Chapel Choir visit to Venice – day 4
27th January 2020
Finally, a lie in and a late breakfast! This set us up for the climax of the tour. A short trip over the water before putting cassocks on for a quick briefing before entering through a side door into the hushed awe of Saint Mark’s. It was wonderful to see the interior in all its majesty with the flood lights pouring at the millions of mosaics which decorate the domes and roof.
The Chapel Choir certainly rose to the occasion as their sound filled the entire Basilica. Sitting high above the nave in one of four of its famed galleries, they sang tremendously throughout Mass. With the Choir’s final of Rutter’s Te Deum, the music for the tour was over and what a way to finish. We were privileged to be allowed a photo in front of the High Altar before getting changed and meeting friends and parents for a small reception.
It was soon on to takeaway pasta which has become a firm favourite on the tour and suitably refreshed, it was time for a visit to the Doges’ Palace for a tour. Not only appreciating the magnificent architecture and artwork, we saw a network of secret doors and letterboxes. Next it was off to the armoury, prison and of course the Bridge of Sighs after a group photo, a vaporetto stop up the Grand Canal to the Rialto for a little more shopping.
Then as dusk fell we walked through the narrow streets to Campo San Margerita to enjoy our farewell supper in Venice’s best pizzeria.
A trip down the Grand Canal at night before stopping off for gelati in Piazza San Marco, eating in the same spot where we started on Thursday afternoon, the end of our adventure was in sight. After a short trip across the water to the Giudecca, we arrived back safe and sound at the Generator for a debrief and the bustle of a live band setting up for the evening’s entertainment. And so the sun set on our final evening this magical and unique city.
