket is from a trip to Champagne, France.

 

 

Vic

[buddymum]

Souvenirs from our recent trip, the tablecloth is from Burano and the glasses from Murano. The champagne bucket is from a trip to Champagne, France.

 

 

Vic

hope you managed to get some champagne to go in those beautiful flutes? I managed to get my murano glass christmas bauble, but I actually got it in a tiny shop in Sorrento together with numerous fridge magnets a lace table cloth in various places on the cruise.

[Off2China]

Souvenirs from our recent trip, the tablecloth is from Burano and the glasses from Murano. The champagne bucket is from a trip to Champagne, France.

 

 

Vic

 

Very nice, especially the glasses. They're beautiful! :)

[Mparis184]

TLCOhio:

Fabulous photos. I pray my photos will be as good as yours. What kind of camera do you have - and the zoom?

Thanks, Marion

[Adventures ahead]

I thought I wanted a mask and found them, frankly, to be a little scary and gaudy. Some were too three-dimensional to hang on a wall and blend into our new modern condo. We settled on a 'mask' bought from a little store on a baaaack street, lol! We were looking for a store that was mentioned in a guide book and never did find it. Instead, we found a different 'mask' shop and settled on a silver moon whispering into a golden sun's ear, about 9 inches x 9 inches and 2 inches deep - easy to bring home in my carry on. We were so lost:) and spoke no Italian. We met a local lady who knew where she was going and, after playing charades:confused:, she understood and led us out of the maze of back streets. We had lots of time so it was fun.

 

We did go to Murano and one of the glass-factory show rooms. Although very interesting, it was also very expensive, thousands of euros for glass artworks. We ended up buying a funky vase in one of the many glass shops that sold 'seconds'. It had a couple of tiny air bubbles in they but wouldn't be noticed unless pointed out. We didn't care that it wasn't 'perfect' - just happy that we loved it for the colour, design and where and when we bought it. I also bought a bracelet, ring and pendant that weren't expensive at all (which made me wonder if they came from China, lol!).

[The_Big_M]

I also bought a bracelet, ring and pendant that weren't expensive at all (which made me wonder if they came from China, lol!).

 

There are a lot of shops in Venice selling Chinese copies so it's quite possible.

[RD64]

Always look for the mask stores in the back streets - away from Piazza San Marco - the further away, the more unique the selection.

 

Another good selection is hand blown stoppers for wine bottles - I always pick up a few as random gifts - plus a couple for me.

 

Not to be forgotten and totally unique are the small, decorative bottles of Grappa. They are of varying shapes and sizes, but portable, and hand pained with Venetian scenes. They are similar in nature to the bottles of Limoncello found in Sorrento.

 

To get away from the hear, stop and have the quintessential Venetian / Northern Italian apertif - a Spritz Aperol. It is made of Prosecco, Aperol (similar to but not quite as bitteras Campari), a bit ofsparkling water, and garnished with citrus or green olives. Again the farther you get from Piazza San Marco (where you will pay about 10 Euros for one) venture away from the crowds where you can find them for 1-3 Euros. Cheers